As a test prep tutor, one of the common complaints I’m hearing from students (since the new digital SAT rolled out in March) is that the official test is so much harder than the practice tests they took, so they feel frustrated and defeated. But is that really the case, or is it simply a matter of perception versus reality?
In this blog, I’ll dive into why some students feel discouraged by the SAT and how preparation, mindset, and practice conditions can significantly influence their test-taking experience. Let’s explore the truth behind these frustrations and how to set your student up for success on test day.
Difficulty levels vary on official SAT practice tests
The first question that needs to be asked is, “Which practice tests are you referring to?” If you spent most of your time on SAT practice tests 1, 2, and 3, then I would agree that those exams were much easier compared to the real thing.
Those tests were offered at the beginning of the SAT’s conversion from a paper test to the digital, adaptive test, and the documents that came later – practice tests 4/5/6 — are much a better representation of the difficulty level of the actual SAT.
Test day jitters can impact your score, but there are ways to prevent it
“I did take practice tests 4/5/6, and my test was still harder!” This is the first point at which we have to consider perception versus reality. You were probably feeling nervous or stressed when you took the real test, and that is totally normal. However, because of that nervousness, you might feel like the test was harder. Unfortunately, feeling isn’t knowing!
So many times, students abandon the good habits and strategies that they used during practice under the weight of stress and return to old ways of thinking. This begs the question, “Was the test really harder or did it seem harder, because you strayed from your game plan?” The probable reality is that you are not going to be able to eliminate stress or nervousness.
Instead, *add* nervousness to your practice! A practice test should be the “dress rehearsal” for the real thing. Take your computer to a local Starbucks or McDonald’s and take the test there where the conditions are not optimal. You’ll probably feel your anxiety level go up. It’s at that point that you’re going to see if you can hold to your game plan – just like on test day.
Proper preparation is key
This might sound controversial but consider the idea that you might be wrong! In the past, the SAT used to release the actual test questions a few weeks after the official test date, and I would sit down with students who were absolutely adamant that the test was “so hard” and that they had **never** seen **any** of these questions before. However, when we started breaking down the ACTUAL questions, many of them resembled the practice tests. Other than the misaligned practice tests mentioned above, I have yet to see any substantive proof that an official test was actually harder.
It’s easy to rip one wonky question out of context and convince yourself that it stands for your entire test, but the hard truth is that many test-takers are reacting to the unpredictable nature of the test.
The combination of question types (e.g., obscure vocabulary, a difficult passage, a tough graph, a bizarre quadratic equation, etc.) shows us that the process cannot be memorized, and that’s what we dislike. The SAT is very different than what students are called upon to do in school, and some people cannot accept that, but that does not mean that the test was really harder.
What can you do about all of this? Here are a few expert suggestions:
(1) Develop perfect memory on formulas and rules. The official test is not the time to struggle with the vertex format of the quadratic or proper use of a semicolon. You need to have those basics ice-cold pinned down. I strongly feel that this is a key source of where the “real test was harder” mentality comes from.
(2) Prepare. So many times, I see students making mistakes on the most basic tasks, such as raising a value by a specific percentage, determining the slope of a line, or separating independent phrases with proper punctuation. It’s one thing to miss a basic knowledge question in the early stages of tutoring, but the same types of mistakes over and over again prompt the question, “Do we see a pattern here?” It’s called lack of preparation. Again, was the test really “harder?” Or were you only marginally prepared? Most students grossly underestimate the time and effort it takes to build the tools, skills, and know-how to really take SAT head on.
(3) With preparation, one is much more likely to develop a flexible mind, and flexibility is its own skill. Many test-takers have a “everything is a nail, so I always need to use a hammer” approach to answering questions. For example, a large contingent of students always attempt to solve a math problem with the DESMOS calculator. DESMOS can be a great tool, no question about that. However, it’s only one tool, and it’ll only take you so far. The best test-takers develop a kit of tools that they can use. If your kit only includes two or three tools, then it’s likely that a test that extends beyond the practice tests you’ve taken – even if only a little bit – is going to seem “way harder.”
The bottom line? Don’t let your perception become reality.
Get serious about the test and do what it takes to achieve your personal best. If you need further support, the test prep experts at Educational Connections can help you with all aspects of test preparation!
About Our Guest Author:
Pete Pecoraro has extensive experience in education as a former high school teacher and current Test Prep Tutor at Educational Connections. He graduated as valedictorian at his high school and then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was honored with the Bronze Tablet Award and a bachelor’s degree in teaching. Pete’s had proven success with students who struggle with standardized tests to the academically gifted. Every student he’s worked with has been able to lift his or her SAT or ACT score.