SAT & ACT Diagnostic Test Guidelines
To ensure we start with an accurate picture of your current performance level, please complete a full-length diagnostic test for both the SAT and ACT. The instructions below will guide you through the process of accessing, taking, and submitting each test. Timing guidelines are at the bottom of the page.
📝SAT Diagnostic Instructions (Digital Only)Standard Timing: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Instructions:
📝 ACT Diagnostic Instructions (Paper-Based)Standard Timing: Approximately 3 hours
Instructions:
You may purchase a test prep book (e.g., The Official ACT Prep Guide) from a retailer like Amazon, which allows you to take the tests directly in the book.
Important Notes for ACT Testing
📝SAT Diagnostic Instructions (Digital Only)Standard Timing: 2 hours and 14 minutes
Instructions:
- Download and install the Bluebook app by College Board. [Link here]
- Use Practice Test #7
- Complete the full test in one sitting to simulate real testing conditions.
- Once finished, send your score report and screenshots or summaries of the questions you got right and wrong.
- Please do not use the older paper/PDF versions or the earlier digital practice tests, as they are easier than the actual SAT and less predictive of future performance; only the digital Bluebook format provides accurate insight
📝 ACT Diagnostic Instructions (Paper-Based)Standard Timing: Approximately 3 hours
Instructions:
- Print the Official Test - Use the 2025 MC4 Enhanced ACT test. Print pages 2–47
- Print the Official Bubble Sheet and use during the test
- Scoring Sheet ACT 2025 MC4 Scoring Guide (recommended for manual grading)
- Single-Sided Printing:
- For the Reading and Science sections (pages 26–47), print single-sided for easier use.
- Take the Test Under Standard Conditions
- Plan for a single sitting to best reflect your stamina and current readiness.
You may purchase a test prep book (e.g., The Official ACT Prep Guide) from a retailer like Amazon, which allows you to take the tests directly in the book.
Important Notes for ACT Testing
- Science Section: We recommend completing this section, even if some colleges may no longer require it. It’s useful for a full diagnostic profile.
- Essay Section: Please skip the essay. It’s rarely required and generally not a good use of prep time.
- Calculator Use: A graphing calculator is permitted only for the Math section.
- Grade your test before your session to save time. Tally the number of correct answers per section.
- Clearly mark any unanswered questions if you run out of time. You may also note a second “extended” score if you go back to finish incomplete sections—this helps us assess what content you know with and without time pressure.
- Total raw scores (number of correct answers per section)
- Marked bubble sheet (if used)
- A list of question numbers you got correct and incorrect
- Full scoring sheet
Timing guidelines for the act & the sat
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ACT Timing Guidelines
Standard Timing:
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SAT Timing Guidelines (Bluebook Digital Test)
Standard Timing: The digital SAT includes two sections and one break.
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