We’ve been accustomed to taking standardized tests with pencil and paper for years. From the IOWAs to the PSAT, PreACT, and even the actual tests. However, by December 2023, the ACT and SAT will begin to offer a digitized testing method, which might be the end of traditional standardized testing as we know it…
Registration for the digital ACT pilot test opened in July 2023, and according to the College Board, capacity will progressively increase throughout 2024. The CEO of the ACT Company, Janet Godwin, emphasized that the digital format enhances accessibility, enabling students to utilize assistive technology for accommodations such as talk-to-text, read-aloud, zoom/larger view, and extended time. The test format will closely resemble the traditional ACT booklet since the timing and number of questions remain unchanged. The digital ACT is NOT adaptive (it will not adjust the difficulty level based on the test-taker’s performance on previous queries or sections). Students must still register for and go to a designated test center/school to take the exam. But how will the transition from traditional to digital testing affect students taking either exam in the years to come? Will it be beneficial or harmful to their performance?
The American Institutes for Research’s Ben Backes and James Cowan conducted a study on the effect of online testing on standardized test scores. They looked at two years of PARCC test scores in Massachusetts, where some districts gave the tests online while others used paper. The study discovered that students who completed the test on paper scored higher, even after controlling for factors such as school, prior background, and demographic information. Mode effects of around 0.10 standard deviations in math and 0.25 standard deviations in English Language Arts were discovered, demonstrating significant changes in student performance across test modes.
According to the report, higher-performing districts choose paper, while lower-performing communities prefer computers. However, the difference in prior achievement between writing and online districts is not as expected. Districts in Massachusetts that moved to online testing had more extraordinary prior attainment, but their triumph was closer to lower-performing districts.
The study also discovered that the format of reading passages differed across paper and online assessments, with some being more difficult to access online. The exceptions were at the bottom of the distribution for English Language Arts, with students with lower scores performing worse when tested online. The implications for test-taking practice and policy are unknown, but they are almost certainly unavoidable. Education agencies in states or districts should recognize the variations and change their policies accordingly. To conclude the PARCC test, the research might be extended to other assessments, such as NAEP scores.
In the summer of 2018, the College Board and ACT officially produced an integrated agreement for the SAT and ACT. The most recent information is available on our new Conversion and Concordance site. There is also a full explanation for PSAT, SAT, and ACT takers of what it all means. How might PSAT scores help students decide whether to take the SAT or the ACT?
The PSAT is typically considered a gateway exam to the SAT, but it can also help students decide whether to take the ACT instead. Many students have already completed a mock ACT or an official PreACT, which serves as a foundation for testing. With PSAT scores now public, it’s a good idea to compare them to determine if there’s a noticeable difference. Students who have never taken the ACT can spend the 3 to 4 hours required to take a practice ACT at school or from home using our online proctoring. Another advantage is that our score reports provide more thorough insights than the College Board or ACT.
Compass has reviewed available research and agreement to build a chart and table-based comparison tool. Although most students’ PSAT and ACT scores will cross somewhere in the “Judgment Call” area, others will realize that one exam or the other is a better fit. Considering the relationship between PSAT and ACT results as a range of possibilities rather than an all-or-nothing issue is critical. Colleges use concordance tables to compare SAT and ACT scores so students can use them to decide which scores to send to institutions. Choosing which score is “higher,” on the other hand, is not the same as determining which test would be better for you in the future. A PSAT or ACT score is just the starting step. The majority of students will continue to improve their academic and exam skills. Before committing, students in the “judgment call” zone should think through the testing procedure.
Which test dates will be chosen? Is there anything about the examination that makes one more enticing than the other? What test preparation options are available for each exam? What role does National Merit play in this equation? Adam Ingersoll has produced a great essay outlining some things students should consider while deciding between the SAT and the ACT. Compass directors have prior experience helping with these decisions.
