As we approach the end of the Spring Test Prep season, Test Prep is in an exciting place.
This Spring we saw two events change the Test Prep landscape: the return of testing requirements at many schools (including UT) and the launch of the Digital SAT.
While the uncertainty accompanying these developments has led to much speculation, Cram Crew remains positioned to guide our clients through the test preparation process and we believe that transparency plays a key role in this. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to share with you what we know about the current state of Test Prep and what we are doing to address it.
The largest departure from previous versions of the SAT lies in the format. The content of the Reading and Writing sections was combined into two Reading modules which share content but vary in difficulty, and Math was similarly formatted as two modules with calculator use allowed for both. The total time for the test was reduced from approximately 3 hours to 2 hours and 14 minutes.
The change in format presents various challenges in the Test Prep space, not least of which is the reduced efficacy of previous SAT material for the Reading modules. CollegeBoard has only released a total of 6 practice tests, 2 of which were not released until the beginning of this year, and CollegeBoard has also chosen to discontinue the Question-and-Answer service (QAS) for the dSAT, which allowed students to request their test booklets. However, CollegeBoard has created a question database containing approximately 2,000 dSAT questions for educators to use, and with these questions we have been creating our own dSAT mock exam platform to host proprietary mock exams using CollegeBoard content. This platform is expected to go live on the Portal in May.
CollegeBoard claims to have run multiple concordance studies which proved that the scores from the dSAT could be evaluated side-by-side with scores from the previous SAT. The data does not seem to prove this theory out. Historically, average SAT scores have hovered around 1000, rising to 1054 on the most recent version of the test which was administered from 2017 to 2023. The average score for the March dSAT was 1176.
In these early stages, it is difficult to determine what exactly the implications of this shift are. It is both possible and likely that scores on different parts of the spectrum were impacted to varying degrees. We have analyzed the dSAT scores from our clients who took previous versions of the SAT, and the variations appear to be greatest towards the middle of the scoring spectrum and less pronounced on the ends.
For our part, we believe the adaptive mechanic is likely responsible for this shift. Which leads us to…
Another major change to the test is the adaptive mechanic which determines the second module. Students’ performances on the first module determine which of the two modules they see next, the upper or lower module. The upper module will contain more difficult questions but has a higher point value, while the lower module will contain less difficult questions but with fewer total points available.
Based on our analysis, the most important module is the first module, and there is no scenario in which aiming for the lower module would be beneficial. Without making it to the upper module in either section, the maximum possible score is around 1150.
For test prep, this means that students who start off unable to reach the upper modules may appear to stagnate as they transition to more difficult question sets. However, Cram Crew’s question typing and detailed score analytics can help clarify a student’s struggle points and demonstrate the progress a student is making that might not be accurately represented by the numerical score.
Some may be aware that the ACT has started offering an online testing option at select locations. It’s important to understand that this is purely an accessibility feature and *will not* affect the format of the test in any way. It is the same as the paper ACT, which has changed very little since it was first administered in 1959.
Cram Crew’s philosophy regarding Test Prep is to first use a consultative approach to determine which test is best suited for each student. There are many factors which influence that decision, and the differences between the ACT and SAT are now more pronounced than they’ve ever been. Test Prep consultants are trained on the differences between each test and how to interpret BLD scores to help clients make the most informed decision about the path they wish to take.
At Cram Crew, goals are never impossible, they only require more work. During their first meetings, clients work with their Test Prep consultants to create a game plan for achieving their goals. This game plan includes official test dates (yes, multiple), mock exam dates, session times and frequency, and study plans. Consultants are trained on the various circumstances our clients will be facing (short vs long timelines, “distance” from goal score, commitment to a particular exam, shifting availability, accommodations, etc.) and how these factors will affect a client’s Test Prep journey. We do not just strategize to beat the SAT/ACT, we strategize for our clients to beat the SAT/ACT.
Mock exams are an integral part of the Test Prep process at Cram Crew and we exclusively use test items from either retired official tests (ACT) or from an official database (dSAT). These mock exams serve several different purposes for clients, and remain available for our Test Prep clients without any additional costs or requirements (for regularly scheduled mock exams).
First, they familiarize clients with the exam. Simply taking the test multiple times correlates with higher test scores, and familiarity with the exam can reduce test anxiety and make clients more comfortable with section timings and navigating the test in general.
Second, mock exams are an opportunity for practice. As each client is unique, the strategies that work best for each client will vary. Mock exams provide an opportunity for clients to apply the strategies they learned during sessions.
Third, mock exams provide valuable diagnostic information for Test Prep consultants. Consultants use mock exams to identify opportunities for improvement, whether that’s a trend with content areas like linear equations or prepositional phrases, lower accuracy at the end of a section indicating timing issues, or a preference for a Reading or Science passage type that might inform strategy.
Cram Crew’s Cram Manuals are proprietary, developed in-house by a team of subject matter experts who have studied the tests extensively. They are designed to address all of the content covered by the exam and provide an introduction to strategies for specific question types. The Cram Manuals are used in coordination with official prep books published by the SAT and ACT so students have an opportunity to work through content that is as representative of the official exam as it possibly can be.
Our Test Prep packages are structured to provide a flexible Test Prep process that meets clients where they are and works within their schedules to deliver a Test Prep experience catered to each clients needs. Hours never expire, and we will work with you for a test next week or next year. We provide the tools and expertise, you just need to tell us when to be there.
In addition to our one-on-one, in-home Test Prep, we also run The Extra Point each summer in the weeks leading up to the June and July ACTs. The Extra Point is a small group, classroom style prep course that covers all aspects of the ACT and is designed to get our clients that one “extra point” to get them over the hump and differentiate them in college admissions. Utilizing materials that have been reserved for the program, The Extra Point is a valuable tool not only for new clients who have not started Test Prep, but also for existing clients looking for an extra boost before some of the last tests they can take.
Test Prep is changing, but we are meeting those changes head on. Everything we do is working towards achieving results for our clients, and we have been doing it for more than 25 years.
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