Importance of pacing on standardized tests

One of the most frequent issues that students have with standardized tests is how to pace themselves. Students typically are not used to timed tests; so when they have to take one, they freak out. Many students place too high a value on finishing and rush through the test. Others, though the number is less, tend to get stuck on certain questions and leave significant parts of the test unfinished.

What I train students to do on the SAT and ACT is to learn to work at a steady pace. They may or may not finish, but they are likely to at least complete most of the test and as long as they are accurate, they will do well. The goal is for students to learn to balance the urge to finish a timed test between spending enough time on individual questions to figure them out.

I advise students to take timed practice tests in order to practice pacing.

College Board Study on New SAT

The College Board says that the New SAT is as reliable as the old with respect to predicting success in college. In fact, the writing section is "the most predictive."

"Officials at the College Board, the nonprofit organization that owns the test, say the research affirms that revisions to the exam — including the addition of a writing section — did not decrease its value to admissions offices. The research also found that the writing section was the most predictive of the three SAT sections. “This is very important and positive news for colleges,” said Gaston Caperton, the College Board’s president."

http://chronicle.com/news/article/4690/new-sat-is-as-predictive-as-old-sat-college-board-finds