SAT/ACT Resources Module - powered by ArborBridge

Practice Test Module FAQ

What is a diagnostic practice test?

Diagnostic practice exams administered by ArborBridge are full-length practice exams. Students take a diagnostic practice exam to estimate how they will perform on the actual test, determine if test preparation is needed, and get an assessment of strengths and weaknesses.

The paper SAT and paper ACT are official exams released by the College Board or ACT. The Digital SAT is written to mimic the official exams and is taken on Arborbridge’s online testing platform —including integration of the Desmos calculator and other tools that students see on test day.

What information is provided on the score report?

A student’s score report provides a baseline score and a detailed analysis of which question types and content areas cause students trouble. It also helps to identify potential issues related to standardized testing (e.g. test fatigue or anxiety).

How is each exam scored? 

The paper ACT is scored out of total of 36 points. The composite score is an average of the four section scores. The digital and paper SAT are scored out of 1600 points –this total is the sum of the two section scores. The digital SAT is unique because the test is adaptive. This means that a student’s performance on the first module of a section determines the questions they see on the second module. If the student has a strong performance on the first module, they will get harder questions on the second module and be placed in a higher scoring range.

The paper SAT and paper ACT are scored using the scoring conversion charts for each exam released by the College Board and ACT, respectively

Students completing the digitial SAT diagnostic test will receive their predicted score along with an estimated score range. Students do not receive a score based on a simple count of correct answers. Instead, the digital SAT’s algorithm uses a more complex framework to weight each questions differently. To develop our scoring ranges, ArborBridge’s Instruction Team completed the four officially released practice tests more than 550 times in total. We will continue to refine and update our practice tests and scoring calculation as the College Board releases additional information in the 2023-2024 school year.

How will I get my student’s results?

The ArborBridge Team will provide the diagnostic practice test results and detailed score report to the student, parent, and the counselor who requested the exam. Results are typically available 5 business days from the submission of answer sheets.

Does my student have to enroll in an ArborBridge tutoring program if he takes the diagnostic practice test?

Absolutely not! Diagnostic practice exams and score reports offered by ArborBridge are provided free as a benefit to being a CollegePlannerPro member, with no obligation of program enrollment.

How many diagnostic practice exams may I request for each student?

ArborBridge is happy to offer each student one free diagnostic practice test for each exam. For example, you may request both a practice SAT and a practice ACT for the student.

Will an ArborBridge representative contact my student directly?

Yes. Your student will receive a canned email from the ArborBridge Team confirming access to the diagnostic practice tests. Once we have graded the exam, an ArborBridge Representative will provide the full score report to the student, parent, and counselor who requested the exam.

The email will look like this:

Student,

You have been added to our testing platform for the Test Prep Diagnostic.

How to Access?

We've already set up your account so you will just enter [student email] as your email to log in here: https://tests.arborbridge.com/sign_in 

When to Start?

You can start with a test as soon as you are ready.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best,

The ArborBridge Team

Students who complete an ArborBridge diagnostic exam will also be sent, free of charge, lessons from ArborBridge's proprietary curriculum that are designed to target specific weaknesses identified in the student's diagnostic exam, as well as an offer for a free 30-minute lesson with a tutor. Students/parents may unsubscribe from any emails directly with ArborBridge at any time.

What information is shared with ArborBridge when I request a practice exam for my student?

The ArborBridge Team will be sent a notification after the exam has been requested. The following information will be shared with ArborBridge and is required for the request to be processed:

• Student name and email
• Parent/Guardian name and email
• Counselor name and email
• Exam requested

How is the diagnostic practice exam administered?

The student will connect with the Auto Proctor, which delivers verbal instructions for the test, guiding the student through each section. It provides the standard prompts and time warnings, exactly like a live proctor would.

Requesting for a student with accommodations? Contact ArborBridge directly to have the time allowance changed to match the student’s approved accommodations.

Is this module visible to students?

No - all features of the SAT/ACT Resources Module are only available on the counselor’s platform. These features are only included on your dashboard if you enable the SAT/ACT Resources Module. You can disable this module at any time.