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The Use, Acceptance, and Impact of Taking the SAT--A Test Familiarization Booklet SAT

Author(s):
Powers, Donald E.; Alderman, Donald L.
Publication Year:
1979
Report Number:
RR-79-03
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
81
Subject/Key Words:
College Board, Step by Step with Taking the SAT 1: Reasoning Test, Instructional Materials, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Test Administration, Test Wiseness

Abstract

The College Board® recently published "Taking the SAT®", a booklet designed improve candidates' familiarity with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the Test of Standard Written English (TWSE), which is administered with the SAT. Prepublication copies were mailed to a random sample of SAT candidates, and the recipients, after taking the tests, were surveyed for their perceptions of the booklet and its influence on their test taking. An equivalent random sample received only "About the SAT," a briefer Board publication that "Taking the SAT" is to replace, and were surveyed for their test taking experiences and their opinions of the older test familiarization booklet. Test scores of the students in both groups were subsequently obtained from SAT score files for comparison. The survey showed that the first group had reacted positively to the new publication and used it extensively. The analysis did not, however, uncover any effects of the new booklet on scores for any section of the SAT or TSWE. Nevertheless, many students believed that "Taking the SAT" had helped them achieve higher scores.

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