Examining the Relationship Between Digital SAT Practice in Bluebook and SAT Performance - Evidence from Digital SAT Practice in Bluebook

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Oliver

College Board examines how completing one or more full-length digital SAT practice tests in Bluebook relates to subsequent SAT performance, and how this relationship differs by prior academic achievement and demographic characteristics. The study reports that practice-test completion is associated with higher SAT scores, with larger gains among students who enter with lower prior achievement. Benefits generally persist across student subgroups, with diminishing returns as prior PSAT scores increase.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

Data and Methodology

Results

Discussion

References

Appendix

List of Tables and Figures

Examining the Relationship Between Digital SAT Practice in Bluebook and SAT Performance Evidence from Digital SAT Practice in Bluebook Briana Chang Bercem Akbayin-Sahin Jessica Howell College Board Research May 2025 Executive Summary College Board offers full-length practice tests for the digital SAT in the Bluebook testing application. Digital SAT practice resources help students prepare for adaptive testing, gain familiarity with the Bluebook application, and prepare for the content tested on the SAT. This study examines the relationship between completing one or more digital SAT practice tests in Bluebook and performance on the SAT as well as how that relationship varies with students’ prior academic achievement and demographic characteristics. The results suggest digital SAT practice in Bluebook offers meaningful benefits for students across a wide range of achievement levels and backgrounds. • Completing full-length digital SAT practice tests in Bluebook is associated with higher SAT scores. Students who completed 1, 2, and 3 or more full-length digital SAT practice tests scored approximately 25, 45 and 60 points higher, respectively, than similar SAT takers who did not complete any full-length digital practice tests in Bluebook. • Students with lower prior academic achievement experience larger SAT gains from completing practice tests. The SAT score benefit of completing practice tests is greater among students with lower PSAT scores, with gains from completing additional practice tests gradually tapering off as PSAT scores increase. These patterns generally hold across different student subgroups. Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................4 Data and Methodology................................................................................................5 Results........................................................................................................................7 Discussion ..................................................................................................................9 References ............................................................................................................... 11 Appendix................................................................................................................... 12 About the College Board...........................................................................................16 College Board Research...........................................................................................16 List of Tables and Figures Table 1. Sample Characteristics ................................................................................ 6 Figure 1. SAT Score Gain Associated with Digital SAT Practice Test Completion, by Prior Achievement ..................................................................................................... 8 Figure 2. SAT Score Gains Associated with Digital SAT Practice Test Completion, by Prior Achievement and Race/Ethnicity .................................................................. 9 Table A1 . Model 1: Regression Coefficients for 1 Practice Test Completion........... 13 Table A2 . Model 2: Regression Coefficients for 2 Practice Test Completion........... 14 Table A3 . Model 3: Regression Coefficients for 3+ Practice Test Completion......... 15 Introduction Students who practice for the SAT tend to earn higher scores than students who do not practice. Previous research examining Official SAT Practice (OSP) on Khan Academy (Weatherholtz et al. , 2020) demonstrates that spending six or more hours practicing on OSPis associated with earning 20-40 additional points on the SAT compared to students that did not use OSP. Additional time practicing is associated with additional score gains. Students following best practice behaviors while using these resources (e

FAQs

What is the main relationship studied between Bluebook practice and SAT results?

The study examines how completing one or more digital SAT practice tests in Bluebook is associated with SAT performance, including how the relationship varies by prior achievement and demographic characteristics.

How do SAT scores change for students who complete full-length practice tests?

Students who completed 1, 2, or 3+ full-length digital SAT practice tests scored approximately 25, 45, and 60 points higher, respectively, than similar students who did not complete any full-length practice tests.

Do students with lower prior achievement benefit more from practice tests?

Yes. Students with lower prior academic achievement experience larger SAT gains from completing practice tests, and the gains taper off as PSAT scores increase.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Oliver