What does standardized testing look like in the US (AP Exams, SAT/ACT, PSAT, Catholic/Independent school entrance exams, etc)?

12 comments

1. Depends on the test being taken. For PSATs and SATs most kids are in classrooms. The gym and cafeteria are used too. Each test has a certain distance the desks need to be apart from each other. They’re lined up in rows, all facing the same direction, all facing the clock.

   It should be exactly the same way your tests are done. Iirc they’re all done at the same time. Don’t kids in other countries have to take their tests at ridiculous hours because it’s based on EST and every student the world over needs to be taking it at the same time?

   Colleges do not have standardized testing like this.

   Edit: I am thinking of the AP exam. Those are administered at the same time everywhere. SATs are done at different times with varying tests. So the US experience for taking the AP exam will be exactly the same as any other country, it is just held in the daytime. SAT will be almost exactly the same just at regular hours. All rules about layout/organization etc are exactly the same cause it’s the same test.

2. When I was in school, our state level standardized testing (MCAS) was just done in the classroom.

   When I took the SATs, I went in on a Saturday and they opened the divider between two classrooms so one teacher could proctor the test for 50 students. My AP Physics exam was done in the library since only 20 kids were taking that particular exam.

   My mother who teaches in NH, does their standardized state level testing in the gym using laptops.

3. I did it in a classroom with the desks spaced apart.

   Scantron and a booklet that we couldn’t open until the clock was started, proctor calls out time occasionally and a clock on the wall, short break between subjects then back to it.

4. it varies by test, but usually they were held in schools on the weekends. So you’d go check in at some sort of front desk/reception, they’d tell you which room to go to, and you’d go take it in that classroom.

   For some tests like the PSAT, my own school actually had a day where everybody took it, so for that we just took it in our homeroom classes.

5. Some of them were in class times, some of them were in the gym.

6. For SAT/ACT tests, I had to travel to a different school each time , taking whatever location was closest for that particular test date.

   For AP tests, my county rented out a church for a few different tests including Calculus and administered the test for everyone in the county school district in the same place/time.

   PSAT and statewide standard tests were done in school classrooms since everyone took it.

7. I went to a testing center where there were a few students in a room with a proctor.

8. When I did the (Japanese) AP test, it was in a classroom and on computers. I think there were maybe 20 of us?

9. Every test is different, but usually they’re all done in a big room with hundreds of tables/desks like you describe. These exams are starting to become digital though. The law school entrance exam (LSAT) is now done on tablets for example.

10. Did my ACT at a local community college in a lecture hall with hundreds of other kids. They sat us every-other seat for spacing.

11. I took the ACT 2-3 times in high school. I had to go to a different school in town on a Saturday so I wasn’t really jazzed. Everytime it was in a classroom, but we did have to wait in the cafeteria (I think) until they called your group. I also took the AP American History test, but I don’t remember that at all. The only reason I remember that is because they give you T-shirt that says “I survived the AP American History Test”. I don’t think I did good on it.

    I haven’t taken any test like that for college. Honestly, I didn’t take alot of end of the semester tests either. I remember failing an online course because I forgot to talk the end of the semester test once.

12. I took the ACT in a classroom.