SAT and ACT Experimental Sections

On both the SAT and ACT, there are five sections (excluding essay). We only prepare students for four. That’s because the fifth section is an experimental section, which is largely used to test new questions for future test date.

Up until very recently, these sections were purely experimental. They did not count towards students’ scores and were solely used to vet questions for future tests. In fact, prior to March 2019, students taking the SAT with essay didn’t even have to take the experimental section.

Here’s some clarification on where the experimental sections stand now:

ACT: For the ACT, it is quite simple. The ACT has a 20-minute experimental section after the science section but before the essay (if the student is taking the essay). It is completely experimental and absolutely does not count towards a student’s score.

SAT: Unfortunately, the SAT’s policy is not quite as cut-and-dry. The SAT has a 20-minute experimental section after the calculator math section but before the essay (if the student is taking the essay). The College Board’s official stance on the experimental section is this: “Any section of the SAT may contain both operational and pretest item.” In other words, questions from the experimental section can count towards a student’s score.

Now, before we get too alarmed, this does not mean that the entire experimental section counts. There is a small possibility that the College Board will use a question or two from the experimental section when a question from the first four sections turns out to be problematic in any way. But far more likely, in my opinion, is that this is simply a bluff by College Board (who administers the SAT) to get students to take the experimental section more seriously, thus providing the College Board with more accurate information.

Regardless, to be safe, students taking the SAT now need to focus and take the experimental section seriously. Students taking the ACT can relax after the science section, confident that the portion of their test that counts is over.