How do I get a copy of my recent SAT/ACT test booklet?

Did you take the January SAT, but were dissatisfied with the feedback you received? Do you wish you could see exactly what higher-level math problems you missed from your December ACT? You’re not alone, and the College Board and ACT, Inc. have services that might interest you.

What are the Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) and Test Information Release (TIR)?

Every year, the College Board and ACT release more specific test information for three of their six national test dates. The College Board releases its October, January, and May tests to students who request the Question-and-Answer service. The ACT provides its Test Information Release service for the December, April, and June tests. For an extra fee ($18 for the SAT, $20 for the ACT), students receive their test booklet for the test they took, the correct answers to each of the multiple choice and grid-in questions, and additional information about the types and difficulty levels of the questions. The ACT will provide additional feedback for the optional writing section, if it was taken on that test day.

When should I sign up?

Students can sign up for this service when they register for their test (provided it is one of the dates that the College Board or ACT offer the QAS or TIR services), or they can order the service online up to five months after an SAT test and up to three months after an ACT test.

When can I expect the feedback?

SAT materials are usually mailed six to eight weeks after the test date if you requested the QAS before the test, or about three or four weeks after placing an order after the test. The ACT mails its reports four weeks after sending out the score report, which amounts to about six to eight weeks after taking the test, similar to the timeline for the SAT. This means that the booklet might not come before your next test date. Still, it might be a service you want to consider, especially if you are taking some time between your two actual tests.

More information is usually better, and with the SAT or ACT, it is no different. Mock tests are an invaluable resource and have the benefit of providing near-immediate feedback, but real tests can reveal issues with test anxiety, pressure, and pacing that might go unnoticed with less formal assessments. The College Board’s Question-and-Answer Service and the ACT’s Test Information Release can pull back the curtain and help a student assess how he/she did on the test day and refocus for next time.

More information can be found at the College Board’s website or the ACT’s website.