Why Your Practice Test Scores May Fluctuate

When you take practice tests, it’s completely normal for your scores to rise and fall. Each SAT or ACT is made up of a unique mix of questions. Sometimes you’ll see math problems similar to ones you just reviewed, or reading passages that spark your interest, giving you an advantage on that test. Other times, the test may emphasize weaker areas or include passages that feel more difficult, which can pull your score down.

Guessing also plays a role. On one test, you might miss four questions you had to guess on; on another, you might get two of those right. Because each test has a limited number of questions, those small differences can make a big impact. On the SAT, two questions can mean a swing of 0 - 60 points. On the ACT, that same difference might shift your score by 0–4 points. Some questions have a value of zero points on every section, further contributing to a swing in scores.

Your environment and mindset matter too. A test taken after a full night’s rest in a quiet space will likely get better results than one rushed through late at night, during study hall, or when you’re distracted.

Score fluctuations don’t mean you’re “getting worse.” They’re simply the result of natural variation in tests, circumstances, and guessing. What matters most is the overall trend. If you’re practicing consistently, reviewing mistakes, and steadily improving your grasp of the material, you should see gradual growth in your average scores – even if individual results bounce up and down along the way.