Google Begins Offering Free SAT Practice Tests Powered By Gemini (arstechnica.com) 14
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: It's no secret that students worldwide use AI chatbots to do their homework and avoid learning things. On the flip side, students can also use AI as a tool to beef up their knowledge and plan for the future with flashcards or study guides. Google hopes its latest Gemini feature will help with the latter. The company has announced that Gemini can now create free SAT practice tests and coach students to help them get higher scores. As a standardized test, the content of the SAT follows a predictable pattern. So there's no need to use a lengthy, personalized prompt to get Gemini going. Just say something like, "I want to take a practice SAT test," and the chatbot will generate one complete with clickable buttons, graphs, and score analysis.
Of course, generative AI can go off the rails and provide incorrect information, which is a problem when you're trying to learn things. However, Google says it has worked with education firms like The Princeton Review to ensure the AI-generated tests resemble what students will see in the real deal. The interface for Gemini's practice tests includes scoring and the ability to review previous answers. If you are unclear on why a particular answer is right or wrong, the questions have an "Explain answer" button right at the bottom. After you finish the practice exam, the custom interface (which looks a bit like Gemini's Canvas coding tool) can help you follow up on areas that need improvement. Google says support for the SAT is just the start, "with more tests coming in the future."
Of course, generative AI can go off the rails and provide incorrect information, which is a problem when you're trying to learn things. However, Google says it has worked with education firms like The Princeton Review to ensure the AI-generated tests resemble what students will see in the real deal. The interface for Gemini's practice tests includes scoring and the ability to review previous answers. If you are unclear on why a particular answer is right or wrong, the questions have an "Explain answer" button right at the bottom. After you finish the practice exam, the custom interface (which looks a bit like Gemini's Canvas coding tool) can help you follow up on areas that need improvement. Google says support for the SAT is just the start, "with more tests coming in the future."
I just tried and it didn't work (Score:2)
I want to take a practice SAT test
It just gave me links to Bluebook app and Khan Academy.
Re: (Score:2)
Are the genAI tests comparable to the old SAT? (Score:2)
Thanks for the information and I'm seriously considering trying it out, but what I really want would be to know how I perform now in comparison to when I took the SAT. In my case "old SAT" means really old.
However mostly I'm surprised how little interest the story elicited. And now it's rather late to worry about it. Falling off the front page with this 12th comment (and no funny).
Re: (Score:3)
Given this history of AI making shit up, students won't learn that lesson until they see their score.
SAT Prep or Recruting? (Score:2)
SAT prep classes were a thing even in 1990. (Score:2)
Standardized testing doesn't work towards the common good, plus that test is all the schools will now teach because if it isn't on the test the s
Re: (Score:2)
I never saw how the SAT could actually be a test of ability when there were so many entrenched courses to teach exactly what is on it. I didn't care and never prepped and was still in the 90 something percentile - just imagine how much worse everyone else would have been if they hadn't prepped - and I would say more than 3/4 of my class took the SAT prep course.
Standardized testing doesn't work towards the common good, plus that test is all the schools will now teach because if it isn't on the test the school board doesn't care as it won't help the school's rating.
The old SAT was a thinly disguised IQ test. I doubt that the prep helped much, unless some people were totally unused to taking standardized tests at all. (Which is doubtful; I recall being peppered with them all through school.)
SAT prep is mostly a scam (Score:2)
In controlled studies, SAT prep classes improved scores by only about 10-20 points.
https://slate.com/technology/2... [slate.com].
If Google can put these money-sucking machines out of business, that will save a lot of families a lot of money, even if Google's version is no more helpful than the traditional kind of classes.
Just loops (Score:1)
kills dei talking points (Score:2)
One of the main rationales for limiting the use of SATs for college admissions has been that "disadvantaged" (new word for black/latino) students can't afford SAT tutoring, so the SAT is racist. Now everyone can get it for free. Well as long as google lets it be free.