Measure Network Speed in Your Building

Run one of the network speed tests available on the internet to estimate the number of students who can take a test in your building at the same time.

First, make sure you understand what speed tests measure. Speed tests report the unused bandwidth available throughout your building as measured from your location at the moment they’re run. In other words, results vary depending on when and where you run the speed test.

How to Run a Speed Test

For the most accurate results, run a speed test:

• When competing network activity approximates test day.
• In the same rooms used on test day.
• On networks test takers will use.
• To account for normal fluctuation, run the test several times in each room.

Bandwidth Requirements

The requirements shown below support expected test day activity—you could experience delays if students need to install or update Bluebook™.

Insufficient Bandwidth

If speed tests show you don’t have enough unused bandwidth to support all test takers, remember that Bluebook is designed to minimize bandwidth needs. In any testing session, demands on the network are staggered because students are timed individually. Their test doesn’t start until they enter a code provided by the proctor in their room. Even students in the same room will enter the code at slightly different times.

Avoiding Test Day Delays

Try these tactics if you’re concerned about network speed.

Minimize Competing Activity 

On test day, reduce the risk of delays by throttling or delaying scheduled backups.

Make Sure Bluebook Is Up to Date

Routine releases auto-update when students open Bluebook and that could cause delays, so ask students to open Bluebook themselves before test day. They don’t need to sign in.

Stagger Start Times Slightly

Ask proctors in some rooms to wait an extra 5 minutes before reading the script and sharing their start code.

Use Different Rooms 

If a room has unusually low bandwidth, run the speed test again in case your original result was an anomaly. If you need to, look for rooms with better wireless coverage.

Adjust Testing Plans 

For SAT School Day and PSAT-related assessments, advise the test coordinator to test different groups at different times or on different days.

If an SAT Weekend test center network can’t support the capacity entered in their renewal form, the test center coordinator should call ETS® as soon as possible so College Board can limit registrations appropriately.