Free SAT Prep Tests To Help You Get Ready For The SATs (2023)

Practice Makes Perfect With Free Online SAT Practice Tests

Test day for the SAT is a huge milestone for any high school student. Millions of students across the country and around the world take the SAT exam and anxiously await their score report to find out how they performed.

The SAT is an important exam because it’s the only national standardized test consistent for every test taker.

That means colleges look at these results when considering which applicants to admit to their institutions and they act as a critical component in the scholarship selection process.

Your SAT score is a key to admission to your favorite college and scholarships that will help you achieve your higher education dreams. So how can students like you ensure they are prepared?

SAT test prep is crucial to your success on test day. And the good news is there are lots of free resources you can use to prepare for testing day.

Let’s examine why SAT test prep is essential, the top five free SAT prep resources that will help you prepare, and some study tips for making the most of your online prep.

Why Do I Need To Take SAT Prep Tests Before Testing Day

When it comes to SAT Prep, practice does make perfect.

Even if you took the PSAT test prior to 11th grade, you still need to prepare for the real SAT. That’s because the PSAT is a miniature version of the official test and is typically only used for the score report that will help you identify the areas you need to focus on during SAT prep.

The SAT consists of three sections with questions that test students’ problem-solving, reading comprehension, and critical-thinking skills. Without proper SAT prep, you may feel anxious and lack confidence when taking the real SAT.

Let’s take a look at what each one contains:

Evidence-Based SAT Reading Section

• Time: 65 minutes.
• Questions: 52 multiple-choice questions.
• Expect to find: Paired passages or single passages based on literature, social or natural science articles, and historical documents.

SAT Math Section

• Time: 25 minutes for the no calculator position and 55 minutes for the calculator section, totaling 80 minutes.
• Questions: 20 multiple-choice questions with no calculator allowed and 38 multiple-choice questions with calculator use allowed, totaling 58 questions.
• Expect to find: Both algebra I and II, geometry, and a bit of trigonometry.

SAT Language & Writing Section

• Time: 35 minutes.
• Questions: 44 multiple-choice questions.
• Expect to find: Vocabulary in context, editing skills, and grammar.

During the SAT exam, students will answer 154 questions. So how you prepare genuinely matters. The skills you’ve learned and how you apply that knowledge are the keys to achieving your desired SAT score.

In fact, according to The College Board, studying for 6-8 hours before your test day can help you boost your SAT score by 90 points compared to no prep at all.

So it’s in your best interest to take advantage of the free SAT prep opportunities available to students like you. The best way to gain confidence is to use free online practice tests that let you know what to expect from the full-length SAT.

Let’s look at the top five free SAT prep opportunities online that you can use today to work through different question types and boost your SAT score.

5 Free SAT Test Prep Resources You Can Use Today

There are a lot of costs associated with college prep. So families are always looking for ways to save, from test registration fees to Advanced Placement test fees to test prep books.

And private tutoring and pricey prep courses aren’t an option for many students, so it’s important to know what free resources are available to all.

Free online SAT prep is an excellent way for students to prepare for the SAT without investing more money in college.

That’s because renowned companies like Khan Academy, Kaplan, and even the SAT administrators themselves, The College Board, offer authentic SATs and prep materials to help students study for free.

This makes SAT prep accessible to students from all backgrounds and levels the playing field in the college admissions process.

Let’s take a look at the best five free SAT test prep resources you can access from home to practice different question types and gain valuable data that will help you know how to organize your study plan.

College Board SAT Suite Of Assessments

Pros: Official full-length SAT practice tests

Cons: Grading tests yourself can be time-consuming

If you’re looking for official SAT practice tests for free, look no further than The College Board, the maker and administrator of the SAT. So it’s a no-brainer that they would be at the top of the list for high-quality, free SAT prep.

Not only is it their website where students register for upcoming SAT tests, but it’s where you can find eight downloadable full-length practice tests from the SAT Suite Of Assessments.

There are also options for students who will receive assistive technology and paper-based testing accommodations. This means all students can practice answering questions on a full-length test for free.

The tests are downloadable as PDFs. They are 64 pages long, including the answer sheet and scoring guide. Students must grade their tests and use the scoring guide to help them determine the correct answer for each question and calculate their scores.

This resource is a must for any test taker with an approaching SAT date who wants to conduct a dry run with authentic practice questions.

Khan Academy SAT Practice Test

Pros: Free online study tool to help you find the subjects you need to focus on with self-paced instructional resources

Cons: The test prep isn’t very strategy-heavy

If you’re looking for a resource that will allow you to practice specific skills for the SAT, Khan Academy has multiple online practice tests and a tremendous online SAT study tool.

Once you register, you can connect your Khan Academy account to your College Board account. If you’ve taken the PSAT/NMSQR, PSAT 10, or the SAT, this allows Khan Academy to automatically direct you to the skills you need to practice based on your score report.

This is a great way to focus your studying efforts on the subjects you’ll need to score higher on on testing day.

If you don’t have a College Board account, don’t worry. Khan Academy offers free diagnostic quizzes and practice tests to help you identify your areas of need.

Varsity Tutors SAT Diagnostics Tests

Pros: Use diagnostic data to generate customized study materials

Cons: No full-length practice SAT tests

If you’re looking for something that makes SAT prep convenient on the go, Varsity Tutors’ app is a great resource. You can find it on Google Play, the Apple App Store, Amazon, and iBooks, meaning you can get the app on any mobile device.

The Varsity Tutors app offers free diagnostic tests that will highlight your areas of need and allow you to pinpoint what topics you should study during your SAT preparation.

Varsity Tutors offers 17 diagnostic tests for SAT Evidence-Based Reading skills, 17 for SAT Writing skills, and 16 for SAT Math skills. Once you take these tests, you can generate customized tests and flashcards during your SAT prep study sessions.

This is a great way to personalize your SAT test prep and create resources unique to your learning needs.

Kaplan SAT On Demand Practice Test

Pros: Realistic, time practice tests online

Cons: Time-consuming for busy students

Kaplan is a highly-recognized test prep company known for its experience and results. They offer a free diagnostic practice test that’s timed just like the actual SAT and allows students to get authentic test practice with data-driven suggestions at the end.

Registration is free, and test-takers can access a sample of Kaplan’s instructional tutorials, videos, and targeted practice with a two-week trial. This is a great free test prep option for students closer to their test day.

They also offer a question-of-the-day feature that allows students to answer a single SAT question.

Kaplan offers a realistic, test-like interface that allows students to experience exactly what a testing scenario feels like, so you will not only be exposed to authentic SAT question types but also see how you perform under the time constraints of each section.

Test Your Language Real-Time SAT Prep Test

Pros: Comprehensive SAT prep tests with accurate timing and automatic scoring

Cons: Not official SAT practice tests

Test Your Language is a company known for its language proficiency tests in over 100 languages. They also offer free SAT test prep aligned to the actual test and administered in real time.

This means students can take three-hour practice tests that mirror the actual flow and function of a real SAT. In addition, since students can take each section independently, this resource is a self-paced way for students to get a feel for the SAT sections in isolation.

Tips For Taking A Free SAT Practice Test At Home

Now that you know about the best free SAT practice exams available, you can start formulating your study plan. The more work you put into preparing for the SAT, the easier picking a college will be because you’ll likely have more options with a higher score.

It’s essential to commit yourself to do a dry run of the SAT at least once. This means using official SAT practice tests and adhering to the time constraints of each section.

Not only will this help you gauge your performance under pressure, but you’ll gain valuable insights as to what you need to incorporate into your study plan.

You’ll become more familiar with the structure and pacing of the test, as well as how you’ll feel working through the test for that block of time.

Here’s what you can do to make the most of your SAT practice test session.

Set The Stage

You already know you’ll take the SAT in a silent room free of distractions. And whether you’ll be taking the new SAT on a computer or the traditional paper-based test, you’ll be focused on only the task at hand.

So when you commit to running through a mock SAT, you’ll want to eliminate any possible distractions. Shut down your phone, television, and other distracting devices that will break your concentration.

Choose a low-traffic area of your house or book a study room at your local library. Bring a timer with you so you can accurately time out each section.

Start early on a Saturday or a day off from school to ensure you won’t be interrupted. Go through the test sections in the order you’ll see them on your test day:

• Reading
• Writing & language
• Math without a calculator
• Math with a calculator

Note how long you’ll get for each section and set your timer. If you don’t have a timer, use a wristwatch to calculate when to stop working on each section.

Use Your Time Wisely

While the SAT is a timed test, don’t rush through the questions. It’s essential to use your time wisely.

If you struggle to choose an answer, mark the question and move on. Only spend a little bit of time on any one question. As time permits, go back and review your answer choices.

This will give you an idea of how to pace yourself on testing day. Take note of which questions are most difficult for you to answer and which you feel most comfortable with.

Review Your Test Results

Once you finish your run-through of the SAT test, review your test results. Whether you choose a paper test that you have to grade yourself or an online one that grades it for you, look at the data breakdown of how you performed.

Pay close attention to the specific skills and academic areas that gave you a challenge. Use the outline note-taking method to track your performance. See how you did each passage type on the reading practice test. In the writing section, take note of the grammar and vocabulary questions you got wrong. Finally, list any math topics you still need to include.

Of course, you should also look at what you did well. Pat yourself on the back for all the questions you answered successfully. Note which section you scored highest in, and be proud!

Study The Areas You Need To Improve In

Now that you know which subject areas you need to study, find free resources, like the ones outlined in this article, to help you brush up on these skills.

Pay close attention in class: you may cover these topics in school. You can ask your teachers for recommendations and turn to the free SAT prep resources above to help you focus on your areas of need.

Retest And Reassess

If you started the SAT preparation process early enough, you should have plenty of time to retest.

Follow the same procedure as before, but use a different practice test. Compare the results to your first attempt and note the differences. Did the study plan you followed have a positive impact on your score?

The more practice you put in, the more it reflects on your SAT score. In addition, it will help you prepare for the test session and feel more confident and familiar with the test format.

Know How To Set Yourself Up For Success On Test Day

Taking the SAT is a massive part of test day, but you must consider other factors to ensure you get the desired results.

Get a good night’s rest before the test, and give yourself time to do the morning routine that works best for you. Brush up on the testing site rules ahead of time. Make plans for where you will store your cell phone and leave your smartwatch at home to prevent any issues.

Make sure you know where to go, what parking is available, and how to get there. This will help prevent anxiety or stress before the test.

Above all, avoid cramming the night before. You’ve already given yourself enough time to prepare, so enjoy a well-earned night of relaxation before the SAT test.

Take Advantage Of Free Online SAT Prep To Give Your SAT Score A Boost

Whether you are in the middle of filling out college applications or just beginning to plan the college admissions process, your SAT scores are the key to many academic opportunities.

Preparation is key. Give yourself time to work through sample questions and authentic practice tests. Then, analyze the data and use it to drive your unique study plan.

The more time and effort you put into SAT prep, the more impact it will have on your overall SAT score. So take advantage of these free SAT prep materials and make the most of your study plan.

FAQs

How do I pick the best college essay topic for me?

The best college essay topic will relate to you and your unique experience, allowing you to showcase your talents that aren’t covered on your college application.

Should I cram for the SAT test?

You may feel inclined to cram for the test, but it’s best to give your brain a break the night before the SAT.

How much does the SAT registration fee cost?

SAT registration costs $55. However, students may qualify for a fee waiver through their school.