The SAT is considered a college readiness test, assessing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in an undergraduate program. Many universities and colleges across the country require the SAT as a prerequisite.
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SAT Practice Tests by Subject
If you need some extra practice in a specific subject, click one of the subjects below to get started on a subject-specific SAT practice test.
What’s on the SAT?
The SAT includes a reading and writing test and a math test. There are a total of 98 questions on the SAT, most of which are multiple-choice questions, and you are given 134 minutes to finish the test.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the SAT:

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Top 5 Most Challenging SAT Questions
Now that you know more about the test, try your hand at some targeted practice!
Over the last year, we’ve compiled the data from about 22,000 test-takers who tried their hand at the practice test at the top of this page. According to the data, around 70% of people answered these five questions incorrectly.
Answer each question and read through the answer explanation, whether you got the answer right or wrong. This will help you ensure you’ve got the topic mastered.
Whether you struggled with these questions or aced them on your first try, be sure to take the full practice test to get a better idea of how prepared you really are!
1. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Never, never marry, my dear fellow! That’s my ________ marry till you can say to yourself that you have done all you are capable of, and until you have ceased to love the woman of your choice and have seen her plainly as she is, or else you will make a cruel and irrevocable mistake.
2. The equation below shows Emma’s savings plan. She set aside an initial lump sum and adds to it on a monthly basis. If is the total investment in cents and is the number of months since she began, how much does she save each month in dollars?
3. Nurseries A, B, and C offer various plants for sale, as well as landscaping services to plant the trees and bushes. Prices are listed in the table below.
A | B | C | |
---|---|---|---|
Trees | $25 | $30 | $20 |
Bushes | $15 | $20 | $15 |
Landscaping (per hour) | $45 | $55 | $50 |
Isabella plans to hire one of the companies to plant 10 trees and 8 bushes. This project will take hours. Which of the following inequalities represents if Nursery A offers a better deal than Nursery C?
We can calculate the cost of each nursery’s trees and bushes.
Nursery A’s cost is:
Nursery C’s cost is:
So, we can set up an inequality, lettingbe the number of hours to plant the bushes and trees. For Nursery A’s services to be a better deal, they must cost less than Nursery C’s:
We solve for by subtracting and from each side:
We rewrite this as and divide each side by to obtain . It is important to remember to reverse the inequality sign when we move the to the left so we don’t end up with (answer choice B).
4. The graph of the system of inequalities and has solutions in which quadrants on the -plane below?
Next, we graph the second line. The -intercept is , so we plot the point . Then we use the slope to plot another point by moving up and over , to . Now we can draw a line passing through the two points. It is a dotted line because the solution is greater than the equation.
We shade the area that is both below the graph of the first line and above the graph of the second line. When we do this, we can see that the overlap of the shaded area is only in quadrant .

5. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
The balcony scene in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is one of the most iconic moments in literature. As Romeo stands in the Capulets’ garden, he overhears Juliet confessing her love for him. The scene is ______ exploration of the intensity of young love as Romeo and Juliet declare their feelings for each other in poetic language. The balcony scene captures the passion, secrecy, and longing that define the love story of Romeo and Juliet, making it a cornerstone of Shakespearean tragedy.
How to Study for the SAT
How to Study Effectively
Your success on SAT test day depends not only on how many hours you put into preparing but also on whether you prepared the right way. It’s good to check along the way to see whether your studying is paying off. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking SAT practice tests to evaluate your progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every time you take a free SAT practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:
- The questions you got wrong
- The ones you had to guess on, even if you guessed right
- The ones you found difficult or slow to work through
This will show you exactly what your weak areas are and where you need to devote more study time. Ask yourself why each of these questions gave you trouble. Was it because you didn’t understand the material? Was it because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.
Answer Explanations
Additionally, many SAT practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be tempting to read the explanation and think that you now have a good understanding of the concept. However, an explanation likely only covers part of the question’s broader context. Even if the explanation makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you’re positive you have a thorough understanding.
Comprehend Each Topic
As you go along, keep in mind that the SAT practice test is just that: practice. Memorizing these questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any of the same exact questions. If you only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won’t be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you’ll be able to answer any question that shows up on the test.
Strategy for SAT Practice
When you’re ready to start taking practice tests, follow this strategy:
- Remove Limitations. Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and SAT study guide handy. Take your time and focus on applying the strategies you’ve learned.
- Time Yourself. Take the second practice test “open book” as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourself to finish in time.
- Simulate Test Day. Take any other practice tests as if it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials. Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as quickly and accurately as possible.
- Keep Practicing. Keep taking practice tests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or it’s time for the actual test. Your mind will be ready for the schedule and stress of test day, and you’ll be able to focus on recalling the material you’ve learned.
High School Student Toolkit: A Guide to College Success
Get expert tips on acing college applications, preparing for tests, managing finances, and navigating college life. Your guide to success starts here!
SAT Online Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online SAT prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!
Here’s what you’ll find in the SAT course:
- 60+ Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- Over 950 SAT Practice Questions
- 250+ Video Tutorials
- 350+ Digital Flashcards
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Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the SAT online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the SAT exam.
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