Parents FAQs: SAT Practice
FAQ
Do I need to pay for an SAT tutor or SAT preparation materials?
No. The College Board and Khan Academy have teamed up to offer free SAT practice tools through Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. Research has shown that 6–8 hours of study with Official SAT Practice is associated with a 90-point score increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT, or from SAT to SAT. And 20 hours is associated with a score gain of 115 points. More than 8 million students have signed up for Official SAT Practice to help them build skills and confidence before taking the SAT.
When should my child start preparing for the SAT?
We recommend that students start practicing for the SAT at least 2–3 months before their test date. By using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy, your child will be able to study for the test anytime, anywhere, and focus on the exact skills they need to improve in order to succeed on the SAT.
How much time should my child study on Official SAT Practice?
Practicing just 15–30 minutes a few days each week in the months leading up to the test is a great way for your child to build confidence and develop the skills they’ll need to succeed on the SAT. Research has shown that just 6–8 hours of study with Official SAT Practice is associated with a 90-point score increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT, or from SAT to SAT. And 20 hours is associated with a score gain of 115 points.
Are the online SAT practice tests the same as the practice tests you can download and print?
Yes. The online practice tests on Khan Academy feature the same questions as the downloadable practice tests. We also recommend that students take two full-length practice tests:
- First practice test: A couple months before they take the actual SAT, so they’ll get an idea of what their test day experience will be like.
- Second practice test: About two weeks before test day. This will let them see which subject areas they should focus their attention on while they still have time to improve.
Is my child's score on a practice test a good indication of what they'll get on the actual test?
Yes. Our research shows that a student’s score on one of our eight full-length practice tests is highly indicative of what that student will score on their actual SAT, especially when the practice test is taken within a couple weeks of their SAT and using the same time limits.
Many of our practice tests have previously been used in actual SAT administrations, so the types of questions and level of difficulty are equivalent to what students will see on SAT day.