How to take a practice SAT test – TestMagic

Overview:

Download the SAT test you want to take.
Decide whether or not you’ll write the SAT essay (it’s optional for most colleges).
Take the SAT test under realistic conditions: Set aside 4.5 hours in a quiet place, take the test with an answer sheet, #2 pencils, eraser, calculator, snacks, etc. Load up a proctoring video from YouTube if you don’t want to time yourself.
Score the SAT test. If you wrote the essay, you’ll need a professional to give you feedback.

Detailed steps:

Download the test

First, please use only official SAT tests. Tests made by other companies, no matter how impressive those companies may seem to be, just aren’t as realistic as official tests. There are many tests currently available, and we have compiled a list of officially released SAT tests for your convenience.

You may wish to start with the first test and work your way through them. However, please note that SAT tests 1–4 are not as accurate as SAT tests 5–10. (Why? Long story, but the short version is that SAT tests 1, 2, 3, and 4 were never actually administered as tests; the others were.)

Take your practice SAT test

Next, you need to take the actual tests. This is pretty straightforward–you sit down, take the test with a timer, etc. Most of our students have done this before, but if you haven’t, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

The main thing is to have a quiet place to take the test for the whole time uninterrupted. We know this can be a challenge, so just do your best.

Print out the test and answer sheet. Get your pencils, erasers, and calculator ready.

Start the test!

You may find it helpful to use a video that will actually show the time (all SATs have the same time and same order, so you can use the same video).

TestMagic doesn’t (currently) have a proctoring video, but you can use this one.

Here’s an overview of the timing (based on official College Board instructions):

Section 1 (Reading Test): 65 minutes
Break: 5 minutes
Section 2 (Writing and Language Test): 35 minutes
Section 3 (Math Test - No Calculator): 25 minutes
Break: 5 minutes
Section 4 (Math Test - Calculator): 55 minutes
Break: 5 minutes
Section 5 (Essay): 50 minutes

Notes:

Calculators are allowed in Section 4 only. Scientific and graphing calculators are acceptable. You may not use your phone as a calculator on the official test.

Score your practice SAT test

The links above link to all sections of the SAT–the SAT test itself, the answer sheet, the answers and scoring, the optional essay, and explanations.

If you would like to have software score the test for you, and you’re a TestMagic student, you may log in to our test scoring service to enter your answers and generate a score.

That’s it

Of course, you should keep your test and scores and review the questions you missed, just as you would with any other school subject.