Enter Your Email to Try 21 SAT Practice Questions:
Sample some SAT practice questions online to see what the test is like, or treat this as a mini quiz to assess your current skills. The SAT tests you on a lot of topics through many different kinds of questions: 21 in total! Our free practice set above allows you to try out one question of each type. Here’s a broad look at what you’ll encounter (and see below for a more detailed preview of each question):
- Reading and Writing – 11 practice questions
- Math – 10 practice questions
Approaching the Practice Questions as an SAT Diagnostic Quiz
If you’d like to treat this practice set as a diagnostic quiz, we recommend setting aside 30 minutes. And to mimic the time constraints of the real SAT, you should aim to spend around 14 minutes on the Reading and Writing questions and 16 minutes on the Math questions.
With that said, this sample set of questions is just that: a sample. We’ve preselected a range of difficulties (from Easy to Very Hard) and only one of each question type. On a real SAT test, you will encounter more than 1 of each type and the difficulty will vary. Plus, the 2nd module you do in a section will adapt its difficulty based on your performance in the 1st module.
Thus, for a true adaptive experience, an estimated SAT score, and a more accurate measure of your abilities, we highly recommend that you take a full-length practice test.
But if you don’t have time for a full test, this diagnostic quiz is a quick way to get a feel for the Digital SAT and to see how you’re currently doing. At the end of the quiz, you can view explanations for every question. Plus, see the end of this article for advice on how to study based on your results!
Table of Contents
- The SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions
- The SAT Math Practice Questions
- Study Advice Based on Your Diagnostic Quiz Results
- Where Can I Find More Free SAT Practice Questions?
- Closing Thoughts
The SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions
On the SAT Reading and Writing section, all the questions are multiple choice. Additionally, every question comes with its own, separate passage. This is a key difference between the Digital SAT and the older Paper SAT, which had long passages with many questions.
The following chart lists all the different SAT Reading and Writing question types. You’ll see one of each type on our practice quiz. And last column is the difficulty of the particular problem that you’ll answer in the set.
| Question Type | Practice Question Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Boundaries | Easy |
| Central Ideas and Details | Easy |
| Words in Context | Easy |
| Command of Evidence – Quantitative | Medium |
| Inference | Medium |
| Text Structure and Purpose | Medium |
| Form, Structure, and Sense | Hard |
| Rhetorical Synthesis | Hard |
| Transitions | Hard |
| Command of Evidence – Textual | Very Hard |
| Cross-Text Connections | Very Hard |
To learn more about what each of those question types is like, please see the Reading and Writing Section of our article on SAT Question Types.
The SAT Math Practice Questions
On the SAT Math section, you’ll actually encounter two styles of questions: the standard multiple choice and grid-in. Grid-in (or student-response) questions don’t have any answer choices. Instead, you have to write in your own answer on those.
The following chart lists all the different SAT Math question types. You’ll get a chance to answer one of each type on our practice quiz. And once again, the last column is the difficulty of the specific problem in our practice set.
| Question Type | Practice Question Style | Practice Question Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra | Multiple Choice | Easy |
| Percents and Ratios | Grid-In | Easy |
| Powers and Roots | Multiple Choice | Easy |
| Advanced Math | Multiple Choice | Medium |
| Data Analysis | Multiple Choice | Medium |
| Word Problems | Grid-In | Medium |
| Coordinate Plane | Grid-In | Hard |
| Geometry | Multiple Choice | Hard |
| Statistics | Multiple Choice | Very Hard |
| Trigonometry | Multiple Choice | Very Hard |
To learn more about each of those question categories, please see the Math Section of our article on SAT Question Types.
Study Advice Based on Your Diagnostic Quiz Results
Once you’ve finished all the SAT practice questions, you’ll get your overall score out of 21 and will be able to see your results on each individual question. The study recommendations here are for an individual section (Math or Reading and Writing), so tally up the number of questions you answered correctly in each section first before reading the advice.
By the way, don’t be discouraged if you found the quiz difficult: the SAT is supposed to be hard! Keep in mind that this is just a diagnostic to measure where you are in your SAT journey. Use this tool as a gauge of your current level and not an absolute measure of your abilities.
No matter how you scored, we strongly recommend that you follow a study schedule. We generally suggest that students study for at least a couple months, but there are shorter and longer schedules available.
Section Score: 0 to 2 Correct Answers
Don’t be discouraged! Every SAT expert started with the basics, and you have the opportunity to make tremendous progress. This diagnostic is just a starting point, and every bit of effort you put in now will get you closer to your goal.
Recommendation:
- Focus on Foundation: Start with the basics in both Reading and Writing and Math. Go over fundamental grammar rules, reading strategies, and key math concepts.
- Prioritize High-Frequency Topics: Study question types you’ll encounter most frequently on the test (like Algebra in Math or Words in Context in Reading and Writing).
- Use Guided Practice: Use resources that break down concepts step-by-step. Consider short, targeted practice sets to build foundational skills.
- Build Test Stamina Slowly: Gradually increase the length and difficulty of practice questions to build confidence without overwhelming yourself.
Section Score: 3 to 5 Correct Answers
Great job! You’ve shown that you’re on the path to success. Now, it’s time to start sharpening your skills and turning any challenges into strengths. With consistent practice, you’ll see your scores rise even more.
Recommendation:
- Identify Key Weaknesses: Review each question type and note which you struggled with. Aim to turn “problem areas” into strengths.
- Practice Core Skills: Focus on understanding and mastering specific skills, like solving equations for Math or making inferences in Reading and Writing.
- Review Answer Explanations Thoroughly: Pay attention to why each correct answer is right and why your answer was incorrect.
- Use Short Drills to Target Weak Areas: Doing quick sets of similar question types (e.g., boundaries questions in Reading and Writing or data analysis in Math) can be particularly effective.
Section Score: 6 to 8 Correct Answers
You’re making solid progress, and it’s clear you’re getting a good handle on many question types. Keep going! With just a few targeted improvements, you’ll be ready to take your score to the next level.
Recommendation:
- Focus on Efficiency: Work on improving speed and accuracy for question types you’re generally confident with, as well as recognizing and quickly addressing mistakes.
- Tackle Specific Trouble Spots: Identify any patterns in the questions you’re getting wrong, and focus on building targeted skills for those areas.
- Simulate Real Test Conditions: Take longer practice sections to replicate test-day conditions and build endurance.
- Refine Techniques: Work on advanced strategies, like eliminating wrong answers quickly or spotting patterns in answer choices.
Section Score: 9 to 10 (or 11) Correct Answers
Fantastic work! You’ve shown a strong understanding of the test material, and you’re in a great position to reach a top score. Keep pushing yourself—there’s always room for growth, and staying sharp will ensure you’re fully prepared.
Recommendation:
- Polish Advanced Skills: Focus on fine-tuning strategies for more challenging questions. Look at small efficiency tweaks to maximize time.
- Practice for Consistency: Work on maintaining accuracy under pressure, focusing on question types where you’re already strong.
- Take Timed, Full-Length Practice Tests: Full-length tests will ensure you can sustain your performance throughout the entire test and help identify any remaining weaknesses.
- Use Mistake Analysis: For any mistakes you make in practice, analyze whether it was due to misinterpretation, rushing, or a knowledge gap, then work on these specific issues.
Where Can I Find More Free SAT Practice Questions?
Magoosh also offers a free Digital SAT practice test. That’s 98 questions total, or you can also take a single section of the practice exam, which would be 44 or 54 questions.
Be sure to check out the College Board website—they’re the creators of the SAT, so their practice is as official as it gets.
You can also do free SAT practice questions at Khan Academy.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you have a good feel for what’s on the SAT and how you’d perform, keep that momentum up! These free SAT practice questions are a great starting point or checkpoint, but there’s still more you can do to improve and get a top score.
And with even more practice questions, tests, lessons, and explanations, a Magoosh SAT Premium plan is a great way for you to learn and prepare for the exam. Get a year of access, or try us for free first with a 1-week trial!
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