Getting the Most from the Free Online Practice Tests

Accessing the Tests

At the website, click on the words "SAT Center." You'll be taken to a web page that offers full-length practice SATs. Click on any one to begin.

Taking the Tests

Main Menu

On the Main Menu, roll your cursor over the Practice Test that you wish to take. You will see a submenu showing the various sections of that test. If you have not taken that section before, you will see a dialogue box that says "To begin this section, click the Start Section button." When you click the button, you will be asked if you wish to take the section timed or untimed. If you choose the timed test mode, a countdown clock will appear at the upper right corner of the screen.

You will then be shown the View Instructions screen for that test section. These present the directions for each question type. When you close the View Instructions screen, the first question will appear.

Answering Questions

To answer questions, click on the answer circle beside the letter of your choice (or enter your answer in the grid provided). At the bottom right corner of the screen you will see a note such as "2 of 20," telling you how many questions are in the section and which question you are answering. After answering each question, click on one of the two arrows at either side of that note to go to the next or previous question.

At any time, you may roll your cursor over the Question Status at the bottom left corner of the screen to see the total number of questions in the section and which ones you have answered or not answered.

Menu Options

At the bottom center of the screen you will see a Menu button. Roll your cursor over that button to see these choices:

• Exit Program: Choose this option if you wish to exit the program entirely. Then, if you wish to resume work on to the same test section, relaunch the program. From the Main Menu, you will have the opportunity to complete the section that you exited or to restart it from the beginning.
• Score and Exit Section: You may choose this option at any time while working on a test section. You will get a new dialogue box that will tell how many questions in the section you answered correctly and allow you to review the questions, your answers, the correct responses, and the explanations. See "Scoring the Practice Tests" below for more information.
• Save and Exit Section: This option takes you back to the Main Menu. Your work will be saved, and whenever you go back to the Main Menu, you will have the opportunity to complete or restart the section that you exited.
• View Instructions: Choose this option if you wish to see again the instructions for the question type(s) in the section in which you are currently working.

Scoring the Practice Tests

After you answer the last question in a section, if you have not answered all of the preceding questions, you will be prompted to roll your cursor over the Question Status button to see which ones you have not answered. You can then return to them and answer them if you wish. Then return to the final question in the section.

You will then be asked if you wish to score and exit the section. If you click "Score and Exit," you will see a new dialogue box that will tell you how many of the questions in the section you answered correctly. You will then be asked, "Would you like to review the section now?" If you click "yes," the questions will appear one by one on the screen as shown at right.

There will be an "X" next to every incorrect answer and a " + " next to every correct answer. For each question, you will also see an inset panel with the explanation ("rationale") for the correct answer. You may then navigate away or close the program.

Later, if you return to the Main Menu and roll your cursor over the section that you completed, you will see a dialogue box that will tell you when you completed the section and how you scored. You can then either review your work on the section, or restart it and take it again.