Today we’re glad to share news about Official SAT Practice, our free resource for students who are preparing for the SAT. We’ve learned that how you spend your time on Official SAT Practice really matters. Our research shows there are three best practices that are associated with substantial improvements in SAT scores when students practice for at least six hours:
- Leveling up your skills. Leveling up provides a signal that you’re consistently advancing in the content tested on the SAT, and it’s a marker for learning progress.
- Taking a full-length practice test. A practice exam simulates the real test experience and helps you see what you know and don’t know. Eight full-length practice tests are available on Official SAT Practice.
- Following your personalized practice recommendations. The recommendations are based on your previous scores on the PSAT, SAT, or mini diagnostic quizzes. They help you stay focused on areas where you need the most help.
Focusing on these three best practices will help you make the most effective use of your time on Khan Academy—you’ll know the practice you’re doing is targeted.
Students from the class of 2019 who used Official SAT Practice for six or more hours and engaged in at least one best practice scored 39 points higher on their first SAT than students who did not use Official SAT Practice. (For folks who work in education research circles, that’s a .20 effect size. We think it’s quite promising! Here’s the summary of findings.) The score improvement trends hold true regardless of demographic characteristics like gender, race, parental education level, and PSAT score, which is important because our goal is to help level the playing field for all test takers.
We launched free Official SAT Practice in 2015 in partnership with the College Board. Official SAT Practice is a personalized platform that helps students practice for the SAT with sample questions, instant feedback, video lessons, and full-length practice tests. Sign-ups have grown each year and now total more than 10 million users worldwide.
To learn about upcoming SAT administrations, including health and safety requirements and test center closure and capacity information, please visit the College Board.
