SAT & ACT: Free Resources for Online Test Prep

Over the years, I bookmarked these sites, because they offered free test prep, and they looked worthwhile. I hope some other students and parents can make use of them. Because my children did not use very many of these sites, I cannot personally vouch for all of them. Please keep in mind that independent study by way of free online materials will not be effective if the student lacks motivation. Anecdotal evidence suggests that even students enrolled in an expensive test prep course will not make much progress in improving their scores, if they are only in the class because their parents have forced them to enroll.

The site that I've seen recommended most often by high school counselors who work with low-income students is number2.com. It offers free test prep for ACT and SAT. Parent can sign up as counselor and monitor student's progress.

Another free SAT prep site, I Need a Pencil, was established by a current Harvard student in 2007 to help low-income students prepare for the exam. We did not know about this resource when my son was studying for the SAT, but it looks like a good one. "Lessons and questions on INeedAPencil.com incorporate examples from sports, pop culture and music to make SAT prep more interesting."

New York Times Word of the Day. See also the left sidebar on this NYT page for "Test Prep Question of the Day."

Merriam Webster Word of the Day is available at the website or as a daily email subscription. The podcast of their Word of the Day should be helpful to younger students studying for the National Spelling Bee, since the word is pronounced and spelled. Check the left sidebar for word games and other vocabulary resources.

A.Word.A.Day: Vocabulary building. Read the archives, or sign up to get a daily email.

Free Rice is another vocabulary building site. This game adjusts the level of the vocabulary, depending on responses. It was popular with some of the kids from the short-lived, now-defunct National Vocabulary Championship.

The College Board's SAT Question of the Day is available as an email, or you can go to the web site and answer it online. At the web site, see the option to register to receive the daily question by email. The College Board also sells a Question of the Day calendar through their online store; it is now selling at 50% off.

"Welcome to ProProfs Online FREE SAT Exam Study Center. Our Online SAT school is the most comprehensive collection of Free SAT study resources on the web offering practice exams, study guides, flashcards, quizzes, cram sheets, articles, links and tips to help you succeed on the SAT exam!" Three practice tests. LOTS of resources here and all free.

Sparks Notes: free prep materials and practice tests for SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, & Advanced Placement Exams. See "The 1000 Most Common SAT Words".

The Princeton Review offers a free SAT practice test online. You need to register to take it, and they are going to want you to sign up (pay for) one of their test prep offerings, but no purchase is necessary to take the practice test.

OnlineMathLearning.com offers a free downloadable SAT practice test. Requires registration. Test prep for SAT and ACT, plus many math worksheets and videos.

eprep wants to sell you a test prep course for the PSAT, SAT or ACT, but they have some free resources at the web site, including videos, a blog where various testing issues are discussed, plus vocabulary and SAT challenges.

We did not use Grockit, a live online game site, involving groups of students studying together for the SAT. Web site says ACT game is coming soon. Participants must register in advance, and the game sessions fill up.

Comments are welcome from parents whose teens have used any of these resources.