sample sat essays pdf

SAT Essay Samples | Low vs High-Scoring Examples

The SAT Essay is often used as an extra way to impress admissions officers with your overall academic preparedness. But what does a good essay look like vs a bad one? To make life easier, the College Board has provided some helpful SAT essay samples that you can study over.

Besides helping you get into college, here are a number of other SAT Essay benefits to consider .

SAT Essay Samples Prompt

Expect to see prompt directions like the ones below:

“As you read the passage below, consider how Paul Bogard uses:

  • evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
  • reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
  • stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.”

SAT Essay Samples Passage

“ Adapted from Paul Bogard, “Let There Be Dark.” ©2012 by Los Angeles Times. Originally published December 21, 2012.

At my family’s cabin on a Minnesota lake, I knew woods so dark that my hands disappeared before my eyes. I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars. But now, when 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way, I worry we are rapidly losing night’s natural darkness before realizing its worth. This winter solstice, as we cheer the days’ gradual movement back toward light, let us also remember the irreplaceable value of darkness.

All life evolved to the steady rhythm of bright days and dark nights. Today, though, when we feel the closeness of nightfall, we reach quickly for a light switch. And too little darkness, meaning too much artificial light at night, spells trouble for all.

Already the World Health Organization classifies working the night shift as a probable human carcinogen, and the American Medical Association has voiced its unanimous support for “light pollution reduction efforts and glare reduction efforts at both the national and state levels.” Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression, and recent research suggests one main cause of “short sleep” is “long light.” Whether we work at night or simply take our tablets, notebooks and smartphones to bed, there isn’t a place for this much artificial light in our lives.

The rest of the world depends on darkness as well, including nocturnal and crepuscular species of birds, insects, mammals, fish and reptiles. Some examples are well known—the 400 species of birds that migrate at night in North America, the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs—and some are not, such as the bats that save American farmers billions in pest control and the moths that pollinate 80% of the world’s flora. Ecological light pollution is like the bulldozer of the night, wrecking habitat and disrupting ecosystems several billion years in the making. Simply put, without darkness, Earth’s ecology would collapse…

In today’s crowded, louder, more fast-paced world, night’s darkness can provide solitude, quiet and stillness, qualities increasingly in short supply. Every religious tradition has considered darkness invaluable for a soulful life, and the chance to witness the universe has inspired artists, philosophers and everyday stargazers since time began. In a world awash with electric light…how would Van Gogh have given the world his “Starry Night”? Who knows what this vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?

Yet all over the world, our nights are growing brighter. In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% every year. Computer images of the United States at night, based on NASA photographs, show that what was a very dark country as recently as the 1950s is now nearly covered with a blanket of light. Much of this light is wasted energy, which means wasted dollars. Those of us over 35 are perhaps among the last generation to have known truly dark nights. Even the northern lake where I was lucky to spend my summers has seen its darkness diminish.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Light pollution is readily within our ability to solve, using new lighting technologies and shielding existing lights. Already, many cities and towns across North America and Europe are changing to LED streetlights, which offer dramatic possibilities for controlling wasted light. Other communities are finding success with simply turning off portions of their public lighting after midnight. Even Paris, the famed “city of light,” which already turns off its monument lighting after 1 a.m., will this summer start to require its shops, offices and public buildings to turn off lights after 2 a.m. Though primarily designed to save energy, such reductions in light will also go far in addressing light pollution. But we will never truly address the problem of light pollution until we become aware of the irreplaceable value and beauty of the darkness we are losing.”

SAT Essay Samples Directions

Here is how the essay directions will be worded format-wise on test day.

“Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved. In your essay, analyze how Bogard uses one or more of the features in the directions that precede the passage (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.

Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Bogard’s claims, but rather explain how Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience.”

Essay Sample Response (Low Scoring)

“In “Let there be dark,” Paul Bogard talks about the importance of darkness.

Darkness is essential to humans. Bogard states, “Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep, sleep. Sleep disorders have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression and recent research suggests are main cause of “short sleep” is “long light.” Whether we work at night or simply take our tablets, notebooks and smartphones to bed, there isn’t a place for this much artificial light in our lives.” (Bogard 2). Here, Bogard talks about the importance of darkness to humans. Humans need darkness to sleep in order to be healthy.

Animals also need darkness. Bogard states, “The rest of the world depends on darkness as well, including nocturnal and crepuscular species of birds, insects, mammals, fish and reptiles. Some examples are well known—the 400 species of birds that migrate at night in North America, the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs—and some are not, such as the bats that save American farmers billions in pest control and the moths that pollinate 80% of the world’s flora. Ecological light pollution is like the bulldozer of the night, wrecking habitat and disrupting ecosystems several billion years in the making. Simply put, without darkness, Earth’s ecology would collapse…” (Bogard 2). Here Bogard explains that animals, too, need darkness to survive.”

Essay Sample Response (High Scoring)

“In response to our world’s growing reliance on artificial light, writer Paul Bogard argues that natural darkness should be preserved in his article “Let There be dark”. He effectively builds his argument by using a personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions.

Bogard starts his article off by recounting a personal story – a summer spent on a Minnesota lake where there was “woods so dark that [his] hands disappeared before [his] eyes.” In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter about night darkness, the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess. He builds his argument for the preservation of natural darkness by reminiscing for his readers a first-hand encounter that proves the “irreplaceable value of darkness.” This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims.

Bogard’s argument is also furthered by his use of allusion to art – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – and modern history – Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light”. By first referencing “Starry Night”, a painting generally considered to be undoubtedly beautiful, Bogard establishes that the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite. A world absent of excess artificial light could potentially hold the key to a grand, glorious night sky like Van Gogh’s according to the writer. This urges the readers to weigh the disadvantages of our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting. Furthermore, Bogard’s alludes to Paris as “the famed ‘city of light’”. He then goes on to state how Paris has taken steps to exercise more sustainable lighting practices. By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but more so “the city of light…before 2 AM”. This furthers his line of argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to preserve natural darkness. It shows that even a city that is literally famous for being constantly lit can practically address light pollution in a manner that preserves the beauty of both the city itself and the universe as a whole.

Finally, Bogard makes subtle yet efficient use of rhetorical questioning to persuade his audience that natural darkness preservation is essential. He asks the readers to consider “what the vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” in a way that brutally plays to each of our emotions. By asking this question, Bogard draws out heartfelt ponderance from his readers about the affecting power of an untainted night sky. This rhetorical question tugs at the readers’ heartstrings; while the reader may have seen an unobscured night skyline before, the possibility that their child or grandchild will never get the chance sways them to see as Bogard sees. This strategy is definitively an appeal to pathos, forcing the audience to directly face an emotionally-charged inquiry that will surely spur some kind of response. By doing this, Bogard develops his argument, adding guttural power to the idea that the issue of maintaining natural darkness is relevant and multifaceted.

Writing as a reaction to his disappointment that artificial light has largely permeated the presence of natural darkness, Paul Bogard argues that we must preserve true, unaffected darkness. He builds this claim by making use of a personal anecdote, allusions, and rhetorical questioning.”

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SAT Writing and Language: Practice tests and explanations

The SAT writing and language test consists of 44 multiple-choice questions that you'll have 35 minutes to complete. The questions are designed to test your knowledge of grammatical and stylistic topics.

The SAT Writing and Language questions ask about a variety of grammatical and stylistic topics. If you like to read and/or write, the SAT may frustrate you a bit because it may seem to boil writing down to a couple of dull rules.

  • 30 SAT Grammar Practice Tests

SAT Writing and Language Practice Tests

  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 1
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 2
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 3
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 4
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 5
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 6
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 7
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 8
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 9
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 10
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 11
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 12
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 13
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 14
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 15
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 16
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 17
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 18
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 19
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: A Sweet Discovery
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: René Descartes: The Father of Modern Philosophy
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Novel: Introspection to Escapism
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Interning: A Bridge Between Classes and Careers
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: In Defense of Don Quixote
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Women's Ingenuity
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Working from Home: Too Good to Be True?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Is Gluten-Free the Way to Be?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Antarctic Treaty System in Need of Reform
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Finding Pluto
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Public Relations: Build Your Brand While Building for Others
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Film, Culture, and Globalization
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Vitamin C—Essential Nutrient or Wonder Drug?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Familiar Myth
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: America's Love for Streetcars
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Educating Early
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Age of the Librarian
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Unforeseen Consequences: The Dark Side of the Industrial Revolution
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Remembering Freud
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Success in Montreal
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Sorting Recyclables for Best Re-Use
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Interpreter at America's Immigrant Gateway
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Software Sales: A Gratifying Career
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Art of Collecting
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The UN: Promoting World Peace
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: DNA Analysis in a Day
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Will You Succeed with Your Start-Up?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Edgard Varèse's Influence
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: From Here to the Stars
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The UK and the Euro
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Coffee: The Buzz on Beans
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Predicting Nature's Light Show
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 20
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 21
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 22
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 23
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 24
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 25
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 26
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 27
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 28
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 29
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 30
  • New SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 31
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Physician Assistants
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Maria Montessori
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Platonic Forms
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Eureka Effect
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Carrot or the Stick?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Promise of Bio-Informatics
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: What is Art?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Little Tramp
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Who Really Owns American Media?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Dangers of Superstition
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Skepticism and the Scientific Method
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Magic of Bohemia
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Careers in Engineeringd
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: An American Duty
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: Idol Worship in Sports
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test: The Secret Life of Photons
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 32: The Romani People
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 33: Into the Abyss
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 34: The Doctor Is In
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 35: Maslow's Hierarchy and Violence
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 36: Folklore
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 37: Age of the Drone
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 38: Policing Our Planet
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 39: The Bullroarer
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 40: Astrochemistry
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 41: Blood Ties
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 42: Out with the Old and the New
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 43: Extra, Extra
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 44: Parthenon
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 45: Where Have all the Cavemen Gone?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 46: Chiroptera
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 47: The Tyrannical and the Taciturn
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 48
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 49
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 50: The Giants of Theater
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 51: Gravity, It's Everywhere
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 52: Do the Numbers Lie?
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 53: Draw Your Home
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 54: The Online Job Hunt
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 55: The Glass Menagerie
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 56: For Richer or For Poorer
  • SAT Writing and Language Practice Test 57: Hypocrisy of Hippocratic Humorism

New SAT SAT Writing & Language Practice Tests Pdf Download

  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 1
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 2
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 3
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 1 Answer Explanations
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 2 Answer Explanations
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 3 Answer Explanations
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 4 pdf download
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 5 pdf download
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 6 pdf download
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 7 pdf download
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 8 pdf download
  • New SAT Writing & Language Practice Test 9 pdf download

More Information

  • HOW TO ACE THE SAT WRITING AND LANGUAGE TEST: A STRATEGY
  • Introduction to SAT Writing and Language Strategy
  • The SAT Writing and Language Test-Words
  • The SAT Writing and Language Test-Words and Punctuation in Reverse
  • The SAT Writing and Language Test-Punctuation
  • The SAT Writing and Language Test-Precision Questions
  • The SAT Writing and Language Test-Consistency Questions

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Free SAT Practice Test with Answers and Explanations (PDF)

We’re so excited to give you access to this full-length printable SAT practice test. This practice test was put together by SAT prep expert Chris Lele , Magoosh’s Principal Curriculum Manager. He and our experts have spent days crafting the 154 questions you’ll find inside, which we then thoroughly student- and tutor-tested until the data told us that the test was more than up to snuff. Sign up below to access the free practice test PDF!

  So what will you see in the PDF?

Magoosh SAT Practice Test PDF cover

Well, 154 questions, to start. But beyond that, the test has…

  • SAT Reading Test (65 Minutes, 52 Questions)
  • SAT Writing and Language Test (35 Minutes, 44 Questions)
  • SAT Math Section – No Calculator Test (25 Minutes, 20 Questions)
  • SAT Math Section – Calculator Test (55 Minutes, 38 Questions)
  • An answer key
  • Information on grading your test
  • Links to text and video explanations for every single question on ech section of the test

Where to Find Full-Length SAT Practice Tests (Even Official Ones)

SAT Practice Test - image by Magoosh

There are a few great places to look for full-length SAT practice tests! Here are our top recommendations:

  • Khan Academy : Khan Academy has paired up with the College Board (they’re the test creators) to offer free online practice SAT tests. There are four full exams on the Khan Academy site, which can also be found on the College Board site. After you’ve taken an exam or two, you can then sharpen your skills with practice in different areas with resources on Khan Academy’s site and elsewhere.
  • Magoosh Prep : you can choose between a live cohorted class with an instructor (which includes all our lessons and practice questions) or access to the self-study option by itself.

Why do I need to take a full-length practice test?

To maximize your score on the SAT , you’ll need three things:

Improve your SAT score; start your Magoosh SAT prep today

  • Practice questions
  • Practice tests

And despite what a lot of students believe, those last two aren’t interchangeable! Lessons are super valuable for reviewing content that you might not have seen for a while—or ever. Practice questions are great for making sure you’ve mastered (and continue to remember) the lesson content.

Learn it, practice it…why the third step? Well, first of all, the official SAT won’t have an “algebra” problem set or a “geometry” problem set. It’ll have all kinds of question types mixed together within the three sections. That means that studying different content areas is a very different experience from test day, when you’ll be in front of the exam for at least three hours (more if you’re taking the essay). So you need to get ready with multiple practice tests !

How to Take an SAT Practice Test

Ready to mimic the official experience? Fantastic! All students can benefit from taking an SAT practice test– unless your test is the next morning, in which case, get your rest! For the rest of you, here’s what to do:

  • Set aside approximately four hours of uninterrupted time to take the practice test.
  • Take the test in a quiet place where you won’t be distracted.
  • Mimic test day conditions by turning off your phone and leaving it in another room.
  • Try to take the entire practice test in one sitting.
  • Eat a healthy, energizing snack before taking the practice test.
  • Give yourself a brief, 10-minute break after the Reading test.
  • Give yourself a brief, five-minute break after the Math (No Calculator) test.
  • Use a countdown timer and remember to reset it for each test.

Lucky for you, you don’t have to remember half of these steps if you follow our simulated SAT practice test below, proctored by Magoosh curriculum manager Kat .

All you’d need to do is print your test, find a quiet place, set aside a few hours, and press play to simulate a test-day experience in the comfort of your own home!

What to Do After Practice Tests

After the test, it is critical that you check your answers and make note of any questions you missed. In fact, it’s a good idea to spend at least as much time examining your results as you did taking the test. Why? Well, did you get a question right because you knew the answer, or because you were guessing? Did you get a question wrong because you filled in the wrong bubble? (Practice tests help a lot with this latter problem, by the way!)

Make sure to check the explanations for every question you get wrong, so that you don’t repeat the same mistakes on test day. After you’ve examined your results, do some practice in your weak areas.

Signing up for Magoosh SAT Prep is a great way to learn or relearn concepts you need help with and get access to additional practice problems.

After working on your weak areas and brushing up on your strong areas, take another test and do the same process all over again! In the next section, we highlight some resources that will help you structure your SAT prep after taking your first practice test.

Free Practice Materials

While free practice resources for the SAT may not be as easy to find once you’ve finished the work available here and on the College Board site, don’t worry! There are plenty of other online resources–both free and low-cost (including this blog!)–that will allow you to target your weaker areas and keep your strong areas strong.

  • Magoosh SAT eBook
  • Complete Guide to SAT Scoring
  • SAT Diagnostic Test
  • SAT Question of the Day
  • SAT Flashcards (Prep and Vocab)
  • Magoosh SAT 7-Day Free Trial

A Final Word

You’ve made it this far. Congratulations! The SAT can have many implications for the college admissions process, which can intimidate students. Getting this far shows commitment—the same kind of commitment you need to master the SAT.

So what are you waiting for? Dig out those #2 pencils, find yourself a quiet corner, and get on it! It’s time to start boosting your test score .

Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Rachel is a Magoosh Content Creator. She writes and updates content on our High School and GRE Blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our Magoosh ACT Prep Book . Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel, THE BALLERINAS , is forthcoming in December 2021 from St. Martin’s Press , while her memoir, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND , co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn’t strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on Twitter , Instagram , or Facebook !

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Chris Lele

Chris Lele is the Principal Curriculum Manager (and vocabulary wizard ) at Magoosh. Chris graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and has 20 years of experience in the test prep industry. He’s been quoted as a subject expert in many publications, including US News , GMAC , and Business Because . In his time at Magoosh, Chris has taught countless students how to tackle the GRE , GMAT, SAT, ACT, MCAT (CARS), and LSAT exams with confidence. Some of his students have even gone on to get near-perfect scores. You can find Chris on YouTube , LinkedIn , Twitter and Facebook !

More from Magoosh

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for the SAT

6 responses to “Free SAT Practice Test with Answers and Explanations (PDF)”

Edidiong Ekpo Avatar

Very informational and comprehensive, thanks.

Grace Ukpong Avatar

Do you tutor students outside of the United States with your online SAT COURSE to take the test in Nigeria

Uchechukwu Daniel chukwuemeka Avatar

Not yet a student But about to be one

Magoosh Expert

Welcome! We’re glad you’ve chosen to study with us! 😀

Temituro olamilekan glory Avatar

Please I want to ask a question,the question is that did you tutor student outside your country,me typing am from Nigeria, because I we like to be one of your student because I have some motivation in this.

Hi Temituro!

Thanks for writing! Magoosh students come from all over the world — because our product and curriculum are all online, all you need is an internet connection and a device to join. You can read more details here: https://sat.magoosh.com/plans

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SAT Practice Test

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Congrats on taking our SAT Sample Quiz. Take one of our full-length SAT practice tests or one of our study sets. Everything is 100% free!

1 . Question

What percentage does 90 represent in relation to 360?

2 . Question

7 added to 4 times a quantity y is equal to 62. Which equation represents this condition?

  • a. 7(4y) = 62
  • b. 7 – 4y = 62
  • c. 7 + 4y = 62
  • d. 4y – 7 = 62

3 . Question

For a cost of $57, how many pounds of avocados were bought at a rate of $19 per pound?

4 . Question

The table displays three sets of values for x and their corresponding f(x) values for a linear function f. What equation accurately represents the definition of f(x)?

  • a. f(x) = 6x + 65
  • b. f(x) = 8x + 65
  • c. f(x) = 65x + 73
  • d. f(x) = 73x + 81

5 . Question

If \frac{x}{15}=20 , what is the value of \frac{15}{x} ?

6 . Question

What is the equation that defines line p in the xy-plane, given that it passes through the point (-4, 6) and has a slope of 6?

  • a. y = 6x + 30
  • b. y = 6x – 30
  • c. y = 6 + 30x
  • d. y = 6x – 30x

7 . Question

2.5b + 5r = 80

The provided equation expresses the connection between the quantity of biscuits (b) and raisins (r) that a reviewer business can handle in a single day. If the business is tending to 16 raisins on a specific day, what is the capacity for biscuits that it can manage on the same day?

8 . Question

In a specific rectangular area, the length-to-width ratio is 45 : 15. If the width of the region grows by 8 units, how should the length be adjusted to uphold this ratio?

  • a. It must decrease by 24.5 units.
  • b. It must increase by 24.5 units.
  • c. It must decrease by 24 units.
  • d. It must increase by 24 units.

9 . Question

In a circle with center O, the arc XY measures 105°. What is the degree measure of the angle XOY that corresponds to this arc?

10 . Question

In a right triangle, the side lengths are 3\sqrt3 , 2\sqrt3 ,and \sqrt{70} units. What is the area of the triangle in square units?

*Enter in just the number for your answer.

All SAT Practice Tests

If you want some more in-depth prep, use a free SAT practice test listed below.

  • Practice Exams = Timed and Full-Length
  • Practice Sets = Not Timed and Smaller Sets of Questions

SAT Practice Exam #1

SAT Practice Exam #2

SAT Practice Exam #3

SAT Practice Exam #4

SAT Math Practice Sets

SAT Reading & Writing Practice Sets

If you want some additional help with prepping for the SAT, consider using  SAT prep courses .

Official SAT PDF Practice Exams

If you want to study using PDFs, use the links below. These are full-length practice exams provided by the CollegeBoard.

Overview of the SAT

The SAT is an entrance exam used by colleges and universities to help make decisions about admissions.

The SAT is administered by the CollegeBoard and is given 7 times per year. The exam is a timed, mainly multiple-choice exam, taken by students in high school.

Beginning in the spring of 2024, the SAT will be going fully digital. The digital SAT (DSAT) will have some formatting and content changes to it, along with some other changes. You can review those changes below.

New SAT (Digital SAT)

This exam will be given to students starting in spring of 2024.

Old SAT (Written Exam)

This exam will be given to students up until spring of 2024.

The biggest difference between the old SAT and the digital SAT is that the digital SAT is taken completely online and has combined some sections to streamline the exam.

An overview of the digital SAT exam and what is included on the exam.

Scoring of the SAT

You will receive a score for math and a score for reading/writing. Each of those scores will be between 200 and 800 .

Your total score will be the sum of those two scores. You can receive a total score between 400 and 1600 on the SAT.

The average SAT score is 1060. Learn more about good SAT scores .

Registering for the SAT and Test Dates

You can register for the SAT online via the CollegeBoard site .

You will need to do the following when registering for the SAT:

  • Have a Valid Photo ID
  • Upload a Photo of Yourself When Registering Online
  • Pay Registration Fees
  • Print Your Admission Ticket

It will cost your $60 to take the SAT. There may be some additional fees like canceling, changing test center, etc..

The SAT is typically given 7 times per year. The exam is given on Saturdays. You can expect the exam to be given in these months:

  • Early March
  • Late August
  • Early October
  • Early November
  • Early December

You can find exact dates on the official website .

Steps for Using SAT Practice

When using our free SAT practice tests, we recommend the following steps to get the most out of your time:

  • Take 1 practice exam from each subject.
  • Determine which subject you struggled the most with.
  • Focus on that 1 subject moving forward. Take additional practice exams in that subject, study important concepts, and invest in a SAT prep course if need be.
  • Take a practice exam on that subject again and see where you stand. Continue to focus on that subject if you need more help or move on to another subject if you did well on this practice exam.
  • Repeat steps 3 and 4 for other subjects.

Benefits of Using SAT Practice Questions

There are many benefits to using SAT questions during your prep process. Some of those benefits include:

Help With Timing

The SAT exam is a timed test. Keeping a steady pace is critical to achieving a high score.

You can improve your decision making and your time by taking practice exams.

Test Familiarity

All standardized tests, including the SAT, have their own unique way of presenting questions and answer choices.

You will gain more familiarity and comfort with the SAT question style as you take more practice quizzes. On the real exam day, there will be no surprises.

Efficient Studying

When you take many practice exams, you will get a sense of your test strengths and weaknesses.

Many students mistakenly spend time working on their strengths while ignoring their weaknesses.

Knowing which subjects you struggle with will help you focus your study time.

Work On Problem Solving

Tests like the SAT measure your ability to solve problems, not just memorize information. It is critical to have strong problem-solving abilities.

The answer explanations provided in our score reports can help you understand how to solve problems that you may be struggling with.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the sat going to the digital format.

The SAT will be switching to the digital format in the spring of 2024.

How many questions are on the SAT?

There are 154 questions on the old SAT (written version).

There are 98 questions on the new SAT (digital version).

How much time do you have to take the SAT?

You will have 3 hours and 15 minutes to take the old SAT (written version).

You will have 2 hours and 14 minutes to take the new SAT (digital version).

Can I use a calculator on the math section of the SAT?

There will be 1 math section in which you can use a calculator and 1 math section in which you cannot use a calculator on the old SAT (written version).

You will be permitted to use a calculator on all math modules on the new SAT (digital version).

What is a good way to practice for the SAT?

We recommend taking 1 practice exam for each subject. You can then determine which subject gave you the most trouble and focus your studies on that subject.

sample sat essays pdf

  • Authored By: Adam Groden
  • Last Updated: January 19, 2024

Test Prep Toolkit

SAT Essay Prompts (10 Sample Questions)

What does it take to get a high SAT Essay score, if not perfect it? Practice, practice and more practice! Know the tricks and techniques of writing the perfect SAT Essay, so that you can score perfect as well. That’s not a far off idea, because there actually is a particular “formula” for perfecting the SAT Essay test. Consider that every prompt has a format, and what test-takers are required to do remain the same- even if the passage varies from test to test.

The SAT Essay test will ask you to read an argument that is intended to persuade a general audience. You’ll need to discuss how proficient the author is in arguing their point. Analyze the argument of the author and create an integrated and structured essay that explains your analysis.

On this page, we will feature 10 real SAT Essay prompts that have been recently released online by the College Board. You can utilize these Essay SAT prompts as 10 sample SAT Essay questions for easy practice. This set of SAT Essay prompts is the most comprehensive that you will find online today.

The predictability of the SAT Essay test necessitates students to perform an organized analytical method of writing instead of thinking up random ideas on their own. Consider that what you will see before and after the passage remains consistent. It is recommended that you initially read and apply the techniques suggested in writing the perfect SAT Essay (🡨link to SAT Essay —- SAT Essay Overview: How to Get a Perfect Score) before proceeding on using the following essay prompts for practice.

Check our SAT Reading Practice Tests

10 Official SAT Essay Prompts For Practice

10 Official SAT Essay Prompts For Practice

Practice Test 1

“Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry.”

Practice Test 2

“Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust.”

Practice Test 3

“Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology.”

Practice Test 4

“Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved.”

Practice Test 5

“Write an essay in which you explain how Eric Klinenberg builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to greatly reduce their reliance on air-conditioning.”

Practice Test 6

“Write an essay in which you explain how Christopher Hitchens builds an argument to persuade his audience that the original Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece.”

Practice Test 7

“Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open”

Practice Test 8

“Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA.”

Practice Test 9

“Write an essay in which you explain how Richard Schiffman builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to work fewer hours.”

Practice Test 10

“Write an essay in which you explain how Todd Davidson builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to fund national parks.”

Visit our SAT Writing Practice Tests

What Is An Example Of A SAT Essay That Obtained A Perfect Score?

Example Of A SAT Essay

Here is an example of Practice Test 4 above and how a perfect SAT Essay in response to it looks like. This has been published in the College Board website.

Answer Essay with Perfect Score:

In response to our world’s growing reliance on artificial light, writer Paul Bogard argues that natural darkness should be preserved in his article “Let There be dark”. He effectively builds his argument by using a personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions.

Bogard starts his article off by recounting a personal story – a summer spent on a Minnesota lake where there was “woods so dark that [his] hands disappeared before [his] eyes.” In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter about night darkness, the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess. He builds his argument for the preservation of natural darkness by reminiscing for his readers a first-hand encounter that proves the “irreplaceable value of darkness.” This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims.

Bogard’s argument is also furthered by his use of allusion to art – Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” – and modern history – Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light”. By first referencing “Starry Night”, a painting generally considered to be undoubtedly beautiful, Bogard establishes that the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite. A world absent of excess artificial light could potentially hold the key to a grand, glorious night sky like Van Gogh’s according to the writer. This urges the readers to weigh the disadvantages of our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting. Furthermore, Bogard’s alludes to Paris as “the famed ‘city of light’”. He then goes on to state how Paris has taken steps to exercise more sustainable lighting practices. By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2 AM”. This furthers his line of argumentation because it shows how steps can be and are being taken to preserve natural darkness. It shows that even a city that is literally famous for being constantly lit can practically address light pollution in a manner that preserves the beauty of both the city itself and the universe as a whole

Finally, Bogard makes subtle yet efficient use of rhetorical questioning to persuade his audience that natural darkness preservation is essential. He asks the readers to consider “what the vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” in a way that brutally plays to each of our emotions. By asking this question, Bogard draws out heartfelt ponderance from his readers about the affecting power of an untainted night sky. This rhetorical question tugs at the readers’ heartstrings; while the reader may have seen an unobscured night skyline before, the possibility that their child or grandchild will never get the chance sways them to see as Bogard sees. This strategy is definitively an appeal to pathos, forcing the audience to directly face an emotionally-charged inquiry that will surely spur some kind of response. By doing this, Bogard develops his argument, adding gutthral power to the idea that the issue of maintaining natural darkness is relevant and multifaceted.

Writing as a reaction to his disappointment that artificial light has largely permeated the prescence of natural darkness, Paul Bogard argues that we must preserve true, unaffected darkness. He builds this claim by making use of a personal anecdote, allusions, and rhetorical questioning.

Related Topic:  SAT Requirements

This response scored a 4/4/4.

Reading—4: This response demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text through skillful use of paraphrases and direct quotations. The writer briefly summarizes the central idea of Bogard’s piece ( natural darkness should be preserved ;  we must preserve true, unaffected darkness ), and presents many details from the text, such as referring to the personal anecdote that opens the passage and citing Bogard’s use of  Paris’ reputation as “The City of Light.” There are few long direct quotations from the source text; instead, the response succinctly and accurately captures the entirety of Bogard’s argument in the writer’s own words, and the writer is able to articulate how details in the source text interrelate with Bogard’s central claim. The response is also free of errors of fact or interpretation. Overall, the response demonstrates advanced reading comprehension.

Analysis—4:  This response offers an insightful analysis of the source text and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the analytical task. In analyzing Bogard’s use of personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions , the writer is able to explain carefully and thoroughly how Bogard builds his argument over the course of the passage. For example, the writer offers a possible reason for why Bogard chose to open his argument with a personal anecdote, and is also able to describe the overall effect of that choice on his audience ( In telling this brief anecdote, Bogard challenges the audience to remember a time where they could fully amass themselves in natural darkness void of artificial light. By drawing in his readers with a personal encounter…the author means to establish the potential for beauty, glamour, and awe-inspiring mystery that genuine darkness can possess…. This anecdote provides a baseline of sorts for readers to find credence with the author’s claims ). The cogent chain of reasoning indicates an understanding of the overall effect of Bogard’s personal narrative both in terms of its function in the passage and how it affects his audience. This type of insightful analysis is evident throughout the response and indicates advanced analytical skill.

Writing—4: The response is cohesive and demonstrates highly effective use and command of language. The response contains a precise central claim ( He effectively builds his argument by using personal anecdote, allusions to art and history, and rhetorical questions ), and the body paragraphs are tightly focused on those three elements of Bogard’s text. There is a clear, deliberate progression of ideas within paragraphs and throughout the response. The writer’s brief introduction and conclusion are skillfully written and encapsulate the main ideas of Bogard’s piece as well as the overall structure of the writer’s analysis. There is a consistent use of both precise word choice and well-chosen turns of phrase ( the natural magnificence of stars in a dark sky is definite ,  our world consumed by unnatural, vapid lighting ,  the affecting power of an untainted night sky ). Moreover, the response features a wide variety in sentence structure and many examples of sophisticated sentences ( By doing this, Bogard creates a dichotomy between Paris’ traditionally alluded-to name and the reality of what Paris is becoming – no longer “the city of light”, but moreso “the city of light…before 2AM” ). The response demonstrates a strong command of the conventions of written English. Overall, the response exemplifies advanced writing proficiency.

Related Topics:

  • Practice Tests for SAT Reading
  • SAT Writing And Language Practice Tests
  • SAT Languages Test
  • SAT Essay Test  SAT Writing Practice Tests
  • SAT Science Test, Topics & Subjects Content
  • SAT Registration
  • SAT Test Dates
  • SAT vs ACT, Which One Should You Take?
  • Why Take the SAT?

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SAT Writing , SAT Essay

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On every SAT Essay, you'll have to read an argument meant to persuade a broad audience and discuss how well the author argues his or her point. The passage you'll have to read will change from test to test, but you'll always need to analyze the author's argument and write a coherent and organized essay explaining this analysis.

In this article, we've compiled a list of the 14 real SAT essay prompts that the College Board has released (either in The Official SAT Study Guide or separately online) for the new SAT. This is the most comprehensive set of new SAT essay prompts online today.

At the end of this article, we'll also guide you through how to get the most out of these prompts and link to our expert resources on acing the SAT essay. I'll discuss how the SAT essay prompts are valuable not just because they give you a chance to write a practice essay, but because of what they reveal about the essay task itself.

UPDATE: SAT Essay No Longer Offered

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In January 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer offer the Essay portion of the SAT (except at schools who opt in during School Day Testing). It is now no longer possible to take the SAT Essay, unless your school is one of the small number who choose to offer it during SAT School Day Testing.

While most colleges had already made SAT Essay scores optional, this move by the College Board means no colleges now require the SAT Essay. It will also likely lead to additional college application changes such not looking at essay scores at all for the SAT or ACT, as well as potentially requiring additional writing samples for placement.

What does the end of the SAT Essay mean for your college applications? Check out our article on the College Board's SAT Essay decision for everything you need to know.

SAT essay prompts always keep to the same basic format. Not only is the prompt format consistent from test to test, but what you're actually asked to do (discuss how an author builds an argument) also remains the same across different test administrations.

The College Board's predictability with SAT essay helps students focus on preparing for the actual analytical task, rather than having to think up stuff on their feet. Every time, before the passage, you'll see the following:

  • evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
  • reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
  • stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.

And after the passage, you'll see this:

"Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his] audience that [whatever the author is trying to argue for]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.

Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author]'s claims, but rather explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [her/his/their] audience."

Now that you know the format, let's look at the SAT essay prompts list.

14 Official SAT Essay Prompts

The College Board has released a limited number of prompts to help students prep for the essay. We've gathered them for you here, all in one place. We'll be sure to update this article as more prompts are released for practice and/or as more tests are released.

SPOILER ALERT : Since these are the only essay prompts that have been released so far, you may want to be cautious about spoiling them for yourself, particularly if you are planning on taking practice tests under real conditions . This is why I've organized the prompts by the 10 that are in the practice tests (so you can avoid them if need be), the ones that are available online as sample prompts, and the ones that are in the text of the Official SAT Study Guide (Redesigned SAT), all online for free.

Practice Test Prompts

These 10 prompts are taken from the practice tests that the College Board has released.

Practice Test 1 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry."

Practice Test 2 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust."

Practice Test 3 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Eliana Dockterman builds an argument to persuade her audience that there are benefits to early exposure to technology."

Practice Test 4 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Paul Bogard builds an argument to persuade his audience that natural darkness should be preserved."

Practice Test 5 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Eric Klinenberg builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to greatly reduce their reliance on air-conditioning."

Practice Test 6 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Christopher Hitchens builds an argument to persuade his audience that the original Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece."

Practice Test 7 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open"

Practice Test 8 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Bobby Braun builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to invest in NASA."

Practice Test 9 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Todd Davidson builds an argument to persuade his audience that the US government must continue to fund national parks."

Practice Test 10 :

"Write an essay in which you explain how Richard Schiffman builds an argument to persuade his audience that Americans need to work fewer hours."

Special note: The prompt for Practice Test 4 also appears on the College Board's site with real sample essays written in response. If you've written a practice essay for practice test 4 and want to see what essays of different score levels look like for that particular prompt, you can go there and look at eight real student essays.

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Free Online Practice

This prompt comes from the College Board website .

"Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society."

This prompt comes from Khan Academy , where it is listed as an alternate essay prompt to go along with Practice Test 2:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Leo W. Gerard builds an argument to persuade his audience that American colleges and universities should be affordable for all students."

The Official SAT Study Guide 2020

The Official SAT Study Guide (editions published in 2015 and later available online for free) contains all 10 of the previously mentioned practice tests at the end of the book. In the section about the new SAT essay , however, there are two additional sample essay prompts (accompanied by articles to analyze).

Sample Prompt 1:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Peter S. Goodman builds an argument to persuade his audience that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States."

Sample Prompt 2:

"Write an essay in which you explain how Adam B. Summers builds an argument to persuade his audience that plastic shopping bags should not be banned."

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How Do You Get the Most Out of These Prompts?

Now that you have all the prompts released by the College Board, it's important to know the best way to use them. Make sure you have a good balance between quality and quantity, and don't burn through all 14 of the real prompts in a row— take the time to learn from your experiences writing the practice essays.

Step By Step Guide on How to Practice Using the Article

#1: Understand how the SAT essay is graded .

#2: Follow along as we write a high-scoring SAT essay, step by step .

#3: Plan a set of features you'll look for in the SAT essay readings and practice writing about them fluidly. This doesn't just mean identifying a technique, like asking a rhetorical question, but explaining why it is persuasive and what effect it has on the reader in the context of a particular topic. We have more information on this step in our article about 6 SAT persuasive devices you can use .

#4: Choose a prompt at random from above, or choose a topic that you think is going to be hard for you to detach from (because you'll want to write about the topic, rather than the argument) set timer to 50 minutes and write the essay. No extra time allowed!

#5: Grade the essay, using the official essay rubric to give yourself a score out of 8 in the reading, analysis, and writing sections.

#6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. Choose the prompts you think will be the hardest for you so that you can so that you're prepared for the worst when the test day comes

#7: If you run out of official prompts to practice with, use the official prompts as models to find examples of other articles you could write about . Start by looking for op-ed articles in online news publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, LA Times , and so on. For instance, the passage about the plastic bag ban in California (Official SAT Study Guide sample essay prompt 2, above) has a counterpoint here —you could try analyzing and writing about that article as well.

Any additional articles you use for practice on the SAT essay must match the following criteria:

  • ideally 650-750 words , although it'll be difficult to find an op-ed piece that's naturally that short. Try to aim for nothing longer than 2000 words, though, or the scope of the article is likely to be wider than anything you'll encounter on the SAT.
  • always argumentative/persuasive . The author (or authors) is trying to get readers to agree with a claim or idea being put forward.
  • always intended for a wide audience . All the information you need to deconstruct the persuasiveness of the argument is in the passage. This means that articles with a lot of technical jargon that's not explained in the article are not realistic passage to practice with.

What's Next?

We've written a ton of helpful resources on the SAT essay. I f you're just getting started, we recommend beginning with our top SAT essay tips for a quick overview of the essay task and what you need to know.

A little more familiar with the SAT essay but still not quite sure how to write one? Follow along with our step-by-step guide to writing the SAT essay .

Looking to earn a high score? Learn what it takes to get the highest score possible on the SAT essay here .

Plus, if you want a reference linking you to all of our great articles on the SAT essay, be sure to check out our ultimate SAT essay guide .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?

Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more.

Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice SAT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score.

Check out our 5-day free trial:

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Laura graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Music and Psychology, and earned a Master's degree in Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and GRE and loves advising students on how to excel in high school.

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  1. PDF The SAT® Practice Essay #1

    Adapted from Paul Bogard, "Let There Be Dark." ©2012 by Paul Bogard. Originally published in Los Angeles Times, December 21, 2012. At my family's cabin on a Minnesota lake, I knew woods so dark that my hands disappeared before my eyes. I knew night skies in which meteors left smoky trails across sugary spreads of stars.

  2. Printable SAT Practice Tests PDFs: 22 FREE Official Tests

    The essay was previously an optional part of the SAT. Skip over any practice SAT Essays you come across and focus your studying on the remaining sections of the exam (Math, Reading, and Writing and Language). You can also learn more about the ending of the SAT Essay here. Practice Test 1: Questions | Answers | Answer Explanations

  3. 6 SAT Essay Examples to Answer Every Prompt

    Here are a couple of examples of statistics from an official SAT essay prompt, "Let There Be Dark" by Paul Bogard: Example: 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way. Example: In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% every year.

  4. SAT Essay Samples

    Essay Sample Response (Low Scoring) "In "Let there be dark," Paul Bogard talks about the importance of darkness. Darkness is essential to humans. Bogard states, "Our bodies need darkness to produce the hormone melatonin, which keeps certain cancers from developing, and our bodies need darkness for sleep, sleep.

  5. SAT Writing and Language: Practice tests and explanations

    The SAT writing and language test consists of 44 multiple-choice questions that you'll have 35 minutes to complete. The questions are designed to test your knowledge of grammatical and stylistic topics. The SAT Writing and Language questions ask about a variety of grammatical and stylistic topics. If you like to read and/or write, the SAT may ...

  6. The Most Reliable SAT Essay Template and Format

    To summarize, your SAT essay should stick to the following format: Introduction (with your thesis) - 2-5 sentences. Start with a statement about what the author of the passage is arguing. Thesis with a clear statement about what argumentative techniques you'll be examining in the essay. Example 1 - 6-10 sentences.

  7. PDF SAT Practice Essay #1

    SAT 2015 Practice Test #1 Essay | SAT Suite of Assessments The College Board. As you read the passage below, consider how Jimmy Carter uses. evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add ...

  8. PDF Top 30 Examples to Use as SAT Essay Evidence

    Write The Best SAT Essay Of Your Life: Learn everything there is to know about the SAT essay section. Covers strategies, frequently-asked questions, important facts about the grading scale, and more. ... practice/ SAT Math Mastery Level 2: Tougher Tricks and Skills: A step up in difficulty from my previous math book, for students scoring ...

  9. PDF The SAT

    The essay gives you an opportunity to show how e!ectively you can read and comprehend a passage and write an essay analyzing the passage. In your essay, you should demonstrate that you have read the passage carefully, present a clear and logical analysis, and use language precisely. Your essay must be written on the lines provided in your answer

  10. PDF SAT Practice Essay #2

    SAT Practice Essay #2. DIRECTIONS. The essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can read and comprehend a passage and write an essay analyzing the passage. In your essay, you should demonstrate that you have read the passage carefully, present a clear and logical analysis, and use language precisely.

  11. Free SAT Practice Test with Answers and Explanations (PDF)

    Free SAT Practice Test with Answers and Explanations (PDF) By. Rachel Kapelke-Dale. on. August 30, 2021. in. SAT. We're so excited to give you access to this full-length printable SAT practice test. This practice test was put together by SAT prep expert Chris Lele, Magoosh's Principal Curriculum Manager.

  12. SAT Practice Test [Full-Length]

    Take a SAT practice test to prepare for your exam. Our practice exams are 100% free, full-length, and include answer explanations. ... Official SAT PDF Practice Exams. If you want to study using PDFs, use the links below. ... Reading & Writing: 54: 64 (Two 32-Minute Modules) Math: 44: 70 (Two 35-Minute Modules) Total: 98: 134:

  13. SAT Essay Prompts (10 Sample Questions)

    10 Official SAT Essay Prompts For Practice. Practice Test 1. "Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry.". Practice Test 2.

  14. SAT Essay Prompts: The Complete List

    No extra time allowed! #5: Grade the essay, using the official essay rubric to give yourself a score out of 8 in the reading, analysis, and writing sections. #6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. Choose the prompts you think will be the hardest for you so that you can so that you're prepared for the worst when the test day comes.

  15. UC SAN DIEGO SAT WORKBOOK

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