27 original Reading & Writing questions in the digital test's own format and domain order. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
Optional. The clock never submits for you — it just tells you where you are against the real pacing.
The volunteers cleared the flooded basement with impressive ______, finishing a job that was expected to take all weekend in just a few hours.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
C — speed. Finishing an expected weekend-long job in a few hours describes rapid, efficient work. 'Speed' fits; the other options don't align with finishing far ahead of schedule.
Because the region's soil is unusually poor in nutrients, farmers there have had to develop ______ techniques, such as crop rotation and composting, to maintain yields.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A — adaptive. Developing techniques specifically to overcome a challenge (poor soil) in order to maintain yields describes purposeful adjustment. 'Adaptive' fits; the other options don't capture this deliberate problem-solving.
Because the trail was poorly marked, hikers relied on ______ landmarks, such as a distinctively shaped boulder, to confirm they were still on the correct path.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
B — recognizable. Using a landmark to confirm one's location requires that the landmark be easily identified. 'Recognizable' fits; 'hidden' would make it useless for this purpose.
The company's safety record was ______ before the accident, with zero major incidents reported over more than a decade of operation.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
B — exemplary. Zero major incidents over more than a decade describes an outstanding safety record. 'Exemplary' fits; 'abysmal' means the opposite, and 'undocumented' contradicts the fact that incidents were 'reported.'
The report's introduction lists three possible explanations for rising emergency room wait times before stating that each subsequent section will examine the evidence for one explanation in turn.
Which choice best describes the function of the introduction?
A — It previews the report's organizational structure for the reader.. Explicitly telling the reader what each subsequent section will do is a structural preview, not a premature conclusion, a historical narrative, or a dismissal made before evidence is presented.
A cookbook's headnote for a regional stew recipe spends two paragraphs on the dish's history and cultural significance before a single sentence transitions into the ingredient list and instructions.
What is the most likely purpose of the historical headnote preceding the recipe itself?
C — To give readers context and meaning behind the dish before they prepare it.. A historical headnote before a recipe is a common device to give context and meaning, not to replace precise measurements, discourage attempting the recipe, or contradict other claims.
Text 1: Sociologist Ingrid Solberg's survey found that people who participate in team sports as adults report a stronger sense of belonging to their local community than those who do not. Text 2: Sociologist Marcus Reid points out that people who already feel a strong sense of belonging to their community may simply be more inclined to join local sports teams in the first place, meaning the causal arrow could run in the opposite direction from what Solberg proposes.
Which choice best describes Reid's argument in relation to Solberg's?
A — Reid questions the direction of causality that Solberg assumes.. Reid's point ('the causal arrow could run in the opposite direction') directly challenges Solberg's assumption about which factor causes which, questioning causality rather than agreeing or denying any relationship.
Text 1: Essayist Dorian Achebe argues that memoir writers have an obligation to verify every factual detail of their past before publishing, since readers trust memoirs as accurate accounts. Text 2: Memoirist Solveig Bakke argues that memory itself is inherently reconstructive and imperfect, so demanding strict factual verification misunderstands what a memoir can honestly offer readers in the first place.
Bakke would most likely respond to Achebe's claim by arguing that
C — strict factual verification may conflict with the honest, reconstructive nature of memory itself.. Bakke's stated position is that memory is inherently reconstructive, making strict verification a misguided standard—this directly opposes Achebe's framing of an obligation to verify every detail, so she would argue verification conflicts with memory's nature.
Public libraries in the United States circulate more items each year than all professional sports combined draw in attendance, a statistic often cited by librarians advocating for increased public funding.
According to the text, why do librarians cite this circulation statistic?
C — To advocate for increased public funding of libraries.. The text states this statistic is 'often cited by librarians advocating for increased public funding'—directly supporting choice C.
Tardigrades, microscopic animals also known as water bears, can survive extreme conditions including near-total dehydration, radiation levels lethal to most life, and even brief exposure to the vacuum of space. Scientists believe this resilience stems from a unique protein that protects the tardigrade's cellular structures when water is scarce.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
B — Tardigrades owe their extreme survival ability to a protective protein that shields their cells.. The text explains tardigrades' extreme survival abilities and then attributes this resilience specifically to a protective protein—matching choice B; the other choices overstate or contradict the text's claims.
A marine biologist hypothesizes that ocean acidification weakens the shell strength of a species of sea snail, making them more vulnerable to predators.
Which finding would most directly support the marine biologist's hypothesis?
D — Laboratory tests show that snails raised in more acidic water have shells that crack under significantly less pressure than shells of snails raised in normal-pH water.. The hypothesis is specifically about weakened shell strength from acidification; a direct comparison of shell strength between acidic and normal-pH conditions most directly supports the claim. Temperature data alone, fisher awareness, and population growth don't address shell strength.
A marine biologist hypothesizes that underwater cable-laying vibrations disrupt the burrowing behavior of a species of seafloor-dwelling worm.
Which finding would most directly support the marine biologist's hypothesis?
B — Seafloor surveys show that worms near active cable-laying sites burrow significantly less often than worms in areas without nearby cable work.. The hypothesis is specifically about disrupted burrowing behavior; a direct comparison of burrowing frequency near cable sites versus undisturbed areas most directly supports the claim. Increased installations alone, engineer awareness, and population growth don't address burrowing disruption.
A field study measured the number of pollinating bee visits per hour to flowers in three garden plots with different levels of native plant coverage:
| 10% native plants | 15 visits/hour |
|---|---|
| 50% native plants | 34 visits/hour |
| 90% native plants | 58 visits/hour |
An ecologist claims that as native plant coverage increases, bee visits increase.
Does the table support the ecologist's claim?
A — Yes, because visit counts increase consistently as native plant coverage increases from 10% to 50% to 90%.. The values 15 → 34 → 58 increase consistently as native plant coverage rises from 10% to 50% to 90%, directly supporting the claim of a positive relationship. Choice B misreads the data—the 10% plot had fewer, not more, visits.
A researcher paired the number of licensed drone operators and the acres of farmland surveyed for crop disease in a county over four growing seasons:
| Season 1 | 3 operators, 410 acres |
|---|---|
| Season 2 | 7 operators, 890 acres |
| Season 3 | 5 operators, 960 acres |
| Season 4 | 11 operators, 1,340 acres |
Which statement best matches the pattern shown in the figures?
D — As the number of drone operators rose, the acreage surveyed generally also rose.. Both operator counts and acreage surveyed generally rise together across the four seasons (3→7→5→11 roughly tracking 410→890→960→1,340), a clear positive relationship matching choice D.
A wildlife biologist tracking a population of urban foxes found that foxes living closer to well-lit residential streets had shorter average lifespans than foxes living in darker, less-developed park areas, despite having easier access to discarded food overall near the lit streets.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — easier access to food does not necessarily correspond to better survival outcomes for urban wildlife.. Despite having easier food access, the foxes near lit streets had shorter lifespans, implying that greater access to food doesn't guarantee better survival—likely due to street-related risks—matching choice B directly.
The arena, after years of steady use finally underwent a full renovation of its seating and lighting.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
A — use, finally. 'After years of steady use' is a parenthetical phrase set off by a comma after 'arena,' and needs a matching comma before 'finally' to close the interruption. Choice A correctly supplies this second comma.
The library's new wing added a dedicated children's reading room, the space includes a small stage for weekly story time.
Which choice fixes the sentence boundary error?
A — room. The space. The original is a comma splice joining two independent clauses. Choice A correctly separates them into two sentences with a period. Choice C adds an unnecessary comma after 'and,' and choice B misuses a semicolon by adding a stray comma.
After years of careful observation ______ the astronomer concluded that the star's brightness varied on a regular cycle.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
C — observation, the. 'After years of careful observation' is an introductory phrase and should be set off from the main clause with a comma. A semicolon or colon would incorrectly imply an independent clause before it; no punctuation creates a run-together sentence.
The board, after reviewing dozens of proposals finally selected a contractor for the renovation project.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
C — proposals, finally. 'After reviewing dozens of proposals' is a parenthetical phrase set off by a comma after 'board,' and needs a matching comma before 'finally' to close the interruption. Choice C correctly supplies this second comma.
Each of the nurses assigned to the night shift ______ required to complete a handoff report before leaving.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
D — is. The subject is 'Each,' a singular indefinite pronoun, which takes a singular verb regardless of the plural noun 'nurses' in the prepositional phrase. 'Is' is the correct singular form.
Each of the interns assigned to the marketing team ______ expected to present a project update every Friday.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
D — is. The subject is 'Each,' a singular indefinite pronoun, which takes a singular verb regardless of the plural noun 'interns' in the prepositional phrase. 'Is' is the correct singular form.
Each of the counselors assigned to the summer camp ______ required to complete a background check.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
B — is. The subject is 'Each,' a singular indefinite pronoun, which takes a singular verb regardless of the plural noun 'counselors' in the prepositional phrase. 'Is' is the correct singular form.
The neighborhood's community fridge program initially struggled to gain donations. ______, contributions have grown substantially each month since a local news segment featured the program.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Since then,. The sentence describes a change over time from an initial struggle to substantial growth—'Since then' correctly marks this temporal progression tied to the news segment.
The neighborhood's community composting program initially struggled to attract participants. ______, participation has grown substantially each year since local schools began incorporating it into science lessons.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A — Since then,. The sentence describes a change over time from an initial struggle to substantial growth—'Since then' correctly marks this temporal progression tied to the schools' involvement.
The bridge had been closed for repairs for over a year. ______, engineers announced this week that it would reopen to traffic ahead of schedule.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — Finally,. After a lengthy closure, the announcement of reopening marks a long-awaited conclusion to that period. 'Finally' signals this sense of a wait coming to an end; the other options don't fit this specific relationship.
A student has taken the following notes about a language phenomenon:
The student wants to contrast an older view of vocal fry with current research. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
C — Although once criticized in media commentary as a sign of unprofessionalism, vocal fry is now understood by researchers to be unrelated to perceived competence, suggesting the earlier criticism reflected social bias.. The goal is a contrast between an old view (unprofessionalism) and current research (no correlation with competence); choice C explicitly draws this contrast using 'although once criticized... now understood... reflecting social bias.' The other choices lack this comparison.
A student has gathered the following notes about an invention:
The student wants to explain one practical effect widespread zipper adoption had on clothing. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
C — Zippers eventually replaced buttons in many types of clothing due to their speed and convenience.. The goal is a practical effect on clothing; choice C directly states the effect (replacing buttons due to speed and convenience). The other choices are background facts about the invention's history, not its practical effect on clothing.
Score:
Every question above is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted, any wrong option you picked is flagged, and each explanation is open.
No. Every question is original, written to the College Board's published Digital SAT Reading & Writing test specification. No retired or copyrighted College Board material appears anywhere on this site.
27 questions in 32 minutes — about 71 seconds per question. The full Reading & Writing section is two such modules, 54 questions in 64 minutes.
Craft and Structure 8, Information and Ideas 7, Standard English Conventions 7, Expression of Ideas 5 — 27 questions in total, matching the College Board's published domain weighting for one module and grouped in the order the digital test presents them.
No. On the real test your performance on the first Reading & Writing module decides whether the second module is the easier or harder version, and that choice affects your score. A static practice module cannot reproduce that, so treat this as one fixed module of mixed difficulty rather than a scored simulation.
No. The SAT has no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank and a wrong guess both score zero — so answer every question, including the ones you have to guess.