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 apprentice's early sketches were ______, showing only rough outlines without any attention to shading or proportion.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
C — rudimentary. Showing only rough outlines without shading or proportion describes basic, unrefined early work. 'Rudimentary' fits; 'polished' is the opposite.
The volunteers worked with remarkable ______, clearing an entire mile of littered trail before noon despite the summer heat.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
B — efficiency. Clearing an entire mile before noon despite difficult conditions describes effective, productive work. 'Efficiency' fits; the other options all suggest slow, disorganized, or reluctant work.
The recipe's instructions were written with such ______ that even a first-time cook could follow each step without confusion.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
D — clarity. A first-time cook following each step without confusion describes clear, easy-to-understand instructions. 'Clarity' fits; 'ambiguity' means the opposite, unclear quality.
Because the region experiences frequent, severe earthquakes, local building codes ______ the use of flexible foundation materials designed to absorb seismic shock.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
A — mandate. Given frequent severe earthquakes, codes would logically require, not forbid, flexible materials designed for seismic protection. 'Mandate' means to require, fitting the context.
The essay's closing paragraph returns to the question posed in its opening line, this time answering it directly using the evidence and reasoning developed throughout the body of the essay.
Which choice best describes the function of the closing paragraph?
B — It resolves the essay's opening question using the evidence just presented.. Returning to answer the opening question using evidence developed throughout the essay is a resolution of the initial question, not a new question, an undermining of evidence, or an audience shift.
The report's introduction lists three possible explanations for a decline in library visits before stating that each subsequent section will examine the evidence for one explanation in turn.
Which choice best describes the function of the introduction?
D — 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.
Text 1: Immunologist Devika Rao claims that a new oral rehydration formula provides adequate treatment for most cases of mild dehydration in children, citing recovery-time data from clinical trials. Text 2: Pediatrician Marco Belli agrees that the formula produces strong recovery outcomes in trials but stresses that its real-world effectiveness depends on caregivers correctly measuring the powder-to-water ratio, which trial staff, unlike parents preparing the formula at home, were trained to do precisely.
Which choice best describes how Belli's statement relates to Rao's claim?
D — It adds a practical caveat about real-world use without disputing the underlying trial data.. Belli 'agrees' with the core trial data but adds a qualification about real-world preparation accuracy mattering—a practical caveat, not a contradiction or unrelated point.
Text 1: Urban planner Delphine Roy advocates for replacing single-family zoning with mixed-density zoning near transit stations, arguing it would ease the regional housing shortage. Text 2: Civil engineer Marcus Webb notes that many transit stations were built with sewer and water systems sized only for low-density surrounding neighborhoods, meaning mixed-density rezoning would require costly utility upgrades that could delay or offset the housing benefits Roy describes.
Which choice best describes how the information in Text 2 relates to the proposal described in Text 1?
D — It raises a practical infrastructure concern not addressed in Text 1's description of the proposal.. Webb's point about costly utility upgrades introduces a practical infrastructure concern that Roy's description (focused on housing benefits) does not mention—a new complication, not a confirmation or refutation of the proposal.
A recent survey of restaurant customers found that the most commonly cited reason for leaving a negative online review was not poor food quality, as many restaurant owners assume, but long, unexplained wait times for seating.
According to the text, what did the survey identify as the most common reason for a negative review?
D — Long, unexplained wait times for seating.. The text explicitly states the most common reason was 'long, unexplained wait times for seating,' explicitly ruling out food quality as the assumed but incorrect answer.
The Sahara was not always a desert. Rock art discovered across the region depicts giraffes, hippopotamuses, and other animals that require significant water sources, evidence that the area supported a much wetter climate and diverse ecosystem thousands of years ago.
According to the text, what does the rock art in the Sahara suggest about the region's past?
D — The region was once significantly wetter and supported diverse wildlife.. The text says depictions of water-dependent animals are 'evidence that the area supported a much wetter climate'—directly supporting choice D; the other options contradict or are unsupported by the text.
A marine biologist hypothesizes that increased boat traffic in a coastal bay disrupts the feeding behavior of resident dolphin pods.
Which finding would most directly support the marine biologist's hypothesis?
D — Tracking data show that dolphin pods spend significantly less time engaged in feeding behaviors during hours of high boat traffic than during hours of low boat traffic.. The hypothesis is specifically about disrupted feeding behavior; a direct comparison of feeding time during high versus low traffic hours most directly supports the claim. Increased traffic alone, boater awareness, and population growth don't address feeding disruption.
A public health official claims that a citywide campaign promoting seatbelt use significantly reduced traffic fatalities among teenage drivers specifically.
Which finding would most directly support the official's claim?
B — Traffic records show that fatality rates among teenage drivers dropped in the city after the campaign, while fatality rates among teenage drivers in a similar nearby city without the campaign stayed flat.. A comparison of teenage driver fatality rates between the campaign city and a similar city without the campaign directly tests the campaign's specific effect, matching the claim precisely; the other choices don't measure actual safety outcomes.
A study tracked the percentage of survey respondents who reported using public transit at least weekly, broken down by neighborhood distance from the nearest transit station:
| Under 0.5 mi | 61% |
|---|---|
| 0.5–1 mi | 44% |
| 1–2 mi | 39% |
| Over 2 mi | 47% |
A columnist claims that the data show weekly transit use decreases steadily as distance from a station increases.
Does the table support the columnist's claim?
A — No, because the percentage does not decrease steadily; it drops through the first three groups but then rises for the farthest group.. The percentages go 61% → 44% → 39% → 47%, which drops for three groups then rises for the farthest—not a steady decrease. Choice A correctly identifies this non-monotonic pattern; choice C misreads which group has the lowest value (1–2 mi is lowest, not over 2 mi).
A study tracked the number of new species of moss catalogued in a mountain region across five-year survey periods, alongside the number of trained field botanists active during each period:
| 2000–2004 | 6 botanists, 11 species |
|---|---|
| 2005–2009 | 10 botanists, 18 species |
| 2010–2014 | 17 botanists, 29 species |
| 2015–2019 | 23 botanists, 38 species |
Which choice best describes the relationship shown in the table?
D — As the number of active field botanists increased, the number of newly catalogued species also increased.. Both botanist counts and catalogued species rise together across all four periods (6→10→17→23 and 11→18→29→38), a clear positive relationship matching choice D.
A survey of college students found that those who studied with a consistent group of peers throughout a semester reported significantly less test-related anxiety than those who studied alone, even after accounting for total hours spent studying and prior exam performance.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
D — the social aspect of group study, not just study time or prior performance, may influence test-related anxiety.. Since study hours and prior performance were controlled for, but group study still mattered, this points to the social aspect itself—not just those other factors—as influencing anxiety, matching choice D.
The panel, after lengthy deliberation finally announced its selection for the annual design award.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
C — deliberation, finally. 'After lengthy deliberation' is a parenthetical phrase set off by a comma after 'panel,' and needs a matching comma before 'finally' to close the interruption. Choice C correctly supplies this second comma.
The council, after months of public comment finally approved the new zoning ordinance.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
A — comment, finally. 'After months of public comment' is a parenthetical phrase set off by a comma after 'council,' and needs a matching comma before 'finally' to close the interruption. Choice A correctly supplies this second comma.
The stadium, after decades of steady use finally underwent a complete structural renovation.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
D — use, finally. 'After decades of steady use' is a parenthetical phrase set off by a comma after 'stadium,' and needs a matching comma before 'finally' to close the interruption. Choice D correctly supplies this second comma.
Three ingredients define the dish, saffron, preserved lemon, and slow-cooked lamb.
Which choice fixes the punctuation error?
D — dish: saffron,. A colon is used to introduce a list following an independent clause, which is what's needed here ('Three ingredients define the dish' is complete, followed by a list of the three ingredients). Choice D correctly uses a colon; a comma or semicolon would not properly introduce the list.
If the replacement parts had shipped earlier, the repair crew ______ able to finish the job before the weekend.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
D — would have been. This is a past hypothetical conditional ('If the replacement parts had shipped...'), which requires the conditional perfect 'would have been' in the main clause to correctly match the past-perfect 'had shipped' in the if-clause.
By the time the inspectors arrived at the site, the construction crew ______ already repaired the damaged section of scaffolding.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
C — had. The sentence describes an action (repairing the scaffolding) that was completed before another past action (the inspectors arriving), which requires the past perfect tense. 'Had' correctly forms the past perfect.
Every one of the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance ______ debated extensively at the public hearing.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
C — was. 'Every one' is a singular subject, taking the singular past-tense verb 'was,' regardless of the plural noun 'changes' within the prepositional phrase that follows it.
The airport terminal had been under construction for nearly two years. ______, officials confirmed this week that the new wing would open to travelers next month.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Finally,. After a lengthy construction period, the announcement of opening 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.
The novel received lukewarm reviews upon its initial publication in 1899. ______, it is now widely regarded as one of the defining works of American literature.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
C — Today,. The sentence shifts from the novel's reception 'upon its initial publication' to its status 'now'—a time-based contrast best signaled by 'Today,' which explicitly marks this shift to the present.
The independent bookstore had no online presence and relied entirely on foot traffic. ______, it became one of the most talked-about small businesses in the city after a viral social media post.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
B — Yet,. Success despite a lack of online presence is a contrast to what one might expect. 'Yet' signals this contrast; 'consequently' would incorrectly suggest the lack of online presence caused the success.
A student has taken the following notes about an animal behavior study:
The student wants to highlight the most surprising result of the lab experiment. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
D — Several crows completed a multi-step tool-use puzzle correctly on their first attempt, without any prior demonstration.. The 'most surprising result' is completing a multi-step puzzle correctly with zero demonstration on the first attempt; choice D states this specific, surprising finding directly. The other choices are either background or general statements, not the surprising result itself.
A student has gathered the following notes about a species of plant:
The student wants to explain why the corpse flower produces its distinctive odor. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
B — The corpse flower emits a smell resembling rotting flesh in order to attract carrion-feeding insects as pollinators.. The goal is the reason for the distinctive odor; choice B directly explains this reason (attracting carrion-feeding pollinators). The other choices describe unrelated facts about the flower's size, bloom timing, or public reception, not the reason for the smell.
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.