SAT Practice Questions (Digital) — All Questions

If 3x - 5 = 16, what is the value of x?

• a.3
• b.5
• c.7✓
• d.9

Add 5 to both sides: 3x = 21. Divide by 3: x = 7. Check: 3(7) - 5 = 21 - 5 = 16.

A line passes through the point (0, 2) and has a slope of 3. What is the y-value when x = 4?

• a.6
• b.10
• c.12
• d.14✓

The line is y = 3x + 2 (slope 3, y-intercept 2). At x = 4: y = 3(4) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14.

If 2x + 3y = 12 and x = 3, what is the value of y?

• a.1
• b.2✓
• c.3
• d.4

Substitute x = 3: 2(3) + 3y = 12, so 6 + 3y = 12. Then 3y = 6 and y = 2.

Given the system x + y = 10 and x - y = 4, what is the value of x?

• a.3
• b.5
• c.7✓
• d.8

Add the two equations: (x + y) + (x - y) = 10 + 4, so 2x = 14 and x = 7. (Then y = 3.)

If f(x) = 2x + 1, what is f(5)?

• a.11✓
• b.10
• c.12
• d.6

Substitute x = 5: f(5) = 2(5) + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11.

Solve for x: 4(x + 1) = 2x + 10.

• a.2
• b.3✓
• c.4
• d.5

Distribute: 4x + 4 = 2x + 10. Subtract 2x: 2x + 4 = 10. Subtract 4: 2x = 6, so x = 3. Check: 4(3 + 1) = 16 and 2(3) + 10 = 16.

If x squared = 49 and x is positive, what is the value of x?

• a.5
• b.6
• c.7✓
• d.8

The positive square root of 49 is 7, since 7 x 7 = 49. (The negative solution -7 is excluded because x is positive.)

A square has an area of 64. What is its perimeter?

• a.16
• b.24
• c.28
• d.32✓

The side length is the square root of the area: square root of 64 = 8. Perimeter = 4 x side = 4 x 8 = 32.

If f(x) = x squared - 4x + 3, what is f(1)?

• a.0✓
• b.1
• c.2
• d.-1

Substitute x = 1: f(1) = 1 - 4 + 3 = 0.

A circle has a circumference of 10 pi. What is its radius?

• a.4
• b.5✓
• c.10
• d.20

Circumference = 2 x pi x radius = 10 pi, so 2 x radius = 10 and radius = 5.

If (x + 2)(x - 5) = 0, what is the sum of the two solutions for x?

• a.-7
• b.-3
• c.3✓
• d.7

Set each factor to zero: x = -2 or x = 5. Their sum is -2 + 5 = 3.

Choose the option that makes the sentence correct: 'The list of required materials ____ posted on the classroom door.'

• a.are
• b.is✓
• c.were
• d.have been

The subject is 'list' (singular); 'of required materials' is a prepositional phrase that does not change the subject. A singular subject takes the singular verb 'is.'

Choose the correctly punctuated version: 'She packed three things for the trip ____ a map, a flashlight, and a jacket.'

• a., and
• b.; namely,
• c.,
• d.:✓

A colon correctly introduces a list that follows a complete independent clause ('She packed three things for the trip'). The comma alone creates a splice, and 'and' or a semicolon do not properly introduce the list here.

Choose the option that corrects the pronoun agreement: 'Each of the students submitted ____ own project.'

• a.his or her✓
• b.their
• c.its
• d.them

'Each' is singular, so it takes a singular pronoun. 'His or her' agrees in number; 'their' is plural, and 'its'/'them' are incorrect for referring to a person here.

Choose the option that uses the correct verb tense: 'By the time the concert started, the crowd ____ for two hours.'

• a.waits
• b.is waiting
• c.had waited✓
• d.will wait

The waiting was completed before another past event ('the concert started'), which calls for the past perfect tense 'had waited.' The other tenses do not correctly show the earlier past action.

Choose the version that corrects the dangling modifier: 'After finishing the exam, the cafeteria was the next stop.'

• a.After finishing the exam, the cafeteria seemed crowded.
• b.After finishing the exam, the students headed to the cafeteria.✓
• c.The cafeteria, after finishing the exam, was the next stop.
• d.After finishing the exam, lunch was served in the cafeteria.

The opening phrase must describe whoever finished the exam. Only 'the students' can logically finish an exam, so 'the students headed to the cafeteria' fixes the modifier. The other versions still attach the action to a place or a meal.

Vocabulary in context: In the sentence 'The evidence was compelling, leaving the skeptical panel convinced,' the word 'compelling' most nearly means:

• a.confusing
• b.lengthy
• c.convincing✓
• d.optional

'Compelling' means persuasive or forceful, supported by the clue that it left the panel 'convinced.' 'Convincing' is the closest synonym; the other options do not fit the effect described.

Vocabulary in context: In the sentence 'The coach's terse reply, just two words, ended the discussion,' the word 'terse' most nearly means:

• a.brief✓
• b.angry
• c.friendly
• d.detailed

'Terse' means using few words, supported by the clue 'just two words.' 'Brief' is the closest match. While a terse reply can seem curt, the sentence emphasizes shortness, not anger, and 'detailed' is the opposite.

Vocabulary in context: In the sentence 'The once-abundant wetland has diminished to a fraction of its former size,' the word 'diminished' most nearly means:

• a.expanded
• b.flooded
• c.recovered
• d.shrunk✓

'Diminished' means became smaller or less, supported by 'to a fraction of its former size.' 'Shrunk' is the closest match; 'expanded' and 'recovered' are opposites, and 'flooded' is unrelated to the change in size.

Expression of ideas: Choose the transition that best fits: 'The new trail is longer than the old one. ____, most hikers still prefer it for its gentler slope.'

• a.Therefore
• b.Nevertheless✓
• c.For example
• d.Similarly

The two sentences contrast a drawback (longer) with a preference despite it, so a contrast transition is needed. 'Nevertheless' signals that contrast. 'Therefore' shows cause-effect, 'for example' introduces an illustration, and 'similarly' shows likeness.

Expression of ideas: Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences without redundancy? 'The report was thorough. The report covered every department.'

• a.The report was thorough, and the report covered every department.
• b.Being thorough, the report was thorough about every department.
• c.The thorough report covered every department.✓
• d.The report, which was thorough, was a report covering every department.

'The thorough report covered every department' conveys both ideas concisely without repeating 'the report.' The other options repeat words unnecessarily or are awkward, which the SAT penalizes.

Expression of ideas: Choose the most concise version that keeps the meaning: 'Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was postponed.'

• a.Because it was raining, the game was postponed.✓
• b.Due to the fact of the rain, the game was postponed.
• c.On account of the reason that it was raining, the game was postponed.
• d.It was raining, and due to this the game was postponed.

'Because' concisely replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that' while preserving the cause-effect meaning. The other options remain wordy or redundant.