Free ACT & SAT Practice Drills Paced Like the Real Test (Plus Rule Books That Tell You Why You Missed It)

Most test prep goes like this: a student takes a full practice test, gets a score, sees a list of wrong answers, and… takes another practice test. The score barely moves, because nobody ever told them which rule they kept breaking.

Scores go up when practice is short, paced like the real thing, and every miss points to the exact thing to fix. That’s how the five free MySchoolHero test-prep drills work. Each one runs at real test pace, explains every answer, and names the rule and page to study in a matching rule book.

This post covers what each test looks like right now, the five free drills, how to turn missed questions into points, and a simple four-week plan for students, parents, teachers, and counselors.

ACT vs. SAT in 2026: what changed

Both tests look different than they did a few years ago. The SAT went fully digital and adaptive, and the ACT got shorter and made Science optional. Here’s the current shape of each:

The 5 free drills (no login, no account)

All five drills work the same way:

• Practice mode serves up questions one at a time, with an explanation after every answer.
• Sprint mode is 10 questions on a clock set to the real test’s average time per question. If you can finish a sprint, you can finish the section.
• Review missed holds every wrong answer until you get it right. Missed questions also come back in Practice.
• Topics shows your accuracy by skill, so you can see your weak spots at a glance.
• Keyboard shortcuts (1–4 to answer, Enter for next), and progress is saved on your device. No signup, no email.

ACT English Drill

Grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical skills questions, plus full ACT-style passages. The sprint gives you 42 seconds per question, the same pace as the real English section (50 questions in 35 minutes).

→ Play the free ACT English Drill

ACT Math Drill

Problems from pre-algebra through trigonometry, plus a Formula drill, because the ACT doesn’t hand you a formula sheet. The sprint gives you 67 seconds per question, matching 45 questions in 50 minutes. Keep scratch paper handy.

→ Play the free ACT Math Drill

ACT Science Drill

Real tables, graphs, experiments, and full passages. ACT Science is really a data-reading test, and this drill trains exactly that. The sprint gives you 60 seconds per question. Science is optional now and doesn’t count toward the composite, but many STEM programs still want to see it, so check what your colleges ask for.

→ Play the free ACT Science Drill

SAT Reading & Writing Drill

200 digital-SAT-style questions, each with its own short passage, just like the real test. The sprint gives you 71 seconds per question, and a Hard set lets strong students practice at the level of the harder second module.

→ Play the free SAT Reading & Writing Drill

SAT Math Drill

200 digital-SAT-style questions, including type-in answers, the part of the digital SAT most students haven’t practiced. The sprint gives you 95 seconds per question, and there’s a Hard set too. Keep Desmos open in another tab, since you’ll have it on test day.

→ Play the free SAT Math Drill

Turn every missed question into points

A wrong answer only helps if you learn the rule behind it. Here’s the loop:

1. Miss a question. The explanation tells you why the right answer is right and names the rule, like Rule 2.2: Run-ons and comma splices.
2. Study that one rule. Spend five minutes on the plain-language rule, the tip, and the worked examples. Don’t reread the whole book.
3. Clear it in Review missed. Get that question right later, and it leaves your list.
4. Log it. Write the rule number in an error log. When the same number shows up three times, that’s your highest-value study topic.

You can study the rules anywhere you like. If you want them all in one place, the rule numbers in every explanation match the MySchoolHero rule books exactly.

The rule books (optional, from $5)

Each rule book is a printable PDF. Every rule comes with a plain-language explanation, a tip, and wrong-and-right or step-by-step examples, plus quick checks, an ACT- or SAT-style practice set, a one-page cheat sheet, an error log, and a full answer key.

→ See the rule books in the store

A simple 4-week plan (20–30 minutes a day)

For teachers, tutors, and counselors

• Advisory or homeroom warm-up. Post one drill link and run a 10-question sprint. Students report accuracy on a sticky note.
• Targeted homework. Assign Practice mode in one topic, and have students bring their three most-missed rule numbers to class.
• No accounts to manage. Nothing to sign up for, no student data collected, and it works on school Chromebooks.

FAQ

Are the ACT and SAT drills really free?

Yes. All five drills are free with no login, no email, and no time limit on how often you use them. The rule books are optional PDFs for students who want every rule in one place.

Should I take the ACT or the SAT?

Most colleges accept either. Do one sprint in each and see which pace feels more manageable. The ACT gives less time per question, while the digital SAT gives more time, adapts to your level, and includes Desmos for all of Math.

Is ACT Science still required?

No. On the enhanced ACT, Science is optional and isn’t part of the 1–36 composite. Some colleges and STEM programs still want it, so check the requirements for the schools on your list.

Do I get a formula sheet on test day?

On the ACT, no, which is why the ACT Math Drill has a Formula drill and the rule book has a memorize-it sheet. The digital SAT provides a reference sheet and the built-in Desmos calculator.

Are these official ACT or SAT materials?

No. They’re independent practice written in the style of each test. For full-length practice tests, use the official ones from ACT and the College Board’s Bluebook app alongside these drills.

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board. Neither organization is affiliated with or endorses MySchoolHero.