Best Platforms for Test Prep and Practice

Preparing for exams—whether school-based, standardised, or subject-specific—requires more than just reviewing notes. Students benefit most from structured test prep tools that include practice questions, diagnostic feedback, and interactive lessons. Fortunately, several online platforms offer free or affordable resources designed to help learners succeed. Here are some of the best platforms for test prep and practice across multiple subjects and grade levels:

1. Khan Academy – Offers free test prep for the SAT, AP exams, LSAT, and foundational subjects. Includes diagnostic quizzes, personalised learning paths, instructional videos, and timed practice. Students can track their progress and target weak areas using adaptive learning tools.
2. Quizlet – A flexible flashcard and study set tool that includes test modes, games, and timed practice. Students can find or create sets on nearly any topic, including foreign languages, science, history, and test vocab. The Learn and Test modes simulate actual testing environments.
3. College Board – Provides official SAT practice exams and prep materials in partnership with Khan Academy. It also includes practice tests and resources for the PSAT/NMSQT, AP exams, and college planning tools. Students can download practice tests and access scoring rubrics.
4. ACT.org – The official ACT platform offers free practice questions, full-length exams, test-day checklists, and study guides. ACT Academy provides personalized learning content and short video lessons aligned with test objectives.
5. Magoosh (Free Resources) – Offers free vocab flashcards, lesson videos, and strategy blogs for exams like GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, SAT, and ACT. Their study schedules and prep guides are ideal for students studying independently.
6. EdReady – Designed to support placement exam readiness, EdReady allows students to assess their math and English skills, receive a custom learning path, and review weak areas with targeted lessons. It’s especially useful for college readiness.
7. Varsity Tutors Learning Lab – Provides free diagnostic assessments, practice questions, live online classes, and flashcards. Covers standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, ISEE, and AP exams, as well as general academic topics. The Learning Lab includes instructional videos and practice sets.
8. Albert.io – A robust platform that features standards-aligned practice questions for AP exams, SAT, ACT, and core high school subjects. Includes detailed explanations for each answer, progress tracking, and class integration for educators. Highly useful for mastering challenging content.
9. Test-Guide.com – Offers a wide variety of free practice tests for standardized exams including SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, TEAS, GED, ASVAB, and more. The platform includes test-taking strategies, exam outlines, and downloadable practice PDFs.
10. Union Test Prep – Features study guides, flashcards, and full practice tests for standardized tests in healthcare, high school equivalency, and professional certification. Particularly strong in nursing (TEAS, CNA) and teacher certification test prep.
11. Brilliant.org – Focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking in STEM fields. While not a traditional test prep tool, its interactive lessons help sharpen reasoning skills essential for math and science exams such as SAT, ACT, and AP Calculus.
12. Duolingo English Test – Provides practice and certification for English language proficiency exams. In addition to the affordable official test, users can practice grammar, listening, and reading comprehension through daily exercises.
13. PrepScholar (Free Tools) – Offers strategy guides, eBooks, and test prep articles for the SAT and ACT. Free resources include study checklists, time management guides, essay tips, and sample questions. The paid program includes a score improvement guarantee.
14. Number2.com – A completely free, no-login-needed platform with SAT, ACT, and GRE prep. Offers practice questions, progress tracking, and personalized feedback. Though its interface is simple, its targeted practice and recommendations make it highly efficient for independent learners.
15. CrackSAT.net and CrackACT.com – Offer free full-length tests, answer keys, and solutions to past exam questions. Their focus is on building familiarity with actual test structure and timing. They’re valuable for drilling sections like math, reading, and grammar.
16. PowerScore Test Preparation (Free Resources) – Known for its LSAT, GRE, and GMAT prep, PowerScore also offers free logic games, diagnostic tests, and strategy guides. Their free webinars and sample materials help students understand how to approach high-stakes standardized tests.
17. Study.com (Free Trial) – Offers a free trial for access to hundreds of video lessons, quizzes, and test prep courses for exams like the CLEP, Praxis, and ASVAB. Students can use short video explanations to clarify tough subjects quickly.
18. TCI Test Prep (Teacher Curriculum Institute) – Used in classrooms to prepare for standardized state testing and assessments. Offers interactive questions and diagnostic dashboards for teachers and students.
19. Shmoop – Provides engaging test prep content with a casual, humorous tone. Includes review materials for SAT, ACT, AP exams, and state standardized tests. Shmoop’s short lessons, quizzes, and vocabulary drills appeal to students who want a lighter tone during review.
20. LearningExpress Library (via public libraries) – Offers practice tests, eBooks, and tutorials for high school entrance exams, college prep, and career certification. Students with library cards can access comprehensive prep resources from home.

In summary, test preparation doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming. These platforms offer high-quality practice tests, instructional support, and self-paced learning tools to help students succeed across a variety of subjects and standardized assessments. With consistent use, these resources can help build confidence, track progress, and improve performance on test day. Whether you’re preparing for high school exams, college entrance tests, or career certifications, there’s a platform designed to meet your needs and learning style.