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Expensive prep courses are a barrier, not a requirement. The best SAT and ACT practice is official — and free — and low-income students can get the test itself waived. Here's how to prep well without spending a dollar.
Official Digital SAT prep (free)
The SAT is now digital, taken in the Bluebook app. College Board offers free official full-length practice tests in Bluebook, plus free personalized practice through Khan Academy's Official SAT Practice — which adapts to your weak spots. This is the gold standard, and it costs nothing.
Official ACT practice (free)
ACT publishes free official practice questions and a full free practice test, and offers free and low-cost prep through its official resources. Free official practice beats paid third-party books that don't match the real test.
Your library and school
Public libraries often provide free access to test-prep platforms and practice books. Your high school counselor may offer free prep sessions, school-day testing, and practice PSAT/SAT that doesn't count but builds familiarity.
Free official practice beats paid books
Studies consistently find that focused practice on official questions moves scores — and the makers of the test give it away free. Spending money on a third-party course rarely beats doing the free official practice consistently.
SAT and ACT fee waivers
Low-income 11th and 12th graders can get fee waivers that cover the test cost entirely — and each waiver also unlocks extras like free score reports and, importantly, college application fee waivers. Ask your school counselor; they distribute them.
The waiver chain reaction
An SAT/ACT fee waiver often makes you automatically eligible for Common App and NACAC college application fee waivers too — turning one form into hundreds of dollars saved across testing and applications.
Test-optional changes the math
Many colleges are test-optional, so weigh whether to test at all. But strong scores can still help with admission and merit scholarships, and free prep + a fee waiver means a practice run costs you nothing but time.
Before any family spends on a prep course or test fees, talk to the school counselor. Between free official practice and fee waivers, most students can prep and test for $0 — and the waiver may unlock application fee waivers worth far more.
Free with your public library card
Many Arizona libraries give cardholders free practice tests for the SAT, ACT, AP, GED and ASVAB, and some offer live online tutors. See what your county's libraries offer.
Decide and apply: figure out whether to submit scores, claim application & test fee waivers, and build a college list.