Timed Drill
Learn
On the real SAT and ACT, you won't have unlimited time. Learning to work quickly AND accurately is a key skill. Timed drills help you build speed while maintaining your thinking skills!
Why Practice Under Time Pressure?
Real Test Conditions
The SAT gives about 1 minute per question. Practice now so test day feels familiar!
Build Confidence
When you know you can answer quickly, you feel calmer during the real test.
Find Your Pace
Learn how long different question types take YOU so you can plan your time.
Improve Over Time
Track your speed and accuracy to see your progress week by week.
Time Management Strategies
The 45-Second Rule
Spend about 45 seconds reading and answering each question. If you're stuck after a minute, make your best guess and move on.
Read Strategically
Don't read the whole passage first. Read the question, then find the relevant part of the passage to focus on.
Eliminate First
Cross out obviously wrong answers immediately. This speeds up your decision and improves your odds.
Trust Your First Instinct
Your first answer is usually right. Don't second-guess yourself unless you have a clear reason.
Pro Tip: Practice at Different Speeds
- Slow Practice: Take your time to learn the strategies well
- Medium Practice: Work at a comfortable but steady pace
- Fast Practice: Push yourself to beat the clock
Start slow, then speed up as you get more confident!
Example: Pacing Yourself
Watch how a good test-taker approaches a timed question:
Target: Answer in under 45 seconds
Which choice is the most precise replacement for the underlined phrase?
Step 1 (5 sec): Read the question - it's asking for PRECISE word choice.
Step 2 (10 sec): Look at the underlined phrase - "a lot of" is vague.
Step 3 (20 sec): Scan options, eliminate wrong answers:
- A) many, many - still vague, repetitive
- B) countless - precise and formal!
- C) tons of - too informal
- D) some - less specific than original
Step 4 (10 sec): Choose B) countless - it's precise and appropriate.
Practice: Timed Drill
Ready to test your speed? Complete 10 questions with 45 seconds each. Try to answer correctly AND quickly!
Speed Challenge
10 Questions - 45 Seconds Each
Ready to Begin?
You'll have 45 seconds per question. The timer starts when you click "Start Drill".
Drill Complete!
Check Your Understanding
After completing timed drills, ask yourself:
- Did I stay calm when the timer was running?
- Which question types took me the longest?
- Did I remember to eliminate wrong answers first?
- Was I able to trust my first instinct?
Track Your Progress!
Write down your scores and average times. Try to improve a little bit each time you practice. Even getting 1 second faster per question adds up over a whole test!
Next Steps
- Practice timed drills regularly - at least once a week
- Work on your weakest question types at a slower pace first
- Gradually reduce your target time as you improve
- Move on to Review Mistakes to learn from your errors