The #1 Resource Every Student Should Use to Prep for Standardized Tests: Old Test Materials
You know what’s frustrating? When students spend hours studying only to realize they were using the wrong materials. We’ve seen this happen more than a few times lately: students using expensive prep books, studying hundreds of generic problems over long hours… and then walk into test day unprepared.
Here’s the truth: the best test prep resource is always the real thing! Every standardized test offers retired exams and real practice problems straight from the test makers themselves. And these resources are not only often better - they are free.
Why “Real” Tests Work Better
Prep books can be helpful to target weak areas once you’ve diagnosed them with a real baseline tests, but they’re almost always written by third parties, not the actual test-makers. That means the questions might not reflect the style, structure, difficulty level or pacing of the actual exam. In contrast, old real tests:
Mirror the exact format, question types, and difficulty level of the real exam
Train students' timing and test-day endurance
Give a more accurate measure of readiness
Build confidence by making the unknown feel familiar
Studying without old tests is like training for a marathon by biking. Sure you’re moving, but it’s not the same race.
The Solution: Start with Free, Official Practice Tests
Before you spend your money, and more importantly your time, on third party prep books or programs, start here. These official sources offer free, high-quality practice tests direct from the people who write the exams.
NYC Regents Exams
Great for high school students in New York. These are full-length tests from previous years, and they're all free.
NYC SHSAT (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test)
The DOE offers two full-length SHSAT practice tests plus extra materials for 9th-grade test-takers.
SAT Suite: SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, PSAT 8/9
College Board offers paper and digital practice tests, including full-length SATs and detailed answer explanations.
ACT
ACT’s official site has a free, downloadable ACT test with a scoring guide and explanations.
SSAT
SSAT provides an online practice portal with sample questions and full-length exams (some require registration).
Test Innovators: for extra SSAT practice (the largest package includes official material)
ISEE
ERB has partnered with Test Innovators to provide an online practice portal with sample questions and full-length exams (some require registration/purchase).
Test Innovators: for ISEE practice (one free official test, & the largest package includes more official material)
Extra Official Resources from your Tutor
At Now Test Prep, we also use two powerful internal resources:
Our Private Bank of Old Tests: We’ve collected old SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT tests from decades of tutoring. We can't post them publicly for copyright reasons, but we’re happy to share them with families directly: just ask!
We’ve partnered directly with Test Innovators to get discounted access to extra ISEE, SSAT, SAT, and ACT practice
How to Use These Old Tests Effectively
Start with a Full-Length Test
Treat it like a real exam: timed, quiet, and focused. This sets your baseline.Review Every Question
Don’t just score it, review your mistakes and figure out why you got them wrong.Repeat with Purpose
Do more practice exams over time, targeting the areas that need the most growth.Use Books After
Once you know exactly what topics you're struggling with, then go buy a prep book or use free resources like Khan Academy. That way, you’re studying smart, not just studying aimlessly.
How Parents Can Help
Print and schedule practice tests at home (weekends work great!)
Go over answer explanations together, ask your child: “Why do you think this one was tricky?”
Celebrate improvement, not just high scores. Every mistake is a learning opportunity.
Ask us for old tests! We’re happy to share what we’ve got, legally and ethically.
Final Thoughts
Real tests are the real deal. They're the closest you can get to the actual experience, and they always come first in our test prep strategy.
If your child is prepping for the SAT, ACT, SHSAT, Regents, or anything in between, start with the official material. Use it early, use it often, and if you need help turning that into a smart study plan, we’re just a message away.
Want a copy of our test archive? Or not sure which test your child should even be taking? Talk to us and let’s build a plan that works.
