Khan Academy SAT Review: Is the Free Prep Worth It?

So you’re stressed about SAT prep costs. I don’t blame you. Finding quality test prep that doesn’t break the bank sometimes feels impossible.

Luckily, Khan Academy’s free SAT prep promises to level the playing field. At that price point, though, does it actually deliver results?

I’ll break it down for you and help you decide if you’d be better off with a paid program or if Khan SAT prep is the solution.

Who Is Khan Academy SAT Prep For?

Khan Academy has a lot to offer, but not every student thrives with the same prep methods.

🎯Khan Academy works well for self-motivated learners who can stick to a study schedule without someone looking over their shoulder.

With no live classes to attend, the system lets you work through it at your own pace. If you’re the kind of student who likes to hit play on a video, take notes at your own pace, and rewind when something doesn’t click, Khan Academy is for you.

The program leans heavily on video-based instruction, so it works best for visual learners who don’t need a live teacher breathing down their neck.

🎯Khan is super convenient for those with chaotic schedules.

Whether you’re juggling sports, work, or just trying to keep up with school, Khan Academy lets you study whenever you’ve got a spare 15 minutes. No set class times, no pressure—just you and your goals.

🎯Khan is perfect for students who already know where they struggle.

If math throws you into a full-blown panic but you’re confident in reading, Khan lets you drill down on just those weak spots. No need to start from square one.

🎯Khan Academy’s price—ZERO DOLLARS—can’t be beat, so it’s perfect for students who have plenty of time to commit to SAT prep but not a lot of money.

If money’s tight—or you just want to dip your toes into SAT prep without committing to a pricey course—this is one of the best free tools out there to get started.

But Khan Academy isn’t magic.

❌Who is Khan Academy NOT for?

If you struggle with self-motivation or need personalized feedback on difficult concepts or writing, you might need a more intensive program like Kaplan. Students who benefit from live instruction, interactive discussions, or accountability check-ins may need to supplement with other resources.

It’s important to learn how the system works before deciding if it’s right for you.

How Does Khan Academy SAT Prep Work?

Let me explain how the Khan Academy system gets you started.

Everything begins with a diagnostic assessment that identifies your starting point.

This isn’t just any quiz—it’s designed in partnership with the College Board (the same folks who make the actual SAT), so you’re getting an authentic evaluation.

The diagnostic takes about 30–45 minutes and covers reading, writing, and math concepts.

Based on your answers, Khan Academy creates a personalized study plan targeting your specific weak areas. It tells you exactly where you need work, so you don’t waste time relearning concepts you’re already solid on.

If you’ve already taken the PSAT or SAT, you can link your College Board account directly to Khan Academy.

This integration pulls your actual test data to create an even more accurate study plan.

Once your personalized plan is set up, Khan organizes your practice into skill-based categories with recommended time frames. The dashboard shows your progress and mastery levels, letting you watch your skills improve over time as you move through the course materials.

Course Materials & Study Tools

Here’s a closer look at what you get with Khan’s free SAT prep course:

☑️Video Lessons

The video lessons are where Khan really shines. Each concept is broken down into bite-sized videos (usually 3–8 minutes) explained by knowledgeable instructors who don’t make you feel stupid for not understanding something the first time around.

These aren’t just boring lectures—they include visual aids, real examples, and step-by-step problem solving that feels like having a patient tutor in your living room.

The instructors talk to you like a real person, not like the all too common AI voices we’ve sadly been accustomed to lately.

The best part is that you can also access these videos on Khan’s YouTube channel.

☑️Skill-Based Drills

After watching the videos, you’ll tackle skill-based drills that reinforce what you’ve just learned. You know how sometimes you think you understand something until you try to do it yourself? 

These drills reinforce what you’ve just learned by making you apply concepts immediately.

The system adapts to your performance, too. If you’re acing questions on comma splices, it’ll move you to harder problems or new topics. If you’re struggling with quadratic equations, it’ll serve up more practice and maybe suggest reviewing related videos.

☑️Timed Mini-Sections and Full-Length Tests

Test anxiety is real, and Khan helps by getting you comfortable with timed pressure.

The mini-sections simulate actual test components without committing to a full three-hour practice session.

This is perfect for those days when you only have 20–30 minutes to study.

As your test date approaches, you can take up to eight full-length practice tests.

These are the same tests available on the College Board website, but with Khan’s helpful interface and instant scoring. Taking these under real test conditions gives you a reliable score prediction and builds the stamina you’ll need on test day.

☑️Practice Questions 

Khan Academy’s QBank includes over a thousand questions covering math, reading, and writing.

Each question includes detailed explanations, not just for the correct answer but also why the wrong answers are incorrect (which is super helpful for understanding those tricky distractor options).

Scattered throughout, you’ll find test-taking tips that help you approach different question types strategically.

While not as comprehensive as some paid courses’ strategy sections, these tips give you solid fundamentals for tackling the most common question formats.

The practice tests aren’t just similar to the SAT—they ARE the SAT. Through the College Board partnership, Khan provides actual retired SAT exams.

Each full-length practice test mimics the digital SAT format, complete with the same tools and features. After completing a test, you’ll get a comprehensive score report breaking down your performance by section and question type, making it easy to identify remaining weak spots.

The quality of these practice materials simply can’t be beat, even by many paid options.

Some expensive prep courses still use their own “SAT-like” questions rather than official ones, putting Khan at a distinct advantage despite being free.

☑️Mobile Access 

Khan offers access through its mobile app. The responsive design adapts reasonably well to smaller screens, though some features (especially graphing tools for math) work better on tablets or computers.

I’ve found it perfectly fine for reviewing video lessons on the go or squeezing in quick practice sessions during downtime.

The fact that Khan Academy, a free test prep service, offers an app where many paid courses don’t, is pretty sick. It really elevates the learning experience.

User Experience and Platform Design

Khan Academy’s simple, clean interface might not win design awards, but it definitely keeps you focused on learning without distractions.

The learning dashboard organizes everything you need in one place, with clear progress indicators that people who love checking things off a list will appreciate.

Color-coded mastery levels (familiar to anyone who’s used Khan for other subjects) provide quick visual feedback on your progress. Blue means you’re just starting, yellow shows improvement, and green indicates mastery. This simple system keeps you motivated as you watch skills move from blue to green.

Navigation is intuitive enough that most students can jump right in without a tutorial.

The no-frills approach means fewer bells and whistles than some flashier paid platforms, but also fewer technical glitches and shorter loading times—a fair trade-off in my book.

But what else are you giving up with that trade-off?

What’s Missing: Tutoring, Live Classes, and Strategy

I’ll be honest about what you’re giving up when choosing the free route.

❌Khan Academy doesn’t provide direct access to instructors or tutors who can answer your specific questions.

When you’re stuck on a concept, your options are limited to rewatching videos or searching through the help forums.

❌The essay section also suffers from limited feedback.

While Khan provides some general writing advice and examples, you won’t get personalized critiques on your practice essays like you would from a human instructor.

❌Test-taking strategy is another area where Khan offers less depth than premium options.

You’ll find basic approaches to different question types, but not the nuanced strategies that can help squeeze out those last few points—things like selective guessing techniques, time management across sections, or personalized pacing plans.

These resources missing from Khan are often available from paid options.

Khan Academy vs Paid SAT Prep Options

So how does Khan stack up against the big names in test prep? Here’s a quick comparison:

Kaplan ($640–$2,400) offers live instruction, additional practice materials, and strategy-focused lessons, but at a significant cost. Its question bank is larger, though not necessarily better quality than Khan’s official questions.

Princeton Review ($364–$1,899) is known for comprehensive content review and score-improvement guarantees. Its premium packages include one-on-one tutoring and intense “boot camp” options that Khan can’t match.

Magoosh ($90–$280) sits between free options and premium courses, offering more strategy content and a mobile app, but without live classes in most packages.

❗The major difference is that paid options provide accountability, personalized feedback, and strategy advice from experienced instructors.

They’re essentially buying you structure and expert guidance, which some students desperately need.

So, free or paid?

Final Verdict: Is Khan Academy SAT Prep Worth It?

For a free resource, Khan Academy’s SAT prep is remarkably comprehensive and effective. If you’re disciplined, motivated, and willing to seek out supplementary strategy advice (plenty available for free on YouTube), Khan provides everything you need to significantly improve your score.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. The question isn’t whether to use Khan Academy—it’s whether Khan Academy alone is enough for your specific needs.

My advice? Start with Khan Academy. Give it a solid month of consistent use. If you’re seeing steady improvement and staying motivated, it might be all you need. If you’re struggling to stay on track or hit a score plateau, then consider investing in supplementary resources targeting your specific challenges.

Take the first step toward SAT success without opening your wallet and see how far free prep can take your score.

FAQs

Is Khan Academy SAT prep enough to raise my score?

Yes, Khan Academy can definitely raise your SAT score. Most students who practice regularly for 20+ hours can get score improvements of 90–150 points. It works best if you’re disciplined and follow the personalized study plan.

Does Khan Academy work with my College Board account?

Yes! You can link your College Board account directly to Khan Academy. This lets the system use your PSAT or previous SAT scores to create a more personalized study plan based on your actual test performance.

Can I use Khan Academy alongside another prep course?

Yes! You can use Khan Academy together with books, classes, or tutoring. The official practice questions make it a perfect complement to strategy-focused courses that might use their own practice materials.

Does Khan Academy have practice tests?

Yes, Khan Academy offers eight full-length, official SAT practice tests. These are the same tests available on the College Board website but with helpful features like automatic scoring and detailed performance analysis.