Best Free Tools Every Student Should Use

TLDR

• Use Notion to plan your study schedule

• Practice active recall with Quizlet

• Learn from experts through Khan Academy

• Master math and graphs using Desmos

• Polish your writing with Grammarly

• (Bonus) Track deadlines with Google Calendar

Why These Tools Matter

You don’t need expensive subscriptions to study smarter. These free tools can help you stay organized, review faster, and improve performance in SAT, ACT, and school classes. Every student can use them to take control of their learning.

1. Notion — The Ultimate Study Organizer

Best for: Planning, note-taking, and tracking goals.
Notion helps you manage everything from your homework list to your long-term test prep plan. You can build study dashboards, to-do lists, and progress trackers — all in one place.

Quick setup idea:

• Create a weekly study planner page

• Add toggles for subjects (SAT, Calculus, etc.)

• Use a progress bar for motivation

2. Quizlet — Active Recall Made Easy

Best for: Flashcards and memory retention.
Quizlet turns your notes into digital flashcards, perfect for vocab, formulas, and definitions.
You can study with “Learn” or “Test” modes and even share sets with friends.

Try this:
Search “SAT Vocabulary Flashcards North American Tutors” to review key terms instantly.

3. Khan Academy — Learn Anything, Anytime

Best for: Video lessons and guided practice.
Khan Academy covers everything from SAT Math to AP Physics. Each topic includes short videos, examples, and quizzes that help you fill learning gaps.

Pro tip:
Use Khan Academy alongside our SAT Formula Sheet to reinforce concepts.

4. Desmos — The Smart Graphing Calculator

Best for: Math visualization and SAT prep.
Desmos is built into the digital SAT, so mastering it early gives you a real advantage. It helps visualize functions, solve equations, and check your work.

Example use:
Graph y = (x + 3)(x – 2) to instantly see intercepts and turning points.

👉 Learn more: Check out our full guide — SAT Desmos Calculator Cheat Sheet

5. Grammarly — Sharpen Your Writing

Best for: Essays, emails, and assignments.
Grammarly catches spelling and grammar mistakes in real time. It also offers tone suggestions to make your college essays sound more natural and polished.

Use case:
Paste your Common App draft into Grammarly before your tutor review session — it’ll save you hours of editing.

6. Google Calendar — Never Miss a Deadline

Best for: Time management.
Block your study sessions like meetings. When you treat studying like a non-negotiable appointment, consistency becomes effortless.

Setup tip:
Color-code by subject — blue for SAT, green for AP, gold for essays.

Tutor Tip

Start with just two tools this week. For example, use Notion to plan your week and Quizlet for daily review. You’ll see your productivity double once your study flow feels automatic.

Ready to Build a Smarter Study Plan?

Our expert tutors can help you combine these free tools into a personalized prep strategy for your SAT, ACT, or AP exams.

📞 Book a free strategy session today