How Summer Math Tutoring Prepares You for SAT, ACT, and AP Exams
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Getting into your dream college takes years of hard work. One important part of the college admissions process is taking standardized tests. Many colleges will require you to take exams like the SAT and ACT to see how you stack up against other applicants. Other exams, like Advanced Placement (AP) exams, help colleges gauge which level courses you should begin with. And if you score high enough on an AP test, you might even earn some college credits before you even step through the door.
Getting an early start on these exams with summer study will increase your scores and confidence on test day. If you think you’re ready for them, you can even take these exams during the summer months.
Why Is Summer Test Preparation Key for Success?
When school is in session, you have many responsibilities to worry about. There are a number of things that can pull your focus away from test prep, like whether you're able to get up on time to catch the bus, finish the required reading for chemistry, or get a personal best at your next cross-country race. While summer is often a much-needed break, it’s also a golden opportunity to get ahead. Here are some reasons why putting in some study time for your SAT, ACT, and AP exams during your vacation is a good idea.
Enhanced Study Habits
If you ask any expert, they’ll tell you that practice makes perfect. This is great advice to get someone to study for a test, learn a foreign language, or sink free throws. However, practicing how you study will improve your study habits as well. When you find more time for studying, you’ll build a better routine and figure out the best learning methods for you. For example, when you know that you learn best by listening to audiobooks, you won’t waste time writing out and reviewing flashcards.
Reduced Anxiety
With warm, sunny weather and longer days, summer is a time to relax and get away from the anxiety of studying for a final exam or getting an essay finished by the deadline. With less stress, you’ll have an easier time focusing on and retaining what you study. You’ll also find it easier to sit down to learn when you don’t have other projects hanging over your head and distracting you. Lower anxiety also equals better sleep and more motivation, making summer a perfect time to put some extra work in.
Increased Time Availability
The reduced anxiety of summer is usually a result of having more time on your hands. Once school’s out, you obviously won’t have classes or extracurricular activities to take up your time. You don’t have to devote all of your extra time to test prep, but setting aside a few hours a week can really help without getting in the way of your other summer plans.
Early Preparation
Like the phrase, “The early bird gets the worm,” the student who studies passes the test. Getting a head start on test prep means you have more time to put yourself in the best position to succeed. Early preparation also means you can spread out your studies over a longer period of time. You can determine the best session length and schedule to cover the material you need by the test date. Your future self will thank you when you aren’t frantically pulling all-nighters the week before your test!
Common Summer Test Preparation Concerns
Even with the benefits of summer test prep laid out, you still may not be convinced. There are some reasons to be skeptical about putting in extra work over your coveted break time. Here are some of the main concerns that future test takers have about studying over the summer.
Time Commitment
If it’s your first day of summer and you’re looking at the big picture, the realization of the total amount of time you may need to put in for test prep study can be overwhelming. You might want to just toss your hands up right there on day one and leave it until you start studying again. This isn’t an uncommon response, but taking a little bit of time to plan out a flexible schedule that doesn’t demand too much from your day-to-day routine can fix this concern quickly. If you don’t think you can hold yourself accountable over the summer, you might need an ACT math tutor or someone to keep you on track.
Burnout
Even though studying in the summer has some clear advantages, summer is a time for students to take a break from working so hard in school. Burnout is what happens when you become physically, mentally, and emotionally drained from doing too much of something. If you jump into an intense study schedule the day after your final exams, you’ll likely burn out sooner or later.
Burnout is bad for multiple reasons. It can lead to exhaustion, which will negatively affect your studies. You’ll become less motivated, and it could lead to physical issues like extra stress and less sleep. Finding a suitable study schedule to prevent burnout is just as important as the studying itself.
Scheduling Conflicts
When you think about summer, you probably think more about heading to the pool than hitting the books. Since it’s your precious vacation time, committing to a study schedule can conflict with other plans you might have. Going to the beach sounds like a lot more fun than hammering out SAT practice tests.
However, if you really look at the large chunk of time you have, there’s no reason you can’t get some studying in. Managing your time so that you put in a little effort each day isn’t very hard, but if you try, you’ll still be able to do all the fun activities you have planned.
Useful Strategies for Summer Test Preparation
By now, you might want to dive right into studying for the standardized test of your future. However, it is always a good idea to go into it with a plan in place. You should have an idea of your goal for the summer, whether that’s a specific score you want to get on a practice test or a total amount of study time. Once you know where you want to end up, try out some of these strategies to get there.
1. Create a Study Schedule
Creating a study schedule is how you space out your test prep journey over the long term for the best results. You find the right combination of available time and when you’re most focused to maximize the work you put in. It’s better to opt for studying in short bursts that are more frequent, like one or two hours a day, instead of studying seven or eight hours straight once a week. This makes studying more manageable, and you’ll be able to remember what you’ve learned more easily from the repetition.
2. Utilize Practice Tests
Practice tests are important. No matter how much you study for the college admissions test you’re going to take, if you haven’t tried any practice tests, you’re putting yourself at a major disadvantage. Practice tests give you a sense of the types of questions that will be on the actual tests and how they work. Practice tests will give you a feel for how much time you have per section and reduce your overall anxiety when the big day comes. It’s a good idea to try a lot of practice tests.
However, after a while, you may get sick of practice tests and ask: Can you take the SAT in the summer? The answer is yes. If you feel like you’ve prepared enough for your test, you may just want to get it over with. Remember, you can take the ACT and SAT as many times as you want. Taking a summer SAT test, even if you’re not ready, is a great way to get real test-taking experience and find out exactly where you’re at. You can find the updated summer test dates on the College Board website.
3. Consider Tutoring or Test Prep Courses
For some, self-study isn’t ideal. It could be because you get distracted easily. You might not know what you’re supposed to study or your weaknesses. It may be a matter of needing someone to motivate and encourage you. If this is the case, getting a tutor or taking a test prep course can help a lot.
Look for the best online summer math program and give it a shot. These professionals can personalize lessons and strategies to make sure you do your best. Since it’s the summer, you can find an option that fits your schedule and get started.
4. Identify and Focus on Any Weaknesses
When you’ve got your schedule mapped out, start to balance when you’ll work on each subject. It’s very important to identify which areas cause you the most trouble and focus on those. If you’re an avid reader and have trouble understanding most math equations, spending the same amount of time on both isn’t the best use of your time. If you’ve got much more room for improvement in math, putting in more work could mean a 200-point jump, while the same amount of time may only increase your reading score by 50 points.
5. Maintain Your Physical and Mental Well-Being
Staying physically and mentally fit while studying for your test shouldn’t be overlooked. With exercise and a clear mind, you’ll find your memory, motivation, and concentration improving. Staying positive can help boost your confidence and reduce test anxiety, too.
If you’re planning to take a summer test, stress can build up quickly and turn your vacation into a time of anxiety. Keeping your mind and body healthy is the best way to tackle this kind of stress and give yourself the best chance for success.
The Role of Tutoring in SAT, ACT, and AP Summer Prep
Any amount of time you spend studying for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams over the summer will help you get higher scores. However, getting a tutor to help you study can guarantee you’re getting the most out of the time and effort you’re putting in so you can still fit in that fishing trip or concert.
Tutoring in SAT, ACT, and AP summer prep gives you personalized attention, so you’ll be honing in on your weaknesses. Tutors can help you with a range of things, from choosing a summer math program to holding you accountable and keeping you motivated to help you decide when to take a summer test. Your tutor will work with you to create a targeted study plan that keeps you on track to learn everything you need to know by the time test day rolls around. With practice tests and a trained mentor to help you improve, you’ll gain invaluable confidence and testing experience.
Maximize Test Scores With a Summer Math Intensive
Summer is a time for high school students to relax, enjoy the sun, and have fun with their friends. It’s an excellent time to travel, start up a new hobby, make new memories, and study for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. While it may not sound appealing at first, studying during the summer is a great way to get ahead and increase the chances of getting into your dream college.
If you’re ready to commit to improving your test scores, we can help! At Alexander Tutoring, we work with you to customize study plans to fit your needs. Our professional tutors work with you so that you have the knowledge and confidence you need when you walk in to take your test. Get in touch with us and learn more about our online summer math intensive tutoring today!
