Short answer: Summer is the best time to prep for the SAT, ACT and AP exams because you have more free time, less stress and room to build better study habits early. Make a schedule of short daily sessions, take practice tests, focus on your weakest areas, protect your well-being, and consider a tutor to stay accountable.
Getting into your dream college takes years of hard work, and standardized tests are one important part of the admissions process. Many colleges use the SAT and ACT to see how you stack up against other applicants.
Advanced Placement (AP) exams help colleges gauge which level of courses you should start with. If you score high enough on an AP test, you might even earn college credit before you step through the door.
Getting an early start with summer study will raise your confidence and your scores on test day. If you’re ready, you can even take the SAT or ACT on a summer test date.
Key points
- More time, less stress: Summer frees up hours and removes school-year pressure.
- Short, frequent sessions: One or two hours a day beats one long weekly cram.
- Practice tests matter: They teach the question types, timing and test-day feel.
- Target weaknesses: Spend more time where you have the most room to improve.
- Avoid burnout: A flexible schedule leaves room for summer plans and rest.
- Get accountability: A tutor keeps you on track and builds a targeted plan.
Why is summer test prep key for success?
When school is in session, many things pull your focus away from test prep: catching the bus on time, finishing the chemistry reading, or chasing a personal best at your next cross-country race.
Summer is a much-needed break, but it’s also a golden opportunity to get ahead. Here’s why studying for the SAT, ACT and AP exams over vacation is a good idea.
How does summer study improve your study habits?
Practice makes perfect, whether you’re studying for a test, learning a language or sinking free throws. Practicing how you study improves your study habits, too.
With more time, you’ll build a better routine and figure out the learning methods that work best for you. For example, if you learn best by listening to audiobooks, you won’t waste time writing and reviewing flashcards.
Does summer study reduce test anxiety?
Summer is a time to get away from the stress of finals and essay deadlines. With less stress, it’s easier to focus on and retain what you study.
It’s also easier to sit down and learn without other projects hanging over your head. Lower anxiety also means better sleep and more motivation.
How much time does summer free up?
Once school’s out, you won’t have classes or most extracurricular activities taking up your time. You don’t need to spend all of it on test prep, but a few hours a week can really help without getting in the way of your other summer plans.
Why does starting early help?
A head start gives you more time to put yourself in the best position to succeed. You can spread your studying over a longer period and find the session length and schedule that cover what you need by test day.
Your future self will thank you when you aren’t pulling all-nighters the week before your test. For more on timing, see when to start preparing for the SAT and ACT.
What are the common concerns about summer test prep?
Even with the benefits laid out, you may not be convinced. Here are the main concerns students have about studying over the summer.
Is summer test prep too big a time commitment?
On the first day of summer, the total amount of test prep ahead can feel overwhelming, and it’s tempting to put it off until school starts. That’s a common response.
A little time spent planning a flexible schedule that doesn’t demand too much each day fixes this quickly. If you don’t think you can hold yourself accountable, you might need an ACT math tutor or someone else to keep you on track.
Will studying over the summer cause burnout?
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 finals, you’ll likely burn out sooner or later.
Burnout leads to exhaustion, lower motivation, extra stress and less sleep, all of which hurt your studying. Finding a schedule that prevents burnout is just as important as the studying itself.
What about scheduling conflicts?
When you think about summer, you probably think more about heading to the pool than hitting the books. Going to the beach sounds a lot more fun than SAT practice tests.
But summer is a large chunk of time. If you put in a little effort each day, you’ll still be able to do all the fun activities you have planned.
Make this summer count for test day
A one-on-one tutor can build a summer study plan around your schedule, target your weakest areas, and keep you accountable through practice tests.
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What are the best strategies for summer test prep?
Go into the summer with a plan and a goal, whether that’s a target score on a practice test or a total amount of study time. Once you know where you want to end up, use these five strategies:
- Create a study schedule. Short, frequent sessions spread over the summer.
- Use practice tests. Learn the question types and the timing.
- Consider tutoring or a prep course. Get structure, motivation and personalized strategies.
- Focus on your weaknesses. Put the most time where you can gain the most points.
- Protect your well-being. Exercise, rest and a positive mindset support your memory and focus.
1. How should you build a summer study schedule?
A study schedule spaces out your test prep over the long term for the best results. Find the right mix of available time and the hours when you’re most focused.
Study in short, frequent bursts, like one or two hours a day, instead of seven or eight hours straight once a week. This makes studying more manageable, and the repetition helps you remember what you’ve learned.
2. Why are practice tests so important?
No matter how much you study, skipping practice tests puts you at a major disadvantage. Practice tests show you the types of questions on the real test and how they work.
They also give you a feel for how much time you have per section and reduce your anxiety when the big day comes. It’s a good idea to take a lot of them.
“If you’re taking the test next month, I’ll have you take a practice test every week. If it’s three months away, one every other week is usually enough.”
Caleb Nastasi, Alexander Tutoring SAT tutor
Can you take the SAT or ACT in the summer?
Yes. If you feel you’ve prepared enough, you may just want to take the test and get it over with. You can take the SAT as many times as you want and the ACT up to 12 times.
Taking a summer test, even if you’re not fully ready, is a great way to get real test-taking experience and find out exactly where you stand. You can find current test dates on the College Board website, and our guide to retaking the SAT or PSAT covers how retakes work.
Tutor tip: Treat a summer test date as a full-length practice run with real stakes. Whatever the score, you’ll come out with an exact list of what to work on before your fall test.
3. Should you get a tutor or take a prep course?
Self-study isn’t ideal for everyone. You might get distracted easily, not know what to study or where your weaknesses are, or need someone to motivate and encourage you.
If so, a tutor or test prep course can help a lot. Learn how to choose a summer math program that personalizes lessons and strategies, and since it’s summer, you can find an option that fits your schedule.
4. How do you find and focus on your weaknesses?
Once your schedule is mapped out, balance your time across subjects. Identify the areas that cause you the most trouble and focus on those.
If you’re an avid reader who struggles with math, splitting your time evenly isn’t the best use of it. For example, with much more room to improve in math, extra math work could mean a 200-point jump, while the same time on reading might add only 50 points.
5. How do you protect your physical and mental well-being?
Staying physically and mentally fit while you study shouldn’t be overlooked. With exercise and a clear mind, your memory, motivation and concentration improve, and staying positive boosts confidence and reduces test anxiety.
If you’re taking a summer test, stress can build quickly and turn your vacation into a time of anxiety. Keeping your mind and body healthy is the best way to handle it.
Tutor tip: Schedule study time around your summer plans, not the other way around. Block your trips and events first, then fit short sessions into the days that are left.
How does tutoring help with SAT, ACT and AP summer prep?
Any time you spend studying for the SAT, ACT and AP exams over the summer will help. A tutor helps make sure you get the most out of that time, so you can still fit in that fishing trip or concert.
Tutoring gives you personalized attention focused on your weaknesses. Tutors help with everything from choosing a summer math program to holding you accountable, keeping you motivated and deciding when to take a summer test.
Your tutor will create a targeted study plan that keeps you on track to learn what you need by test day. With practice tests and a mentor helping you improve, you’ll gain confidence and real testing experience.
Is summer study worth it?
Summer is a time to relax, travel, start a new hobby and make memories with friends. It’s also an excellent time to study for the SAT, ACT and AP exams.
It may not sound appealing at first, but studying over the summer is a great way to get ahead and improve your chances of getting into your dream college. Our online summer math intensive builds customized study plans around your goals.
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- Calm-down steps for test anxiety you can use mid-exam
Frequently asked questions
Why is summer a good time to prepare for the SAT and ACT?
Summer gives students more free time and less school-year stress, which makes it easier to focus, retain material and build better study habits. Starting early also spreads prep over a longer period, so there’s no cramming the week before the test.
How many hours a day should you study for the SAT over the summer?
Short, frequent sessions work best, such as one or two hours a day rather than seven or eight hours once a week. Regular sessions are more manageable and the repetition helps you remember what you’ve learned.
Can you take the SAT in the summer?
Yes, the SAT and ACT both have summer test dates. You can take the SAT as many times as you want and the ACT up to 12 times, and a summer test is a good way to get real test experience and see where you stand.
How do you avoid burnout studying over the summer?
Avoid jumping into an intense schedule right after finals. Plan a flexible schedule of short daily sessions, leave room for summer activities, and keep up exercise and sleep.
Does tutoring help with summer test prep?
Tutoring gives students personalized attention on their weakest areas, a targeted study plan, regular practice tests and someone to keep them accountable. That helps students get the most out of limited summer study time.
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