When to Start Preparing for the SAT/ACT
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Standardized tests are a hurdle for many students applying to college, particularly those interested in competitive schools. An effective study strategy can help improve your test results, but when should you start preparing for the SAT and ACT? Pinpointing when is too late — or too early — to hit the books will help you set up the right schedule for your unique circumstances.
Factors To Consider
Taking a college entrance exam is a major step in your educational journey, and good timing is key. These are some of the most important things to remember when deciding how long in advance you should begin preparing for the SAT:
- Academic priorities: Don't sacrifice your grades to test prep — start your study plan over the summer or at a time without major projects or exams due in your classes.
- Test goals: Decide what your target score is and how much work you'll need to do to reach it.
- Stress tolerance: Taking on test preparation when you're already struggling with other academic or personal stressors could hurt your scores and mental health.
- Personalized study needs: Think about your study style, how long it takes you to grasp new concepts, and how long you can retain information.
Assessing each of these areas of your life will help you make a more informed decision about when to tackle your test preparation.
Optimal Start Timing
There's no hard and fast rule for when to begin your ACT and SAT test prep. However, students generally start somewhere between their freshman and junior years of high school.
Typical Timing for Test Prep
The most common time to start preparing for the SAT and ACT is over the summer after sophomore year. This gives you ample time to review the material, familiarize yourself with the test structure, and complete practice tests. Starting in the summer means you have plenty of time for test prep without being preoccupied with coursework or extracurricular activities.
Ideally, you'll finish with your tests by the end of your junior year. Some students wait until their senior years to prep for and take the exams, but this approach can add a lot of unnecessary stress to an already overwhelming year.
Early Starters: When and Why
How early should you start preparing for the ACT? Studying for the ACT and SAT in your freshman year is less common than waiting until you're a junior, but it has some advantages. Early exposure to the test material can help you build a foundation of knowledge for your classes. It could also boost your academic performance by reinforcing core concepts.
Doing early test prep gives you time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. If you struggle with test anxiety, which affects between 10 and 40% of students, starting early gives you more opportunities to take practice exams and get comfortable with the test format.
Developing a Study Plan
Once you've decided to start studying for your exams, the next step is to create a study schedule. While the details of your study plans may change over time, create a schedule spanning around three to six months before the exam date.
Decide how much time you can dedicate to test prep and establish daily or weekly goals. For example, you might spend certain days focusing on the SAT math section and others on the ACT reading test.
When creating your study plan, don't forget to factor in time for test-taking strategies. Practicing time management, guessing techniques, and the process of elimination gives you a better chance of correctly answering questions.
Utilizing Test Prep Resources
Preparing for the ACT and SAT can be stressful, but you don't have to go it alone. Take advantage of available resources to make your study sessions more impactful.
Professional Tutoring Services
Professional tutoring is an excellent way to improve your skills. Working with a tutor offering ACT or SAT prep online gives you flexibility — you can get help at the time and place that works best for you. Go into your tutoring sessions with specific questions and content you want to cover.
Online Tools and Courses
The internet is overflowing with test preparation resources and ACT and SAT prep courses, complete with practice exams, diagnostic quizzes, and instructional videos. Some of these options are free, while others require a subscription. For instance, the College Board offers a series of official SAT practice tests you can complete from home.
Books and Study Guides
You can find a wide range of test prep books and guides in the library and online. Materials are available for every aspect of the exams, from content to format to study tips. The College Board and the ACT Board offer official study guides, but you can also find unofficial guides with recommendations from professionals, teachers, and test-takers.
Balancing SAT/ACT Preparation with Other Commitments
Everything else going on in your life doesn't pause when you're preparing for the SAT and ACT. It's important to find ways to manage all your priorities. Incorporating more practice tests into your preparation will help you stay on track and can also highlight the weak areas you need to focus on during your prep.
In addition, create a detailed schedule for all your obligations, including homework, test prep, and extracurriculars. Time blocking, or dividing your day into specific blocks for different tasks or activities, can help you achieve consistency without spreading yourself too thin.
Setting Goals and Target Scores
Working toward a specific goal helps you refine your study strategy. Complete a practice test to get a baseline score, and compare it to the required scores for your preferred schools. With that information, you can set a realistic goal for the score you want to achieve. As you complete additional practice tests, measure your progress, and get closer to the test date, you can adjust your target if necessary.
Planning for Retakes
When you take the SAT or ACT, remember your first score isn't your final score. You can take both tests multiple times to get a variety of scores to choose from when submitting college applications. Whether you get close to your target or fall short on your first try, each attempt is a learning experience you can use to improve your performance moving forward.
Alexander Tutoring is dedicated to helping students achieve the best possible math scores on the SAT and ACT. Whether you need help getting a handle on core concepts or overcoming test anxiety, we're ready to support your goals. Reach out to learn more.
