It's never too early to begin preparing for the SAT. We suggest that students start their SAT preparation two to three months before their scheduled test date. This gives them the opportunity to assess how much they need to study each week and helps them avoid overcrowding. Studies have shown that students who start studying earlier tend to score better on the SAT and feel more confident when taking the test.
We recommend that students take the second year of the PSAT (or a practice SAT test) to get their basic SAT score. Afterwards, they should calculate their target SAT score based on the most competitive educational institution they are applying to. Then, they should start studying during the second year or the following summer and take the Junior SAT in the fall. The summer before the third year is the ideal time to begin studying for the SAT or ACT.
Since we suggest that students take their first ACT or SAT exam in the winter or spring of their third year, starting to study during the summer gives them a relaxed time to prepare before their first test. The best time for SAT preparation courses varies from student to student, but it's usually best to take these classes several months before the scheduled test date. For second-year high school students planning to take the ACT or SAT in the fall of their junior year, they should start preparing right away, making a diagnosis and determining which test is best for them. If they have a hard time getting a score below 1000, they should start preparing in the second year in order to obtain at least an above average score on the SAT.
IvyWise's team of expert tutors can work with students to help them identify their weaknesses, develop an action plan for improvement, and provide them with the best preparation for the SAT and ACT exams. Enrolling in an online self-paced SAT or ACT preparation course, such as Olive Book, is a great way to get started. For example, if a student wants to enter the University of Kentucky, they must set their target score at 1130 for the new SAT, which is their average SAT admission score. The process of preparing for college can be very stressful, especially when it comes to preparing for exams while juggling other tasks such as researching and visiting schools, creating a list of universities, participating in extracurricular activities and, most importantly, getting good grades in regular courses.
The following mentoring demonstration can help students better understand the type of practice involved in preparing for the SAT or ACT. Students should also consider taking a full practice test for the SAT, as the PSAT doesn't include all of the content evaluated on the actual SAT. We recommend that students start studying for the SAT or ACT during the summer before their third year, as this is often when they are most academically busy and may not have enough time to prepare during school hours. If students take their first SAT or ACT test in the fall of their third year, they will have less intense preparation at an early age, leaving room for one or two more repetitions depending on their performance.
The decision to take the SAT multiple times should not be considered negative and is usually the best strategy to achieve the best possible score in each section since many universities score higher on either the ACT or SAT. The spring semester is a popular time for tests among college-bound students and is often when third-year high school students open up a SAT or ACT prep book. For those looking for guidance on when is best to start preparing for college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT, this comprehensive guide provides all of the information needed. Starting early gives students ample time to assess how much they need to study each week and helps them avoid overcrowding while also giving them an opportunity to score better on these tests.
It's important that students take practice tests such as PSAT or Junior SAT in order to get an idea of their basic score and then calculate their target score based on which educational institution they are applying to. Enrolling in an online self-paced course such as Olive Book is also recommended as it provides students with an action plan for improvement and helps them understand what type of practice is involved in preparing for these exams. Finally, it's important that students start studying during summer before their third year so that they have enough time before taking their first exam in winter or spring.
