When Should My Child Take the SAT or ACT? (Part 1 of 2)
If you’re like most of the parents who contact me, an SAT tutor and ACT tutor, you’re not convinced that your child should ride the wave of test-optional admissions policies. Maybe you heard that students who applied to selective colleges with test scores were admitted at roughly twice the rate of those who did not submit scores. Or, maybe your child’s high school grades don’t reflect their true academic ability.
As an SAT tutor and ACT tutor, I’ve written about the academic benefits of preparing for these tests. If you’ve made the decision that your rising junior should take the SAT or ACT, you’re likely wondering now when’s best time for them to do so. The maxim that “timing’s everything” applies strongly to preparing for and crushing the SAT and the ACT. Here’s one test prep coach’s step-by-step guide to timing your kid’s test prep and date effectively.
Photo by John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash
Make sure your child has mastered Algebra I and II and Geometry.
The definition of “mastery,” of course, varies. I’d recommend that your child be able to perform at a “B” level (80%) or above in all three subjects before even attempting to study for the SAT or ACT. If their grades in Algebra and Geometry were C or lower, get them a math tutor. It's easier to learn how to apply test-taking strategies when you already understand the sophisticated content.
Don’t worry if they haven’t taken Trigonometry yet. A good SAT tutor or ACT tutor can teach them the basics that will appear on the tests. (If they’re preparing on their own, Khan Academy’s trove of videos are excellent.)
As an SAT tutor and ACT tutor, I spend roughly twice as much time prepping students on the math sections of these tests as I do on the reading, grammar, and, science sections. If your child’s a freshman or sophomore, make sure they’re mastering Algebra and Geometry as they take them. That's the number one thing you can do now to ensure the strength of their future SAT or ACT scores. (Here’s a list of essential mathematical skills and concepts that all kids should know.)
Choose a First Test Date.
As long as your child’s reading at grade level and has mastered Algebra and Geometry, they should only require about 8-10 weeks of consistent preparation to do well on their first test. As an SAT tutor and ACT tutor since the early 1990s, I define “consistent preparation” as two to five hours per week of combined study, practice test-taking, and, if possible, one-on-one tutoring.
Consult the College Board 2021-22 Testing Schedule for the SAT here and the ACT’s 2021-22 schedule here. So, if you want your child to sit for the November 6 SAT, she should start her consistent preparation today. If she doesn’t have the 2-5 hours per week during the next 8-10 weeks to do so, pick a different date for the first test.
Photo by Dominique Padurano
Register for a Second Test While Choosing the First.
Studies show that students’ test scores often rise on their second attempt. (There is a point of diminishing returns, however, and that’s usually Test #3.) While you're registering for the first test date, pick a second that’s not more than six weeks later. So, for example, if she takes the November 6 test, also register her for the December 4 test.
Don't space the first and second test dates more than six weeks apart. For example, do not register your child for a first SAT on December 4: the next SAT doesn’t fall until March 12, 2022, more than three months later. That’s a long time for her brain to recall all the content and strategies she likely learned in October and November while preparing for the first test.
To do well on the March test, she’ll need to continue studying through the winter. In this test prep coach’s opinion, that’s overkill. Six months’ worth of SAT prep will burn her out – and divert precious time and attention away from rigorous junior year courses, which count the most toward college admissions, anyway.
Got a test prep story or lesson about timing to share? Drop it in the comments below!
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Till then,