This SAT and ACT Tutor Says NOW is the Time for Juniors to Study

I know what you’re thinking.  “Students have only just returned to school.  And now this SAT tutor is saying that they should also be preparing for the SAT?!?”  “Shouldn’t my kid be taking the SAT in the spring?”  If this were 1992, then yes.  But it’s thirty years after your own junior year – and a lot has changed since then. 

Original episodes of Cheers were still airing when you likely took your own SAT.

SAT Tutor Recommends Concentrating on One Thing at a Time

The biggest reason why juniors should prepare for the SAT in the fall is because most will be studying for multiple AP exams in March, April, and early May.  Thirty years ago, students took many fewer AP courses, so prepping for the SAT at the same time wasn’t a big burden.  (Of course, many students never even cracked a book for the SAT back then.  Even though I’m an SAT tutor now, yours truly is guilty as charged!) 

Today, however, the most highly selective colleges expect students to have taken around eight courses by the time they apply.  That means that many students will juggle a minimum of three and up to five or more AP exams in the spring of their junior year.  Don’t burden them with another high-stakes exam at the same time; encourage them to get their SAT or ACT out of the way in the fall.

College Counselor’s Reminder: It’s Still a Good Idea to Submit SAT and ACT Scores

Many students – and not a few parents! – will argue that the SAT and ACT aren’t even necessary for college applications nowadays.  While this is true, I’ve written elsewhere that “test optional” doesn’t mean “test-prohibited.”  Where standardized test scores are accepted, your child will fare better in the admissions process if they can submit a score that’s equal to or above the mean at their desired university, whether they work with an SAT tutor or not.

Of course, there are some considerations to take into account when registering for your SAT or ACT.  (Check these tips out before registering, too.)  In short, if your child’s already taken Algebra II and is performing at grade level in math and reading, there’s little reason not to take the test sooner. 

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

SAT and ACT Prep Requires 8-10 Weeks of Sustained Effort

It’s probably too late to adequately prepare for the October 1 SAT (today, September 2, is the last day to register anyway).  But there’s plenty of time to study for and ace the November 5 and December 3 SATs!  If you’re an ACT taker and can start studying next week, you’re right in time to prepare for and sit for the October 22 and December 10 exams.  Studies show that students’ scores go up on the second try, so make sure you register for two exams that are as close together in time as possible.  ‘

As a test prep tutor, I recommend 8-10 weeks of studying between 2 and 5 hours per week for maximum gains.  As always, if you need assistance from an expert educator and test prep coach (I tutor for both the SAT and the ACT), please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or to set up a complimentary consultation here.  (Just make sure you schedule a time when both you and your child can be present.  I can offer just one complimentary half-hour appointment per family.)