Parents and students alike are often unsure when to begin preparing for the SAT or ACT. Like most things in life there is no simple answer to this question and it depends somewhat on the student and his or her circumstances. We’ll go into much more detail in the following paragraphs, but a quick answer is: generally not before Summer between 10th and 11th grade and possibly not until Fall/Winter of 11th grade (though not later than that!).
Understanding the Timeline
For most students, preparing for the initial test should be a roughly 2 or 3 month process. Remember, however, that it’s usually a good idea to take the tests at least 2 or 3 times, so while 2-3 months is a good benchmark for lead-in time to the initial test, the process usually extends beyond that. Test prep does not necessarily need to continue unabated throughout all of those retakes, but since many schools “superscore” and since even the ones that don’t won’t penalize students for lower scores, it’s to the student’s advantage to try to maximize their score by taking the tests a few times, especially once the time and money and effort have been spent preparing.
So if you want to take the SAT or ACT for the first time in October of 11th grade, it’s a good idea to begin studying over the Summer, perhaps July or August. If December will be the first try, then starting in September would be ideal. Again, just remember that the process will not likely end there. If a student takes the December ACT, they’ll almost certainly take the February test and possibly the April one as well.
Choosing the Right Starting Point
So how do you target the optimal starting point? This is where the student’s individual circumstances need to be considered. Does the student play a Spring sport, but have a lot of time in the Summer and Fall? Would the student (and parents) be more comfortable getting the tests out of the way early so that they can better plan for school visits in the Spring (with the knowledge of which schools are realistic given the student’s SAT and ACT scores)? Is the student going to have 5 AP classes and therefore 5 AP tests in May of 11th grade – clearly that is NOT a good time to be taking the SAT if that is the case. Did the student take Algebra 2 and Trigonometry in 10th grade or will they be taking it in 11th grade? Algebra 2 and Trig are tested on the SAT and ACT, so students who are not taking that Math until 11th grade might benefit from a later starting date!
Below are some specific considerations that will help you make an informed decision:
Again, it’s helpful to think about when distractions are most likely to get in the way of a student. When are their most intense sports or extra-curricular activities? Do they have a lot of free time over the Summer when A LOT of serious prep can happen? End of 11th grade is an intense time for most students and this is part of why many informed parents get their kids started with SAT and ACT prep early. Remember, 11th grade is probably the most important year grade-wise in terms of college applications, and the end of Junior year is particularly brutal with AP exams, finals, etc. That’s not to say that prepping in the Spring is always bad (see below), but it’s important to anticipate how hard that time of year can be.
Another thing to consider is the intellectual and academic development of the student. As mentioned above, many kids don’t take Algebra 2 and Trigonometry until 11th grade, and those topics ARE tested on the SAT and ACT. Even some pre-calculus topics are sometimes tested, especially on the ACT. So for students who have not taken that Math, starting later, perhaps in the Winter of Junior year, might be best. Verbal ability also continues to mature as students progress in school. Some kids are just better, more sophisticated readers at the end of 11th grade or beginning of Senior year than they were a year earlier.
Ok, so why not just wait and take the tests in the Summer after 11th grade and Fall of 12th? Well, it’s a lot of pressure at that point since by Summer after 11th grade there are only a few tests left that can be taken before application deadlines, especially if you plan to apply Early Decision. Additionally, it makes it hard to plan college visits and strategize applications when you don’t even know how you will net out on the SAT or ACT. So it is NOT a good idea to begin prepping in the late Spring, since that might mean the student’s first test is June or even July/August (the SAT and ACT have Summer test dates).
That said, those later test dates CAN be good options for a second or final test. For example, if a student starts prepping in January and takes the April and June ACT, taking the July test can be great. By that point the student will probably have had 3 or 4 weeks without school and can really focus on making a strong push up to that July test date.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there is no right answer for when one should begin prepping for the SAT or ACT. There are certainly better times and worse times, but it’s really very student-dependent. However, it’s never a bad idea to start thinking about the tests early: once you have a plan in place you’ll be in good shape, even if that plan is to not start prepping until January of Junior year. To that end, it can be good to have your child take a diagnostic SAT and ACT early on (even near the end of 10th grade), just to get the wheels turning and to start thinking about which test to aim for in the first place. Please see our dedicated page on how to choose which test to take, SAT or ACT, for more information on that very important initial step. And feel free to contact us for guidance on the overall timeline and process for prepping for the SAT or ACT. We are here to help!