When should I start studying for the SAT? This is a very common question however there is no “clear-cut” answer. In many ways the SAT is a test of knowledge and much of it covers content that you have learned learned throughout your academic career specifically grammar rules, essay writing tips, Geometry and Algebra skills. Therefore studying should include brushing up on all of these skills, becoming familiar with the types of questions that will be on the SAT and learning test taking strategies.
For the purpose of this blog post we are going to base our advice on age and not goal. Age is typically the easiest marker of when you should start your SAT prep.
The Underclassman
It is recommended that you start to study for the SAT the summer before your junior year in high school. As an underclassman you have plenty of time to prepare so there is no need to worry about cramming it all in. Also, you may opt to take the SAT early in the school year which will allow you to concentrate primarily on your classes going forward.
Some students opt to begin their SAT prep during the summer before sophomore year. Taking the PSAT is a great way to get an idea as to where you are and how much you will have to improve. Advanced preparation is ideal but it is not always better. Starting to early result in loosing motivation over time.
Junior Year
Many students opt to take the summer off and start their SAT prep during junior year. Junior year tends to be a stressful year so keeping up with classes and preparing for the SAT may be a lot for some. However, if you are dedicated and manage your schedule properly this method will work fine. It is a good idea to dedicate a little time each school night for SAT review and be prepared to allocate more time on weekends and days off for more intense SAT prep.
Senior Year
If you haven’t taken the SAT by the end of junior year it would be smart to begin studying immediately. It is typically ideal to have taken the SAT or have been studying by now since the summer before your final year in high school can be very hectic. In most cases we recommend not to leave too much SAT prep for your first semester of senior year. Yes waiting this long to study is possible but SAT review and testing, college applications and your normal workload can be extremely time consuming and stressful for any student.
Taking that into consideration age is not the only factor to take into consideration when trying to determine a good time to start your SAT prep. Some argue that the goal is a more important gauge and we will be covering this in our next post.
At A+ Tutoring Service, we offer test prep for SAT II, GED, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, Armed Services Aptitude Test and others. Our highly experienced, friendly tutors are here to help you or your student succeed; no matter where you are hoping to go. To get started with your test prep tutoring plan, contact A+ Tutoring Service at 732-566-6086 or contact us online with your questions.