One of the things that can make preparation for the SAT or ACT feel overwhelming is the number of steps and details that have to be managed. Here is my baseline timeline that can help you get your highest score.

• Four months before the test: start studying your vocabulary. If you start with the top 100 SAT/ACT words and learn just 5 words per week, you’ll be in great shape by your test date.
• (At least) Three months before your test: take a full-length practice test to assess your strengths and find your learning opportunities. This will help you prioritize your studying. Both test makers offer free practice tests on their websites (SAT practice test, ACT practice test). If you are going to work with a tutor or a prep company, this is probably the latest you can sign up and still prepare completely for your test date.
• Two months before your test: make sure you’re registered for the test to avoid paying a late registration fee and guarantee that you’ll get the test center and date that you want. Keep improving your test skills for all sections of the test.
• One month before your test: start focusing your preparation on the test sections that need an extra boost. Take another practice test to show yourself how far your studying has already brought you, and to eliminate test-day jitters.
• One week before your test: taper off your studying and relax.  There’s no such thing as cramming for the SAT or ACT since they are reasoning tests, so go ahead feel confident in the work that you’ve already put in!  Use this time to get your test-day materials together (pencils, calculator, photo ID, registration ticket, and anything you might need to be more comfortable for your test) and review your notes.
• The day of your test: try to relax, do your best, and eat a normal breakfast.  It wouldn’t hurt to plan something fun for the afternoon, either!

But which date should I register for?

In Houston, most juniors take the SAT one to three times in the late fall or spring (December, January, March, May, and/or June). This leaves you the opportunity to take the test again in the fall of your senior year (if you want to) and still have your scores back in time for early decision/early action.  For the ACT, most juniors take the test one or two times in the late fall or spring (December, February, April, and/or June), which leaves the same opportunity to retake the test in the fall if you would like.

When you’re choosing your test dates, check your calendar for other events like homecoming, prom, family trips, finals, and anything else that might fall on the day of your planned test or in the two days prior.  If you are up all night at homecoming on Friday night, you will probably not do your best on a test the next morning!  If you have been studying your heart out for finals for weeks and weeks, you might not have the focus that you need to get your highest score on your ACT or SAT.  Be realistic about your schedule and take the test on a date that makes sense for you, even if everyone you know is taking the test on another day.

Example:

Sally is a junior who is trying to raise her ACT score from an 18 to at least a 28, so her tutor has told her to allow at least three to four months of weekly sessions to prepare.  She wants to take the test twice this year, and she will be playing two spring sports but not a fall one.

Sally’s test prep timeline:

• August – begin ACT tutoring for the December test
• September – register for the December test
• December – take the ACT and continue tutoring
• January – register for the February test
• February – take the ACT again before sports practice gets in the way of studying and to get the most of of the prep Sally has already done

Do you live in Houston and need help figuring out your test prep timeline? Just send me an email.