SAT or ACT?  The easiest way to determine which you like better is to take a practice SAT and a practice ACT and see which one you feel more comfortable with (and get a higher score!)   Or, if you really want to minimize your time on test prep, you will likely be taking a PSAT this October in school, and most high schools (in the south) have a school day SAT in the spring.  If you have questions about this, be sure to bring it up in our next meeting. 

When should I take my tests?

Lots of factors come into play when it comes to planning your test schedule. But at the highest level, most students should take their first tests in the Fall of their 11th grade year.  So consider which weekends you may be busy with your extracurriculars, when you might be traveling, when you will have completed important courses (Algebra 2 is important). Also most students choose to take a test at least twice. It is strongly advised to try to be done with testing by the end of your Junior year so that you can focus the summer between Junior and Senior year on your college applications. But, if it's absolutely essential, you can take tests the summer of, and up until October of your Senior year.

Should I really do anything to prepare in advance?   There are certainly colleges that will not require that you submit test scores, but it is HIGHLY LIKELY that one of your top choices is going to be looking carefully at your test score - either because it is required or strongly desired!  Just as you wouldn’t take a final exam for a course or an AP exam without preparing, it only makes sense that you invest some time in SAT or ACT test prep to ensure that your scores reflect your true abilities.

When should I prepare?   The most ideal time is summer between 10th and 11th grades.  You will be busy this fall with school and you really need to be taking your tests starting in the fall anyway (in most cases).  And, if you do a little each week, it won’t seem so overwhelming.  As an added bonus, if you are studying some all summer, you will start your Junior year off strong, as you won’t have forgotten key concepts over the summer! 

How should I prepare?   There are many philosophies about this, so I’ll share a few to consider.

• Practice tests - regardless of how you might study and make sure you understand content, nothing beats taking practice tests!  And taking them on a Saturday morning at 8:00am, timed exactly as the actual test, is the best way to maximize your time spent!

 

• SAT Online Practice Tests
• ACT Practice Tests
• Unfortunately, the ACT is in a bit of a transition right now.  They have just introduced a new digital test, but they do not yet have full-length ACT practice tests online.  Most test prep experts are recommending that if you want to take the ACT, you stick with the paper version this year! 
• Materials for ACT prep (includes study guides and a full-length practice paper test)

• Self-directed Study - if you are the type that can come up with a plan and stick with it, then there are great free tools out there that you can use.

• Khan Academy SAT Test Prep You’ll link up your practice test results to Kahn Academy and it will create a custom study plan for you!
• ACT Test Prep

• Group and Private Lessons - If you know that you simply aren’t going to be self-disciplined enough to do independent test prep, then you should consider investing in a class or private tutoring to ensure that you make progress.  Numerous test prep companies offer group and private sessions - some in person and some online.  Here are a few, but there are many others.

• More Than A Teacher - This is a popular Austin-based company that many students use for group-based test prep. They offer bootcamps right before big test days, as well as summer sessions.
• Applerouth - This company offers group and private tutoring on a variety of subjects.
• StudyPoint - This is a nation-wide company offering private tutoring online and in person.
• JB Tutors - This is a small Austin-based company that does private tutoring in a variety of subjects, including SAT and ACT.  They will cater tutoring to help specific needs.