The ideal amount of time to prepare for the SAT is 8-12 weeks. However, many students prepare in 4 weeks or less.
Keep these pointers in mind as you develop your study plan:
- Choose a SAT Study Guide from this list of recommendations, Amazon, your local bookstore, or library.
- Aim to complete 3 full SAT exams. The first exam will familiarize you with the test. The next two tests that you complete will help you to identify your weaknesses and improve your score.
- Have a Vocabulary plan. Decide how many common SAT vocabulary word you can learn per week. Try to learn 10-20 new words per week. You can get a list of SAT vocabulary words from a book, from an app for your computer or phone, or get a free list from Sparknotes. Learn common roots, suffixes, and prefixes. SparkNotes has a useful list.
- Find a quiet place to study. Mimic test taking conditions by limiting noise and distractions.
- Choose a SAT Exam date that does not coincide with your sport’s season, if you play a sport. When choosing an exam date, consider when you will take any Subject tests, if the school you want to attend requires them. You will want to take the Subject Exams at the end of your Sophomore and Junior years. Visit the College Board for test dates.
Start by learning how to do the Critical Reading sections. It can take a while to master these sections, so you want to start practicing critical reading early. Learn how to do the critical reading here or from a SAT guide, then do a few sections without a time limit. Once you are familiar with the style of the passages and the nature of the questions, do the sections with the time limit.
Review the grammar rules in your chosen SAT study guide. The grammar questions are repetitive, so it pays to know the most commonly asked grammar questions. Do some sections without a time limit, and study the explanations for the answers, so you learn how to do the questions. Then do some sections within the time limit.
Review how to write the essay in your SAT guide. Write an essay and share it with an English teacher or tutor for feedback. Write at least 2 essays within the 25 minute time limit. It is not easy to write an essay in 25 minutes. Practice will help you do your best writing. See our tips here.
Commit to a specific study plan. Set aside and schedule a specific time each week to study. If you have 4 weeks to go before your SAT date, then you will want to schedule about 6 hours a week of study time to complete 3 full exams.
As you get closer to your exam date, begin completing 2 or 3 test sections together without a break. This will help you get used to the test taking conditions you will experience during the exam. You want to practice fighting fatigue and staying focused as you work through two or three sections.