When,Take,the,SAT,and,Begin,Pr education When To Take the SAT (and When to Begin Preparing)

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If you’ve opted to take the SAT over theACT, now the question you’re most likely facing is when – and, if necessary,how often – should you take it? Naturally, these are questions best answered bytaking each student’s individual situation into consideration, but there aresome reasonable guidelines relevant to the majority of students.  Here are some suggestions, by grade: Freshmen, you’re in luck!  Students in their first year of high schoolshould not yet be concerned with the PSAT, and almost certainly not with theSAT.   A (fairly rare) exception to this “rule”might be, for instance, if a student is performing fantastically in his or her9th grade World History or Biology class and plans on taking Advanced Placement(AP) courses in that subject.  In thiscase, since the material is fresh, it might be a good time to take the SAT IISubject Test in World History or Biology. Otherwise, your best bet freshmanyear is to expend energies toward developing a strong first-year GPA, andcommitting yourself to extra-curricular activities. Sophomores might want to consider takingthe PSAT or the PLAN (precursor to the ACT). Both these tests provide an invaluable opportunity for practice underreal testing conditions.  Not only dothese tests serve as early practice, they also serve as a diagnostic for earlyrecognition of potential problem areas. The answer key and question analysiscan then be used to determine in which areas the student would benefit fromadditional study.   Sophomores should still be focusingprimarily on their GPAs, but should also consider taking a Subject Test, if itfeels appropriate.  Sophomores who don’tfeel quite ready to take the PSAT can still find plenty of practice questionsat their school or online at www.collegeboard.com(www.actstudent.org for the ACT – best tostick with these official texts since all of them actual tests that have beenadministered in recent years). Except under special circumstances, it isrecommended that a student not take the SAT until the spring of Junior year.During the summer before junior year (since, supposedly, you’ll have the timeand leisure to do so!) you should start thinking about SAT preparation.   If you are also taking the PSAT, you mayhave done yourself a favor, since you can now prepare for the PSAT and the SATsimultaneously.  While the PSAT is notnecessarily something to stringently “prepare” for, students whose scores arehigher than a certain will be recognized by the National Merit Corporation andthus will be eligible for certain scholarships (for more information, see www.nationalmerit.org).   Only a small percentage of students receivethe prestigious recognition of “Semi-Finalist”; however, those who don’t canqualify for other corporate scholarships. That said, for most juniors the PSAT is a practice test.  In November or March of the junior year,students should take the SAT.  I suggestthese dates rather than the May or June dates firstly because taking them earlymeans not taking them in the middle of final exams and secondly because you canthen retake it if need to.   The SAT is offered seven times a year, andyou can find the most current dates online at www.collegeboard.com. Junior year isalso a great year to finish those Subject Tests if the schools you might beapplying require them. Completing these exams now will make your senior year,and all the additional work it by nature entails, infinitely less stressful. My suggestion to you upcoming Seniors is tospend the summer before your senior year downloading application forms,catalogs, and financial aid information. This way if you decide to apply for early decision you won’t findyourself in a mad rush of printing and soliciting materials.   December of senior year is generally thelast opportunity to retake the SAT or ACT – but I highly recommend you takeyour last swipe at it in the fall – firstly because you’ll have given yourselfthe summer before your senior year to study and secondly because the last thingyou’re going to want to worry about when filling out all those collegeapplications is another pesky test that takes up 4 hours of the only freeSaturday you’ve had in weeks.   Lastly, winter of senior year may franklybe too late for a retake.  The testingdeadlines of colleges and universities differ, so make sure to check theadmissions page on their website to see if you’re finishing your testing intime to apply.  Finally, the choice of timing is going tobe entirely up to you.  Decide what kindof student you are, what your strengths and weaknesses are. You know most aboutyour study habits, learning practices and testing strategies.  If you like the idea of taking the SAT whileon a school break, or shortly after (when you are most likely fresh and well-slept),then consider that.  If you know you’rethe type of student who can’t even crack open the “TV Guide” over break, then Isuggest you wait until you’re back in the swing of things, motivated by theforce of “teacher fear,” and your brain is functioning at full-speed againbefore taking one.   Behonest with yourself.  You should onlytake the SAT when you feel you’re best prepared.  Be sure, for instance, that you’ve completedAlgebra I and Geometry before sitting for it. If you have the option of taking a high school grammar course, and youthink it will help, do so.  You canpractice your vocabulary and comprehension skills on a daily basis by readinggood, solid, and intelligent material. Most of all, have confidence in yourability to crack the SAT – after all, it was designed with you in mind.