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Are you getting ready to write your SATs? Read on to learn how to create the best SAT study plan to optimize your performance.
When it comes to college admissions, studying for and writing the SAT can be nerve-wracking as it’s one of many significant baselines prospective colleges use to assess your application.
While it may seem daunting, don't fret - with the proper preparation, you can conquer the SAT. With good study habits and sticking to a comprehensive study plan, you’ll be sure to ace your SAT with flying colors.
To learn more about building your SAT study schedule, read on!
The SAT is a three-hour, multiple-choice test that evaluates grade 12 students' math, reading, and writing skills. Alongside grades, the score one receives on the SAT accompanies their college application and can be the deciding factor determining an acceptance into a prospective college.
On the SAT, you'll find two sections - a Math Section and an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test. The Math section is split into two sections; one where you may use a calculator and one where you may not.
Here is a breakdown of the sections you will have to study for on the SAT:
Source: What is the SAT?
The best plan of attack when writing your SAT is to spend an extended period studying for it but breaking it up into subsections. Following a study plan and schedule is essential, as you’ll want to start studying as early as six months before your scheduled test date. We'll explain in detail below.
Building an SAT schedule helps you prepare diligently for the exam. It also has many potential benefits to make your life easier when navigating the test. Some of the benefits include:
Overall, a well-organized SAT study schedule maximizes your preparation efforts, boosts your confidence, and increases your chances of achieving your target score on the exam.
Having an effective SAT study plan is your secret weapon when it comes to acing your SAT. Tailoring your study plan to your lifestyle and schedule will allow you to put in the time and discipline you need to earn a desirable SAT score.
But how do you build the perfect SAT plan? We’ve provided some insights below.
Randee, Admissions Consultant at SUNY Albany, shared these tips for effective SAT preparation:
"You want to start early in the process. Start by taking a diagnostic test where you can see your strengths and areas in need of improvement. In addition, you want to set aside a designated time where you can actually practice and stick to that schedule as well."
"Once you have the confidence down and the comfort level down, and your timing is much better, that's when you want to start doing multiple sections in a row just to build up that stamina and that endurance so that you can stay strong through the whole length of the exam."
One of the most important things you can do before beginning the process of studying for the SAT is to understand what types of questions you’ll be expected to answer.
That's right - not only should you study the correct answers to the SAT, but you should study the questions themselves. This will guarantee that you understand the question clearly and can provide the best possible answer.
You can start by researching practice tests and practice questions to see what the test entails. This way, there will be no surprises when your test date comes around.
The SAT questions don’t change all that much from year to year. With this said the subject matter remains the same. So, the more versions of an SAT practice test you study, the better you’ll be able to grasp the material!
When preparing for the SAT, you’ll want to evaluate your personal study skills as this determines your level of problem-solving. Think about if you work best in a study group or in an environment where you can problem solve out loud, or if you find it easier to study alone.
As part of the comprehension process, set realistic and achievable goals for your study sessions. Break down your study plan into manageable tasks, focusing on specific content areas and skills that may require improvement.
Once you’ve understood your study process, you’ll set yourself up for success by providing the right learning environment for your SAT study plan.
Nobody knows your strengths and weaknesses better than you do. When creating your SAT study plan, It's important to understand these so you can designate the appropriate time to study and strengthen your skills. The best way to do this is to take a PSAT or a mock test.
Writing a PSAT will give you a generalized idea of what sections of the test come naturally to you and which ones you need to spend more time working on. This way, you can tailor your SAT study plan to put more effort into the subjects you find challenging while reinforcing your strengths.
For example, if math is something you find challenging, you may struggle with both math sections on the SAT. When you self-test, you can target areas of weakness and spend more time studying math questions to answer the questions smoothly on the SAT.
Once you finish writing your PSAT, evaluate your score and make a note of it - you'll want to compare scores each time you write the PSAT to see if you're improving.
The key to a successful SAT score depends on how much time you've spent practicing. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a stellar SAT score!
It is recommended that you start studying for the SAT as early as six months - that way, you'll have a great understanding of what to expect. The goal is to improve with practice, so make sure you understand the incorrect answers.
The recommended time frame to study for the SAT is six months, but if you’re running out of time, you’ll have to adjust your study schedule and spend more hours studying per week.
Running out of time while taking a test is a situation you definitely want to avoid, especially on the day of your SAT. Therefore, it's crucial to invest time and effort in practicing for the test. Therefore, it's crucial to invest time and effort in taking timed, full-length practice tests to prepare yourself well. Check out Quad Education’s free practice tests!
Practicing for the SAT not only improves the quality of your answers but also encourages your ability to respond quickly and efficiently. This, in turn, allows you more time to review and double-check your answers once you've completed the test.
Ultimately, there's no such thing as studying too much for the SAT. The key is to maximize the effectiveness of your study time. By following a structured study plan, you can strategically allocate your time to cover all relevant content, regularly assess your progress, and gradually build the skills needed to excel on the exam.
Here are ten of the most popular universities and their average GPAs to keep in mind as you build your SAT study plan.
Now that we’ve covered how you can optimize your SAT prep, we’ll go over different ways you can schedule your SAT study time. Here, you’ll see how to break down your time depending on when you start studying.
Maisha, Admissions Consultant at Columbia University, shared these tips for sticking to your schedule:
"You have a lot of things on your plate whether it be extracurriculars, extra classes, science fairs, etc. so really taking time to sit down and write down or write in your Google calendar dedicating some time slots to really taking time to take those practice exams or taking time to do questions on their own."
"It's recommended to prioritize in the early days of studying for the SAT to prioritize learning concepts that you want to master and you can go on to review the concepts but at the end of the day the most important thing is to try to stick to your schedule as much as you can."
A 1 monthly SAT study schedule will only give you a small window to write untimed practice tests. With this time constraint in mind, you'll have to study strategically - focusing on answering study questions under a strict time limit while focusing on your weakest points.
A monthly SAT study schedule will only give you a small window to write untimed practice tests. With this time constraint in mind, you'll have to study strategically - focusing on answering study questions under a strict time limit while focusing on your weakest points.
A 3-month SAT study schedule will give you more time to zero in on your strengths and weaknesses and dedicate time specifically to the questions and most challenging sections. Practicing consistently during this period will ensure the best results!
A 6-month SAT study schedule is the recommended amount of time to get a good understanding of the SAT without experiencing study fatigue. You will have enough time to fully grasp the SAT at your own pace by doing practice tests and get used to writing answers quickly and efficiently when you start completing timed practice tests.
Regardless of your chosen study plan and schedule, the most important part of SAT prep and the final step of your plan is to ensure that you are well prepared the day before.
Ensure you have all your proper IDs and writing utensils and that you are adequately rested and have eaten before taking the test. These small components can make a significant impact on your performance!
Taking full advantage of your SAT study schedule requires strategic planning and disciplined execution. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your study plan:
By following these tips and staying dedicated to your SAT study schedule, you'll be well-equipped to achieve your target score on test day.
If you want to find out if you’re ready to take the SAT, check out this free SAT Readiness quiz. It’ll help tell you whether you’re ready to take the exam or not.
Now that we’ve gone over everything you need to know about the SAT and the different ways you can build your SAT study plan and schedule, we’ll go over some FAQs that might answer any questions you still have.
A good study plan for the SAT is to start anywhere between 3-6 months of designated study time. This involves taking untimed and timed practice tests. It also includes taking a comprehensive look at questions within each section that you find challenging and prioritizing them during your study periods.
Instead of spending multiple hours a day cramming for the SAT, it's recommended that you space out the amount of time you study for the SAT and dedicate 2-3 hours to studying.
This will give you time to grasp the information effectively without fatiguing yourself and your brain.
How many hours you study per day will also depend on how much time you have to study before your exam. The earlier you start, the fewer hours you’ll have to put in each day to study.
While it is possible to dedicate only one month to study for the SAT, it's not ideal. The SAT requires understanding the concepts and mastering your time management, which is challenging when you only have a month to study.
The recommended study time for an optimal score on the SAT is 3-6 months.
Two months of SAT studying will give you time to take timed practice tests and focus on your most challenging test sections, but more time will be needed to build a great understanding of both the content and the questions asked. You should set aside 3-6 months to study for the SAT.
To prepare well for the SAT, first, understand how the test is structured and scored. Learn what's in each section and make a study plan that focuses on your weaker subjects while keeping up with your strengths.
Practice with lots of tests to get used to the timing and format. Working with tutors can also help, and don't forget to relax and stay positive to handle any test-day nerves.
While the SAT may be intimidating and challenging for students, doing well is very doable with the right practices. You should have no issue if you've prepared by incorporating a study schedule and plan over three to six months. And remember, you can always retake the SAT, so if you don't like your score at first, you can always try again!
Are you looking to take your study plan for the SAT to the next level? With Quad Education, you can! With 1:1 personalized SAT tutoring, we can help bring your SAT score from good to great to outstanding! We offer specialized support for students all across the states, from New York to California and beyond.
