ACT and SAT Timeline
When should you start preparing for the ACT and SAT?
In general, it’s best to start preparing for the ACT and SAT in the spring of your sophomore year or the summer after your sophomore year. Summer is an excellent time to prepare because you don’t have to worry about the competing demands of school work.
The first step is to take an SAT and an ACT diagnostic practice test, so that you can get to know each test and decide which one is a better fit for you.
With this approach, you’ll be ready to take your first ACT or SAT in the fall of your junior year. Because you can take the ACT and SAT multiple times, you’ll have the opportunity to take the test again in the spring of your junior year and the following summer, if necessary.
When do most students start preparing for the ACT and SAT?
While it is best to start prep early, students typically get started in the fall of their junior year, which means that they take their first ACT or SAT test in the spring of their junior year. This approach still gives students the opportunity to take the test multiple times before college applications are due.
Ideally, you should aim to complete your testing before the start of your senior year, so that you can devote your full attention to the college application process. However, taking the test in the fall of senior year is still a viable option.
There may be additional factors in your academic or personal life that may impact your preparation timeline. Remember that these timelines are general guidelines and that there is more than one path to success.
