The Score, Issue #13: When Is the Best Time to Prepare For the ACT or SAT?
Timing Your Test Prep for Optimal Success
Greetings, Fellow Quiz Hackers! Welcome to another issue of The Score!
The ACT and SAT tests are major milestones on the path to college admission. And like any significant journey, it’s not just about getting to your destination, but also about when and how you choose to embark. That brings us to a question I frequently hear: When is the best time to take the ACT or SAT?
Dispelling a Common Myth
Before we dive deeper into the discussion, I want to debunk a popular myth about test dates — the belief that some national dates are advantageous because they offer easier tests. This isn't the case. While minor variances in difficulty can occur from test to test, these discrepancies are balanced through a procedure known as "equating" — a sophisticated form of standardization.
Every official ACT and SAT exam is crafted by professional psychometricians, scrutinized by other experts and academics, and put through rigorous validity testing before administration. The exams must meet stringent psychometric standards, which are consistent for every test, irrespective of the time of year it's administered.
This makes sense, since college admissions officers need a reliable way to compare all applicants, regardless of when they take their tests. If test scores varied due to inconsistencies in difficulty throughout the year, an equivalent score for two students taking the test at different times would not truly indicate equivalent ability.
In-School Testing
In recent years, a growing number of schools have begun offering the SAT and ACT to Juniors and Seniors during the school day. The dates of these tests can be unpredictable, making it challenging to incorporate them into a general test-taking plan. If your school offers an in-school test that aligns well with your overall situation, that's fantastic. However, if it doesn't, you may wish to consider this as an additional opportunity for exam exposure, rather than a primary testing occasion.
I advise against taking the SAT or ACT without any preparation at all (see below). On the other hand, you shouldn't feel compelled to rearrange your child’s schedule or incur extra expense to prep for a test date that doesn’t align well with your circumstances.
In such a situation, basic preparation, such as doing an official practice test and utilizing the Question Type Inventories and Daily Drills offered on this website, should suffice. Reserve the bulk of your test prep resources for a time that is most beneficial for you and your child.
Summer Rush
The SAT offers a late August administration, while the ACT has an early September date. Summer can be an optimal time for ambitious students to tackle the ACT or SAT, given the extra time and focus they’re able to spend on test prep.
The demands of these exams—processing and internalizing a good deal of complex material—can be daunting amid the hustle and bustle of academic and extracurricular activities during the school year. In contrast, the relatively tranquil summer months offer students an opportunity for undistracted dedication to test preparation. This heightened focus can enhance performance, paving the way for greater score gains.
But the popularity of summer prep comes with its drawbacks. Strong demand for high quality tutors and classes might make it hard to find the right guidance at an affordable price. Planning ahead is crucial. If you're considering a private tutor over the summer, try to have your schedule confirmed by late spring. But be prepared, this might involve purchasing a package or making a deposit to secure your spot.
And remember, the ACT has a mid-July test, providing an opportunity to beat the August rush. The July date also allows you to retry on the early September ACT, if the score isn’t what you hoped.
The Autumn/Winter Opportunity
Fall offers a string of national test dates that could align well with your schedule. SAT exams are offered in early October, November, and December, while the ACT has tests in late October and early December.
Here’s the reality: regardless of what you tell yourself beforehand, a lower than expected score report from an official administration usually leads to discouragement.
Testing during the fall can be advantageous, especially for Seniors who took an end of summer test and fell short of their target score.
There is also a February ACT and March SAT. This is a popular time for many Juniors to take the test for the first time. However, I suggest making a first try earlier if your student took Algebra II as a Sophomore.
Despite the relative popularity of the late winter dates, this period may offer a relatively good opportunity to find a high quality tutor at an affordable price. At least in my experience, late winter is quieter than summer and fall.
First Bite at the Apple?
The late winter and spring exam dates also present an opportunity for Sophomores to take their first shot at an ACT or SAT administration. I encourage considering this if your student took Algebra II during their Sophomore year.
However, a word of caution: I strongly discourage sitting for your first ACT or SAT with no prep. In most cases, it is unwise to take an official administration “just to get a feel for it” or to establish a baseline. Those things can easily be accomplished by taking a test at home. Regardless of what you tell yourself beforehand, a lower than expected score report from an official administration usually leads to discouragement.
That said, you don’t necessarily have to prep to the hilt for your first real exam. Experience shows that even well-prepared students rarely achieve their maximum potential score on their first try, due to nerves or overconfidence. The trick is to strike the right balance. If I might be so bold, a subscription to Quiz Hacker may be just the thing!
Spring Potential
In my experience, spring is typically a quiet period for test prep. The ACT and SAT offer April and May dates, respectively. If your schedule permits, this could be an excellent opportunity to leverage the less crowded test-prep landscape. However, students juggling multiple AP classes often find that it’s not feasible to prep for both AP exams and the ACT/SAT.
And then there's June, which features national dates for both the SAT and ACT. These are the least popular tests of the year due to conflicts with final exams and other end-of-year commitments.
A Roadmap to Success
So, when to test? Based on my experience, here's an ideal timeline:
First Attempt:
For students who take Algebra II as Sophomores: late winter of Sophomore year, with some prep but not a full regimen. Taking an initial test at this time allows for maximum flexibility down the road, as well as for working on any academic fundamentals that need to be reinforced before diving into test-specific strategies.
For students who take Algebra II as Juniors: winter or spring of Junior year, with some prep but not a full regimen.
Second Attempt:
For students who took Algebra II as Sophomores:
Ideally, late summer after Sophomore year, assuming you can line up a top-notch tutor (or, less ideally, a class) over the summer.
Otherwise, fall or winter of Junior year, after six to twelve weeks of once-weekly private tutoring (or at least a class).
For students who take Algebra II as Juniors: July after Junior year (if taking ACT) and/or late summer after Junior year, after six to twelve weeks of once-weekly private tutoring (or at least a class).
Third Attempt:
For students who took Algebra II as Sophomores: winter or spring of Junior year, after four to six weeks of once-weekly private tutoring (or at least a class).
For students who took Algebra II as Juniors: fall of Senior year, after four to six weeks of once-weekly private tutoring (or at least a class).
And, as an emergency backup plan for those who took Algebra II as Sophomores: a fourth attempt in the fall of Senior year.
Conclusion
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to timing these exams. As with all aspects of education, it's about finding the path that aligns best with your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. For more insights and tools to guide you on this journey, don't forget to check out the other articles on Quiz Hacker Test Prep.
Keep learning, keep growing, and always remember to Prep Smarter!
~ Dave