Thinking about the SAT or ACT can be a lot to take in, especially with still a year or more to go. You have probably heard plenty about how important these tests can be for college admissions, scholarships, and class placements. Who wouldn’t feel lost in all the talk of scores and deadlines? You’re told you should be doing something, but not sure what or when.
Here is the good news: there is no reason to do everything at once. In fact, spreading out your prep over a few years will make the entire process that much more manageable (and less stressful) than trying to cram it in at the last minute. Knowing when to prepare—and what it is that you should be preparing for at a particular stage—will help keep you motivated without burnout.
Let’s break this down by grade. Whether you are a go-getter freshman or just entering your senior year and want to make the most of your time, this timeline will help you assess when and how to begin preparing for the SAT or ACT.
9th Grade (Freshman Year): Laying the Groundwork
If you are a freshman, don’t stress about memorizing SAT math formulas yet. This year is all about getting acclimated to high school and establishing a reliable academic routine that will benefit you moving forward.
Here is how you can begin this process:
- Build on your fundamentals: Since both the SAT and ACT assess math, grammar, and reading skills, performing mediocrely in your grades now will greatly impede you later.
- Make reading a part of your day: Read books, articles, blogs—anything that will challenge your thinking and expand your vocabulary. Reading is fun and has the easy benefit of better comprehension.
- Practice good habits: Learning time management, getting organized, and taking breaks to make deadlines today will allow for less inactivity when studying for an exam later.
- Investigate the SAT and ACT: While you should not be in a position where you need to start recording, looking at what these hurdles are like may help give you a false sense of confidence later.
Your goal for this year is to establish productive academic habits and get comfortable doing the things that underlie these tests!
10th Grade (Sophomore Year): Light Prep and Exploration
In tenth grade, things start getting a little more serious. You’re not exactly in full-on prep mode at this stage, but it’s a great time to begin tentative preparations.
Here’s what to consider:
- Take the PSAT or PreACT. These tests are great practice tests to use to see where you are. Since you don’t have to send the scores to colleges, it’s a low-risk environment to learn.
- Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. The score report lets you know what sections you should pay more attention to. Based on your results, you should easily be able to see if you should improve your math, reading, grammar, or science (for the ACT).
- Look into both tests. At this point, you should be thinking about whether the SAT or ACT would be a more suitable choice for you. Keep in mind that there are key differences: the ACT has a science section and is generally the faster-paced of the two, while the SAT has gone fully digital in most locations and focuses on evidence-based reading.
- Start light prep. This could be as simple as downloading a test prep app, utilizing flashcards, or searching YouTube for videos on general test techniques (or all of these). Whatever floats your boat.
Overall goal: Get comfortable with the idea of test prep, try to establish a baseline, and begin planning ahead.
11th Grade (Junior Year): Time to Get Serious
If there’s one year where test prep takes center stage, it’s this one. Junior year is when most students take the SAT or ACT for the first time—and sometimes a second time, too.
What you should be doing!:
- Getting into formal prep early is best. Ideally, you should be getting started during the summer before the junior year or at the very beginning of the school year. At the very least, you should have 3-4 months of consistent study.
- Deciding on a test and the test date(s). The majority of students take their first SAT or ACT between late October and March. Some students like to take a second one later in the spring.
- Establishing a prep schedule. Even just 2-4 hours a week of intentional prep will make a significant difference. Your schedule should include a mix of practice questions, full-length practice tests, and dedicated review time.
- Taking official tests. Unless unavoidable, do not wait until senior year. Colleges usually will entertain scores until the fall of senior year, but by taking the test earlier, you give yourself more options.
- Superscoring. Many colleges will take your best section scores from separate test dates. If your “dream school” does this, you may find some benefits in retaking the test when you may need to take it for your second time to see if your composite scores increase.
Main goal: Take the test seriously, stay consistent with your prep, and hope you have your best score before the end of junior year.
12th Grade (Senior Year): Final Push (If Needed)
Ideally, you should be at the point where you have the test scores you need. If life got in the way (which is totally normal), you will have more opportunities early into your senior year.
Here’s what you should have in mind:
- Be sure to register early for your fall test dates. The SAT and ACT are offered through December, but many of the early action/early decision deadlines are in October or November.
- Be mindful of the deadlines. Each college has its deadline for accepting test scores. Do not take for granted that your December test scores will be accepted – check college websites!
- Be strategic. If you are retaking the test, focus only on the tests you specifically need to improve your score. Time is short, so make every test prep session count.
- Stay balanced. You will also be in the process of writing essays, which require teacher recommendation letters and turning in applications. Do not get too caught up in test prep, so that it overtakes everything else you need to get done!
Big picture goal: complete testing while concentrating on your college application!
Test-Optional Reality Check
Many colleges (especially as we’ve emerged from the pandemic) have gone test-optional. Some schools are still test-optional as of April 2025 and do not require the SAT or ACT. But that doesn’t mean anything optional or disregarded in the admissions process.
Good scores can still help. If you have solid test scores, sending in those scores can help bolster your application.
Some scholarships require scores. Even those test-optional schools may utilize scores when considering students for merit aid or honors programs.
Policies vary. Always verify the requirements of each school you are applying to.
How Extra Support Can Boost Your Prep (and Where Princeton Review Fits In)
Let’s not kid ourselves—prepping for the SAT or ACT is not simple. At some point, you are probably going to feel at least one of these things: stuck, unsure of where to direct your focus, or tired of trying to navigate it on your own. Structured programs like ones from The Princeton Review can help in all of these areas.
They have learning materials that provide several different tools for a variety of learning styles; for example, practice tests that show your progress, self-driven programs where you set the pace, and courses led by teachers for those who are better suited to learn in a classroom with guidance. Even if you want a personalized option, many of their programs offer a tutor for you one-on-one.
The goal of all of these programs is to take the guesswork out of test preparation. Ultimately, it is not about doing what you’ve always done but rather finding new ways of doing things smarter. You will be able to respond based on their feedback, and there will be no lack of structure for you to work with and plans worked out based on your needs.
Final Thoughts: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
While the SAT and the ACT are important factors in your college application, they are not the only factors in your college application. You have a lot of time, so I encourage you to think stress-free, keep up with your pace, and don’t let ACT test prep resources overwhelm you. You do not need to prepare all day, every day. You do not need to be concerned about sacrificing a large part of your social life for the next three years. Devoting a few hours a week to SAT or ACT prep, starting in your sophomore or junior year, will serve you quite well.
Ultimately, preparation is not about attaining perfection, but about making progress. The earlier you can start that progress, the easier it will be for you to navigate your way to college.