Juggling SAT or ACT prep while maintaining your grades and engaging in extracurricular activities is no easy feat. Many students struggle to strike that balance, often feeling overwhelmed. But what if you could turn that challenge into an opportunity? This blog goes beyond the usual advice and introduces a data-driven, highly effective method to help you excel in all areas of your life while preparing for the SAT or ACT.
The Myth of Multitasking: Why Focusing on One Thing at a Time is a Game-Changer
We’ve all heard that multitasking helps you get more done, but research proves the opposite. Studies show that switching between tasks—like studying for the SAT and working on school assignments—can reduce your productivity by up to 40%. To tackle SAT/ACT prep alongside your school and extracurriculars effectively, focus on one task at a time.
Instead of attempting to juggle everything at once, break your day into dedicated time blocks. For example:
- Morning Focus Session (School Work): Dedicate the first 90 minutes after waking up to school assignments when your brain is fresh.
- Post-School SAT/ACT Block: After school, give yourself a 2-hour window to focus solely on your SAT/ACT preparation.
- Evening Extracurricular Wind-Down: Dedicate the last hour of your day to extracurriculars or personal time.
By structuring your day into these focus blocks, you’re able to give your undivided attention to each task without the distraction of the others.
The “10-10-80 Formula”: A Balanced Approach to SAT Prep
Here’s where we differ from the rest of the advice out there. We propose the “10-10-80 Formula” for SAT/ACT prep. The formula represents how you should allocate your study time across different areas:
- 10% of your time should be spent on self-assessment. This means taking full-length practice tests regularly to identify your weakest areas. Use The Princeton Review’s timed, full-length digital practice exams to simulate test day conditions and get a precise snapshot of where you need improvement.
- 10% of your time should be spent on reviewing mistakes. It’s critical to analyze the questions you got wrong or struggled with. What was the root cause of the error? Misreading the question, lack of understanding, or poor time management? By dissecting your mistakes, you’ll prevent them from recurring.
- 80% of your time should be spent on targeted practice. Once you’ve identified the gaps, spend most of your time working on those areas rather than revisiting concepts you already know. This targeted method ensures efficient use of your limited time.
This formula works because it focuses on continuous improvement and cuts down wasted time on areas where you’re already strong.
Data-Backed Scheduling: The 90-Minute Rule for Optimal Focus
It’s common to hear that students should study for two or three hours straight, but studies suggest the human brain is most productive in 90-minute intervals. This is due to the brain’s natural “ultradian rhythms,” which work in 90-minute cycles of high alertness followed by low alertness.
To balance SAT/ACT prep effectively:
- Study in 90-minute bursts, followed by a 15-20 minute break. This not only optimizes focus but helps you retain more information.
- For students with packed schedules, fit these 90-minute study blocks in between school, sports practice, or other activities.
A Monday through Friday routine could look like this:
- 4 PM to 5:30 PM: SAT/ACT Prep Session 1 (Targeted practice based on the 10-10-80 formula)
- 5:30 PM to 5:50 PM: Break
- 6 PM to 7:30 PM: Extracurriculars or school assignments
- 7:30 PM onward: Personal relaxation time (critical for mental health)
Prioritize Active Learning Over Passive Study
A key mistake students make when balancing school and SAT/ACT prep is relying too much on passive learning (e.g., reading prep books or watching videos). While these resources are valuable, they should make up no more than 30% of your prep time.
Instead, focus on active learning—doing practice problems, taking quizzes, and simulating test conditions. Why? Studies show that active recall (retrieving information from memory) improves long-term retention far better than passive review.
Some practical steps:
- Use flashcards to actively test yourself on vocab and concepts.
- Take short, timed quizzes to practice under pressure.
- Engage in peer discussions or group study sessions where you explain concepts to others—teaching is one of the best ways to master a subject.
Incorporating Extracurriculars: The Hidden SAT/ACT Prep Tool
Here’s a unique take: Your extracurricular activities can actually enhance your SAT/ACT prep if used wisely.
Extracurriculars—like debate club, music, or sports—teach valuable skills such as discipline, time management, and strategic thinking. Applying these skills to SAT/ACT prep can elevate your performance. For example:
- Debate club can improve your critical reading and argumentative writing skills, which directly translate to better scores in the Reading and Writing sections.
- Sports teach focus, resilience, and stress management—essential qualities for handling the high-pressure SAT/ACT environment.
View your extracurriculars not as a distraction but as training grounds for your exam prep.
How to Build in Flexibility: The Weekly Reset
Things will inevitably go off track. You might get overwhelmed with schoolwork one week or have an important extracurricular event. That’s why you need a Weekly Reset Strategy.
At the end of each week, spend 15-20 minutes reflecting on what worked and what didn’t:
- Did you stick to your study blocks?
- Did school or extracurriculars take up more time than expected?
- What can you adjust for the upcoming week?
This flexible approach allows you to adapt your schedule based on changing demands without losing momentum in your SAT/ACT prep.
Mental Health is the Foundation: Scheduling Downtime
No blog about balancing school, extracurriculars, and SAT/ACT prep would be complete without addressing mental health. If you don’t make time for relaxation and mental wellness, burnout is inevitable. Schedule at least 30-45 minutes of daily downtime—whether it’s for a walk, meditation, or just scrolling through your favorite social media feed.
Taking care of your mental well-being is just as important as sticking to your study plan.
Final Takeaway: Efficiency Over Quantity
In the race to prepare for the SAT or ACT while excelling at school and extracurriculars, remember this: It’s not about how much time you spend—it’s about how effectively you use that time.
With the 10-10-80 Formula, 90-minute study bursts, and active learning, you’ll streamline your prep while staying on top of your schoolwork and extracurriculars. With this balanced approach, you won’t just be preparing for a test—you’ll be mastering the art of efficient, stress-free learning that will serve you well in college and beyond.
This practical, research-backed strategy ensures that you not only manage your time but make the most out of every hour you spend preparing for the SAT/ACT, school, and life.