Two years of test-optional admissions cycles have raised many questions in students’ and parents’ minds about which, when, and even why standardized tests are important. We have seen that testing is still required by some universities and can certainly make an application more competitive. Therefore, the earlier you start, the better. Properly preparing for the SAT or ACT will not happen in one sitting.
So when to begin? Is there a time that’s too early to begin prepping? To figure out the best strategy, it’s best to look at the college admissions timeline:
Fall semester senior year: Time will be a precious resource. Between college admissions applications, IB, AP and A level classes, and all the extracurricular commitments, students might feel overwhelmed. The last thing your child will want to hear is that they need to fit in yet more time to prepare for a test which could very well make or break their applications. Test results may also take anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks to be released, putting more pressure on the application cycle, especially for the US university Early Decision and Early Action deadlines.
Spring of junior year: Though it is important to take advanced classes senior year, the results of AP tests don’t come out until mid-summer, which means the exams taken at the end of junior year will be the only academic scores admissions officers will see when determining entrance qualifications. By this time, starting test prep from scratch may still look like an insurmountable feat, though taking the SAT or ACT might not seem so daunting if you’ve thought ahead.
Fall of junior year is generally considered an optimal window to take the actual SAT or ACT for the first time. Though advanced classes will be ramping up and extracurriculars always take time, scheduling a test date this semester shouldn’t be nearly as difficult as it will become later on. That being said, many colleges will require you to submit your complete testing history, so it’s best not to show up on an actual test day to do a “trial.” Juniors should only take the exam if they feel well prepared. Also bear in mind that the SAT tests through December 2022 will be the old ‘fill in the bubble’ format. SATs from March 2023 will be adaptive, computer-based, and slightly shorter.
Sophomore year: While students are certainly still busy, classes tend to be less intense and time is more manageable. This is the time to start seriously prepping for the SAT or ACT.
Freshman year: Many of the concepts presented on the SAT and ACT will still be foreign to students, especially in the math section. Embarking on official test prep at this stage might cause unnecessary stress and burnout. However, there are actions that freshmen can take to prepare. The reading section of both tests will present students with complicated passages in a variety of subjects, while ACT science will require testers to quickly analyze intimidating figures and charts. The more that students read particularly challenging books and articles for pleasure, the more prepared they will be when asked to analyze complex arguments and studies in the actual test.
Ivy Options offers after school classes that run once or twice a week with diagnostic tests every Saturday, a perfect way to ease your student into the environment and question types they will see on test day. Contact us at info@ivyoptions.com for more information.
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