When Should I Start Preparing for the ACT/SAT?

Like almost everything about the college admissions cycle, there’s not one answer. We’d love to talk to you in detail about your situation, contact us to set up a free phone call. In the meantime, here are some things to consider:

Where Do You Want to go to College?

It’s best to apply with a score that’s least at the 50th percentile of last year’s admitted students. Schools report admissions statistics in different ways. Many schools, only give their middle 50% as admissions statistics. The middle 50 percent is the range between the 25th percentile of admitted students to the 75th percentile of admitted students. Averaging the 25th percentile and 75th percentile is a good way to estimate the 50th percentile.

Other schools will give you only the 50th percentile—the average—numbers. Regardless, the numbers are meant to be indicators, not decision points. I wouldn’t exclude or include a college because the numbers looked particularly bad or good. We have an admissions spreadsheet that allows you to build a custom profile. If you’re interested in a free copy, contact us.

Let’s say, for example, your first choice is Michigan State. Freshmen this year had a middle 50 percent SAT score of 1,130 to 1,300 and a middle 50 percent ACT score of 23 to 29. Meaning, if you applied with a 1,130 or a 23, you would be at or above 25% of accepted applicants.

For the University of Michigan, the SAT range is 1380 to 1540, and the ACT range is 31 to 34. Those are pretty high numbers, but there’s a caveat. It’s easier for in-state students to get accepted to U of M and other very selective state schools (the University of Virginia, University of Texas, UC Berkley, UCLA). You can feel a little more comfortable with numbers between the 25th and 50th percentile. The converse is also true. If you’re applying out-of-state, you’ll want to be close to or above the 75th percentile.

The 50th percentile is a guideline and only a guideline. In general, the more competitive the college, the more holistic the admissions process. You’ll need a compelling application: essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, demographic details, GPA, and strength of transcript. Apply everywhere you want, even if you don’t think you have a shot.

I’m pretty sure I can get in

Where are the scholarship breakpoints? If you’re looking at less competitive schools or schools that will be less competitive for your student, think about scholarship dollars. On the college’s website, you’ll find a breakdown of what you can earn in scholarships per GPA & test score level. Give yourself more tests than you need. You don’t know what life will look like in six months, and the amount of pressure you feel will only go up.

Does My Score Need to Do Double Duty?

If you’re compensating for a lower GPA or a lower difficulty transcript, you’ll want to push your score as high as you can. You can do the same with a lacking extracurricular record, although it’s less effective with activities than GPA.

What’s my Life Like?

Working? Sports? Volunteering? Clubs/competitions/research? All of the above? You’ll have to pick your time. Start preparing early, and fit test prep in as best you can. Then find—or create—a lull in your schedule to make a push to put up big numbers on the SAT/ACT. Don’t put the tests off; you run a high risk of waiting too long and putting yourself in a jam. The busier you are, the less likely there will be a “perfect time.”

What am I Like?

Do I get nervous on tests or have test anxiety? How was my PSAT? Do I have significant time issues? How well do I understand the math on the exams? How are my grammar and style skills? Am I a slow reader or is reading tough or boring?

High scores require you to do well on everything, and you’ll only improve as fast as your most stubborn skill set allows.

So When Do I Start?

Back to the original question. When do you start preparing for the SAT/ACT? For most juniors who want to attend moderately to highly selective colleges, the latest you’d want to start is winter of junior year. Maximize the number of tests to reduce pressure and coinciding obligations. You also want to do everything you can to get testing done before the end of junior year. Testing as a senior is miserable. You’re balancing the SAT/ACT, school, applications, and the social dimension of senior year.

For sophomores, we’ve had success with an intensive focus during the spring and summer before junior year. Students get busier as high school goes on, particularly once they have a driver’s license in hand. If you have no major travel plans, spending the summer on the ACT/SAT is a great idea. Many students are able to knock out testing in August or September of their junior year. It is a fantastic relief to have the SAT/ACT done. It frees you up to work on in-depth projects that give big personal and application rewards (LINK).

For freshmen and younger, I recommend focusing on excelling at something you’re passionate about. Do things that matter to you; it will count for a lot on those Ivy applications. You have time to grow into the SAT/ACT. Work on being an interesting person, not a walking application.