Most people have one of these two reactions to SAT tests: they panic and get overwhelmed, or they get into this intense cramming mode. But if experience has taught us anything, it’s that none of these approaches really works. 

Worse, staying up late, chugging energy drinks, and getting stressed can get you sick. So, the best solution is to prepare ahead for any standardized test. But even doing this can get confusing. After all, not every SAT study schedule will work for you.

How do you figure out how to create an effective SAT study plan that doesn’t add to your growing stress? Where do you start? That’s exactly what we will cover in this blog. We will also share our best SAT prep tips to help you even further.

Why Do You Need an SAT Study Plan?

Let’s face it. You wouldn’t try to drive on a busy fast lane when you have never learned how to drive, would you? That’s just a recipe for disaster. It’s the same thing with your SATs. 

Going in for the tests on the test day without any sort of SAT prep is most likely guaranteed not to end well. You know what they say: failure to prepare is preparing to fail. We don’t want that. But when you have a clear SAT study schedule and take some SAT practice tests, you tend to:

  • Get a real taste of what the digital SAT is like.
  • Understand how to manage your time better and create a study schedule that works for you.
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses as early as possible and start working on them ASAP.
  • Build your confidence and even look forward to the test date.

4 Steps to Build an SAT Study Plan That Works

Clearly, a well-structured SAT study plan is key to acing the test. Chances are that you already have a target score in mind. Maybe you even crafted a draft of your SAT prep journey. But how do you know if this will be enough to help you get fully prepared? Here’s what you need to do:

1 Get to Know What Is on the Real Exam

The best way to do this is by taking a full-length practice test. Nothing like a complete SAT practice test to give you a reality check. You get to know exactly where your test-taking skills are and how easy or difficult it will be to hit your target score.

Apart from this, you’ll understand what kind of questions to expect both in the Math section and the Reading and Writing section. Don’t know where to find practice questions? 

The official website of the College Board is not only a place to find out things like registration details and the test date. It also has different practice tests in the Bluebook App and the SAT Suite Question Bank. 

Completing a couple of these will help you find your baseline score. From there, you can see your knowledge gaps and prep more efficiently.

Pro tip: Don’t get discouraged if you do badly on your first practice test. It’s all part of the game. Instead, go through the practice test review and see where you made mistakes. The focus should be on figuring out why you chose those wrong answer choices. 

2 Get a Sense of How Much Prep Time You Will Need in Total 

Wondering how long you should study for the SAT? You’re going to see a lot of advice floating around on the Internet, that’s for sure. 

Some will recommend long intensive study sessions, which is not wrong. But the truth is that the amount of time you will need to study will depend on your current skill level and goal score points. 

Your practice test results are a good place to gauge it and then decide from there. So, if you are fine with like 30 points improvement, studying for a cumulative of 10 hours should be enough to get you there. 

If you want to go as high as 210-330 points more, then you are looking at a minimum of 150 hours. But even that still requires you to know which SAT sections need more ample time than others. 

For example, if you struggle with advanced math, you probably need to put in more hours there than on your writing skills. In the same way, if you struggle with reading and writing digital SAT practice questions, don’t quit. Consider slotting more time to practice reading. 

3 Use the Right Study Materials and Tools for Your SAT Prep 

It’s really crucial that you start studying early, but even more important is making sure you have the right material. 

Test takers who use outdated digital SAT questions might find out too late that they’ve wasted a huge chunk of their time. As a result, they might struggle to get the correct answers in the real exam. If you don’t want to end up there, focus on resources from:

  • Official SAT website. These include practice tests in the Bluebook App and practice SAT questions in the College Board SAT Suite Question Bank. The practice tests there are up-to-date and have different difficulty levels, which is helpful. 
  • Credible blogs. Think of resources like Khan Academy’s SAT blogs and videos. They are partners with the College Board and have tons of helpful tutorials to help you understand the fundamental concepts.
  • Proven SAT study tools. All the free sources have a limited number of questions, and if you’re aiming high, this won’t be enough. So, focus on finding an effective tool with SAT practice tests. Typically, these platforms give detailed answer explanations that let you see what you are doing wrong. As a result, you can progress much faster. 

4 Learn What Study Style Works Best for You

Knowing what learning process is best for you is very important because the same SAT study schedule won’t work for everyone. 

If you learn more when you study in a group with other students, then take advantage of that. But if you find it easier to study on your own, that’s not bad too. 

Don’t try to cover all the material in one day. Instead, break down your digital SAT study sessions into manageable pieces. And of course, always aim to complete more practice tests, as many as you can.

Then, compare your new results with the last time to see if you’re improving. Let’s say your Evidence-Based Reading scores are still low after studying for so long on your own. What’s next? 

It might be time to consider getting a study buddy or even a tutor. They can help you stay motivated, break down complex grammar rules, and act as accountability partners. This way, you are sure to keep making progress on the days leading to the test date.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Study

Say you have come up with the best math strategies and a perfect SAT study plan; now what? First of all, congratulations! That’s a lot of work already. Now, how do you ensure you get the most out of your studies and SAT schedule? 

Here are the tips that helped thousands of students: 

  • You can take a practice test every day and study for hours if you like, but don’t forget that it’s quality, not quantity. It’s better to take your time to actually understand everything. 
  • When you answer your practice questions, try to mimic the real environment you will get on the test day as much as possible. Turn off the music, avoid snacking, and minimize anything else that will affect your attention span.
  • Cover all the recommended reading material, and make sure you summarise key concepts in your own words. You can even try to teach them to someone else. This will help it stick longer in your mind.
  • Check out online blogs and forums where other test takers hang out to ask questions and swap useful tips. You just might learn a few useful things that bring you closer to hitting your dream SAT scores and getting admitted to your dream college.
  • Many people recommend creating flashcards as you can use them for spaced repetitions. You can memorize some pretty tough advanced math formulas this way, and even some definitions. 
  • Don’t make your whole life and personality for the rest of the school year all about coming up with the best SAT study plan. Try to find time for other things like your schoolwork and extracurricular activities.
  • Set small goals for yourself. And each time you take an SAT practice test and hit your target SAT score, reward yourself. This will keep you fired up and excited about the next stage. Even after you complete that final practice test, you should keep this routine alive.  

Conclusion

Creating an effective SAT study plan requires a lot of focus and research. You will need to know what the Math and Reading and Writing questions look like in real life. This will make it easier to spot the right answers.

You will need a clear SAT schedule that gives you a balance between studying, tackling practice questions, and the rest of your school work. The more timed practice tests you take, the more improvements you see. 

Of course, this works when you actually review the practice test results and spot your mistakes. Keep in mind that consistent efforts are key. 

If you follow all the steps here, by the time you take that one last practice test, there should be a big difference. The kind that makes you confident that you will get your target SAT score on the test day.