Technically, preparation for the SAT should begin in your freshman year of high school by selecting a strong curriculum with plenty of relevant courses. As for shorter term SAT preparation, a good bet is to engage in a 6-8 week practice test study plan, and read plenty of books and periodicals to improve your vocabulary. 

Before you start preparing for the SAT test, you should map out a study plan. Determine what subjects you need to focus on and then determine the methods of study you will use. You should also schedule in actual study dates, times and location(s), and stick to your schedule.

Areas of Focus

Practice tests contain sample SAT questions, and taking them can help you get used to the format and length of this test. Further, practice tests will be able to reveal your strengths and weaknesses, and help you determine how much study time to allocate to a particular topic: Math, Critical Reading and Writing.  Take a practice test and see how you score in each area.

Methods of Study

There’s no better way to prepare for the SAT than to start taking practice tests.  You should have covered much of the underlying subject matter tested on the SAT in school, and thus spending too much time on a lesson is not a good idea.  The SAT’s challenge lies more in the manner questions are cleverly positioned than the core math, writing or critical reading material tested.  Practice – Grade – Review – Repeat. This is the proven ePrep method of study, and it can work for anyone. Get a set of practice tests, begin by taking one in its entirety, have it scored, review what you missed, and go on to study the areas you need work on -- and then repeat the process. This sounds easy, but it is actually a lengthy process requiring committed dedication. Go into this process knowing you will have to allocate a large chunk of time to your method of study.

Create a Schedule

Creating a study schedule is more than jotting down “SAT Study, 6-7 pm” on one of your calendar’s Sunday cell. Think about when you are less prone to procrastination, and also think about where you intend on studying.

Depending on what test date you signed up for will determine how many weeks you have to prepare for your test. Ideally you want to begin preparing for the test at least 8 weeks in advance. Look to take one practice test per week, and do the follow up review and study the days following your practice test. Take the practice test, or better yet, take a different variation of your practice test on the same day of the week, abut the same time of day. This will give you a routine, and routines make for a quicker rate of habit adoption.

Be sure to have your test graded immediately after your practice test, and review your missed or skipped questions. Allocate about 1 hour of focused review post-practice test, and then bookmark the rest of the missed questions for review later in the week. Approximate about 3 hours per study session – 2 hours for the practice test, and one hour for review. Approximate about 2 hours per day on each day of your follow up study session.

We recommend ePrep.com for our consulting clients and they receive a discount.  Studies have shown ePrep is 50% more effictive than classroom study and 500% more effictive than text book study.

Because ePrep.com has its grading component online, it’s important that you have close access to a computer when using the ePrep Learning Cycle.  With this in mind, if you have a computer at home, look to find a place that is relatively quiet, but not silent. For example – the dining room or kitchen table away from a noisy TV or family members is a good option, or how about the patio table? If home is not an ideal option, seek out your local library as they often have computer access. Another option is a friend’s house that is also on the SAT study path. Teaming up with peers is a great way to find support and a possible place to study.

The best way to ensure you will do well on the SAT is to do the prep work consistently. A few hours per week using the ePrep study method and you will significantly improve your SAT test taking ability.