When Should I Take the SAT?

"When should I take the SAT?" is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear from potential SAT tutoring students. While the answer is ultimately different for each student, my guiding questions are always the same:

1) "Are you taking any AP classes?"

If a student is taking any AP classes and he or she plans to also take the corresponding AP exam in the spring, I advise against taking the May SAT as this is usually administered the first weekend in May within days of the AP exams. If students are taking AP exams the weeks leading up to those exams should be spent reviewing relevant subject matter and preparing for the AP exams.

For those students enrolled in several AP classes during their junior year I recommend either the March or June spring testing dates. AP exams and AP exam preparation should not interfere with any of the fall SAT test dates.

2) "Have you successfully completed geometry?"

A mastery of geometry is essential for success on the SAT; without a working knowledge of geometry it is extremely difficult to achieve the scores needed for admission to selective colleges. I recommend students not take the SAT until they have finished, or are nearly finished with, geometry.

For juniors taking geometry I recommend the May or June SAT testing date. (If they are also planning on taking an AP exam, I do not recommend the May test date; see question one.)

If a student will not be taking geometry until his or her senior year I recommend receiving tutoring in geometry during the junior year to help the student learn the specific geometry topics necessary for success on the SAT. If possible, plan to take geometry no later than the sophomore year.

3) "Have you completed Algebra II?"

Our SAT math tutors have found that many students are most successful on the math section of the SAT immediately following the completion of Algebra II. With this is mind, a student should attempt the SAT as soon as possible after finishing Algebra II.

4) "Do you read at or above grade level?"

If a student answers no this question I highly recommend participating in a reading enhancement program prior to taking the SAT. Many students who read below grade level read slower than their peers and may not have a strongly developed vocabulary. To remedy these concerns Mindworks offers a reading program that students may complete at the learning center or at home; combining our computerized reading clinic with individual tutoring once or twice a week has proven particularly effective for struggling readers to succeed on the SAT because it improves silent reading speed and fluency, allowing them to respond to more questions per section in addition to building a larger vocabulary, leading to greater success on the sentence completion questions.

5) "Have you taken the SAT before?"

Regardless of what math or reading level a student is at, if he or she is a junior or senior who has not taken the SAT before, I recommend the next possible testing date because many students earn their highest scores on the second or third attempt.

If you're a junior or a senior who has NOT taken the SAT, register for the next available testing date at the College Board website. To maximize opportunities on this first attempt, I also recommend 3 hours of tutoring for SAT math strategies and 3 hours of tutoring for SAT critical reading strategies as a minimum.

Check back for more posts about the SAT, SAT test prep, and college admission! We would love to help you achieve more than you ever thought possible. To find out more about our SAT test prep classes, individual tutoring, and college coaching, call us at (301)694-3077!