When do you prep for the SAT and ACT?

[Anonymous]

DC has good grades and lots of extracurriculars at a private. DC also has ADHD. The College Board has granted DC a range of accommodations for the SAT (double time, small testing environment, etc.) DC is a sophomore. We’d like to hire a tutor or sign DC up for an SAT/ACT prep class because timed tests are difficult given DC’s EF issues. When should DC start test prep? DC wants to score well and is highly motivated. Our view is that there are plenty of options for DC (we’re not shooting for an Ivy), but DC was bummed by the pre-PSAT score. (DC took without the College Board accommodations.) I think prep might mitigate DC’s anxiety. I’m not sure of the optimal timing.

[Anonymous]

Beginning of junior year with the goal of taking it maybe twice and wrapping up by the Spring.

[Anonymous]

If student took algebra 2 in 10th grade, then prep over the summer before junior year. Take 1-2 times in fall of junior year, then focus on what is usually the most difficult and important year and the AP tests in the spring. The retake late spring and summer before senior year.
That’s what my DD did. Adding prep during junior year was just too much for her schedule but doing it summer before junior year was great.

[Anonymous]

This. Summer before junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beginning of junior year with the goal of taking it maybe twice and wrapping up by the Spring.

I don't recommend this at all. They have enough going on jr year. Do it the summer before jr year.

[Anonymous]

Prep during the summer after 10th and take in August (ideally) or September before junior year ramps up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prep during the summer after 10th and take in August (ideally) or September before junior year ramps up.

I agree.

Also, a word about "test prep". The majority of families do not realize that what their kids actually need is math and verbal comprehension instruction. That is not test prep, it's re-learning and solidifying subject matter. It takes months, if not years. Test prep is practicing questions and full exams to become familiar with the pacing/timing, to recognize favorite question modes of examiners, common traps and pitfalls, and know when to use strategies of elimination and guesstimation.

Sometimes a kid would do better to have actual math tutoring, or close reading tutoring, rather than spend all their time in test prep courses.