Anonymous wrote:For a strong student, summer before junior year (or early in the fall of junior year) is best - the SAT prep doubles as PSAT prep and helps boost chances for National Merit recognition. Also, if the score is good enough, you've gotten it out of the way before junior year gets crazy - with increased work, driver's ed, beginning the college process.

And, if it doesn't go well, you have plenty of time for more prep and/or the ACT.

drivers ed is sophomore year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over the summer before junior year. Pick one (either SAT or ACT) but not both. SAT is changing so ACT might be better. Good luck.

Or you can take the old SAT in Decemberof this year or January 2016. If DC bombs the January '16 SAT, then will take the ACT in May or June '16.

No way is DC taking the new SAT. I read thst a lot of it is based on the common core which is not used in private schools (at least not in the privates I'm familiar with). And besides, DC tests better with straightforward tests like the ACT.

Hopefully, the colleges he's looking at won't hold it against him/her. By all means kids should only take the tests they do well on. No one can see through that.

Anonymous wrote:My junior is taking SAT in May. Private college counselor thought that that was fine. Taking prep now.

May of Junior year is fine if your DC doesn't have too many other exams. Typical high performing kids have a lot of exams in May of Junior - APs, IBs, finals..etc. Adding SAT/ACT on top of that schedule maybe too much for some kids.

My junior is taking SAT in May. Private college counselor thought that that was fine. Taking prep now.

DC opted not to take the ACT or to retake the SAT after that. One and done, but with lots and lots of practice. Practice does indeed make almost-perfect!

Prepare the summer before 11th grade (Junior Year) and into the fall of 11th grade.

My DC did not prepare the summer before 11th grade, and then regretted not doing so, as they just missed the NMSF cutoff for the District (the PSAT qualifying exam for NMSF status is based on the PSAT exam administered by the schools in October of 11th grade).

DC used Christmas break of 11th grade to take five SAT practice exams at home under close-to test conditions (using an SAT practice test guide from the College Board). DC nevertheless opted not to take the January SAT exam in their Junior Year, because they felt that they were still not quite ready.

They then worked with a tutor in January for three sessions, and took two more practice SAT exams at the local public library. DC finally took the SAT exam in March of their Junior Year, missing only two questions and omitting one - for a score in the high 2300s.

DC opted

I read several SAT prep books while I was pregnant with our son. It is NEVER too soon to start!

We started in preschool. Just take it slow, though.

For a strong student, summer before junior year (or early in the fall of junior year) is best - the SAT prep doubles as PSAT prep and helps boost chances for National Merit recognition. Also, if the score is good enough, you've gotten it out of the way before junior year gets crazy - with increased work, driver's ed, beginning the college process.

And, if it doesn't go well, you have plenty of time for more prep and/or the ACT.

People suggest prepping summer before junior year because the student has the time. Once they are back in class along with activities, the fall semester goes by very quickly. Most kids take the SAT/ACT test 2 times (with time in between to study). Ideally, when do you want to be done with all the testing?? My kids did not want to be taking the SAT their senior year while they were aplying to schools. Some schools require subject tests too which cannot be taken the same day as the SAT because they take too long. You and your child need to tentatively look at the testing schedule and plan it out.

Anonymous wrote:Over the summer before junior year. Pick one (either SAT or ACT) but not both. SAT is changing so ACT might be better. Good luck.

Or you can take the old SAT in Decemberof this year or January 2016. If DC bombs the January '16 SAT, then will take the ACT in May or June '16.

No way is DC taking the new SAT. I read thst a lot of it is based on the common core which is not used in private schools (at least not in the privates I'm familiar with). And besides, DC tests better with straightforward tests like the ACT.

Just before taking the tests...fall to winter of junior year.

Well, since they were in elementary school, obviously.

Over the summer before junior year. Pick one (either SAT or ACT) but not both. SAT is changing so ACT might be better. Good luck.

My husband thinks my son should be starting now, I say its too soon and to wait until the fall. He is a very strong student but I can see is not that interested right now. He is s sophomore who hopes to attend a high level university (top 50). Thoughts?