Freshman Year: No standardized test for you. Work on your grades!
Sophomore Year:
October – if your school offers the PSAT and/or the Pre-ACT, it’s a good idea to take them.
Two main benefits of taking the PSAT as a sophomore:
- It’s good practice for the SAT and a PSAT score will show which areas of the test you might be weaker in.
- It’s good practice for your junior-year PSAT (listed below).
The benefit of taking the Pre-ACT as a sophomore:
- It’s good practice for the ACT and a Pre-Act score will show you which areas of the test you might be weaker in.
Junior Year:
October: it’s a good idea to take the PSAT or Pre-ACT test if you didn’t take it in your sophomore year. We also strongly suggest that you complete a simulated SAT and/or ACT test. We offer both free of charge.
The two main benefits of taking the PSAT/Pre-ACT as a junior:
- It’s good practice for the actual SAT/ACT.
- A good score can earn you National Merit recognition, which may include a scholarship!
(See http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php)
Spring:
- SAT/ACT – You will likely start taking one or both of these at this point (technically, you can take these tests earlier, but it’s always better to wait until junior year, when you’ve studied the requisite content, especially the math). Each test is offered three times during the spring, but the dates are staggered so that the ACT and SAT are never on the same weekend.
Senior Year:
Fall: Hopefully you’ve taken the SAT and/or the ACT test by now, but if you want to improve your scores, you’ll have one or two more opportunities usually in October and November. Although some colleges may not accept scores from November test dates. Check with your college counselor to be absolutely sure.
Spring: Enjoy life! You got into college! All your dreams are coming true! And that’s due in large part to the fact that you planned out early which tests you would take and when you would take them.
Please contact All-Pro Tutoring & Test Prep at (716) 400-2767 or (716)310-3319 if you have any questions/concerns regarding the ACT or SAT tests or if we can help your student prepare for either test.
Also don’t forget to register for our FREE Simulated ACT/SAT tests. Pre-registration is required. A student is invited to take up to two ACT and two SAT Simulated Tests with us.