If your child is a sophomore or junior, you are probably just beginning to find out about all that is necessary for college applications. Of course, testing is a very big part of the process and most students need some sort of SAT or ACT prep these days. Figuring out what they need is the first step in preparing for the SAT. The second step is taking a mock SAT or ACT. An SAT practice test, such as those offered this month at Lindero Learning Center in Westlake Village, can help students know how much, if any, ACT/SAT test preparation they need.
When to do test prep is as important as what prep needs to be done. The traditional time frame for prep is for Juniors to take a PSAT in October, get results back in December, then take the real SAT in the Spring (March, April, or May, for example). However, that schedule is not always the best one for a student. There are many factors to consider that may lead to a break from that “tradition.”
SAT and ACT prep are very time consuming. In addition to spending time at the classes or tutoring sessions, students need to do a significant amount of homework to get the most out of any program. Therefore, students should plan their test prep program when they have the most time available to put into it. For example, if a student plays a seasonal sport, that season is NOT a good time to do prep. If a student carries a very heavy academic load during the entire school year, prep during the summer may make more sense.
Academically, most students have learned all the key concepts by the end of their sophomore year. If all things are equal, I do recommend going with the traditional time frame. After all, during the junior year, students are still developing relevant vocabulary and writing skills, even if most have already had the math. But to my mind, the importance of scheduling the program when the student has the time to get the full benefit of it outweighs the other considerations.
For more information on the Free Mock SAT and ACT available at Lindero Learning Center in Westlake Village, call 818-292-8627.