I plan on retaking the ACT this April or Summer AFTER I have Alg 2 under my belt. I would also like to start studying for SAT as well. I was going to hardcore study for the PSAT but I figured without Alg 2 knowledge I didn’t really stand a chance. The thing is, I’m also taking 4 AP classes this year. I need a way to study without burning out while taking into account my AP classes. Some advice?
A little organization and pre-planning goes a long way:
Put your prep time on your calendar (Tues./Fri. between 4 and 6, for instance) and schedule a practice ACT for every few weeks (Sat. mornings beginning at 8, timed exactly like the real test). Choose your prep materials and practice tests sometime during Winter Break or now, when you don’t have to be focusing on school and get them printed out well in advance and set aside so that you aren’t scurrying around trying to find everything. Be sure to score your tests right after taking them (or later that day) so you can begin prep the following week understanding what you need to work on. And save everything till you are absolutely done with testing.
SAT: first of all, it’s not clear that you need to focus on another standardized test as well. But in case you opt for that, check out Kahn Academy’s SAT/PSAT prep (it’s free). You might be able to do the PSAT version now and still be ready by Mid-October. There is one practice test available, and you can always use one of the 4 SAT practice tests as well (my daughter used two of those in addition to the practice PSAT). Again, get it on your calendar well in advance, etc. Don’t even think of doing the SAT till you see your PSAT results in late Dec. and then, should you opt for the SAT, prep during the summer and take it in August 2017 (this is a new test date offered by College Board). You’ll be able to upload in your PSAT results to Kahn so that the prep is more tailored to your skill level.
So, to summarize, organize your materials, schedule your prep time so you can work your other commitments around it, and consider the SAT only after you’ve seen your PSAT results (shooting for an Aug. 2017 test date if necessary).
Good luck to you!