SAT Preparation and Study Plans

Article Type: Checklist

Unless you're Usain Bolt or Seabiscuit, it would be insane to wake up one morning and decide to run a giant race. It takes some blood, sweat, and tears to cross that finish line, and studying for the SAT® is like that, too, albeit with a lot fewer tears, a bit less sweat, and hopefully no blood—unless you get a really nasty paper cut.

No matter how much time until Test Day, Shmoop has training regimens to fit every schedule. Plus, Shmoop's SAT Test Prep can keep track of all of it for you. Our diagnostic and practice exams even calculate a projected score for the actual test to track your progress. Think of us as a wisecracking-but-lovable coach, here to help you get the gold.

90-Day Plan

We call this the "marathon plan." With more than three months until Test Day, this plan is perfect for the super-busy because it can be broken up into tiny little chunks. If you only have 15 minutes between your cello lesson and volunteering at the school bake sale, no problem. Do a few math practice problems and call it a day—there's plenty of time left before the SAT.

Of course, this plan is also popular with those who like to be super-prepared because it's the most extensive review of every facet of the SAT, so lace up those sneakers. We're in this for the long haul.

If our calculations are correct (they are), there should be about 12 weeks left until Test Day. With all of this time, divide up the study strategy into four three-week blocks.

Here's the plan of attack for each block, after you take a practice test or diagnostic exam with Shmoop.

• Finish two drills each for the Reading Test and the Writing & Language Test. Spread the love and switch up the topics—if you practice the science and history passages on the Reading Test, try the careers and humanities passages on the Writing & Language Test.
• Complete a handful of problems for the Math Test, sampling the flavors from every content area. We know it's tempting to focus only on weak links in your game, but loading up on all the geometry drills at once won't help much on the algebra section of the practice test.
• Visit our new grammar section to brush up on any rusty areas for the Writing Test.
• Stop by Math Shack every week for some even more targeted practice based on the results of your diagnostic exam.
• Write at least one practice essay a week, using our trusty essay drills and step-by-step SAT Essay Lab.
• Take a practice exam and revel in your (hopefully) higher projected score. Dancing is optional, but strongly recommended.

Lather, rinse, and repeat. In an ideal world, take the last practice test just days before the real SAT, so you can cruise into that testing room with confidence.

60-Day Plan

To paraphrase well-known test prep guru Goldilocks, this 60-day plan is not too long and not too short. It's just right, the perfect combination of brain strength and endurance training to get that mind in tip-top shape.

Love you, Goldie, but Shmoop does not condone breaking and entering under any circumstances—especially when bears are involved. (Source)

With eight weeks until Test Day, the end's in sight. We recommend keeping up a steady jog until you get there; no all-night study sessions required. To stay on pace, schedule study time in four two-week blocks.

Each block should follow the same basic roadmap as the 90-day plan; just step a little harder on the gas.

30-Day Plan

It's not procrastinating if we're fashionably late, right? Celebrate the fact that we showed up to this party at all, then start that sprint to the finish.

This plan's a little different from the others because you'll definitely want to identify the areas that need a little more TLC before the big day. Take a practice exam or Shmoop's diagnostic exam, and here's what to do after those results come in.

• Study based on your weakest areas, plus any others where you feel you could use a refresher. If you aced the pronoun questions in Writing, don't spend precious time reviewing that section right away. You'll miss some awesome Ariana Grande references in our guide, but it's okay; there may be time to go back to them later.
• Focus on drills that match those weak areas. If your projected score was 650 in Reading but only 200 in Math, spend more time on Math.
• Visit the SAT Essay Lab whenever possible for step-by-step essay writing guidance. Make it your goal to write at least two solid practice essays, consult them against our handy grading scale, and brush up on your weaker analytical areas in our Essay study guide.
• Two weeks before Test Day, take a practice exam. Hopefully by then you've built up a little muscle in the weakest areas, giving you a better projected score overall. If not, it's still okay. Be sure to note any areas that didn't seem to improve much, and give them some extra attention right before the final practice exam.
• Now, spend some time reviewing areas where you did well during our diagnostic exam or practice exam.
• With a week to go before the SAT, switch things up and revisit those areas that didn't improve as much as you would have liked on the first practice test. Drill like you've never drilled before.
• Take another practice exam a few days before Test Day to check your progress. Polish any areas that still need work by revisiting those sections and watching as many Shmoop videos as possible. 

Phew. The 30-day plan is exhausting, but all that hard work pays off. There's nothing like the adrenaline rush of seeing a great score on the SAT.

Taking the SAT Exam (Game Day)

It's finally time to show that test who's boss. You've worked hard in all of your classes. You've put in the time to prep smartly by using Shmoop's guide (definitely). You've even done a little bit of last-minute practice.

You're good to go.

Now all that's left is to do the right things on game day to make sure that you maximize your potential and get the score you deserve.

When do I need to show up?

All test centers open at 7:45 a.m. and doors close at 8 a.m., unless otherwise noted on your admission ticket. You cannot be admitted once testing has started. If you’re late or absent on test day, you can reschedule. We recommend rescheduling as opposed to re-registering—it will cost less. Find out more at Changing Your Registration Information.

If you show up late, there is some chance that a forgiving and benevolent test coordinator will let you in if testing has not yet begun. But the test center also has the right to refuse you admission if you aren't there before 8 a.m. and there's no predicting what your test center will allow. The actual test begins sometime between 8:30am and 9:00am.

Are there breaks during the test?

Absolutely! The College Board may be a powerful organization with the ability to influence students' futures, but its members aren't heartless. There will probably be one 10-minute break and one 5-minute break between sections, and likely some time to crack your knuckles between the exam and the optional essay. These will be the only times that you can eat and drink, so fuel and hydrate properly during these times.

To make the most of your breaks, get out of your seat, even if you don't need to use the bathroom. Shake out your limbs, walk around, and get your blood flowing. There probably won't be room to breakdance—though technically we suppose any dance performed in those five minutes could be considered a "break dance."

Keep your ID and admission ticket in your pocket, since you'll be checked for this when you return to the test room. You'll have to leave all your test materials on your desk during the break.

And no, you can't use your cell phone or any electronic devices during this time. The test centers in fact prohibit electronic devices, like Google Glass, audio players, any photographic equipment, digital watches. Basically, the test room will be like a time warp back to 1970.

What should I bring with me to the SAT?

The most important thing to bring to the exam is your mind. But there's some other stuff that will come in handy, too: 

• Watch: Time management on this test is key, and you never know if you might get stuck in an exam room with a broken clock. So wear a watch. But make sure it's a quiet watch … if you start beeping during the test, bad things might happen.
• Your admission ticket: When you register online for the test, this ticket is automatically created for you. Although you can print it out at any time by signing into the College Board website, we recommend printing it out BEFORE the night before the test. As you've probably learned, that's when printers always decide to flake out. And no, a digital version won't do, since you won't be able to bring your phone with you into the testing center.
• Calculator: You should bring a calculator to the test for use on the math section, even if you don't think you'll need it. In fact, none of the math questions require a calculator. The people at the College Board and we here at Shmoop recommend you bring one anyway, since it can make you feel more secure about some of your answers, but don't waste time trying to use it on every question. You're not expected to do so, and you shouldn't need to. Finally, make sure you bring a calculator that you're actually allowed to use - four-function, scientific, and graphing calculators are all okay. Check out the official rules here. Oh, and one more thing: no sharing calculators. 
• Pencils: Two of them, sharpened, #2 lead, with good erasers. Emphasis on the good erasers. You want to be able to change an answer if you realize you've made a mistake. 
• Photo ID: As tempting as it may be to hire the genius kid from math class to take your SAT for you, the College Board is on to that scheme and makes it a point to check that the you taking the exam is actually, well, you. If you leave your ID at home, you're not getting in to that exam. 
• Drink and Snack: You'll get a short break during the test, so bring a little bit of brain food.

What NOT to Bring

The College Board is all about policing contraband. It's not hard to figure out why; a few idiots have been trying to cheat on their tests for decades. And the College Board has always been one step ahead of them, blocking people from bringing anything that might be used as a cheat sheet into the exam room. As our digital gadgetry has gotten more and more fancypants, the College Board has gotten more and more stingy about what can come into the exam room. As a general rule of thumb, if it could be used to carry information, it can't come in the room. So don't bring any of this stuff: 

• Cell Phones: Yes, your iPhone really could come in handy on a test. No, you can't bring it inside. Yes, we know that it makes you feel naked to go without your phone, even for two or three hours. You're just going to have to deal with it.
• Fancy Watches: Not "fancy" as in blinged out. "Fancy" as in, watches that beep, make other noises, have an alarm, connect to the internet, etc.
• MP3 Players, Radios, etc: After you rock "Eye of the Tiger" during your pregame routine, leave your iPod in you car or your locker. 
• Highlighters or colored pencils: We don't totally get this one, to be honest. But we don't make the rules, do we?
• Laptop Computers or PDAs: For obvious reasons. One important exception: if you have a disability that requires you to use a computer to take a test, and you've made arrangements for approval beforehand, you may bring your computer.
• Cameras: Again, for obvious reasons. 
• Books, Dictionaries, Scratch Paper, Notes, Cheat Sheets: No duh.
• Compasses, rulers, protractors, etc: Why would you want to make the math section more complicated? Believe us, you can answer all of the math questions without any of these helpers. 

How do I prepare for test day?

First thing's first. Make sure to set an alarm clock. Or two. Or three. Whatever time your test is offered, you don't want to oversleep and end up rushing around in a panic.

Once you're awake, try to stick to your normal morning routine. If you usually eat a big breakfast, eat a big breakfast; you don't want to feel like you're starving halfway through the test.

If you usually don't eat a big breakfast, don't eat a big breakfast; you don't want to find yourself going into food coma just as you hit the essay section.

Basically, you've been training your body and mind to follow a certain morning routine for years, and you'll only throw yourself off if you do something radically different on game day.

(Of course, if your normal morning routine involves sleeping through first period and then walking around like a zombie until lunchtime … well, you might want to switch things up a bit.)

Next up: know where you're going. Your own high school might be hosting the test, but it's likely that you'll have to show up somewhere else to take the test. If you're going somewhere new, make sure you know where you need to be and how to get there. This isn't a great time to get lost!

Try to show up a little bit early. Give yourself time to get settled, use the bathroom, get a drink of water, etc.

And finally, in the last minutes before the test starts, get yourself in the zone. If you're the kind of person who performs best when cool and collected, take a moment to meditate or clear your head. If you're the kind of person who performs best when a little bit more amped up, maybe throw your favorite hype song on your iPod. (Presuming you're not a boxer, will there ever really be another moment when "Eye of the Tiger" would be more appropriate as your theme song than right now?)

Whatever your style may be, take a minute to get yourself in the right frame of mind. Then take a deep breath, walk into the exam, and knock it out the box.

The Night before the SAT

As far as we're concerned, game day really starts the night before the test. At this point, the one single thing you can do to maximize your score is to make sure you walk into that exam room feeling fresh and well-rested.

So what should you do the night before the test to make sure you're feeling good when morning rolls around?

Don't study.

Seriously. By now, you know what you know. Feverish last-minute cramming is more likely to stress you out or make you tired than it is to help you learn that one critical piece of information you'll need to answer a question tomorrow morning.

So log out of Shmoop, shut down your laptop, and keep your textbook in your bag.

Go do something you enjoy doing. See a movie. Cook a dinner with friends. Play some basketball. Take your dog out for a jog around the neighborhood. Whatever it is that makes you smile and relax, that's what you should be doing.

It's probably not a good idea to go out to some kind of raging late-night party, of course, but definitely make a point to do something fun.

And then go to sleep. A full night's rest will be like money in the bank come morning.

The Aftermath

Assuming you don't try to smuggle a typewriter or other contraband into the exam room, you should be all set for a smooth test-taking experience. As the test unfolds, just keep one eye on the clock and take every opportunity to show off how much you know. You're going to do great.

And when the test is over, don't forget to celebrate. You just rocked a tough exam. You might be well on your way to being accepted to the college of your choice. You proved how smart you really are.

Go out to party with friends, or buy yourself an ice cream cone, or just curl up and take a nap on the couch.

You deserve it.

SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

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