When should students start SAT prep? A parent's guide

If your teen is planning to apply to colleges that require or recommend the SAT, you've probably wondered when they should actually start preparing for it. The timing matters, but there's no single right answer that works for every student.

Most students benefit from starting SAT prep during their sophomore or junior year, depending on their schedule, academic readiness, and target scores. Starting too early can lead to burnout, while waiting too long might not leave enough time to improve scores or retake the test if needed. At Outschool, students can find flexible SAT prep classes that fit their timeline and learning style, whether they're just beginning to think about the test or getting ready to take it soon.

Truth about SATs and homeschooled students

Let's be clear upfront: not every student needs to take the SAT. Many colleges have gone test-optional or test-free, and plenty of students choose paths that don't require standardized testing at all. If your family has decided the SAT isn't part of your plan, you can skip this entire conversation.

But if your teen is aiming for schools that require the SAT or where strong scores could help with admissions or scholarships, timing your prep makes a difference. Start too soon and your kid might forget everything before test day. Wait too long and they'll be cramming instead of actually learning.

What grade should students start thinking about the SAT?

Most students start serious SAT prep in 10th or 11th grade. That said, "thinking about" the SAT and "actively preparing" for it are two different things.

Freshman year is usually too early for focused prep. Your teen is still adjusting to high school coursework and building foundational skills they'll need for the test. Instead of drilling SAT practice, they're better off focusing on their regular classes, reading broadly, and developing their interests.

Sophomore year: Getting familiar

By sophomore year, students can start getting familiar with what's on the SAT without diving into intense prep. This might mean taking a practice test to see where they stand or learning about the test format and timing.

Some students take the PSAT 10 during sophomore year, which gives them a low-stakes way to experience a standardized test similar to the SAT. The results can help identify which areas need the most work later on.

Junior year: Prime time for prep

For most students, junior year is when SAT prep becomes a priority. Most of them have covered the math and reading skills tested on the SAT through their regular coursework, and they have enough time to prepare thoroughly before application season.

Many students take the SAT for the first time in the spring of junior year. This gives them a chance to retake it in the fall of their senior year if they want to improve their scores. Starting prep a few months before that first test date usually works well.

How long does SAT prep actually take?

This depends entirely on your student's starting point and goals. A student scoring 1200 on a practice test who wants to reach 1300 needs less prep time than someone starting at 1000 and aiming for 1400.

Most students need somewhere between 40 and 100 hours of prep to see meaningful score improvements. That sounds like a lot, but spread over a few months, it's manageable. An hour or two a few times a week adds up faster than you'd think.

Short-term versus long-term prep

Some students do well with intensive prep over 6-8 weeks right before the test. Others prefer spreading their studying over several months with less pressure each week. Neither approach is inherently better; it depends on your teen's learning style and schedule.

Long-term prep works better for students who need to build foundational skills in reading comprehension or math concepts. Short-term prep can work if your student already has strong skills and mainly needs practice with the test format and pacing.

Factors that affect when to start

Every student's situation is different. Here are some things to consider when deciding on your timeline.

Current academic standing

If your teen is already doing well in English and math classes, they might not need as much lead time. Students who struggle with reading comprehension or algebra concepts may benefit from starting earlier to build those skills gradually.

It helps to have your student take a full-length practice test before making a prep plan. The results will show you exactly where they need the most work.

College application timeline

When your teen plans to submit applications affects when they should take the SAT. Students applying early decision or early action in November of senior year need to have their testing done by fall, which means taking the SAT no later than October or November of senior year.

Regular decision applicants have more flexibility, with test dates available through December or even later for some schools. But you don't want SAT prep hanging over their head during senior year when they're trying to finish applications and keep their grades up.

Extracurricular commitments

Starting SAT prep during your teen's busiest season isn't ideal. Look at their schedule and find a window where they can commit regular time to studying without it competing with everything else.

Some families prefer summer prep because students have more free time. Others find that studying during the school year helps students stay sharp with academic content.