The Case for the September ACT
The traditional testing paradigm has high school juniors struggling to fit SATs and ACTs in at the end of the academic year, just as Spring Break, APs, finals, prom, and creeping summeritis set in. Some traditions deserve to be consigned to the trash heap of history along with bull fighting and jello salad. Instead, embrace a new way of looking at testing: juniors should test as early in the academic year as makes sense based on their goals and activities. For many juniors, that philosophy reveals September as the perfect time to take the ACT. Seniors, of course, are already lining up in droves for the September ACT. The traditionalists who took the June tests–at least the ones who didn’t plan for the July test date–have been waiting for months for another crack at the test. Testing in September presents plenty of upside with minimal risk for 12th graders. September…
Why Is Summer The Best Time for Test Prep?
The College Board administers the SAT in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. ACT, Inc. follows suit by offering the ACT in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July (everywhere but New York). So if students can only take the SAT or ACT during the school year, why should they prep during the 2.5-month summer span when they can’t? The answer is obvious: because there’s no school! Today’s college-bound high school students are busier than ever before. No, that’s not a cliché. As admissions standards spiral ever higher (along with tuition), students strive to differentiate themselves through advanced classes, sports, clubs, jobs, and every other activity they can fit into each overscheduled week. This frenzy of activity reaches its peak in junior year, from the beginning of fall sports until the end of finals. Considering how many important commitments students are asked to juggle, why not try…
The Case for the June SAT & ACT
Of all the test administrations of the year, the ones in June present the most problems. Many high schools have already flipped the CLOSED sign while others are facing finals and other culminating tests. Even worse, students have to contend with a host of other distractions: Playoffs and championships for spring sports Prom Exhaustion That summer feeling wafting through the classroom windows… Clearly, the odds of a student earning his or her best SAT or ACT scores in June appear unfavorable to say the least. No wonder we strongly recommend that high schoolers take the tests as early in junior year as makes sense based on preparation and extracurricular commitments. Yet, a case for the June SAT & ACT can and should be made. Three different groups of students benefit from blocking out the first two weekends of the month for testing: 1. Juniors who have already prepped but haven’t…
When to Take the SAT & ACT in 2021
“Planning without action is futile, action without planning is fatal.” At least that’s what project management exam prep expert Cornelius Fichtner says. While we may disagree in terms of degree, I fully support the idea that planning and action must always go together, especially in test prep. That’s why, when Punam Saxena of edu-Me invited me to speak about any topic related to the SAT & ACT on her splendid podcast, I chose to focus on planning. As Punam herself says, creating a schedule and ensuring that your child is efficient with their time is critical for maintaining sanity and doing well on the test. Are you interesting in a big picture overview of when teens should take the SAT or ACT? How about getting into the nitty-gritty details? When is the best time to take the ACT or SAT? When is the best time to prepare for these tests?…
Frequently Asked Questions About When to Take the SAT or ACT
Back in the early days of college admissions testing, students generally tested at the same time. However, we’ve come a long way from the days of exclusively testing at the end of junior year and the beginning of senior year. The big tests now grace nearly every month of the calendar year. In fact, no matter what week or month you read this, lots of high schoolers are preparing to take their SAT or ACT. So, before you decide when you or your teen should sit for these very influential exams, consider the options… MONTH BY MONTH What is the case for the February ACT? What is the case for the March SAT? What is the case for the April ACT? What is the case for the May SAT? What is the case for the June SAT & ACT? What is the case for the July ACT? What is the…
Why September is Awesome for Testing
Traditionally, high school students are supposed to take the SAT and/or ACT at the end of junior year and, if needed, the beginning of senior year. COVID-19 ruined most opportunities to test in the spring of 2020, but College Board and ACT have responded with a ton of fall options. If all goes well, September will be a month like no other with more official SATs and ACTs than every before. That’s good news, as September may be the best month of the year for testing? Why should people get excited about testing right as they get back to school? Well, obviously, July and August have a lot to do with what makes September so great for testing. During those blissful summer months, most teens historically enjoy a much lighter academic and extracurricular schedule. The current pandemic has further constrained activity to the point where some SAT & ACT prep…