GENERAL SAT QUESTIONS

When is the best time to start preparing for the SAT/PSAT?

In most instances, the earliest we recommend beginning to prepare is the summer before junior year, in our courses targeting the August SAT. Since all students should take the SAT by the end of their junior year, the latest we recommend starting prep is February of that year. Give us a call so that we can discuss your unique situation and identify the best time for your student to prepare.

If I’m a senior, the last SAT I can take is in October SAT, right?

No, in fact. If you’re applying for regular decision (for which applications are usually due in early January), you can take the August, October, November, or even December SAT as a senior. If you’re applying early decision, there’s a good chance your school accepts the November SAT, even if the test is after the deadline, because the results are generally received before colleges make their final decisions. (Different schools have different policies, though, so be sure to get a definitive answer from the college your student is applying to.) For students preparing at the start of the school year, we believe it is much better to be completely prepared for the November or December SAT than to rush and be ill-prepared for an October test that doesn’t have to be your final opportunity.

Should my student sign up for the optional essay on the SAT/ACT?

The optional essay is a separate component of the exam, and as such has no bearing on your student’s score on the 1600-point scale for the SAT or the 36-point scale for the ACT. That said, certain colleges require the essay, so we recommend taking it to ensure students are not locked out of applying to those schools. (Of course, if your student knows exactly which schools he or she is applying to and is certain the essay is not required, the essay can certainly be skipped.) Our course does provide instruction on how to write the essay.