N
TruthVerse News

When should a student take the SAT and ACT tests?

Author

Christopher Duran

Updated on March 01, 2026

When should a student take the SAT and ACT tests?

We recommend taking your first SAT or ACT test as early as your schedule allows. If you plan to take both tests, plan to take them in consecutive months for the most efficient prep. Comprehensive prep courses can start as many as 8 to 10 weeks before the test.

Consequently, when should you take the SAT or ACT?

Students applying to college should take the SAT or ACT as early as possible in their junior or senior year of high school.

Also Know, can you take the SAT and ACT in 10th grade? Most students take their first SAT/ACT in the fall of junior year. Since these tests require a good deal of prep to do well on, you can spread out your prep over the course of 10th grade and the following summer. Take the time to review concepts, keep up in class, and make SAT/ACT prep a part of your routine.

Also, do students need to take both SAT and ACT?

No school will require you to submit scores from both tests, so you definitely don't need to take both the ACT and the SAT. Keep in mind that, regardless of what you might have heard to the contrary, all schools accept both the ACT and the SAT.

When should I start studying for the SAT?

Start early

Choose an SAT date far enough in advance that you have time to prepare—we recommend 2–3 months. Starting early gets you to gauge how much you need to study each week and helps you prevent cramming. Students who start studying earlier do better on the SAT and have more confidence going into the test.

Is a 1590 on the SAT good?

Is a 1590 a good SAT score? It can't be beat. You have a shot at getting in anywhere with a score of 1590. It places you in the top 99th percentile nationally out of the 1.7 million test takers of the SAT entrance exam.

What is the hardest school to get into?

What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get Into?
CollegeLocationAdmission Rate
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA5.0%
Stanford UniversityPalo Alto, CA5.2%
Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ5.6%
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York City, NY6.4%

How many times can you retake the SAT?

Students can take the SAT as many times as they want. We recommend that they take it at least twice—in the spring of their junior year and the fall of their senior year. Most students get a higher score the second time, and most colleges consider a student's highest SAT score when making admission decisions.

What month is the best to take the SAT?

Registration opens for each SAT test year in mid-April. We recommend taking the SAT for the first time in the spring of your junior year so you'll have an opportunity to take it a second time in the fall of your senior year before college application deadlines if you decide to.

Is taking the SAT 3 times too much?

In general, it is better to limit the number of times you take the SAT and spend more energy on resources to thoroughly prepare for each test date. From our experience, we would recommend students taking it no more than three times or so. The final number is yours to decide, of course.

Do colleges prefer ACT or SAT?

Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT or ACT is harder than the other. Different students tend to do better on one test over the other.

Can you take the ACT as a senior?

If you aren't happy with your spring ACT score, you can still take the test in the fall of your senior year. Many students take the test multiple times; the September and October testing dates are particularly popular.

What is a good ACT score?

Getting a high ACT score can increase your chances of getting into selective colleges. In general, a good ACT score is any score in or above the 75th percentile — at least a 24. Students should aim to hit or exceed the middle 50% of ACT scores at their chosen colleges.

Can you take ACT online?

So can you take the ACT test online? Yes, but only if you are a student in the US whose state or district does online testing or you are taking the test abroad, since the ACT Computer-Based Test (ACT CBT) is the only version of the ACT administered outside the US, as of September 2018.

What is the average SAT score?

What is the Average SAT Score? According to 2020 College Board Annual Report, the average SAT score is 1051 with scoring of 528 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and 523 on the Math section.

Is the SAT hard?

So here is the short answer: Yes, the SAT is hard. You have to sit in one place for almost four hours, all while answering questions that range from straightforward to head-scratching difficult. Again, you have to concentrate for hours, giving each question its due.

What is a good SAT score?

While there's no standard for a "good" SAT score, it's best to aim for at least 1200. More importantly, aim for an SAT score that's within or higher than your school's middle 50%.

What is the average ACT score?

The composite score on the ACT ranges from 1 to 36. The national average composite score was 20.6 for the class of 2020, per recent data from the ACT organization. This number marks a slight dip from the prior year, when the composite score averaged 20.7 for the class of 2019.

Do you have to take the ACT or SAT to graduate high school?

Believe it or not, some states in the U.S. do use the SAT or ACT as benchmark assessments. Some require that high school students take either test in order to graduate. Others may simply offer these exams for free at school, without requiring students to take them for graduation.

Is 19 a good ACT score?

Is a 19 a good ACT score? A score of 19 is a little worse than average. It places you in the bottom 44th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. If a 19 isn't strong enough to get into your dream school, consider taking a test prep course to see if you can raise your score.

Is 15 a good ACT score?

Is a 15 a good ACT score? A score of 15 isn't very competitive. It places you in the bottom 19th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a very poor job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.

Is 23 a good ACT score?

A score of 23 on the ACT is above the current national average and will make you a strong applicant at many universities, but it may fall below the average score for accepted students at more selective colleges. The higher your ACT score, the more options are open to you. Read on to learn more about ACT scores.

Is a 16 on the ACT good?

Is a 16 a good ACT score? A score of 16 is in the lower quarter. It places you in the bottom 25th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a poor job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.

Should a 10th grader take the SAT?

Shelley Levine, a Certified Educational Planner for College Bound in Potomac, Md., advises that junior year is the ideal time to take the SAT and ACT — and ninth and tenth graders should focus on taking a practice PSAT or practice ACT.

Is 27 a good ACT score?

Is 27 ACT Score Good? With a score of 27, you are in the 87th percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 27, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at selective colleges. The exception may be the Ivy League where the score required may be higher than 30 on average.

Is 1540 in SAT good?

Is a 1540 a good SAT score? Absolutely. You're amongst the truly elite and should qualify to get into any top tier school with a score of 1540. It places you in the top 99th percentile nationally out of the 1.7 million test takers of the SAT entrance exam.

Is 24 a good ACT score?

Yes, a score of 24 is a good score. It places you in the top 73rd percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. If a 24 isn't strong enough to get into your dream school, consider taking a test prep course to see if you can raise your score.

Is 18 a good ACT score?

Is a 18 a good ACT score? It places you in the bottom 38th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a below average job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.

Is 2 months enough time to study for the SAT?

Two to three months of studying will put you right in the sweet spot for being well-prepared. You have just enough time to become an expert on the test and not let your grades suffer (especially if you're on summer break). But with this amount of time, it can be tough to stay focused.

Is 1 month enough to study for SAT?

Studying for the SAT in a month is possible, though it's recommended that you spend 10 to 20 hours per week over the course of two or three months prepping for the SAT.

Is 2 weeks enough to study for SAT?

Two weeks isn't a lot of time to prepare, but it will give you ample time to at least practice your ability to take tests. You don't have to take entire practice tests, either. You can break down a practice test one at a time for every study session you have between now and the big exam.

How many hours a day should I study for SAT?

Or are you the type who can easily free up three hours a day five days a week to study for the SAT? As a rule of thumb, you should spend at least 10 hours on SAT prep. If you can't study for more than 10 hours, it's rarely worth it to take the test.

What kind of math is on the SAT?

The SAT Math Test is divided into four content areas: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math. Pace Yourself! The exam itself consists of smaller timed sections.

What SAT score is required for Harvard?

between 1460-1570

How many hours a day should I study?

Study Every Day: Establish a daily routine where you study in one place a minimum of 4 -5 hours each day. There are different kinds and 'levels' of study discussed below. What is important is that study becomes the centerpiece of your day and the continuous element in your work week. Do not wait for exam-time to study.

What is the highest SAT score?

The highest SAT score you can possibly earn is 1600. The lowest SAT score is 400. Your total SAT score is comprised of a Math section score and an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. Each SAT section is scored between 200 and 800 points.

How can I study for SAT in one day?

What To Do The Day Before The SAT
  1. Get a good night's sleep. The importance of sleep cannot be overstated.
  2. Shore up your weaknesses. If you already have strengths—such as the written portion—then it might make more sense to put your energy into a weakness instead.
  3. Eat well.
  4. Prioritize.
  5. Prepare everything in advance.

Related Documentation

How do you get rid of acne and freckles?

How do I run DHCP server on Mac?

Is Salinex safe for babies?

When should a student take the SAT and ACT tests?