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If you are looking for answers regarding your SAT prep and the internet is confusing you by throwing words like ‘spring attempt’ or ‘junior year’ read on, as we’ve got you covered!

SAT scores are extensively used for the college admission process at different universities abroad and to offer academic scholarships as well. As SAT is an extremely important exam, you need to maintain a planned approach when it comes to preparing for it. Since a lot of students in India tend to be confused about the right time to start preparing for this exam so, in this article we tried to change that.

Here we go!
1. When should Indian students start preparing for SAT?
2. Interested in Dream College Program?
3. When should Indian students take SAT?
4. How many hours should you study for SAT?
5. Factors to consider about SAT preparation time

When should Indian students start preparing for SAT?

While there can be no exact answer to this question as each and every student has their own level of aptitude, learning potential, target SAT score and dream university, the end of the 10th board exam or the start of the 11th standard would ideally be a good time to kickstart your preparation in a steady manner.

Of late, however, we have had many students who join us in Class 9 or 10 as they are targeting the very best of colleges across the world. This gives them more time and energy to build their extracurricular and co-curricular profile from scratch. As a result, by the middle of their Class 12 they have already received at least one acceptance letter, if not more, from their dream university.

Interested in Dream College Program?

KNOW MORE

When should Indian students take SAT?

Ideally, you should try to take your first SAT exam in the month of October or December, amidst your 11th class. In case you are not happy with your results and desire to get a higher score then you can always retake the exam in the month of May in the 12th standard.

If you manage to get a good score in the Spring attempt or May month of your 12th standard, then you shall be able to complete the rest of class 12th without having to worry about SAT and just focusing on your college applications.

And if you are not happy with your score, there is time to prepare and attempt SAT in August. Scores of this attempt can be used for regular as well as early applications to your chosen universities.

How many hours should you study for SAT?

When it comes to SAT, you may either opt for an intensive study routine that requires 10 hours per week for two to three months with the commencement of your 12th class or follow a gradual study schedule that can prevent you from possible burnout.

Typically our SAT Study Plan is for 2 months. We recommend that students put in 10 or more hours each week.

Download FREE SAT Study Plan here

SAT preparation planning should necessarily take into account your strengths and weaknesses when trying to ascertain the ideal time to start your SAT preparation.

Factors to consider about SAT preparation time

  • Hobbies apart from schoolwork: There might be hobbies you are involved in, apart from academics, you would have to plan your study schedule around your extracurricular activities so that you are able to balance both of them effectively. It can be a smart option to dedicate your weekends to SAT preparation.
  • Your chosen schools: By your 11th class, you should ideally have shortlisted the colleges you want to study in. Hence, your study plan and learning approach must be aligned to the SAT cutoff of your chosen institutions. If you plan to study in one of the top universities of the world like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, and so on, then your study hours should reflect the same.
  • Your scholarship or financial aid requirements: Studying abroad is not a budget-friendly endeavor. In fact, doing so would not be feasible for many unless they are able to acquire a good scholarship or financial aid option. Even a part-scholarship can reduce your financial burden to a great extent. On the flip side, the SAT score needed to be eligible for scholarships is pretty high. In case you plan to apply for SAT scholarships, then you may have to score way higher than the typical SAT cut-off marks.  SAT scholarship score requirements may even be as high as 1500, and hence you need to adjust your study routine based on it.
  • The difference between your initial score and target score: Prior to starting your SAT preparation, you can take a practice test and note the score you receive. This can be done subsequent to the completion of your 10th board exams. In case there is a large difference between your acquired score and your targeted SAT score, then it will be better that you get started with your preparation at the earliest and have a steady study routine.  And when you do manage to obtain scores close to your target, then you may follow a more relaxed approach, at least for a few months.

You should dwell upon the above-mentioned factors properly, in order to get an idea about the perfect time to start preparing for your SAT exam, as well as the number of hours you should dedicate daily.  It will always be better to start your preparation as early as possible, to increase your odds of scoring well right on the first attempt.

If you want to take the SAT in the next 3 years, you should connect with our undergrad admission counselors who can chalk up your personalized SAT Study Plan and admissions roadmap in a free 15 minute web session!

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