False: Don’t wait until the senior year! Universities generally take applications in the fall before you graduate, and most of these applications require SAT scores, so if you wait to take it, you may not be able to apply to the college of your choice. Also, as highlighted in last week’s blog you can take the SAT multiple times, so if you take it early, you can take it again if you’re not satisfied with your score. Give yourself some leeway room, and don’t add pressure to your final year of high school by waiting to take the SAT.
Ideally students should start taking the actual SAT in their junior years after taking the PSAT for practice during the freshman and sophmore years. Focuing on these tests during the junior year is ideal because that is when the score for the PSAT counts for the National Merit Scholarship program. The best thing about studying for the PSAT is that students are basically studying for the SAT. It’s like getting two tests for the price of studying for one!
So when you are signing up for the PSAT in your junior year also sign up for the SAT. In fact plan to take the SAT first in October to help set up success for the PSAT, and then take it afterward in November and December. This way you can get the most bang for your studying bank. Remember practice makes perfect.
