Q. When Should I Start Studying for the SAT or ACT?

A. While preparing in advance for the SAT or ACT is strongly recommended, there's no right answer or consensus as to exactly when you should begin studying for these tests.  

For most students, I recommend beginning to study for the SAT or ACT in the winter of junior year. This leaves you plenty of time to get ready for the March or April tests, which are late enough to be accurate measurements of your ability but early enough to give you plenty of time to study more and retake if necessary.

You can read more about where studying for the standardized tests should fit into your admissions schedule by viewing the college admissions timeline and the standardized testing timeline.

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