Every few weeks, someone asks me what I think about the best resources out there for SAT and ACT prep. I’ve decided to put it all together in a blog post. I’m splitting the list into local resources and internet sites.
When should I start studying for the SAT or ACT?
Earlier is better. Take a practice test of each and see which one is better for you. Either sign up to take the real test on a testing day or sign up to take a practice test at a local study center or library. Pick which one you are best at and begin studying it. Plan to retake the test for real the next time in about 6 months. Do it sooner if you are a Junior or Senior. Here’s a great resource on the differences between the SAT and ACT.
How do I sign up for the SAT or ACT?
Register online. Make an account and then sign up for the test at a public high school.
SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/
ACT: http:/actstudent.org
How do I study for the SAT / ACT?
Here are my favorite resources for studying for the SAT/ACT.
4.For SAT practice tests, we used this book:
5. We also liked this book, For the Love of ACT Science. My daughter thinks it’s very interesting because it explains the specific types of questions used in the science section.
6. If you have a student like I do who really struggles with completing the sections of the standardized test on time, then check out this watch (SAT, ACT, and PSAT Digital Timer and Watch for Exam Pacing by Top Score Watch). One of my girls uses it for taking her standardized tests and it is a huge help!
7. My third daughter said that this book was the most helpful thing she used for studying and she improved her score on the ACT by 9 points over the course of high school.
What’s the best method to study for the SAT / ACT?
- Take a free practice test at a study center or in the books listed above. First work on one section at a time; then work up to practicing for the whole 4 hr test. You can also find free practice tests locally at tutoring centers.
- Grade it.
- Go over each problem you missed and figure out what type of problem it is. See if you can categorize it. For example, in math, maybe you need more help on similar triangles or geometry with circles.
- Study the hardest categories for you. Search for info on these subjects in the study books and also at the online places I’m referring to below.
- Take another practice test and repeat this process, analyzing what you are missing the most.
- Get a tutor to help if it is not working on your own or if you find you need an appointment and a deadline to motivate you to study.
My Favorite Online Resources for SAT and ACT help:
Click on the link to go there!
- Prepscholar — This site has three things that I think are helpful.
- First, you can enroll in their prep course. It is valid for a year and yes, it costs some money, but it is customized for your student, based on how they do on a placement test. If you have a student who will be diligent doing prep online, this would be a good way to go.
- The second thing I love about Prepscholar, is the free helps they give in their blog area. If you go to their main website, scroll all the way down and click on SAT/ACT Online Blog on the bottom right, it takes you to their blog. Once on the blog, if you scroll down the page, looking at the box on the right, you will find links to all kinds of free articles for help on different sections on SAT/ACT. For instance, check out ACT English. There are currently 42 links to info for help on that area. I especially love their ACT Math sections. I use these in teaching my Challenge III class.
- The third thing I love about Prepscholar, is I love getting their emails. Each week they send their email of blog posts, and they have an amazing amount of info about the tests and how to study for them, as well as info on college applications. Pretty much every time I link from their email to their website, I find a new article that is full of interesting ideas and truths about the standardized tests. Their website is my number one recommendation!
- Khan Academy for SAT– has free practice; you can tie in your PSAT results and it will customize a plan of practice for you
- Did you know that you can use YouTube to get help? YouTube is actually now the 2nd biggest search engine on the internet. Here’s a link to a search on ACT English. I know someone who improved their English score from watching YouTube.
- VarsityTutors — Yes, they have test prep classes. But one of my favorite features they have is their Free Question of the Day email. You can create a free account, go to your account settings, and sign up for a daily email from any subject section on the standardized tests that you want to practice. You can also add other subjects, not just ACT/SAT, like U.S. History! You can also use their apps from Itunes store or Google Play.
- ACT Academy is free. I have not met anyone who has used this yet. It’s pretty new. Let me know if you try it and what you think!
- Use Homeschool Buyers Co-op to get a great deal on Kaplan Online Test Prep for PSAT/SAT/ACT. Make a free account and then go to their Test Prep section and see what deals they are offering. We tried their ACT program; We got a deal for $99 for 6 months access. It was great because it had lessons and then practice quizzes. This is a relatively cheap option compared to other ones out there.
- Here are a couple of free or inexpensive ones I just found recently but haven’t used yet.
- March2 Success
- eKnowlege has a one year license for $19.99. I don’t know if these are any good or not, but it’s certainly worth checking into!
- The actual site for the ACT has a free study guide which includes a complete practice test.
- This blog, The Critical Reader, has a lot of interesting blog posts about English and Critical Reading, as well as free study guides.
- If you think you are behind in a subject area and want some help catching up, you can try taking this free diagnostic test and then it will direct you to purchasing packets to help fill in gaps in your knowlege. Make a free account and then take the diagnostic test in math, english, word building, and reading. You are supposed to start 5 levels below your current grade level and work your way up to see if you have any gaps.
North Atlanta Resources:
Here are some local resources to check out! Many will offer free practice tests.
- Our top recommendation is a place called The Learning Island. We purchased a package of a set number of private session hours with them. They met my daughter at a very convenient place, right near our home so we didn’t waste a lot of time driving to them. First she met with a math expert and later with a language expert. They taught her a lot about strategies for studying and what she learned from them, she kept on applying later on her own as she studied even more with the Black Book listed above. This was a big investment, but it got her over the hump where she had stagnated and was not making any improvement on her score.
- My second recommendation is a place called Academic Solutions. They will let you take both practice tests and determine which one is the better one. At last check, they were only charging $22 for this, and that’s a deal since they usually charge more. Of course, this may not be the current price. Also, their tutoring fee is $45/hr which is pretty reasonable in this area.
- Check out Applerouth Tutoring Centers. My daughter took a free practice test with them. Then they sent us an email with an analysis of what they think she needs to work on and how she can improve. I was really impressed with their estimation. It was spot on and in-line with what I was already thinking. There is one on Holcombe Bridge Road in Roswell.
- 3J Test Prep These are tutors who meet with you in a local Starbucks or church. We have used Jeff for critical reading/science and Alyson for math. My daughter really came away with some a-ha moments as she learned things about herself and her personality, and how she handles tests and stress. I highly recommend even just one or two sessions with them.
- East Cobb Test Prep. A friend says this place really helped her daughter improve her score by a lot. They have weekly classes.
- Local Library — Check at your local library for whether they are offering any free practice tests or classes. Often the local tutoring centers will provide this as a service in order to drum up new contacts for their business.
- There are plenty of other places like Huntington, Study Point, etc. You will just have to check them out, and compare prices and value.
- Princeton Review offers free practice tests in the Atlanta area. Here’s a link to the free ACT practices. They also have free SAT events.
- Kaptest offers tons of free practice tests including score reviews, plus free lessons as well. You can put in your zip code to look for local events and they have lots that are online as well.
So many options. How do I know which one?
You can’t! The main thing is to pick one that you think is a good fit for your family. Try it for a few months, and see if your score increases. If your score doesn’t change or you’re not happy with the outcome, try a different one. I’m a firm believer that sometimes you need to keep trying different options until you find the right fit. One of my daughters “hit a wall” in her test taking and when we switched tests from ACT to SAT, her score started going up again.
I hope this information is useful and helpful! I will continue to update it as I find new stuff. I still have two more kids to get through this process! Just remember, increasing your ACT by just one point can be worth thousands of dollars in scholarships.
Maybe you know of a great resource I missed! Let me know! I’d love to add it. Add a comment below.
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Blessings,
Michelle
