<p>The class of 2017 definitely has tactical decisions to make. As a tutor and as a parent, I am trying to sort out the best plan to recommend. We may still not have enough info. I am eager to see actual tests in the new format. And we also need to hear from the colleges: what are they going to accept from 2017? But here's what I am thinking so far.</p>
<p>If colleges will accept old-format, and you are a strong student, it is tempting to go all out on prep early enough to take the old format in say October and January of junior year or even as early as May or June of sophomore year. Upside: we know how to prepare for this format, there are tons of actual tests available and it would be sweet to be done with the SATs by January. Down side is that you still have to deal with the new format PSAT if you are hoping for national merit. And if you are unhappy with your scores from October and January, you have to re-adjust your prep for the new format in March. We still don't know how big an adjustment that will be.</p>
<p>I think the next step is to start asking colleges to announce what they will require. But if they are going to accept both formats, my current plan is to have my stronger students (and my daughter) aim early. </p>
<p>I have a younger sister in the Class of 2017, and I’m going to push her to either focus on the ACT, or go ahead and take the SAT in November of her junior year. She can get it out of the way and not have to worry about this whole mess, although unfortunately, this class will have to take the newly designed PSAT. I think we might wait to see if she does well on that to see if she should retake the SAT (if her November scores don’t turn out to be optimal) or if she should go ahead and just study for the ACT. </p>
<p>Timing wise, I have always thought it made a lot of sense to concentrate on a SAT preparation targeting October and November of the Junior year. Using the summer before the Junior year is smart as the following summer will have many demands on the upcoming seniors. Finishing early also frees the mind for APs and Subject tests. In case the scores are lacking, the early results allow for plenty of time to redress, and eventually target the next October and November. </p>
<p>The new SAT simply reinforces the validity of the above timing and …the potential strategy to make the most of the changes. Fwiw, the colleges cannot do much else than accepting ALL scores, including old ones. The new motto is to be inclusive about SAT and ACT. </p>
<p>That does seem most likely. Would still like to hear it from them… And again, if you care about national merit, you still have to get familiar with the new format even if you are lucky enough to hit your target before March of junior year. That’s why I still think that it is only the stronger scorers who should invest the time to prep early. It would be annoying to have to do major prep twice.</p>