Thinking of pros and cons of aiming to be done with SATs in fall of 11th year (vs fall of 12th grade). Here are my thoughts:
By then the kid will be done with Geometry and Algebra 2 at school. Try SAT in spring of 10th grade. Then summer before 11th grade could be used for active preparation. Take SAT in fall 11th grade aiming for a final attempt.
I see four main advantages here: 1. By preparing for SAT during summer agter 10th grade the child will also be better prepared for PSAT increasing chances to qualify for National Merit Scholarship 2. If the score is not satisfactory, it gives the child more time to prepare 3. If the score is satisfactory, then the kid has more time to plan where to apply; apply early action, etc. 4. No need to worry about SATs during intensive 11th grade with little time to prepare anyway. Less pressure.
What would be the disadvantages of this approach? At school, the student is done with SAT math anyway (again, Algebra 2 and Geometry are behind by the end of 10th grade). Would extra year of Honors English be so important? Or practicing specifically for the test is more important than this extra year?
Any advise is appreciated!
D is rising hs jr, prepping as we speak for PSAT as NMF is the goal. She made a 1590 on March SAT of her 10th grade year (she was in precal at the time). Started taking official SAT in 8th grade, unprepped, but each time she took it 1-2X annually her score improved. We think the 1590 was really more of a lark than what she could replicate. So that is why she is prepping now.
@BingeWatcher This is really awesome!
I guess, my main question is about the downsides of targeting to be done with SAT in fall of 11th grade. The main cons I see now is that the child is a year younger than he would be in 12th grade, but does this year mean a lot - given that SAT-specific preparation will be done?
I dont see a downside at all. With the official score you can see what schools are realistic. If the student has the required math completed in school. I believe they will get WAY more benefit from targeted SERIOUS test prep done in the summer before 11th grade then 1 extra year in school.
The down side is if your kid does poorly on an official test spring of 10th grade. I do think taking tests multiple times, anything over 4x (maybe even 3x), is likely to hurt the app for schools that ask for all tests. You can certainly do some practice tests in true timed conditions, and if those scores are in the range you desire, then sure, taking an official test at the end of 10th grade may make sense. I think the situation @Bingewatcher described is the exception, and note his/her kid has taken the test multiple times already and was completing pre-cal by the end of 10th grade.
I think a lot of kids just do better with 1 more year of math and English under their belts, prep or no prep, for the standardized tests. I do think it is wise to prep heavily summer of 10th grade for the PSAT which is basically the same prep as for the SAT and to target the first SAT for either December or March of 11th grade. December is probably a little better because it gives you more time to switch to the ACT if the PSAT and first SAT scores are not where you want. You can then also look at taking the SAT or ACT in the May/June periods, but keep in mind you might want to set aside those dates for SAT Subject Tests if they will be required/recommended for the schools your child is looking at. Then I’d target the August SAT as the “final shot”. Your child will have the summer to prep hard and have testing out of the way before senior year starts, although he/she will have an option to take the test again in October/November which generally will be timely enough for EA purposes (although you likely won’t know the results of the Nov test for the schools your child applies early).
@BKSquared , thank you for your detailed reply!
I was thinking of having my student take official PSAT in 9th and 10th grade for practice (as they do not get reported to colleges) and also take a few of unofficial SATs often administred by tutoring centers, etc. If the scores are not bad, then do some prep and take official SAT in spring of 10th grade. Then do heavy prep and take SAT in fall of 11th grade and (if the results are satisfactory) be done with it. The problem i see with taking it in December of 11th grade (as you recommended) is that during the school year the child will have limited time to study, while summer could be entirely devoted to SAT prep. Having SAT score earlier gives us time to plan/see what schools/programs are realistic. But as you mentioned in your previous post, my concern is that younger child is disadvantaged because of the age.
I guess I am wondering if a year of schooling (in general) makes a big difference - given that the student is seriously prepping for SAT… For those familiar with the test, do you think that serious prep summer before 10th grade vs summer before 11th grade can make a noticable difference in the scoring?
Different timing for different kids. If your 9th/10th grader is already practice testing in the 1400 -1500’s, doing an official test at the end of 10th grade or August before 11th grade makes sense. I am advocating heavy prep summer before junior year for both PSAT and SAT purposes. At some point after your kid has learned the substance of what is being tested, I think taking practice tests in strictly timed conditions with review immediately afterwards is the most effective use of time. This can be done 1 day each weekend or every other weekend during the school year. What you are drilling then is time management, eliminating silly errors/misreading questions and recognizing patterns and how to solve those types of questions. I do think having pre calc helps in the math section and exposure to more literary readings, including prose and poetry, helps in the reading section.
@BKSquared thank you for your helpful input!
That’s our plan - PSAT in 10th then study for PSAT/SAT in October/November of Junior year with an option to retake in the Spring, leaving May for Subject test (ARML nationals conflicts with June SAT pretty much every year, which is a problem). Worst case, August of Sr year if something goes wrong.
I certainly wouldn’t wait until Fall of Senior year for anyone to take if for the first time, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
(We have the advantage of a 1560 in 8th grade (retained by CB), so that affects some of the planning.)
I agree with richinpitt’s timeline. Our D took two practice tests in 9th and 10th grade. Took the official PSAT in the Fall of her junior year as well as the ACT. She had to take another ACT in February of junior year for the state graduation requirements and then was done.
Fall of senior year is going to be busy enough with writing college essays.
Planning to have my student take PSAT this fall (as a freshman) - just for practice.
Also, student took unofficial SAT in the very beginning of 9th grade. Got 1080 out of 1600. I know this is very far from the goal, but given that he just started HS, no prep at all, how good/bad is the score for now?