<p>Hi, I'm going to be a freshman this year and I found that planning my next four years would be important in my success to apply to the colleges that I want to. I have numerous questions about the different aspects of high school (GPA maintenance, Clubs, Student Body, etc.), but the most nagging question (and probably my most important to me as well right now) is when I should start preparing for the SATs. I have looked at the formats of the SAT test and researched how I should prepare for it. Although I have done minimal work, I would like to know your opinion and how it helped you to recieve a good score on your SATs. I've heard countless stories about how students have been studying for this test since the 6th grade, and I want to know their approach was in tackling it. </p>
<p>I'm also new here, so I hope to get how this site works. Thanks a lot! :D</p>
<p>^I’m assuming that if he cares about testing, that he should have already put in some effort–not like studying lots of books, but knowing what he needs to know, etc.</p>
<p>I’d take a few practice tests and then the PSAT (in october I think) and then start studying for the Jan SAT. if you take a test just to see how you stand it’ll bite you in the ass when you’re stuck deciding whether or not you should take it a fourth time.</p>
<p>As a freshman all you should be doing is worrying about keeping your GPA up and get involved with various clubs. Sophomore year do the same.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t take any tests freshman or sophomore years; it’s unlikely that you’ll score up to your full potential and it just reduces your opportunities to retake in your junior and senior years (even though score choice has been reinstated, it’s still inadvisable to take the test >3 times). Do one practice test for your sophomore PSAT; wait until August of your junior year to start intensive prep for that year’s PSAT. Shortly thereafter, start studying for January; if necessary, learn from your mistakes and retake in June. Take your subject tests in May of your junior year (coincides nicely with AP tests).</p>
<p>Sophomore PSAT does not matter and exists only to show you what you can expect, so if your score on that isn’t acceptable or is on the border of national merit or something, then you can spend a proportional (but minimal) amount of time studying starting late summer before junior year. I’m a huge fan of January tests, mostly for the gloating factor when all of your friends have to take the SAT towards the end of the school year, but also because that leaves you ample time to retake it, in June or even October during senior year. </p>
<p>So don’t freak out to early. All I would recommend for right now is just read. In addition to being generally awesome, reading helps a lot with vocab and critical reading as well as writing - all over the long term, without you noticing that you’re improving.</p>
<p>Prep Now. Every weekend you should study for the SAT. Also, use the PSAT as bridge to do well and excell on the actual SAT. It’s good to start young, so you can have the material and concept drilled in your head; this way you’ll know what to expect come time for the real thing.</p>
<p>Right now just stay involved at school and keep your gpa up. It would be pointless to start preparing now.You don’t even have the skills to do well unless you’ve already finished algebra I, II, and geometry. Plus your English skills will naturally increase by the time you need to start studying. I’d suggest sometime between summer before junior year and first semester of junior year.</p>