Typically taken during Junior year of high school, the ACT and SAT tests can be a required or recommended component of college applications. These standardized tests require students to demonstrate skills in reading, language arts, writing, and mathematics. While the ACT and SAT differ in format and style, the amount of test prep needed for each exam is similar.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, most colleges adopted test-optional or test-blind policies, and the majority of U.S. higher education institutions still don’t require SAT/ACT scores at all. However, many colleges continue to recommend them or require them for merit scholarships, and numerous highly selective schools have reinstated testing requirements.

Because the landscape is constantly evolving, be sure to check the admissions requirements at the schools where your student plans to apply.

Jump to 2026 SAT and ACT testing dates.

SAT and ACT Test Prep: The Basics

We asked Main Line professional tutors and college admissions counselors to share some of their best advice to prepare for the SAT and ACT exams. They also shared recommendations on when to begin test preparation.

When to Start SAT and ACT Prep?

You and your child know that studying for the ACT or SAT is important, but how far in advance should test prep begin? Many experts recommend that students start studying for the ACT and SAT tests at least two to three months prior to the exam date. The more students are familiar with the test content and format, the more they succeed on the actual exam.

The precise time to begin preparing for these exams is not the same for every student. Brendan Farrell, Director of Test Prep at Abigail Hillman & Associates, cites a range of time during which students should plan to start studying. Farrell notes that, “in the broadest terms, high schoolers typically begin test prep between the end of their sophomore year and the middle of their junior year.”

Familiarity With Test Content Improves Success

A critical component to success on these exams is being familiar with the type of test content. Further, as Brooke Stengel, Independent College Counselor at YourCollegeApps.com, points out, these standardized tests are quite different than the typical classroom exams students may be familiar with “because they’re multiple choice and much longer. If a student has taken the PSAT at school in 10th or 11th, that is most similar.” It is critical to keep this difference in mind when planning a preparation strategy.

Farrell refines this point further, noting that when to start test prep “depends partly on a student’s math track: for the SAT, students need skills and concepts from Geometry, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2; for the ACT, students will also need some Pre-Calculus concepts to really master that Math section. Once students have encountered these concepts in class, they can begin preparing to apply them on the SAT and ACT.”

Timing Test Prep Around Your Student’s Schedule

What’s more, selecting a timeframe when the student has additional flexibility in their schedule to focus on test prep is optimal. In fact, Stengel recommends that students “do their test prep during the summer between 10th and 11th grades to prepare for their first SAT in August or September OR their first ACT in September. That way they can focus their time on it and don’t have to worry about schoolwork or extracurricular activities.”

Ren Abraham, Founder and President of Telos Tutors, also finds summer to be an ideal prep time, sharing that “(s)ummer after sophomore year is the ideal time for most students to focus on intensive test prep without all of the competing demands of academics and extracurriculars. With this timeline, students can take the SAT or ACT 2-3 times between August and October and be done. They can then turn their focus back to all-important junior year academics.”

Allowing sufficient preparation time, considering relevant coursework completion, and prioritizing time frames with greater flexibility can all play a part in deciding when it’s best to start preparing for these exams. But, as Farrell notes, “as with most routines, starting earlier rarely hurts!”

ACT and SAT Prep: Do’s and Don’ts

Now that a start date for test prep has been established, here are some of the things your child should and should not be doing in preparation for the SAT or ACT exam.

Make a Plan to Study

Rome wasn’t built in a day nor were the SAT and ACT exams aced after a day of studying. Establishing a study routine and sticking to it is critical.

Consider the environment in which your student learns best, as well as their level of organization and time management. These factors will likely play a role in the type of study plan that is best for them.

For instance, is your student self-directed or would they do better in a group environment with a pre-established schedule? “Deciding whether they can realistically commit to studying on their own or whether a group class or private tutoring would be more effective,” is a critical consideration, offers Stengel.

Work Hard and Study Harder

The SAT and ACT exams are comprehensive and, as our tutors reiterated, difficult. And recently, they’ve grown increasingly challenging.

Abraham points to the fact that “both the SAT and ACT have undergone changes in the past couple years that make them more difficult. By making the tests shorter and allotting more time per question, test makers are forced to make the questions harder to produce the same range of scores.”

However, there’s no need to despair. Farrell proffers that diligence and focused preparation can lead to definite score improvements, noting that, “with targeted practice, students can better translate their abilities into higher scores.”

Mastering the Unique Format of Standardized Tests

In addition to the wide variety of subjects covered, the SAT and ACT test a student’s ability to complete a standardized exam, and this in itself may be a new challenge.

The SAT and ACT “are tests of reasoning and problem solving under time pressure. While they do test content knowledge, the tests reward efficiency, decision-making, and pattern recognition more than memorization,” stresses Farrell.

Additionally, these standardized exams do not mimic typical classroom assessments. According to Farrell, the SAT and ACT’s “reading passages tend to be denser and more abstract than most classroom texts, and the math questions often test whether students recognize how to approach a problem rather than whether they’ve memorized a procedure, formula, or term.“

Don’t Expect to Take These Exams Only Once

The rigor and distinctiveness of these exams means that taking the SAT or ACT is rarely a one and done event for most students.

Abraham highlights the importance of going into the prep process accepting and planning for this eventuality.

“One of the biggest test prep mistakes families make is taking a wait-and-see approach instead of planning on multiple test dates from the beginning. When a student takes two weeks off from test prep waiting for their scores to come back, they lose valuable momentum and prep time heading into the second test date. Students should plan on taking the SAT or ACT at least 2-3 times and line up their test prep to span those test dates without a break.”

The recent increase in the difficulty of the tests that Abraham noted above also plays into his advice that students should plan for multiple sittings.

“These changes (to the difficulty of the SAT and ACT in recent years) also produce a lot more score volatility, making it harder to predict performance on a single test date,” Abraham says. “Many students aren’t used to taking tests multiple times to maximize their chances of scoring high.” However, this mindset shift can be a key to overall SAT and ACT success.

Don’t Try to Cram for the Test

Finally, remind your student that the SAT and ACT do not lend themselves to cramming. This is typically true even for students who have done exceptionally well academically.

As Farrell of Abigail Hillman & Associates comments, “test scores often reflect familiarity with the format and strategies — not just intelligence, effort, or academic success. The good news is that these skills can be learned.”

SAT and ACT Test Prep Options

As learning styles vary, so too do test prep study options. From home studying to one-on-one tutors, there are many different ways to go about preparing for the SAT and ACT exams. Find the one that works best for your child.

ACT and SAT Test Prep Books

Some students opt to go old school and break out paper ACT or SAT study guides. For students who are visual learners, having a hard copy of a study guide on hand may help them focus and work their plan. It is important to note that the SAT went fully digital in 2024, so ensure the resources your student is accessing are up to date with that change.

Great resources for reviewing SAT content and notable for their focus on SAT test-taking strategy include the following:

• The Official Digital SAT Study Guide from the College Board
• Kaplan’s Digital SAT Prep Plus 2025
• The Princeton Review’s Digital SAT Premium Prep 2025
• The SAT Prep Black Book (Second Edition)

Consider these well-regarded ACT study resources for ACT test prep:

• The Official ACT Prep Guide 2025-2026
• Kaplan’s ACT Prep Plus 2025
• The Princeton Review’s Cracking the ACT 2025
• Barron’s series of prep resources — especially challenging and geared towards those students seeking top scores

Online SAT and ACT Test Prep Options

If picking up a test prep book after school does not fit with your child’s learning style or schedule, online SAT and ACT Test Prep classes and resources are another option.  

Khan Academy

This website offers free, personalized, online practice for the SATs developed with the College Board. Their program includes interactive lessons, videos, practice questions and materials, and instant feedback on progress.

PrepScholar

Founded by Harvard grads, PrepScholar is a paid service that provides personalized, high-quality test prep.

Magoosh

An online, paid test prep service with practice questions, an AI-powered tutor, and video lessons.

ACT

The official test website also offers free, online, interactive resources including daily questions, sample quizzes, and full-length practice tests in all subjects. Students can create a free MyACT account to access personalized prep materials and track progress.

The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review offers paid LiveOnline Interactive Classes for the ACT and SAT.

Kaplan

Kaplan’s paid Live Online SAT Prep and ACT Prep courses also provide students the flexibility of studying at home while taking advantage of group instruction.

Prep Expert

Find paid at-home, live instruction geared to help improve student’s scores on the SAT and ACT.

SAT and ACT Tutoring

Face-to-face tutoring for the ACT and SAT exams can occur on an individual or group basis. Private tutoring typically occurs in the student’s home and the instruction is based solely around his or her needs. There’s usually a great deal of flexibility in terms of time and location.

Abraham of Telos Tutors points out that “students are humans who struggle with motivation, commitment, distraction, and follow-through. It’s the rare student who has the time and self-discipline to self-study their way to their target score. Most students need the speed, structure, and accountability that 1:1 test prep offers. It’s the same rationale that drives parents to hire personal trainers, business coaches, and professionals of any kind.”

Group tutoring can be a less expensive option than private tutoring, but is often held at learning centers, universities, or schools during the evening and weekend at set times. Scheduling flexibility is usually more limited.

Reflections and Advice from Main Line Area Tutors

The Main Line and Philadelphia-area tutors also shared their advice on how to reduce test anxiety, as well as final things to consider as you support your student with ACT or SAT prep.

Tips for Reducing Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is real, but preparation is the antidote. Here’s how Main Line tutors help students build confidence and calm their nerves.

Preparation

Multiple tutors who contributed to this piece pointed to the critical effect of preparation on anxiety reduction. For instance, Abraham notes that, “preparation builds confidence, so give yourself lots of runway and resources. Structured test prep creates order out of the chaos of juggling a million things. Any remaining test-day stress can be managed through awareness and breathing techniques.”

Farrell stresses that preparation doesn’t have to be all-consuming. “Smart, targeted practice — especially review that focuses on why questions are missed — goes much further than sheer volume. Combined with good sleep, realistic expectations, and a plan for test day, students often find their anxiety decreases as their sense of control increases.”

Planning

Formulating and sticking to a plan for test-day success can also help students feel more self-assured, thus reducing their stress. Farrell acknowledges that “when students work with quality practice materials, take realistic practice tests, and learn effective strategies for pacing, guessing, and question recognition, the test stops feeling mysterious and starts feeling familiar. Familiarity builds confidence, and much of the fear starts to fade.”

Perspective

Farrell also stresses that “students should remember that one test does not define them or their intelligence. When they approach the SAT or ACT as a skill-building challenge rather than a judgment, they’re far more likely to perform at their true potential.”

An SAT to ACT Success Story: Don’t be Afraid to Pivot

Abraham of Telos Tutors reflected that good, old flexibility can sometimes be the key to success on these standardized exams. He concluded with this anecdote.

“I’ve seen multiple students find success by having the courage to pivot. Last year, two students plateaued in the upper 1400s on the SAT, switched to ACT prep, and scored a 35 on the ACT. While the SAT is more entrenched in this area, the ACT offers a great alternative for a lot of students, especially those who are significantly stronger in English than in Math.”

In sum, encourage your student to stay adaptable.

2026 Test Administration Dates

2026 SAT Testing Dates

March 14, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: February 27, 2026
• Late Registration Deadline: March 3, 2026

May 2, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: April 17, 2026
• Late Registration Deadline: April 21, 2026

June 6, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: May 22, 2026
• Late Registration Deadline: May 26, 2026

August 15, 2026*

September 12, 2026*

October 3, 2026*

November 7, 2026*

December 5, 2026*

*Note: these are anticipated test dates.

Find more information about the SAT testing dates, deadlines, and requirements here.

2026 ACT Testing Dates

February 14, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: January 9, 2026

• Late Registration Deadline: January 23, 2026

April 11, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: March 6, 2026

• Late Registration Deadline: March 24, 2026

June 13, 2026

• Regular Registration Deadline: May 8, 2026

• Late Registration Deadline: May 29, 2026

July 11, 2026*

• Regular Registration Deadline: June 5, 2026

• Late Registration Deadline: June 24, 2026

*Note: The July test date has limited availability, so registering early is highly recommended.

Find more information about the ACT testing dates, deadlines, and requirements here.

Philadelphia and Main Line SAT and ACT Test Prep Resources

Special thanks to the following ACT/SAT professionals who contributed their expertise to this article. Please visit their websites to learn more about their services and how they are helping students and families around Philadelphia and the Main Line.

Brendan Farrell, Director of Test Prep at Abigail Hillman & Associates. Check out Abigail Hillman & Associates on Facebook and LinkedIn as well.

Brooke A. Stengel, Independent College Counselor at YourCollegeApps.com. You can also find her on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Ren Abraham, Founder and President of Telos Tutors. Visit Telos Tutors on Facebook and LinkedIn too.

SAT and ACT Test Prep Success

Let this information guide you and your family to a successful test prep experience in the greater Philadelphia region and in the Main Line. How is your child preparing for the SAT or ACT exams? Share your experience and expertise in the comments below.