Ideally, students should begin test prep 2–3 months before their first official test. This provides enough time to build skills, learn strategies, and gain confidence without feeling rushed.
It’s also important to remember that most students will take the SAT or ACT more than once. Because of this, prep should be viewed as a process over time, not a one-time push.
While starting early can be helpful, starting too early can lead to burnout, especially if a student hasn’t yet completed the academic coursework that appears on the test. The goal is to find a balance: begin early enough to prepare effectively, but not so early that your child becomes fatigued or disengaged before test day even arrives.
