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Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - May 31, 2024
Highlights:
- The ideal SAT preparation time depends on your current academic standing. Strong students may need as little as 1 month, while beginners might require 2–3 months for effective preparation.
- Analyze your proficiency in Reading, Writing, and Math. Focus more time on areas needing improvement to optimize your study schedule.
- Creating a structured plan that outlines your daily/weekly study hours and the topics covered is crucial for efficient preparation.
- The ideal SAT preparation time is the time you need to feel confident and prepared for the exam. By understanding your strengths, and weaknesses, and utilizing the right resources, you can craft a proper study plan.
Have a limited time left for your exam, and if you are still confused about how to start SAT preparation. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses in Reading, Writing, and Math, this will determine your SAT preparation time. Coaching centers and websites offer personalized study plans based on your timeframe. Create a plan that outlines your study schedule and topics covered. Review the official SAT syllabus from the official website to understand the test's scope. Beginner students typically need 2–3 months of SAT preparation time. Include taking practice tests from reputable sources in your SAT prep time to track your progress and identify areas needing improvement.
Factors to Consider about SAT Preparation Time
Before starting with SAT preparation, candidates have to find a suitable study approach. They will be required to understand their method of studying, know their target SAT score, SAT preparation materials, and also hours of study they can devote. You should take coaching at least 3 months before the exam, as it is the best time to take SAT preparation courses.
- Occupations apart from school schedule: If you are involved in any extracurricular activities, you may need to allocate your studying time either before or after that. If you find studying at night peaceful then set that time. If not, set the weekends as your SAT preparation time.
- Your selected schools: Study the SAT cutoff of the schools you’ve selected. If you have selected top universities like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, UCB, then you have to aim for SAT scores as high as 700+. In this case, the answer to your question of ‘how long to prepare for SAT?’ may include increased hours as the score requirement is very high.
- Are you planning to apply for a scholarship?: The SAT score required for SAT scholarship is quite high. If you’re planning to apply for SAT scholarship then you might have to score higher than even the average SAT cut-offs. The SAT scholarship score requirement rises up to 1500, therefore, requiring more SAT preparation time.
- Note the difference between the initial score and target score: Before beginning your SAT preparation, take a diagnostic test and note the score that you receive. If there is a huge difference between your obtained score and target score, then the SAT preparation time required will be more. Below is a list containing the hours of study and SAT exam preparation time:
| Score Difference | Hours of Study Required |
|---|---|
| Increase score by 30 points | 10 hours |
| Increase score by 30–70 points | 20 hours |
| Increase score by 70–130 | 40 hours |
| Increase score by 130–200 points | 80 hours |
| Increase score by 200–330 points | 150 hours+ |
Study for SAT in 1 Month
It may happen that the SAT test date is just a month away, and you didn’t begin your preparation. Though the answer to ‘Is 1 month enough to study for SAT?’ is no, a strategic SAT preparation plan will help students prepare for the exam. If you require a score improvement of up to 100 points, then studying for a month will help you with the target SAT score. Below are a few steps that will help candidates prepare for SAT in a month:
Setting the hours of study: Start by finding the difference between your initial and target SAT scores. According to the difference, below are three suggestions of SAT preparation time:
| Points to be increased | Total SAT Preparation Time | Schedules |
|---|---|---|
| 30 points increase | Total 10 hours of SAT preparation time | 2 hours 30 minutes – once a week |
| 1 hour 15 minutes – twice a week | ||
| 30 minutes – 5 times a week | ||
| 30 – 70 points increase | Total 20 hours of SAT preparation time | 2 hours 30 minutes – twice a week |
| 1 hour – 15 minutes – 4 times a week | ||
| 1 hour – 5 times a week | ||
| 70 – 130 points increase | Minimum SAT preparation time of 40 hours | 3 hours and 20 minutes – thrice a week |
| 2 hours and 30 minutes – 4 times a week | ||
| 2 hours – 5 times a week | ||
| 130 – 200 points increase | Minimum SAT preparation time of 80 hours | 5 hours – 4 times a week |
| 4 hours – 5 times a week | ||
| 3 hours and 20 minutes – 6 times a week |
Also, check 3 Month SAT Study Plan
Prepare for SAT in 2 Months
Two months is considered a proper SAT prep time. Students questioning, “How to prepare for SAT?”, “How to start preparing for the SAT?”, and “How to start preparing for SAT?” can follow the 2-month study plan. Below is a sample 2-month SAT study schedule to help candidates with their preparation:
| Weeks | SAT Math | SAT EBRW |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 |
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| Week 2 |
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| Week 3 | Practice from College Board’s full-length practice test | |
| Week 4 |
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| Week 5 | Solve a College Board Practice Test and watch coordinate geometry videos | |
| Week 6 |
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| Week 7 |
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| Week 8 |
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SAT Preparation Tips
SAT preparation depends on your academic proficiency and reading capabilities. Following a proper study plan helps you to achieve a higher score. Here are some SAT preparation tips to help you ace the exam:
Buy Proper SAT Preparation Materials: Candidates questioning how to prepare for SAT in one month and how to study for SAT in one month are required to purchase the best SAT preparation books. Only authentic SAT preparation books can help candidates prepare for SAT in a month. Below are some of the best SAT preparation books:
- The College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide(2006) - Check PDF
- Barron’s SAT, 29th Edition - Check PDF
- Kalli’s SAT Pattern Strategy - Check PDF
- Kaplan SAT Prep Plus 2021- Check PDF
- The Princeton Review's Cracking the SAT, 2020 Edition - Check PDF
- McGraw Hill Education SAT Elite 2021 Edition - Check PDF
Know SAT Exam Pattern: Spend time knowing the SAT exam pattern and format, scoring method, number of questions, penalty, the difficulty level of questions, and sources.
SAT Practice Paper: Nothing is better than practicing from SAT practice papers on a constant basis. Experts recommended practicing from sample questions to measure the progress. Constant practicing also helps in tracking the mistakes and finding solutions to them.
Focus on Fundamental Math Topics: Learning the basic SAT Math topics like algebra, problem-solving, and data analysis, and advanced math is necessary. Along with it, also focus on the fundamentals like linear functions, single-variable equations, systems of linear equations for algebra, quadratic equations, and nonlinear functions, graphic functions for advanced math, and statistics, ratio and proportion, and graphs for the problem-solving part.
Focus on Fundamentals of Grammar: Like SAT Math, also focus on the basics of SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing, like punctuation and grammar. It includes topics like apostrophes, commas, modifiers, subject-verb agreement, homophones, and more.
The decision of ‘how long should I study for SAT every day?’ depends on the SAT study plan of the candidate. Candidates wondering how to start preparing for SAT should make a study plan. If the candidate needs to improve the score by 100 or more points, then they need to study for more than a month at least.
FAQs
Ques: Is 1 month enough to study for SAT?
Ans: With proper plan, students can prepare for SAT in one month.
Ques: Is 3 months enough to study for SAT?
Ans: Yes, 3 months is enough for SAT exam preparation.
Ques: When should I start prep for SAT?
Ans: Students should SAT preparation at least three months before the exam date.
Ques: Is 1 year enough to prepare for SAT?
Ans: Yes, one year is enough to prepare for the SAT. Students can also prepare for the SAT in three months.
Ques: How can I prepare for SAT in India?
Ans: Students can prepare for SAT in India by understanding the exam pattern, covering entire syllabus, reading books, and practicing mock test.
Ques: Can I prepare for SAT on my own?
Ans: Yes, students can prepare for SAT on own.
Ques: Is 2 months enough to get a 1500 on SAT?
Ans: With proper strategies, students can achieve a SAT score of 1500 in 2 months.
Ques: How long should you study for the SAT?
Ans: Students should study for at least 3 months for the SAT exam.
Ques: Is 3 months of SAT prep enough?
Ans: Yes, 3 months SAT prep time is enough to clear cutoff of top universities.
Ques: Is 2 months enough to study for SAT?
Ans: Yes, two months are enough for SAT preparation.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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