Navigating through the college admission process isn’t a walk in the park, especially with so many different tests and options to consider. Luckily, plotting out an action plan can place high school students at an advantage for achieving scholastic success.

As students begin to prepare for the SAT, they’ll probably have tons of questions. When should I study? When should I register? Did I start preparing too late? Should I freak out if I don’t receive a high SAT score?

Before your student begins having a panic attack, sit him or her down and consider all of your options. To help students stay on track for SAT success, we’ve crafted a timeline that outlines the entire SAT test prep process for high school students. Now, high school students can put their minds at ease and focus on achieving better SAT scores.

Grade 9 – Freshmen Year

Welcome to high school! Don’t spend too much time worrying about the SAT. Instead, try letting loose and enjoy being the low man on the totem pole. Freshmen year is a time for exploration, so it’s important for students to take advantage before playtime ends. Not sure how? Get involved with after-school activities, consider joining a club or try out for a sports team! While some may see this as counterproductive, students have a chance to discover their interests and passions by broadening their horizons. Exploring may help students realize what they want to study in college or even a career path to pursue.

More importantly, freshmen year is also the time to focus on grades and doing well in class. Rather than dreading the approaching standardized tests, high school students can concentrate on uncovering any subject or material they have trouble mastering. Perhaps they’ll realize that math isn’t their strong point. Or maybe they’ll learn they need some extra time polishing vocabulary. If students can unearth weaknesses early on, they can improve their skills with some help from a qualified tutor in the nearby area before they fall behind.

Grade 10 – Sophomore Year

After a fun year of exploration, it’s time to buckle down and begin planning for the future. While students should still focus on doing well in school, they’ll have to pass certain milestones in order to stick to the SAT timeline. The first hurdle they’ll encounter during sophomore year is the PSAT, which occurs in October.

Since most schools already offer it, it’s wise to take the PSAT because it gives students a general idea of what to expect when they finally take the SAT. The questions are similar to the SAT, but the PSAT is shorter, easier, and doesn’t include an essay. Furthermore, high school students can gain an early read on how they would perform on the official SAT next year.

Once your student receives his or her PSAT scores, sit down and decide the next course of action. Is their PSAT score near your target score for the SAT? Or does it not quite meet their expectations? This discussion may prompt you to seek out an SAT tutor to help inspire your student to perform better on the next SAT exam. Once you have made your decision, it’s time to hit the books with standardized test boot camps, group tutoring sessions, or even 1-on-1 tutoring.

Grade 11 – Junior Year

This is it! After an intense year of preparation, it’s time to finally put those skills to the test by taking a swing at the SATs. When September rolls around, make sure your high school student registers in advance for the SAT test in October. If you want to further invigorate your student for the SAT exam, sign them up to retake the PSAT since it’s good practice.

Finally, wait until you receive your scores to decide whether you want to retake the exam. It’s possible that your student already achieved his or her target score, which means that further action isn’t necessary. But for most students, they’ll want to take another swing at the SAT to see if they can improve their scores. If this is the case, sign up for a second SAT session in May. Your student must also take initiative and prepare for the exam rather than sitting idle. Take time to seek out an SAT tutor who can help your student achieve his or her desired results.

Grade 12 – Senior Year

Congratulations! You’re almost there! Most high school seniors already took the SAT twice and may already have plans for college, the military, or workplace. But if your student is still unsatisfied with his or her previous SAT scores, there’s one last chance to beat the SAT. In a similar manner to junior year, sign your high school student up for the SAT in October. After months of preparation with an SAT tutor, your student will have all the tools necessary to finally beat the SAT and gain acceptance into the college of his or her dreams. Good luck!

Don’t let the SAT test stand between your student and acceptance to his or her dream college. Prepare your student by booking a session with a quality SAT tutor near you today!