Test Prep
Toolkit

This is the first thing to get right: because the SAT and ACT were overhauled in 2024–25, older prep books, courses, and free worksheets may not match the test your student will actually take. Always use current, official materials (see §12), and be wary of any tutor or program that isn't fully up to speed on the digital SAT and the Enhanced ACT.

The single most powerful (and most skipped) test-prep habit is reviewing your mistakes: after every practice test or set, don't just check your score — study every question you missed until you understand why, and what you'll do differently. Passive practice (taking test after test without analyzing errors) barely helps; practice plus error review is where scores climb. Research finds that focused practice hours with error review predict improvement far better than how much a family spends.

A common and costly myth is that the more you pay, the more your score will rise. The research says otherwise: a motivated student doing 40 hours of focused practice on free official materials can outperform one who paid $2,000 but watched 15 hours of passive video. What raises scores is active, focused practice with feedback over time — and that's available to everyone. Don't confuse spending money with doing the work.

With both tests now similar, the best way to choose is to take an official practice test of each and see where you score better and feel more comfortable — then focus on that one. Two more tips: on both tests there's no penalty for wrong answers, so always answer every question (guess if you must). And many colleges superscore — combining your best section scores across multiple test dates — which can make retaking worthwhile; check each college's policy. The SAT's adaptive format means a strong first module unlocks higher scores, so start each section strong.

Test-optional doesn't mean tests don't matter — it means you get to decide whether a score helps your application. If your target schools are test-optional and testing isn't your strength, you may not need to spend months prepping. If a strong score would help (or a target school requires one), it's worth the effort. Check each school's current policy, and see our College & Career Readiness toolkit for the full admissions picture. FairTest tracks test-optional colleges.

The PSAT is a rare win-win: it's excellent, pressure-free practice for the SAT (same digital format, same skills), it gives a detailed score report you can use to plan your prep, and — for juniors — a high score can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which carries real prestige and scholarship money. It's worth a little preparation, and worth taking seriously, even though it doesn't go to colleges.

Unlike the SAT/ACT, AP and IB exams test a specific body of course content — so the most important 'prep' is genuinely learning the material throughout the year, not a last-minute cram. In the weeks before the exam, official practice tests and released questions (plus solid error review) are the best tools. And check the credit policies of colleges you're interested in: a good AP or IB score can save real time and tuition money by earning college credit.

For most students, state standardized tests don't determine grades, graduation, or college — they're primarily used to evaluate schools and programs. That doesn't mean blowing them off, but it does mean they shouldn't cause anxiety. The best preparation is simply steady learning all year, decent sleep, and a calm attitude on test day. Save the serious prep energy for the tests with higher personal stakes.

Khan Academy's Official SAT Practice is free, made in partnership with the College Board (who write the SAT), personalized to your weak spots, and includes real full-length practice tests — and the College Board reports that students who use it for 20+ hours see meaningful average score gains. This matters for fairness: no student needs an expensive course to prep well. Start with the free official materials, use them seriously, and you'll have covered most of what any paid program offers. Khan Academy is the place to begin.

A classic mistake is spending five minutes stuck on a single tough question while easier points slip away. The smart move: if a question is taking too long, make your best guess (there's no penalty on the SAT or ACT — never leave a blank), flag it, and move on; return if you have time. Every question is worth the same, so protect your time and grab the points you can. Pacing is a skill you build through timed practice.

The two most effective remedies for test anxiety aren't tricks — they're real preparation (genuine confidence comes from knowing you're ready) and practicing under test-like conditions (so the real test feels familiar, not threatening). Add good sleep, slow breathing, and reframing nerves as normal energy, and most students can keep anxiety in check. If test anxiety is severe or persistent, talk to a counselor — see our Student Mental Health & Well-Being toolkit, and Child Mind Institute for guidance.

On the night before a big test, the temptation is to cram — but a well-rested brain recalls and reasons far better than an exhausted, over-crammed one, and sleep is when memory consolidates. Trade the late-night cram for a good night's sleep and a real breakfast, and you'll perform better than the student who stayed up 'studying.' By test day, the learning is done — your job is to be rested, calm, and confident.

Here's the honest bottom line: the research shows paid courses and tutors produce fairly modest average score gains, and free official materials are excellent — so no one needs to spend big to prep well. What paid help genuinely offers is structure, accountability, personalized feedback, and expert strategy, which some students really benefit from. The smart approach: start with free official prep and give it a real effort; if you stall, or you know you need structure, then consider paid help — a few focused tutoring sessions on your weak areas often beats an expensive full course. Match the spending to the actual need.

Test season can get intense, and a parent's anxiety is contagious — so one of the most helpful things you can do is stay calm and keep perspective. Support the process (a plan, a quiet space, the free resources, good sleep) without piling on pressure or making a score feel like a verdict on your child's worth. Students who feel supported rather than pressured prepare better, test better, and stay healthier. Encourage effort, and keep the test in its proper place.

Because expensive prep advantages wealthier families — while adding only modest score gains — educators who point all students to excellent free official materials, teach test-taking strategies, and build low-stakes practice into class are doing real equity work. You can give every student access to what actually matters (focused practice, good strategy, and a calm approach), regardless of what their family can spend. And remember that strong teaching of real content is itself the best test prep.

In the middle of test season, it's easy for a score to feel like it defines a student's intelligence or future. It doesn't. A standardized test measures how well you do on a particular kind of task on a particular day — a skill you can build — not your worth, your creativity, or your potential. With many colleges test-optional and countless paths to a good future, no single score determines a life. Prepare well, do your best, and then keep it in proportion. You are so much more than a number.

For the SAT, Khan Academy's free official practice is the best place to begin; for the ACT, use its official free materials; and FairTest helps you see which colleges even require scores. Test prep is one piece of the college journey — our College & Career Readiness toolkit covers admissions, the FAFSA, and paying for college, and the K12academics colleges directory helps you find and compare schools. Start at K12academics.com.

Editable versions of these guides are available on request — see §26, Stay Connected.