The College Board was nice enough to publish 10 practice tests. These are the best resources available for succeeding on the SAT. Below I have created a 21 day schedule for completing all of the math practice tests and getting some extra help that will hopefully help you do your best on the SAT.

The SAT Starts at 8 AM, Do You?

Because the real test occurs around 8 AM in the morning, it is good to get used to using your brain in the morning. So, try to do your practice at 8 AM. If you are going to be your best in the morning, get to bed early in the evening (9:30 if you can).

This schedule is designed for summer studying when students have all day to study. Morning studying during the school year can be a bit of a challenge, but you can do the “morning” session by completing the problems at the wasted time at the end of a class or two.

Plenty of Sleep is Your Secret Weapon

Evening sessions should be done just before going to bed. Studies have shown that your brain will continue to work on the problems and integrate your learning into your brain after you have gone to sleep. Frequent rest and plenty of sleep are a very important part of the learning process. A lack of sleep has been shown to impair your cognitive ability more than drinking alcohol, so don’t do either!

Practice Makes it Easier

This might look like a ton of work, but the harder you work, the easier the test gets. While it might take a full 25 minutes to finish the Section 3 test when you start, after some solid practice the test might take as little as 10 minutes. It gets easier the more often you practice. Never miss a day! When you take a day off, your brain loses momentum.

Success Through Repetition

The biggest challenge of SAT prep is getting enough practice and getting comfortable with the format of the questions. This study plan tries to combat that by having students re-do the same test they have completed previously. It might seem insane, but after searching for years for an effective way to make the test seem as familiar as an old friend I have started seeing significant improvements for students that are using this strategy. I have spent years studying this test and its content is extremely repetitive (it has to be to allow for valid comparisons of students), but the test writers are masterful at changing the phrasing of the questions. By re-doing tests it helps students become more and more comfortable at focusing more on the math and less on the confusing wording. PLEASE don’t skip the “Re-do” practice, it can be extremely effective and it takes far less time to re-do a test you have done before.

Save a Tree – Printing Tips

Most people know that many printers allow for printing on both sides, choosing this simple option can cut your paper usage in 1/2. What many people do not know is that you can print multiple pages per side. This option can additionally reduce your paper usage by 1/2 again. As important as it is to save paper, it is also very important to use paper. Do NOT do these practice tests by reading them off of a screen, print them out, and write all over them. Become an expert at circling facts, underling the most important word, and crossing off incorrect answers by writing all over the practice tests.

Be Organized – Keep Your Practice Tests

The final day before the test you will want to review all of the problems you missed while practicing. In order to learn from those past mistakes you must write the test number at the top of each test packet and keep your completed practice tests.

Practice Makes Perfect – Carter’s Practice Tests from his Perfect 800

21 Day Schedule

• Day 1 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #1 (no calculator).
• Day 1 (Afternoon): 90 Minute SAT Strategies tutoring session.
• Day 2 (Morning): Do SAT extra practice assigned by tutor.
• Day 3 (Morning): Do SAT extra practice assigned by tutor.
• Day 3 (Afternoon): Get some more tutoring!
• Day 4 (Morning): Do SAT extra practice assigned by tutor.
• Day 5 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #9.
• Day 6 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #10.
• Day 6 (Afternoon): Get some more tutoring!
• Day 6 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #1 (Yes, do it again!).
• Day 7 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #2.
• Day 7 (Evening): Do Section 4 Test #9, questions 1-20 (calculator).
• Day 8 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #9, questions 21-38.
• Day 8 (Afternoon): Get some tutoring on Section 4!
• Day 8 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #1 (Yes, do it AGAIN!).
• Day 8 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #9 (again).
• Day 9 (Morning): Do SAT Section 4 extra practice assigned by tutor.
• Day 9 (Evening): Do Section 4 Test #10, questions 1-20.
• Day 10 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #10, questions 21-38.
• Day 10 (Evening): Do Section 4 Test #1, questions 1-20.
• Day 11 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #1, questions 21-38.
• Day 11 (Afternoon): Get more tutoring on Section 4!
• Day 11 (Evening): Re-do Section 4 Test #9 (again), all questions.
• Day 12 (Morning): Do SAT Section 4 extra practice assigned by tutor.
• Day 12 (Evening): Do Section 4 Test #2, questions 1-20.
• Day 13 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #2, questions 21-38.
• Day 13 (Evening): Do Section 3 Test #4. (We’re skipping test #3)
• Day 14 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #5.
• Day 14 (Afternoon): Get some tutoring!
• Day 15 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #6.
• Day 15 (Afternoon): Re-do Section 4 Test #9 (Again!), all questions.
• Day 15 (Evening): Do Section 4 Test #3, all questions.
• Day 16 (Morning): Re-do Section 4 Test #10, all questions.
• Day 16 (Afternoon): Do Section 4 Test #3, questions 21-38.
• Day 16 (Evening): Do Section 3 Test #7.
• Day 17 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #4, all questions.
• Day 17 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #1 (Yes, do it again!).
• Day 18 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #5, all questions.
• Day 18 (Afternoon): Get some tutoring!
• Day 18 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #9 (again).
• Day 19 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #6, all questions.
• Day 19 (Evening): Re-do Section 3 Test #10 (again).
• Day 20 (Morning): Do Section 4 Test #7, all questions.
• Day 20 (Evening): Re-do Section 4 Test #9 (Again!), all questions.
• Day 21 (Morning): Do Section 3 Test #8 and Section 4 Test #8.
• Day 21 (Afternoon): Get some tutoring!
• Day 21 (Evening): Review all the problems you missed while practicing.
• Day 21 (Evening): Get plenty of sleep!
• SAT Test Day! Good luck!