High school students juggle various commitments from schoolwork and extracurriculars to social activities and family obligations. Add to that standardized test preparation and it comes as no surprise that 27% of American teens struggle with burnout, according to a recent study by Common Sense Media.
Although an obvious solution is to reduce your responsibilities, you can’t eliminate them all—especially if you want to do well in school and on the SAT. Therefore, the answer is to achieve a healthy balance. Let’s explore the importance of time management and how you can factor SAT prep into your busy high school schedule.
Why balancing test prep with your school schedule is crucial
Successfully balancing SAT preparation with your other responsibilities as a student offers various advantages. Allocating enough time for test prep and schoolwork will help you achieve both excellent test scores and a high grade point average. Studying for one improves your success with the other. For example, focusing on your schoolwork will hone the literacy, numeracy, and writing skills you need to excel on the SAT and vice versa.
While many colleges consider standardized test scores and GPA when deciding who to admit, they also look at your involvement in extracurricular activities. Having high SAT scores, getting good grades, and participating in student organizations and sports are all equally important and can make you a more competitive applicant.
Learning to balance these different tasks will help you develop critical skills like time management, which will serve you well in various aspects of your life. For example, a meta-analysis published by the Public Library of Science found that time management affects job performance, academic achievement, and overall well-being.
Related: How to Get Organized and Manage Your Time as a High School Student
6 tips for balancing SAT prep with a busy schedule
Now that you understand the benefits of maintaining balance as a student, use these six tips to help you prepare for the SAT while juggling academics and other commitments.
1. Set a target test score
You can score anywhere from 400 to 1600 on the SAT, with the average student score being around 1050. Although it’s better to score higher, setting a target score will help you focus your preparation efforts and create a more effective study plan.
Use your previous PSAT scores or take a diagnostic test to set a realistic goal. For instance, if you scored a 1000 on a practice test, aiming for a 1250 on the actual test would be more reasonable than immediately striving for a 1500.
Based on these previous results, you can identify weak areas and decide how much time you need to invest on each test section to achieve your target. For example, PrepScholar provides a set of ranges to help you decide how many hours you should study to improve your score:
- 10 hours for a 0–30-point improvement
- 20 hours for a 30–70-point improvement
- 40 hours for a 70–130-point improvement
- 80 hours for a 130–200-point improvement
- 150+ hours for a 200–330-point improvement
Regardless of your target SAT score, students should spend at least 10 hours on test prep for at least two weeks before the exam to feel properly prepared.
2. Create a study schedule
A study schedule will help you meet your learning goals and ensure you complete your schoolwork and other academic priorities on time. By incorporating SAT prep into this schedule, you’ll be able to dedicate a certain amount of time each day or week to prepare for the exam.
Your schedule should include both blocks of time where you do homework and review class notes as well as SAT study sessions, ensuring you don’t forget these important tasks. Here’s an example of what a study schedule incorporating SAT preparation and schoolwork might look like:
- Monday and Tuesday: SAT preparation 6:00–6:30 am; homework 4:00–5:00 pm; study session 5:30–6:30 pm; SAT preparation 7:30–8:00 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday: SAT preparation 12:00–12:15 pm; homework 4:00–5:00 pm; study session 5:30–6:30 pm; SAT preparation 7:30–8:00 pm
- Friday: Homework 4:00–5:00 pm; SAT preparation 6:00–8:00 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Study session 12:00–2:00 pm; SAT preparation 3:00–4:30 pm; SAT preparation 5:30–6:30 pm; homework 6:30–7:30 pm
Related: Make the Most of Your Time With a Great Study Routine
3. Follow the 10-10-80 Strategy
The Princeton Review’s 10-10-80 Strategy outlines how you should divide your test prep time among various areas. It states that you should spend 10% of your time on self-assessment, 10% of your time on reviewing mistakes, and 80% of your time on targeted practice.
Self-assessment involves completing full practice tests to identify areas of improvement. Then, while reviewing your mistakes, analyze the questions you missed and why you missed them. During targeted practice, focus on improving these weak areas. Following this formula allows you to improve upon your weaknesses and avoid making the same mistakes on the actual exam. You’ll also spend less time on the areas you’ve already mastered, making more efficient use of your study time.
4. Be mindful of leisure time
You likely have some free time throughout the school day you could be using as study time. For instance, your teacher might give you time in class to work on an assignment you’ve already completed, so you could use that time for SAT prep (if your teacher allows it). Or you could study on the bus as you commute to and from school.
Of course, you probably have a lot more leisure time on the weekends. Take advantage of that by devoting a few hours every weekend to preparing for the SAT. You could also swap out some of your more unnecessary leisure activities—e.g., mindless scrolling on your phone—in favor of answering a few SAT practice questions.
Related: 4 Interesting Podcasts to Listen to on Your Study Breaks
5. Use summer break to your advantage
Beyond the free time you have before, during, and after school, you also have three months of summer. Your schedule will likely be less hectic during summer break, allowing you to identify areas of improvement, familiarize yourself with the test layout, and study more.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to improve your SAT score by 130 points—which requires at least 80 hours of total prep time—and you have one month before test day. Here’s an example of what your summer study schedule might look like in the weeks leading up to the exam:
- Monday and Tuesday: SAT preparation 12:00–4:00 pm (8 hours total)
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: SAT preparation 2:00–6:00 pm (12 hours total)
- Saturday and Sunday: Break and relaxation time
- Total prep time: 20 hours each week x 4 weeks = 80 hours
6. Take care of your physical and mental health
Being in good health gives you the energy and focus you need to study effectively and juggle multiple commitments. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep every night and eat a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. According to a study by Springer Nature, academic performance is positively correlated with a good diet and other factors.
You should also exercise regularly, whether that’s taking a jog each morning or practicing yoga multiple times a week. Another study found that 90 minutes of physical activity per week improved academic performance.
Taking care of yourself also includes seeking support when you feel stressed. Simply talking about your feelings to a friend, relative, or professional can go a long way. Stepping away from your SAT practice or schoolwork to explore nature can also give you a much-needed mental break.
Related: How to Make Time for Yourself and Your Hobbies With a Busy School Schedule
You may have a jam-packed schedule as a high school student, but don’t let that prevent you from making time for test prep. By creating a study schedule, following the 10-10-80 Strategy, leveraging your free time, and taking care of yourself, you’ll be able to prepare effectively for the SAT while meeting your other obligations. This balance will not only get you excellent SAT scores but also excellent grades—and it will prove to colleges that you’re the hard-working, well-rounded applicant they’ve been looking for!
The SAT saw some major updates in 2024, including a transition to digital testing. Prepare even more by reading about the biggest changes to the SAT here.
