Why Summer is the Best Time for SAT Prep/ACT Prep
By Huntington Learning Center
Today’s high school students are busier than ever. Most juggle studying and homework with many other things: sports practices and games, club meetings and competitions, volunteer work, part-time jobs, and much more.
Sound familiar? If your high schooler has a full schedule of school and extracurricular activities, it might seem impossible to make time for SAT prep or ACT prep. They need to, however. SAT and ACT scores are an important part of the college admissions process, especially as some colleges and universities are transitioning back from test-optional admissions policies to requiring SAT/ACT scores for future admissions cycles.
For active high school students with college aspirations, summer test prep with Huntington is the answer. It’s much more feasible than fitting test prep into a student’s already-packed schedule during the school year. Here are a few of the other big reasons to enroll your student in an SAT prep or ACT prep program this summer:
Your student will be able to focus. Summer break is the one time of year that your student can dedicate themself fully to SAT/ACT prep and not have to worry about the academic workload they face during the school year. They’ll have more flexibility during the summer and can keep a consistent tutoring schedule and work at their own pace.
Rising seniors can raise their SAT or ACT score. If your student is headed into senior year (12th grade) and isn’t happy with their SAT/ACT scores, they can prep this summer and retest one more time. The fall will be filled with preparations to submit college applications, including finalizing essays, filling out the Common App, asking teachers for letters of recommendation and more so summer provides a good opportunity to prep with the goal of increasing their score.
Here are the upcoming SAT and ACT test dates for the remainder of 2024:
Junior (11th grade) year is the most important year. The summer before junior year is when your student should step up their efforts towards their college goals, and that begins with a test prep program. Students will visit colleges and universities, explore majors, scholarship opportunities and more. Starting a summer test prep program not only helps your student Reinforce key skills and build test taking skills, but also helps them avoid summer learning loss. It is important that students in 11th. grade keep their GPA and grades high since colleges will review them during the admissions process. Staying in the academic mindset during the summer with test prep program gives your student a head start when they head back to school.
Getting ahead of college-related tasks relieves stress. If your rising junior (11th grader) will take any Advanced Placement (AP) classes this year, the spring leading up to AP exams and end-of-year finals leaves little room for SAT prep or ACT prep along with their other activities. Fall of junior year is optimal for taking the SAT/ACT for the first time, and summer test prep will help your student get ready. Best case scenario: your student earns their target score on their first exam sitting. However, if they don’t, they still have plenty of time to prep and try again without the immediate pressure of college application deadlines.
Boost Your Student’s SAT/ACT Scores with Help from Huntington
Summer is the best time of the year for your high school student to prep for the SAT or ACT. They’ll have the time and energy to focus on these important college entrance exams—and the effort will be well worth it. Strong SAT or ACT scores can help your student gain admission into the college of their dreams and open the door for scholarship opportunities. Test scores strengthen your student’s college resume by providing a standardized measure of their academic ability and proof that they are ready to succeed in college.
Huntington can help your student earn their highest possible score on the SAT or ACT. Our programs are individualized to each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and every student receives customized instruction built around their needs and goals. Your student will learn essential test-taking strategies and time management skills—plus details about the format, structure and scoring of the exam they take.
Our summer tutoring programs are highly effective but don’t take our word for it. Here are a few comments from happy parents about the difference that Huntington’s SAT prep and ACT prep programs made for their students:
“Personalized, friendly and competent tutors. Our son did eight weeks of tutoring and his SAT score went up by 180 points. I would highly recommend Huntington!” – David W., Parent
“Huntington did an amazing job for our daughter. They helped her bring her ACT score up from a 25 to a 32!” – Margaret M., Parent
“After going to Huntington all summer for SAT prep, my son took the SAT in October, and his score went up nearly 300 points from the PSAT the previous October. This program works and is worth the money!” – Karen H., Parent
Help your student make the most of this summer by enrolling them in an individualized test prep program. Call Huntington today at 1-800 CAN LEARN. Most centers have extended summer hours to work around your busy schedule, and tutoring is available in-center and online.
