Early Start SAT and ACT Prep Programs

Introduction

Many high school students begin preparing for the SAT or ACT in their junior year of high school or the summer before their junior year. With difficult junior year classes and the pressure to get good grades, the pressure to perform well on standardized tests can be overwhelming. The longer you wait to start preparing for the tests, the higher the stakes for each test you take.

But what if students started preparing years in advance?

Early start SAT/ACT prep programs are designed to introduce foundational skills starting in 8th or 9th grade, well before formal test prep begins. These programs focus on strengthening essential math, grammar, and reading comprehension skills—key components of both the ACT and SAT. By gradually building knowledge and confidence over time, students are better equipped to handle the demands of standardized testing when they reach 11th grade.

This long-term approach not only leads to higher test scores but also fosters better overall academic performance. Since standardized tests ultimately assess a student’s fundamental skills, reinforcing core concepts early can make a significant difference. In this blog, we’ll explore why starting early is beneficial, what these programs typically include, and how students can make the most of them.

Why Start Early?

There are multiple benefits of early start programs. The first is building strong foundations early. When we start test prep with juniors, we find that most of them lack an understanding of fundamental punctuation rules. We also find that many students are missing foundational math skills from a challenging year of math in school. Early start programs prioritize developing fundamental math, grammar, and reading skills early, which aids students both in their classes and on standardized tests later on.

Additionally, this strong foundation, combined with a longer period of exposure to the exams, can help reduce test anxiety and avoid last-minute cramming. Students that struggle with testing anxiety can benefit from familiarity with the test, practice using testing strategies, and confidence in their fundamental skills. Early start test prep programs also provide extra time for students to learn concepts, avoiding the feeling of last-minute cramming and the stress of needing to understand something quickly.

What Does an Early Start Test Prep Program Look Like?

While early start programs will vary in structure for each student, the following is a general outline of a standard program.

8th & 9th Grade: Laying the Groundwork

During 8th and 9th grade, we focus on strengthening core math, grammar, and reading skills, as well as building out students’ vocabulary. We may start with a practice test or diagnostic to identify strengths and weaknesses to focus on. We use a variety of sources to work on core math skills (algebra, fractions, problem-solving), grammar rules, and reading comprehension. This may include picking books from reading lists, vocabulary exercises, and writing practice. 

• Diagnostic exams
• Math content learning
• Grammar rules learning
• Reading books
• Exploring vocabulary 

10th Grade: Transitioning to Test-Specific Skills

As students learn more advanced topics in school, we also progress to translating those topics to concepts on the SAT/ACT. We also start focusing more on test-specific strategies and question types. We may take some low-stakes practice tests to assess progress. At the end of the year, students will be ready for the Practice Test Program to determine whether they should take the SAT or ACT. 

• Practice exams
• Test-taking strategies
• Working on test timing 
• Continuing to work on vocabulary and reading skills

11th Grade: Full Test Prep Mode

In 11th grade, students will be ready to transition to a traditional test prep program, but having started early, they will already be ahead on the first several weeks of fundamentals. Students will jump into taking practice tests, practicing applying their knowledge and skills, and working on advanced questions. Students will also refine their test timing strategies and endurance. 

• Decide between SAT and ACT
• Learn the test format
• Take full-length practice and analyze performance
• Practice timing strategies
• Build up testing endurance

Who Benefits from an Early Start Program?

Many types of students may benefit from early start programs. Here are a few examples of students who may prefer early start programs:

• Students who struggle with math or reading
• Students aiming for top-tier colleges
• Neurodivergent students or students with learning differences

• Students that require longer periods of repetition to retain information
• Busy students who want to spread out of test prep rather than cram it in between all of their junior year activities

Final Thoughts: Is Early Prep Worth It?

Overall, early start test prep programs provide students with the opportunity to earn higher scores and reduce stress around the SAT or ACT. These programs can be particularly beneficial for students with lofty goals and students who do better with a longer, low-stress learning style. Mindfish has seen great success with a variety of students through our early start test prep programs. 

If you want to discuss early start programs further, please reach out to Hailey (hailey@mindfish.com) to learn more and see if this type of program is right for your student!