Preparing for the SAT or ACT isn’t just about cramming content—it’s about building a personalized study strategy that aligns with your learning style, goals, and timeline.
At College Benefits Research Group (CBRG), we’ve worked with thousands of students to turn test prep into test success. The difference? A smart, structured study plan built on science-backed learning principles.
Here’s your comprehensive guide to crafting a study schedule that works—and works well.
Step 1: Know Your Test Date—and Work Backward
A strong study plan begins with a clear end goal: your test date. Without knowing when you’ll be sitting down to take the exam, it’s impossible to design an effective timeline. Most students choose a spring or early fall test date in their junior year to allow for potential retakes in senior year.
Start with your chosen exam date and work backward to map out your study timeline. This approach helps prevent last-minute stress and ensures your prep is spaced out for maximum retention.
- Choose a test date that aligns with your college application goals.
- Map out 10 to 16 weeks of preparation time.
- Build in buffer weeks for life interruptions, vacations, or illness.
Building your schedule backwards from your test date creates a roadmap that’s both realistic and goal-driven.
CBRG Tip: Register early to secure your preferred test date and location. Use the Engus portal to track key deadlines and testing milestones.
Step 2: Take a Diagnostic Test
Before diving into content review, students need to understand their starting point. A diagnostic test offers a baseline score and reveals your current strengths and weaknesses across the test’s sections. It’s not just about knowing where you stand—it’s about using that information to customize your study approach.
Diagnostic testing should mimic the real test as closely as possible: same time limits, conditions, and structure. This allows you to gather realistic data about your pacing, stamina, and scoring potential.
- Identify your baseline score.
- Pinpoint weak areas (e.g., reading comprehension, math accuracy, time management).
- Discover which test (SAT or ACT) plays better to your strengths if you’re undecided.
Once you’ve taken the diagnostic, review both your raw scores and the types of questions you missed. Were they careless mistakes? Content gaps? Time pressure?
CBRG Tool: CBRG advisors can guide you in finding reliable, full-length practice exams and diagnostic tools from trusted sources like the College Board and ACT.org. These tools will serve as a starting point for building a customized study plan.
Step 3: Set a Realistic Score Goal
Having a goal score provides direction and motivation. But that goal shouldn’t be arbitrary—it should be informed by the admissions requirements and merit aid benchmarks of your top-choice schools. Many colleges publish the 25th to 75th percentile score ranges of accepted students.
Your goal should stretch you—but also be achievable within your study timeline. Setting the bar too high can lead to frustration, while aiming too low may leave scholarship money on the table.
- Research SAT/ACT score ranges for your target colleges.
- Focus on the 75th percentile range to boost scholarship and admissions odds.
- Be honest about how much time and energy you can commit to prep.
Setting a data-driven target score not only gives your prep purpose but also helps you define success clearly.
CBRG Tip: Use the score data inside your Engus portal to view each school’s admissions and scholarship thresholds, and ask your advisor to help identify target ranges that align with your college goals. Also check out College Scholarships 101 to see how test scores impact aid.
Step 4: Break Down Your Study Schedule
A winning test prep plan isn’t just about how much time you study—it’s about how you structure that time. Consistency over time, with a focus on skill-building and practice, always outperforms cramming.
Instead of marathon weekend sessions, spread your study time across the week. Use recurring blocks of time and assign specific goals to each session.
- Aim for 2–4 hours of prep per week over 12–16 weeks.
- Create a weekly structure that rotates between review, drills, and full-length practice.
- Use short, focused study sessions (30–45 minutes) with breaks in between.
This structure minimizes burnout and supports long-term retention. You’ll also build the stamina needed for 3+ hours of test-day focus.
Example Weekly Structure:
- 1–2 days: Content review (math, grammar, reading strategies)
- 1 day: Practice section drills
- 1 day: Full timed section or mini-test
CBRG Tip: Use study planning resources to organize your calendar, log study sessions, and track prep milestones.
Step 5: Focus on Weak Areas First
One of the biggest mistakes students make is spending too much time reviewing topics they already know. To maximize gains, prioritize your weakest areas early in your schedule.
Your diagnostic results will guide this process. Revisit missed questions, group them by concept, and spend your first few weeks attacking those topics head-on. Strengthening your weakest links can lead to the fastest score jumps.
- Re-learn content you misunderstood or never mastered.
- Do timed drills in your weakest sections.
- Review strategies for accuracy and pacing.
Don’t just memorize—you want to understand why you’re missing certain question types.
CBRG Strategy: Work with your CBRG advisor to target your weakest areas and update your study plan as you improve.
Step 6: Leverage Study Science
The best test-takers don’t just study harder—they study smarter. By integrating cognitive science techniques into your prep, you can retain more information in less time.
Learning science shows that active, varied study habits outperform passive reading or simple repetition. These methods will help you strengthen recall, improve flexibility, and reduce anxiety.
- Spaced Repetition: Review material at increasing intervals (Day 1, Day 3, Day 7…)
- Active Recall: Quiz yourself regularly and explain concepts aloud.
- Interleaving: Mix practice across multiple topics to boost adaptability.
These techniques improve memory retention and test-day performance.
CBRG Tip: Use flashcards, video walkthroughs, and CBRG’s recommended tools to implement these strategies. Our advisors can also help you build a brain-based prep schedule.
Step 7: Simulate Real Testing Conditions
Nothing prepares you for test day like practice that feels like the real thing. Simulating the exam builds test-day stamina, identifies timing issues, and reveals how nerves might affect your performance.
Start adding full-length, timed exams into your schedule at least once every 2–3 weeks as you progress. Treat these as rehearsals—down to the pencils, calculator, and snack breaks.
- Practice in a quiet, distraction-free setting.
- Time each section exactly as the real test.
- Use official bubble sheets if taking a paper-based exam.
By recreating the full test experience, you’ll reduce surprises and increase confidence.
CBRG Tip: Ask your CBRG advisor for recommendations on official practice exams from the College Board and ACT.org and guidance on how to simulate the full experience at home.
Step 8: Track Your Progress
Tracking isn’t just about scores—it’s about learning. Every practice test and section drill offers valuable data you can use to adjust your strategy.
Analyze not only what you got wrong, but why. Were you rushing? Misreading? Lacking content knowledge? This reflection is what turns practice into progress.
- Keep a score log by section and test date.
- Note patterns in missed questions.
- Set mini-goals and track how close you’re getting to your target score.
Measuring your growth provides motivation and insight—and allows you to course-correct early.
CBRG Tool: While Engus helps track academic planning milestones, use additional tools or spreadsheets to monitor your test prep metrics. Your CBRG advisor can help you review and interpret your data.
Step 9: Reinforce Test-Day Readiness
As your test date approaches, it’s time to shift your focus from learning new content to fine-tuning performance. The last 2–3 weeks should include more full-length tests, deeper review of past mistakes, and pacing strategies.
This is also when logistical preparation matters: knowing what to bring, what to wear, when to arrive, and how to stay calm.
- Revisit test-day checklists.
- Review scoring strategies and guessing policies.
- Practice calming techniques for managing nerves.
Leave nothing to chance. A confident test-taker is a prepared test-taker.
Test Day Kit:
- 2 pencils and approved calculator
- Water and light snack
- Photo ID and printed test ticket
CBRG Tip: Use a test-day checklist and review logistics with your advisor to ensure you’re fully ready.
Bonus: Optimize Your Mind and Body
Your mental and physical health directly impacts how well you perform. In the final weeks of prep, what you eat, how you sleep, and how you manage stress matter just as much as content review.
Many students underestimate how cognitive energy, nutrition, and rest affect test-day focus. Treat your brain like a high-performance machine—it needs fuel, rest, and recovery.
- Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours nightly, especially the week before the test.
- Nutrition: Eat a high-protein, high-fiber breakfast the morning of your exam.
- Stress Management: Write down worries ahead of time, visualize success, and use breathing techniques.
CBRG Tip: Avoid all-nighters. Sleep enhances memory consolidation and reaction time. Review light material the night before, then rest.
A Schedule Is a Strategy
Test prep success is less about natural talent and more about consistency and customization. With CBRG’s tools, advisors, and time-tested strategies, you’ll walk into test day confident and ready.