Balancing Act: How to Study for the SAT When You Have a Hectic Schedule
The SAT is a high school exam that students all around the world take. The SAT is still essential for college admission, even though several universities have gone test-free. Masterclass Space with the Best SAT Classes in India is frequently asked how to study for the SAT effectively with a busy schedule because the majority of high school students taking the SAT have demanding schedules. This post will provide you with some tips on how to study effectively for the SAT so that you are ready on test day.
1: Make SAT preparation a top priority.
Nonetheless, success on the SAT necessitates a significant amount of study time. To put in those study hours, SAT preparation must be prioritized. Even if you can only study for 30 minutes on certain days, as long as you don't have huge gaps between study sessions, you'll always be progressing.
Make a study calendar if it would help you stay organized. Consider your academic calendar, extracurricular activities, and other commitments when deciding when to study. Then, on hectic days, you can study for the SAT at the Best SAT Coaching in India, during a free period rather than before or after school. The basic objective is to try to study for the SAT every day, but make sure you create a flexible study schedule that works for you!
TIPS: Create a study calendar to help you reach your goal of studying for the SAT every day.
2: Set a realistic SAT timetable.
You'll get off to a good start if you're realistic about how much time you'll need to prepare for the SAT. Remember that having unrealistic expectations will make your preparation feel rushed, which will lead to anxiety. Ideally, you should finish the exam well before the deadline for college applications.
TIPS: Allow yourself enough time to study for the SAT.
3: Make a Study Schedule That Works for You.
High school students have a range of obligations on their everyday schedules. Some students, for example, participate in sports, while others volunteer at community events, and still others work part-time. All of these activities lend themselves to a variety of timetables. So, when it comes to an SAT study routine, you must devise something that works for you.
The schedule should specifically outline the hours you need to study each day. Do you, for example, have the passion and drive to get up early before school and do an hour of SAT prep? Or do you have some free time after school before starting an extracurricular activity? Or do your weekends allow you to conduct the majority of your studying?
Let's have a look at an example weekly study schedule table:
| Day | Study Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. (1 hour) |
| Tuesday | Free time (45 minutes) |
| Wednesday | 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. (1 hour) |
| Thursday | Free time (45 minutes) |
| Friday | 6:00 - 6:30 a.m. (30 minutes) |
| Saturday | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hours) |
| Sunday | 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. (1 hour) |
The study plan shown above is only one example, but as you can see, SAT studying occurs many times throughout the week. The idea is to create a study schedule that matches your lifestyle so that you can fit in your SAT prep.
TIPS: Make a study routine for the SAT that works for you!
4: If necessary, break up your study sessions.
So, in certain cases, breaking up your studying into shorter, more manageable study sessions may be advantageous. Shorter sessions have the advantage of helping you maintain focus and prevent burnout. So, if you only have 20 to 30 minutes to study, do whatever you can in that time range before returning to your SAT materials later in the day. This form of study will still assist you in improving your SAT score.
TIPS: When required, divide your study time into smaller parts.
5: Make use of weekends for extended SAT study sessions.
Although we briefly discussed how the weekend could work into your SAT study schedule, if you have the time, Masterclass Space with the Best SAT Classes in Pune recommends completing lengthier study sessions on Saturday and Sunday. For example, if you have no scheduled activities on some weekends, why not prepare for the SAT for two hours? Yes, we know you have a lot of other things you'd rather be doing, but remember that the more you study now, the sooner you'll reach your SAT score objective.
Weekends are also beneficial because you will most likely have a clearer head, with less school-related stress, allowing you to focus on your SAT preparation.
TIPS: If at all possible, schedule at least one lengthier SAT session on Saturday or Sunday.
6: Study on the way to school.
Use your time wisely if you are driven to school or use the bus. Get out your SAT flashcards or flashcard software and start studying. Remember that you can use flashcards for both the reading and writing sections as well as the maths section. Even better, if you're taking an SAT online course, you may log in and practice a few questions or go over your mistake record.
TIPS: If feasible, spend some time studying on the drive to school.
7: Study in your spare time.
Depending on your schedule, free periods are ideal for SAT preparation. I'm sure you spend some of that time with your friends, but if you can use that time for SAT practice rather than social activities, you'll get to the finish line faster.
However, studying during this period will necessitate some self-control. You'll probably need to go to the library by yourself to avoid distractions. If you can do it with as many free periods as possible, you will make significant progress in your SAT preparation.
TIPS: During your free periods, study for the SAT.
8: Collaborate with a Study Partner or Group.
You must retain high motivation to study for the SAT despite your hectic schedule. This is critical since you don't want hours or days to pass you by because you "just don't feel like studying."
As a result, if you work with a study partner or are part of a study group, you are more likely to stick to your study schedule and make steady progress in your preparation. When studying alone, it is easy to become sidetracked or procrastinate, but having someone to hold you accountable can help you stay motivated and focused.
Aside from focusing and motivating yourself, having a study companion (or numerous partners) can make the task more fun. Studying can be a lonely and tedious experience, but having someone to work with can make it more enjoyable and less stressful. You can also motivate each other, give tips, and even provide emotional support. That way, you can ideally continue to work hard until test day.
TIPS: To stay motivated and on track, work with a study partner or join a study group.
9: Reduce Non-Essential Activities
I'm sorry to report that SAT preparation will take some time from start to finish. To make time for consistent SAT studying, you may need to temporarily minimize the number of "non-essential" activities in your life.
List everything you do over the week to accomplish this. Then arrange those items in descending order of importance. Once you've made your list, cross off the tasks that aren't necessary. This will offer you extra time to study for the SAT!
TIPS: Remove any non-essential activities from your schedule for the time being.
10: Use Organised and Effective Preparation Materials
While we have addressed several useful strategies above, you may struggle to effectively prepare for the SAT if you do not have good study resources. While some students purchase the most recent SAT prep book, we recommend choosing a course that provides a comprehensive and organized SAT study schedule, so you don't have to guess what you should do each time you study. If you're curious about what's available, perform a simple Google search or, better yet, take a look at the Target Test Prep SAT Course.
TIPS: Use SAT prep resources in conjunction with a planned study plan.
How to Manage SAT Preparation and Homework
So, as previously said, you cannot just discontinue your regular academic or extracurricular activities while studying for the SAT. After all, you can't afford to let your high school GPA suffer simply because you're studying for the SAT. As a result, you must strike a healthy balance between homework completion and SAT preparation. This is where your study plan comes into play.
Every day, you must carefully plan your homework and SAT prep schedules. For example, you could prefer to study for the SAT in the mornings or during your free hours, then finish your assignments in the afternoons. Whatever timetable you choose, make sure you arrange it so you know when you'll be studying for the SAT and when you'll be doing your assignments.
