Hi everyone, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with deciding on which test dates I should sign up for the SAT/ACT. I'm a junior and I want to make sure I have enough time to prep and possibly retake if needed. Should I consider my school's exam schedule, the college application deadlines, or are there other factors I'm missing? Thanks for the help!
Hi there! It's certainly important to strategize about test dates. Always start by considering your academic year and when you'll have the bandwidth to study. Ideally, you should pick a date that allows you ample time to prepare without clashing with major school exams or activities. For most students, that might be at the end of junior year or during the summer before senior year.
Remember that you'll also need to account for the possibility of a retake, so look at test dates that are at least two months apart to give yourself time to improve if needed. College application deadlines typically fall in early January for regular decision, so try to have all your testing done by December of your senior year. That way, you're not rushing or waiting anxiously for scores while finalizing applications.
Lastly, check when your schools release their final exam schedules and plan to avoid those heavy academic periods. Good luck with your preparation!
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