5 Reasons to Start SAT or ACT Prep During the Summer Before Junior Year

High school students hear a lot of advice. Some of it is helpful. Some of it is well-meaning but misinformed. One piece we hear far too often—from guidance counselors, no less—is this: “Start preparing for the SAT or ACT during the fall of junior year, and test in the spring.” To be blunt, this advice is wildly bad, and in many cases, costly in multiple ways. In this article, we’ll break down why you shouldn’t take SAT advice from your guidance counselor—and 5 reasons to start SAT or ACT prep during the summer before junior year.

The Flawed “Wait Until Junior Year” Approach

Many guidance counselors follow a traditional timeline: students take the PSAT in the fall of junior year, prep for the SAT or ACT during the late fall and winter, and test sometime in the spring, with time remaining for a retake in the fall of senior year. In theory, it sounds nice.

In practice? It’s awful for students, and demonstrates a complete ignorance of their high school workload.

Here’s why starting SAT or ACT prep early—during the summer before junior year, or even towards the end of sophomore year—is a much better strategy:

1. You Already Know the Content: No Need to Wait Until Junior Year

Practically all content on the SAT and ACT is usually covered in school by the end of 10th grade. Students don’t need to wait until junior year to begin mastering it. Plus, a competent test prep company will fill in any knowledge gaps more clearly, more effectively, and more strategically than they’re taught in school.

2. Junior Year Is Already Overloaded

The #1 reason to not wait until junior year to start SAT or ACT prep is that it’s already the heaviest, most stressful academic year for most students. On top of schoolwork and AP classes, there are extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and college planning that all collide. The last thing students need is a standardized test hanging over their heads like a dark cloud all throughout the school year, dramatically increasing pressure—and performance typically suffers under pressure.

Get it done early. The summer before junior year, when students have no schoolwork and are sitting around playing video games and throwing spit wads at each other, is the perfect time to get as much SAT or ACT prep out of the way as possible.

3. Avoid College Application Deadlines

Time is needed to build fluency in and mastery of a standardized test’s material, so preparing for one can be stressful enough without having to worry about application deadlines. They are completely removed from the picture by starting early, and having plenty of extra time allows for retesting if necessary. There’s less pressure. Fewer time constraints. More opportunities to review, refine, and retest—without racing the clock.

4. Success in School

An overloaded schedule causes harm both ways—not only can SAT or ACT prep suffer, but so can grades and extracurricular involvement. By doing the lion’s share of prep before junior year even starts, students have time to focus on classes, applications, sports, clubs, and hobbies—all of which are healthy outlets.

5. Free Time to Be a Kid

At The Best Test Prep, we love how our students are done with the SAT and ACT while their friends are still worried and stressing about them. Often overlooked is that by getting their test out of the way early, students free up their junior and senior years for not only good grades, but also hanging out with friends, making memories, enjoying activities, and having fun. High morale leads to success in other areas, and is invaluable for its own sake as well.

The Risks of Taking SAT Advice from Your Guidance Counselor

Guidance counselors are tasked with overseeing course selection, academic support, emotional well-being, college recommendations, and more—for hundreds of students at once. Test prep is not their specialty.

An SAT or ACT score is a major part of any admissions and scholarship application. Relying on casual advice—or generalized school timelines—can cause problems later on. Seek professional, individualized planning from the start.

The Takeaway: Don’t Follow the Crowd

If you’re serious about competitive college admissions, don’t wait until your counselor says it’s time. Don’t cram the SAT or ACT into an already-packed junior year, and definitely don’t rely on school timelines to guide something as critical as your future.

The Best Test Prep

At The Best Test Prep, we hire only full-time, experienced instructors. We eat and breathe standardized test prep, all day every day—no part-timers, no recent grads, and no amateurs. Our serious approach is based on decades of success with thousands of students, taking bright, motivated students and transforming them into professional test-takers.

We start early—because excellence doesn’t happen at the last minute.

Call (844) 672-PREP to start your test prep this summer—before the panic begins.

FAQs: What Students and Parents Ask Most

Q: Why should I start SAT or ACT prep early?
A: Starting early means you can get your test out of the way before junior year becomes overwhelming. It frees up time for higher-level coursework, extracurriculars, and a stronger college application—while reducing stress along the way.

Q: How often should I be prepping?
A: We recommend a consistent, structured schedule that balances progress and retention without burnout. Your plan will be customized to fit your academic calendar and goals.

Q: Will I still have time for sports, clubs, or a social life?
A: Absolutely. Our method is designed for high-achieving students with busy lives. You’ll stay on track without sacrificing the parts of high school that matter most.

Q: What does a typical prep session cover?
A: Each session is focused on what will move your score. That includes high-impact concepts, efficient strategies, and test-day performance mechanics—calibrated to your individual needs.