Happy summer break, Magooshers! Whether you’re working at a summer job, going on a family vacation, or simply lounging by the pool, summer can seem to go by in a flash. I bet with all that’s going on, squeezing in time to study for the SAT seems all but impossible.
Never fear! Mr. B is here with some tips for managing your SAT study time. Over the next few paragraphs, I’ll impart some of my best wisdom so that you can succeed on test day. And yes, you will still have plenty of time to work on your tan and/or flip burgers at your job.
SAT Study Time: Crunching the Numbers
First of all, before you figure out how much time to study for the SAT, you need to crunch the numbers on how much time you need for your other obligations. Work 9-5 Monday through Friday? That time is gone. Going away on a family trip for a week? That time is gone. You may have a lot of obligations, and that’s okay. That’s life. You’re actually doing a lot of growing up by making time to study for the SAT.
Okay, once you have your obligations mapped out (don’t forget to sleep), take a look at your remaining hours. If you can carve out a little time each day, that’s great. Only a few times a week? That’s cool, too. To get the most out of each study session, I recommend at least 45 minutes per session, and that each session happens during the same time of day.
Why the same time of day? Glad you asked. Just like brushing your teeth after breakfast and dinner, committing the same time each day or each few days to a task will make it more routine, and integrate it more easily into your schedule.
Other Tips for Managing Your SAT Study Time
Scheduling is great, but as a former teacher, I can tell you from years of experience that unforeseen circumstances tend to get in the way of our best laid plans. Getting sick or having extra chores to do are just two of a million things that can get in the way of your SAT study schedule.
First of all, if you should miss a session or two, don’t beat yourself up about it. That’s life. Just use your next study session to its fullest. What you can control, though, is delaying gratification until you’re done studying. Summer, and just about all of life, has lots of little distractions whether they be video games, texting, television, or simply the nice weather right outside your window. Just because you’re studying for an hour doesn’t mean you won’t get to have fun, it’s just that fun will have to wait.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to manage your SAT study time will teach you some important skills that will help you for the rest of your life. If you need a little extra help with your study schedule, be sure to check out SAT Study Schedules. Don’t forget, though, that summer break is meant for a little R&R. Soak up those rays, set off those fireworks, and go have fun!
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