Some say a weekend is enough to prep; others think it takes a lifetime. The truth lies somewhere in between, and it depends on your goals and schedule. If you’re busy but aiming high, think Ivy League, you’ll likely need to study all summer, maybe longer if your practice scores don’t improve as expected. If your target is a solid in-state school, a focused month of prep might be enough.
Avoid trying to cram everything into just one weekend. While a month of consistent study can boost your score significantly, a weekend won’t move the needle much, especially if it means pulling all-nighters, which usually backfire.
On the other hand, don’t spend years going to SAT prep sessions every weekend. Colleges want well-rounded applicants, so balance is key. Most students don’t fall into this category, but if you’re a high achiever, keep this caution in mind.
Ultimately, how long you study depends on your current SAT score and the scores required by your target schools. Once you know where you stand and where you want to go, you can create a realistic study plan.
The 70 to 150 Point Plan: One Month of Study
Life gets busy, and you can’t devote all your time to SAT prep. But if you commit to a focused month, with consistent effort and the guidance of a good teacher, you can realistically expect to boost your score by 30 to 70 points in both Math and Reading/Writing. That adds up to an overall improvement of around 70 to 150 points.
The 150 to 250 Point Boost: Three Months (One Summer)
With the right study materials and a skilled teacher, a summer of focused prep can help you increase your SAT score by up to 250 points, assuming your starting score is below 1350. This plan requires taking full practice tests weekly and reviewing your results closely with a tutor who can pinpoint your weaknesses.
If you don’t have access to a tutor, you can still achieve this improvement. It just means staying disciplined, carefully analyzing your mistakes, and adjusting your study approach on your own.
The 250 to 350 Point Club
First, know that boosting your score by this much is achievable. However, the higher your starting score, the harder it is to make large jumps. For example, if you’re already near 1400, increasing by 300 points isn’t realistic.
But if your score falls between 900 and 1200, a 300-point jump is possible, with consistent effort and time. You’ll need to sharpen your reading skills, master math concepts, and tighten your grammar, or at least develop that mindset. These are all skills you can learn with the right materials and support.
This kind of improvement usually takes more than one summer. You might find yourself dedicating two summers in a row, especially if you’re between your sophomore and junior years. With commitment and a solid plan, reaching this goal is within your grasp.
The 1350+ Plan
If you’re starting with a 1350 or 1400 score, boosting your score by 100 points or more will be challenging. You’re likely already a strong test-taker, so you may only need about six weeks, but those weeks have to be intense. Expect to spend a lot of time working through tough math problems and dissecting reading passages.
Taking multiple full-length practice tests each week with a skilled SAT tutor will likely be essential. With focused effort and the right guidance over a summer, reaching the 1500-point mark is achievable.