SAT Preparation Time: How Long Should You Study for the SAT?

SAT Preparation Time totally depends on the weakness and strengths of different subjects. If the test-taker scores well in the diagnostic test then they will require lesser time compared to the one who scores less. For a beginner, not knowing the answer to ‘how long should I study for the SAT?’ is a common question. To know the actual SAT preparation time, candidates are required to make a study plan.

How to Start Studying for the SAT?

Before starting with SAT preparation, candidates have to find a suitable study approach. They will be required to understand their method of studying, know their target SAT score, SAT preparation materials, and also hours of study they can devote. The answer to ‘how long should you study for the SAT?’, according to experts, is around 3 months. In these three months, candidates will be able to learn the approaches, SAT exam pattern, score, and also tips and strategies. They will also be able to know the number of SAT full-length practice tests they should take.

Factors to Consider about SAT Preparation Time

Occupations apart from school schedule: If you are involved in any extracurricular activities, you may need to allocate your studying time either before or after that. If you find studying at night peaceful then set that time. If not, set the weekends as your SAT preparation time.
Your selected schools: Study the SAT cutoff of the schools you’ve selected. If you have selected top universities like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, UCB, then you have to aim for SAT scores as high as 700+. In this case, the answer to your question of ‘how long to prepare for SAT?’ may include increased hours as the score requirement is very high.
Are you planning to apply for a scholarship?: The SAT score required for SAT scholarship is quite high. If you’re planning to apply for SAT scholarship then you might have to score higher than even the average SAT cut-offs. The SAT scholarship score requirement rises up to 1500, therefore, requiring more SAT preparation time.
Note the difference between the initial score and target score: Before beginning your SAT preparation, take a diagnostic test and note the score that you receive. If there is a huge difference between your obtained score and target score then the SAT preparation time required will be more. Below is a list containing the hours of study and SAT preparation time:

Score Difference	Hours of Study Required
Increase score by 30 points	10 hours
Increase score by 30 - 70 points	20 hours
Increase score by 70 - 130	40 hours
Increase score by 130 - 200 points	80 hours
Increase score by 200 - 330 points	150 hours+

Once you consider all these factors, that will be the best time to take SAT prep course.

Is One Month Enough to Study for SAT?

It may happen that the SAT test date is just a month away and you didn’t begin your preparation. Though the answer to ‘Is 1 month enough to study for SAT?’ is no, a strategic SAT preparation plan will help students prepare for the exam. If you require a score improvement of up to 100 points then studying for a month will help you with the target SAT score. Below are a few steps that will help candidates prepare for SAT in a month:

Also, check3 Month SAT Study Plan

Setting the hours of study: Start by finding the difference between your initial and target SAT scores. According to the difference, below are three suggestions of SAT preparation time:

Points to be increased	Total SAT Preparation Time	Schedules
30 points increase	Total 10 hours of SAT preparation time	2 hours 30 minutes – once a week
		1 hour 15 minutes – twice a week
		30 minutes – 5 times a week
30 – 70 points increase	Total 20 hours of SAT preparation time	2 hours 30 minutes – twice a week
		1 hour – 15 minutes – 4 times a week
		1 hour – 5 times a week
70 – 130 points increase	Minimum SAT preparation time of 40 hours	3 hours and 20 minutes – thrice a week
		2 hours and 30 minutes – 4 times a week
		2 hours – 5 times a week
130 – 200 points increase	Minimum SAT preparation time of 80 hours	5 hours – 4 times a week
		4 hours – 5 times a week
		3 hours and 20 minutes – 6 times a week

Buy Proper SAT Preparation Materials: Candidates questioning how to prepare for SAT in one month are required to purchase the best SAT preparation books. Only authentic SAT preparation books can help candidates prepare for SAT in a month. Below are some of the best SAT preparation books:

The College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide(2006) -Check PDF
Barron’s SAT, 29th Edition -Check PDF
Kalli’s SAT Pattern Strategy -Check PDF
Kaplan SAT Prep Plus 2021-Check PDF
The Princeton Review's Cracking the SAT, 2020 Edition -Check PDF
McGraw Hill Education SAT Elite 2021 Edition -Check PDF

Know SAT Exam Pattern: Spend time knowing the SAT exam pattern and format, scoring method, number of questions, penalty, the difficulty level of questions, and sources.

SAT Practice Paper: Nothing is better than practicing from SAT practice papers on a constant basis. Experts recommended practicing from sample questions to measure the progress. Constant practicing also helps in tracking the mistakes and finding solutions to them.

Focus on Fundamental Math Topics: Learning the basic SAT Math topics like algebra, problem-solving, and data analysis, and advanced math is necessary. Along with it, also focus on the fundamentals like linear functions, single-variable equations, systems of linear equations for algebra, quadratic equations, and nonlinear functions, graphic functions for advanced math, and statistics, ratio and proportion, and graphs for the problem-solving part.

Focus on Fundamentals of Grammar: Like SAT Math, also focus on the basics of SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing like punctuation and grammar. It includes topics like apostrophes, commas, modifiers, subject-verb agreement, homophones, and more.

Is 2 Months Enough to Study for the SAT?

Two months is considered a proper SAT preparation time. Below is a sample 2 month SAT study schedule to help candidates with their preparation:

Weeks	SAT Math	SAT EBRW
Week 1	Start with SAT Math lessons Watch videos on algebra, inequalities, equations Practice at least 20 sums	Start with SAT Reading lessons Watch writing videos Solve one reading passage Solve one writing passage
Week 2	Start with advanced Math Watch trigonometry lessons Practice 10 Math questions	Practice sample questions Practice one reading and writing passage
Week 3	Practice from College Board’s full-length practice test
Week 4	Learn geometry Learn word problems Watch coordinate geometry videos Solve 15 math questions	Read passages
Week 5	Solve a College Board Practice Test and watch coordinate geometry videos
Week 6	Finish geometry topics Solve 15 math practice questions	Solve 22 writing questions Solve 24 reading questions
Week 7	Solve a College Board Practice Test Finish coordinate geometry Complete statistics Read
Week 8	Solve College Board Full-length practice test Last-minute revision of all topics

The decision of ‘how long should I study for SAT everyday?’ depends on the SAT study plan of the candidate. If the candidate needs to improve the score by 100 or more points then they need to study for more than a month at least.

SAT 2024 : 5 Answered QuestionsView All

• Top Answer By Radhika Srivastava on 19-Jan-2023

Ans. People with scores of 1500 or higher often aim for the IIM Ranchi IPM program. With a score of 1160, you may not be in a strong position to get a call from IIM Ranchi, but if you have strong extracurricular activities and good academic performance in the past (e.g. in 10th and 12th grade), you may still have a chance. If you do not receive a call from IIM Ranchi, you can still try for the IIM Indore IPM-AT program. You must keep in mind that IIM Ranchi may also consider applicants for the IIM Indore IPM-AT program. It's worth giving it your best effort. Read more

1 Answer

• Top Answer By Yashluv Virwani on 19-Jan-2023

Ans. IIM Ranchi has not disclosed a specific cutoff score for the SAT for admission to their Integrated Program in Management (IPM) program. However, according to an interview with the IIM Ranchi IPM admission panel, students who score highly on the SAT may be invited to participate in a personal interview. It is worth noting that this information is based on assumptions and research, and a score of 1400+ on the SAT may be considered a safe bet for admission consideration. However, it is also possible that a score of 1350+ could be sufficient if luck is on your side. Read more

1 Answer

• Top Answer By Juhi Gupta on 12-Jan-2023

Ans. I am willing to give you my honest opinion in this regard. Your score is good but not at par with the competition posed during IPM admissions. I have seen scores higher than this while attempting to get admission to the IPM program. But don’t let this discourage you as Indore also conducts an aptitude test IPMAT and admission is based on that too. You can work on this exam and compensate for your past low scores. Another option to compensate for your low marks is to upgrade your extracurricular background. IIM Indore actively considered extracurricular activities during admissions. But in the end I will still ask you to depend on IPMAT mostly for your admission Read more

1 Answer

• Top Answer By Ankur Shukla on 12-Jan-2023

Ans. IIM Ranchi offers an IPM Program based on SAT / IPMAT Scores. The Expected Cutoff for IPM via SAT is 930. Apart from this, we don’t have many criteria to base this admission on. So the benefit of the doubt goes to applicants having SAT scores soaring at about 1100–1600. The admission criteria for other programs are more flexible as it is based on parameters such as 10,12, UG scorecards. So it’s highly unlikely that even high marks will get you into IIM Ranchi. Read more

1 Answer

• Top Answer By Saurav Pandey on 11-Jan-2023

Ans. The admissions to the IPM Program are based on SAT / IPMAT Scores. The Expected Cutoff for IPM via IPMAT is 265 / 300. SAT Expected Cutoff for IPM Admission 2023 is as follows: Category SAT Cutoff General 1350 Other Backward Classes (OBC) 1050 Emotionally Weaker Sections (EWS) 1030 Scheduled Caste (SC) 930 Scheduled Tribes (ST) 930 Differently Abled (DAP) 800 Read more

1 Answer

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College

Table of Contents

SAT Preparation Time: How Long Should You Study for the SAT?

How to Start Studying for the SAT?

Factors to Consider about SAT Preparation Time

Is One Month Enough to Study for SAT?

Is 2 Months Enough to Study for the SAT?

SAT 2024 : 5 Answered QuestionsView All

upcoming exams

Universities/Colleges Accepting SAT

You can also check

Comments

Comments

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Table of Contents

SAT Preparation Time: How Long Should You Study for the SAT?

How to Start Studying for the SAT?

Factors to Consider about SAT Preparation Time

Is One Month Enough to Study for SAT?

Is 2 Months Enough to Study for the SAT?

SAT 2024 : 5 Answered QuestionsView All

upcoming exams

Universities/Colleges Accepting SAT

You can also check

Comments

Comments

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