Most students need 8–12 weeks of preparation for the digital SAT, studying 5–10 hours a week. Start with a diagnostic test, focus on your weakest question types, and finish with timed practice tests.
Before you start
- Take a full practice test in the College Board Bluebook app. It uses the real adaptive format and the built-in Desmos calculator.
- Write down your score and your target score, and list the question types you missed most.
The 8-week plan
Weeks 1–2: Foundations
- Reading and Writing: grammar rules (punctuation, subject–verb agreement, transitions).
- Math: linear equations, systems of equations, percentages and ratios.
- 30–45 minutes a day, untimed, focused on understanding.
Weeks 3–4: Weak spots
- Use your diagnostic results to target the two or three weakest question types.
- Math: quadratics, functions, geometry and trigonometry basics.
- Learn to use Desmos to check answers quickly.
Weeks 5–6: Speed and strategy
- Practise full modules under time limits.
- Reading and Writing: short passages, vocabulary in context, command of evidence.
- Keep an error log: for every mistake, write why you made it.
Week 7: Full practice tests
- Take two full Bluebook practice tests on separate days, timed.
- Review every wrong answer from your error log.
Week 8: Review and rest
- Light review of your error log and formulas.
- No new material in the last two days. Sleep well before test day.
Do you need a tutor?
A tutor helps most when your score has stalled or you are 100+ points from your target. Even a few lessons to fix specific question types can save weeks of self-study. SAT tutors usually charge $98–$238 an hour (median $150).
Find SAT tutors on Ogretmenara.
