Listen: I get why you want to cram.
Many of the Juniors and Seniors among you will be taking the SAT in a little over a week. For some of you, this will be your very first attempt at the test. Other readers will be taking the ACT slightly later in September.
As a test prep tutor with over sixteen years of experience, I’ve seen hundreds of students go through this part of the process—and I know the stakes are high. I know you can sometimes feel the cortisol coursing through your arms and legs, or sense your stomach tying itself into a giant knot of dread.
In other words, the pressure is starting to build up. It’s like when you’re cooking a pot of spaghetti and you see those little bubbles starting to pick up speed—right before they boil over. Eep! Time to do everything in your power to stop the pot from boiling…i.e. cram….right??
But I’m here to tell you that this boil-boil-toil-and-trouble system for studying for the SAT or ACT doesn’t need to apply to you.
This post will help you be strategic about however much time you have left before your test. Whether that amount of time is just a week or several months, you’ll leave this article knowing whether, and how much, it makes sense to cram new info into your head.
Watch this article as a video:
To return to our opening analogy, students (who haven’t met with me yet!) often react to the pressureful process of test prep like this:
Step 1—tiny bubbles: Huh, my homework load is pretty easy right now. I also don’t have many school exams coming down the pike yet, and my SAT feels like it’s eons away. Maybe I’ll chill for now and kinda phone in that problem set my standardized testing tutor gave me on functions. I can always come back to it later, when I really need to know it.
Step 2—boiling water spilling all over your stove: AHHH! The test is NEXT SATURDAY, and I still have ten topics left to learn! Well…I guess I’ll just have to CRAM!
Now tell me: can you guess why this plan is probably not a recipe for success (or for very good spaghetti)?
Never fear. I’ve got a MUCH better strategy for how to use your precious time the week before the Big Test.
1) Is it possible to cram for standardized tests?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these are the facts, from someone who’s spent the better part of two decades teaching standardized tests: one week before a test, you basically know what you’re going to know come test day….and likely won’t retain much new information you introduce in this final stretch.
That’s because research has shown that it takes SIX repetitions of learning/practicing new content—whether that content is a rule, a formula, or a fact—before your brain really retains it. That means that seven days is NOT enough time to commit a significant amount of brand-new information to memory.
(Also, please don’t go bananas and take six practice tests the week before the test. That won’t help your retention, either—you’ll just burn yourself out!)
2) The best way to use the last week before the SAT or ACT instead
Instead of introducing completely new stuff in the seven days before the test, it’ll pay off way more to cement your recall of old content you’ve already learned once—but occasionally struggle with implementing.
What I’m referring to here is the content that you sort of know. As in, you’ve definitely reviewed that fact, or genre of question, before—and practiced it before. However, you sometimes flub it when you take relevant problem sets or practice tests. Your brain has seen this information 3-4 times already, and so would only need a little refresh to really get it, deep down—and grab those crucial extra points come test day.
You might be wondering what the most efficient way to do this is. Well, fortunately I wrote a whole article on just that—my extremely effective “Things to Remember” List hack! Check out that blog post: it’s designed specifically to help you improve in areas where you have some of the content down pat, but still have some weak spots.
3) Right before the ACT & SAT: invest in staying calm.
So in the next week you’ll be collecting and committing to understanding those half-known facts and formulas. But I’d also like you to commit to taking care of yourself! Though I ALSO happen be a big advocate of self-care as a broader principle for a healthy life, step 3 is not just a kind thing to do for yourself: it’s a kind thing to do for your score.
Follow these steps the week before your test and you’ll see a very material, very positive outcome for your brain, body—and SAT or ACT result. Really.
That means:
Stable, generous sleep (7-8 hours!) every night.
Eating regularly and nutritiously.
Getting as much of your homework and school projects done Monday or Tuesday as possible (ideally, all of it!). That way, you won’t have to pull any all-nighters later in the week (which could throw your biorhythms off when it comes to Saturday/test day).
NO staying up late on Friday, whether it’s to hang with friends or to binge-watch Real Housewives in your bed. You can have fun on Saturday afternoon, after your test.
Packing your backpack the night before the test with the 7-9 items you should bring with you to the SAT or ACT.
Using your “Things to Remember” List as your study guide to drill every day or evening this week.
This steady prep routine will help keep you focused and calm.
(By the way, I’ve got tons more advice for how to manage week-of and day-of nerves in my online Testing Confidence Course! If you find yourself getting anxious before school and standardized tests, this class is for you.)
4) How to use a school break for the SAT or ACT.
Take a look at your upcoming school year calendar. Where have you got a long weekend or a whole week off from school? Memorial Day, President’s Day, etc.? Just bookmark whatever the stretch is as future ACT/SAT study time. If you're truly set on “cramming” new content, try it out during your break (in preparation for your next standardized test sitting) and see how much you can learn! After all, it won’t really be “cramming,” as you’ll have lots of time after to revisit anything you study.
Conclusion + Next steps
This post has been a lesson in how to pause, take a breath, and think realistically about how to use your remaining time well. You pretty much know what you know at this point, and there's no point in deluding yourself that you’ll make enormous progress in the next seven days before the test. Instead, take some expert advice (that would be mine!) and commit to the pivot that can genuinely help your score right now.
Hoping to avoid more studying sprints in the future? I can work with you to develop a custom, big-picture study plan for your next SAT or ACT. Let me deal with the hassle and mental load of making sure you have enough time to learn what’s necessary to hit your target score—but not so much time that you peak too early. Reach out here.
