Practice Schedule
Learn
A well-designed practice schedule is essential for SAT/ACT success. Consistent, strategic practice over time produces better results than cramming. This lesson will help you create a sustainable study plan.
Spaced Practice
Spaced practice (or distributed practice) means spreading study sessions over time rather than concentrating them. Research shows that spaced practice leads to better long-term retention than massed practice (cramming).
How Much Time to Study
Your study time depends on your goals and timeline:
| Goal | Timeline | Recommended Hours/Week |
|---|---|---|
| Modest improvement (50-100 points) | 2-3 months | 3-5 hours |
| Significant improvement (100-200 points) | 3-6 months | 5-10 hours |
| Major improvement (200+ points) | 6+ months | 10-15 hours |
Weekly Practice Structure
A balanced weekly schedule includes:
- Content review (30%): Learning rules, concepts, and strategies
- Targeted practice (40%): Drilling specific weaknesses with focused problem sets
- Full sections/tests (20%): Building stamina and testing under real conditions
- Error analysis (10%): Reviewing mistakes and updating your skill map
Sample Weekly Schedules
Light Schedule (5 hours/week)
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Content review - focus on primary weakness | 45 min |
| Tuesday | Targeted practice problems | 45 min |
| Wednesday | Rest day | - |
| Thursday | Content review - secondary weakness | 45 min |
| Friday | Targeted practice problems | 45 min |
| Saturday | Timed full section + error review | 1.5 hours |
| Sunday | Rest day or light vocabulary review | - |
Intensive Schedule (10 hours/week)
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Content review + targeted practice (Math focus) | 1.5 hours |
| Tuesday | Content review + targeted practice (Reading/Writing focus) | 1.5 hours |
| Wednesday | Mixed problem set + error analysis | 1 hour |
| Thursday | Content review + targeted practice (weakness focus) | 1.5 hours |
| Friday | Vocabulary + light practice | 45 min |
| Saturday | Full practice test or two full sections | 3 hours |
| Sunday | Test review + weekly planning | 45 min |
Full Practice Test Schedule
Take full practice tests strategically:
- Beginning: Diagnostic test to identify baseline and weaknesses
- During study: One full test every 2-4 weeks to track progress
- Final weeks: Weekly full tests to build stamina
- Always: Spend equal time reviewing as taking the test
Quality Over Quantity
Taking 20 practice tests without review is less effective than taking 5 tests with thorough error analysis. Always spend time understanding WHY you missed questions, not just what the right answer was.
SAT/ACT Connection
Test preparation is a skill in itself. Learning to study effectively - setting schedules, tracking progress, adjusting plans - prepares you not just for standardized tests but for college and career success. These are transferable skills.
Examples
Example 1: Creating a 3-Month Plan
Problem: A student scores 1100 on a diagnostic SAT and wants to reach 1300 in 3 months. Design a study plan.
Step 1: Goal: +200 points in 12 weeks. This is significant improvement requiring 6-8 hours/week.
Step 2: Month 1 focus: Identify weaknesses, learn foundational content, build study habits.
Step 3: Month 2 focus: Intensive targeted practice on top weaknesses, weekly section tests.
Step 4: Month 3 focus: Full practice tests, strategy refinement, timing practice.
Step 5: Schedule full tests at weeks 4, 8, 10, and 12 to track progress.
Answer: A phased approach with increasing test frequency prepares for the real exam while allowing time to learn content first.
Example 2: Balancing School and Test Prep
Problem: A student has heavy homework during the week but free weekends. How should she structure 6 hours of weekly practice?
Step 1: Identify available time: Minimal weekday time, substantial weekend time.
Step 2: Weekday plan: Two 30-minute sessions (1 hour total) - vocabulary, quick targeted practice.
Step 3: Weekend plan: Saturday 2.5 hours (full section + review), Sunday 2.5 hours (content study + practice).
Step 4: Total: 1 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 6 hours.
Answer: Concentrating study on weekends is acceptable if weekday mini-sessions maintain momentum. The key is consistency - some practice every day keeps material fresh.
Example 3: Adjusting After a Practice Test
Problem: After 4 weeks of focusing on algebra, a student's algebra scores improved but geometry scores dropped. How should she adjust?
Step 1: Analyze: Algebra improvement shows the method works. Geometry drop suggests neglect.
Step 2: Rebalance: Shift primary focus to geometry while maintaining algebra with lighter review.
Step 3: Adjust schedule: 60% new weakness (geometry), 20% maintenance (algebra), 20% other areas.
Step 4: Set checkpoint: Test again in 2 weeks to see if geometry improves without algebra regression.
Answer: Study plans should be dynamic. Regular assessment allows you to rebalance focus as weaknesses shift.
Example 4: Final Week Strategy
Problem: A student's test is in 7 days. She's been studying for 3 months. What should her final week look like?
Step 1: Days 1-2: Light review of strategies and commonly missed concepts. No new material.
Step 2: Day 3-4: One final practice test, thorough review of mistakes.
Step 3: Day 5-6: Light practice, review notes, focus on confidence-building.
Step 4: Day 7 (day before): Rest, prepare materials, early bedtime.
Step 5: Test day: Wake early, eat breakfast, arrive with time to spare.
Answer: The final week is about consolidation and confidence, not cramming. Trust your preparation and focus on being mentally ready.
Example 5: Limited Time Scenario
Problem: A student has only 4 weeks until the test and can study 4 hours/week. What's the most efficient plan?
Step 1: Total available time: 16 hours. Limited time requires high efficiency.
Step 2: Week 1: Diagnostic test (3 hours) + error analysis (1 hour) = identify top 2-3 weaknesses.
Step 3: Weeks 2-3: Focus exclusively on those 2-3 high-impact areas (4 hours each week).
Step 4: Week 4: One full practice test (3 hours) + light review (1 hour).
Step 5: Skip low-impact topics entirely. Maximum focus on areas with most potential gain.
Answer: With limited time, ruthless prioritization is essential. Fix the biggest leaks first; ignore small ones.
Practice
Test your understanding of practice scheduling with these questions.
1. What is spaced practice?
A) Studying one topic intensively B) Spreading study sessions over time C) Practicing in different locations D) Taking breaks during tests
2. For significant improvement (100-200 points), how many months of preparation is recommended?
A) 1 month B) 2-3 months C) 3-6 months D) 1 year minimum
3. What percentage of study time should typically go to targeted practice?
A) 10% B) 20% C) 40% D) 80%
4. How often should you take full practice tests during the main study period?
A) Every day B) Every 2-4 weeks C) Only at the beginning D) Only at the end
5. What should you do the day before the actual test?
A) Study intensively B) Take a full practice test C) Rest and prepare materials D) Review all your notes
6. Which is more effective?
A) 20 practice tests without review B) 5 practice tests with thorough review C) No practice tests, only content study D) Taking the same practice test repeatedly
7. If a weakness improves but another area declines, you should:
A) Keep the same study plan B) Rebalance focus to address the new weakness C) Stop studying the improved area completely D) Take a break from studying
8. Error analysis should take about what percentage of study time?
A) 0% - it's not important B) 10% C) 50% D) 80%
9. With only 4 weeks to prepare, you should:
A) Try to cover everything equally B) Focus exclusively on high-impact weaknesses C) Take a test every day D) Give up and not prepare
10. Why is consistency more important than intensity in test prep?
A) Tests reward consistent students B) Spaced practice improves retention better than cramming C) Teachers prefer consistent students D) There is no difference
Click to reveal answers
- B) Spreading study sessions over time - Spaced practice distributes learning for better retention.
- C) 3-6 months - Significant improvement requires substantial time for content learning and practice.
- C) 40% - Targeted practice on weaknesses should be the largest portion of study time.
- B) Every 2-4 weeks - This allows enough study time between tests while tracking progress.
- C) Rest and prepare materials - The day before should be about rest and mental preparation.
- B) 5 practice tests with thorough review - Quality review is more valuable than quantity of tests.
- B) Rebalance focus to address the new weakness - Study plans should adapt to changing needs.
- B) 10% - Error analysis is crucial but shouldn't dominate; most time goes to practice and content.
- B) Focus exclusively on high-impact weaknesses - Limited time requires ruthless prioritization.
- B) Spaced practice improves retention better than cramming - Research consistently shows spaced practice is more effective.
Check Your Understanding
1. Why is reviewing mistakes more important than taking more practice tests?
Reveal Answer
Taking tests without review just reinforces existing habits and errors. Review is where learning actually happens. When you analyze why you missed a question, you identify specific gaps in knowledge or strategy. You learn the correct approach and can recognize similar questions in the future. Simply taking more tests without review means you'll keep making the same mistakes. One thoroughly-reviewed test teaches you more than five tests you just scored and moved on from.
2. How would you adjust a study schedule if you're improving slower than expected?
Reveal Answer
If improvement is slower than expected: (1) Increase total study time if possible; (2) Verify you're targeting the right weaknesses - reanalyze recent tests; (3) Check if you're just practicing or actually learning - are you reviewing errors?; (4) Narrow focus to fewer topics and master them before moving on; (5) Change study methods - if reading isn't working, try video lessons or tutoring; (6) Extend your timeline if possible; (7) Ensure you're getting enough sleep and not burning out. Sometimes slower improvement indicates you're tackling harder underlying gaps that will pay off later.
3. Create a sample one-week study schedule for yourself, considering your own time constraints.
Reveal Answer
A good response should include: (1) Specific days and times based on your real schedule; (2) Total hours that are realistic for you; (3) A mix of content review, targeted practice, and full sections/tests; (4) Time allocated for error analysis; (5) Rest days to prevent burnout; (6) Flexibility to adjust as needed. Example for a busy student: Monday: 30 min vocabulary; Tuesday: 45 min math practice; Wednesday: rest; Thursday: 45 min reading practice; Friday: 30 min grammar review; Saturday: 2 hours (full math section + review); Sunday: 1 hour content study. Total: 5 hours 30 minutes.
4. What are the risks of studying too much in the final week before the test?
Reveal Answer
Over-studying in the final week can backfire: (1) Burnout and exhaustion lead to poor test-day performance; (2) Last-minute cramming causes confusion and anxiety rather than confidence; (3) Sleep deprivation hurts memory consolidation and focus; (4) New material learned at the last minute isn't retained well; (5) High stress impairs cognitive function; (6) You can't make significant content gains in one week anyway. The final week should be about consolidation, confidence-building, and rest. Trust the preparation you've done over months - one week of cramming can't replace that, but it can undermine it.
🚀 Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Move on to the next lesson when ready
- Return to practice problems periodically for review