Most students see meaningful improvements of 100-200 points with focused, personalized preparation—though the amount depends on your starting score and how much you practice. Students starting around the national average (1050) often reach 1200-1300 with consistent effort, while those already scoring higher may see smaller but still significant gains. The key is targeting your specific weak areas, whether that's Reading comprehension, grammar, or Math problem-solving, rather than trying to improve everything at once.

Most juniors benefit from starting SAT prep in the spring or early fall of junior year, giving themselves 4-6 months before taking the test. This timeline allows for diagnostic testing to identify weak areas, targeted skill-building, and multiple practice tests before test day. If you're planning to apply early decision or early action to colleges, starting prep earlier in junior year is especially important. Even sophomores can benefit from beginning foundational work, particularly if they struggle with reading or math fundamentals.

The SAT is scored from 400-1600 and has three main sections: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (200-800 points), Math (200-800 points), and an optional Essay (though most colleges no longer require it). The Reading section has 52 questions in 65 minutes and focuses on comprehension and evidence-based analysis. Writing & Language covers grammar and expression in 44 questions over 35 minutes. Math is split into a no-calculator section (20 questions, 25 minutes) and a calculator section (38 questions, 55 minutes), testing algebra, problem-solving, and data analysis.

The Reading section is where most students struggle with pacing—you have about 75 seconds per question, which feels tight. A smart strategy is to skim the questions first, then read the passage with those questions in mind, rather than reading passively. For Math, tackle easier questions first to build confidence and secure points, then return to harder multi-step problems. Practice tests are essential for developing your personal pacing strategy; many students find that doing timed sections repeatedly helps them internalize the rhythm before test day.

Both tests are equally accepted by colleges, but the SAT tends to be more popular among Nevada students and is often the default choice for Reno-area high schools. The main difference: the ACT emphasizes speed and breadth of knowledge, while the SAT rewards deeper reasoning and evidence-based thinking. If you're strong at quick recall and science, the ACT might suit you; if you prefer analyzing passages and working through complex problems methodically, the SAT is likely a better fit. Many students take a practice test in each format to see which plays to their strengths.

SAT Math requires both conceptual understanding and test-specific strategy. Many students struggle with multi-step problems and data interpretation from graphs—these are high-value questions worth mastering. Start by identifying which topics trip you up (algebra, geometry, statistics), then build foundational skills before moving to harder problems. Practice testing is critical: review every mistake carefully to understand not just the right answer, but why you chose wrong. Working with a tutor on your specific weak spots—whether that's setting up equations correctly or reading complex graphs—typically yields faster improvement than generic prep.

The Reading section tests comprehension and evidence-based analysis more than vocabulary, though context clues matter. Focus on understanding the author's main point and supporting evidence rather than memorizing word lists. For Writing & Language, grammar rules are testable and learnable—master comma usage, verb tense, pronoun agreement, and sentence structure. Many students improve fastest by doing timed practice sections, reviewing every error, and identifying patterns in what trips them up. If you consistently miss questions about tone or inference, targeted practice in those areas will move your score more than random studying.