Studying for the SAT and ACT: 6 Ways to Motivate Yourself

Studying for the SAT and ACT: 6 Ways to Motivate Yourself

Many students take the SAT or ACT before they start a personal statement, ask for letters of recommendation, or open the Common App. Testing policies vary by college, but a good score can still add real value to your application. It seems logical that you would have no trouble hitting the books so you could ace the test, but motivation can be hard to come by if you are tempted by other activities or simply feel overwhelmed by the thought of studying for this critical test. [1] Here are a few motivational tips for when you’re studying for the SAT and ACT.

1. Remind Yourself That a Good Score Can Open Doors.

Remember, you are taking the test to help you get into the colleges you most want to attend. Do well on this test, and you may have far more choices for college than you would if you do not bother to do your best. That is pretty motivating!

2. Think of It as a Step Toward Independence and Your Future.

Your reasons for taking the SAT and ACT may be unlike the reasons you have studied hard for tests in your school years up until now. It is possible you wanted to get good grades on exams to please your parents, to impress a teacher, or even to beat a friend’s score. Now, you are studying for yourself. Studying for the SAT and ACT is synonymous with the next step towards adulthood. Doing your best on the SAT or ACT is a sign that you are ready for independence as you head to college. [2]

3. Designate a Time and Place to Study.

It may seem silly, but having a time and a place to study can get you in the right mindset to study. Schedule a specific time in your day for studying, and keep it short enough so that you are able to focus for the entire allocated study time. Remember that you can have fun once you are done studying.

Find a place to study that is comfortable and has no distractions. [3] Put your phone away. Choose a space that will accommodate your tastes. Some people study better in silence at a desk, while others like to recline on a couch and listen to music as they study. Figuring out how to study for the SAT and ACT, and the best practices to do so, is personal to you.

4. Turn It Into Your Social Time.

Are you afraid of missing out on time with your friends if you spend nights and weekends studying? You will not be missing out if you get your friends to study with you! You can quiz one another on grammar rules; get the math whiz in your group to explain the algebra and geometry tricks that can get you through the test; and review one another’s practice test mistakes together. Studying for the SAT and ACT does not mean you have to study alone! You can even think of forming study groups as getting a head start for a crucial skill you will need in college, when you may find that your friends are the same as your study partners.

5. Check Your Progress.

There is nothing less motivating than working hard without seeing results, but that is exactly what can happen if you do nothing but practice problems and read sample passages from test prep books. Luckily, you do not have to wait until your official test results come back to see the results of your studying efforts.

To see your progress in the weeks leading to the exam, take practice exams regularly. Force yourself to take them under “real” test conditions, such as uninterrupted and watching the clock to stay within the time limits, and score them properly. The best answer to “how to study for the SAT”? Practice taking the SAT! Tracking your progress and seeing your scores improve can be just the catalyst you need to keep studying.

6. Think Positively About Your New Skills.

Studying for the SAT and ACT can be daunting and even discouraging if you feel as though you are up against impossible subject matter. Try not to think about your weak areas as traps set up to make you fail. Instead, think of mastering the material as an opportunity to overcome a challenge. You are sure to come across difficult material in one, if not many, of your college classes, and you can practice working on your ability to grasp new concepts and skills now. Knowing how to study for the SAT will surely help you in the future. 

The SAT and ACT are such important tests that you know you should study as much as possible ahead of time. Still, it can be hard to find the drive to put in the hours it can take to master the skills and do your best. These few, simple tips can help you get motivated to study hard, and you can expect your efforts to pay off with the highest SAT and ACT scores for you, personally.

Know What You Are Studying For: Current SAT and ACT Formats

Motivation comes more easily when you know exactly what you are preparing for. Both tests have changed in recent years, so make sure your materials match the current versions.

The Digital SAT

The SAT is now a digital test taken in the College Board’s Bluebook app. It has two sections, Reading and Writing (54 questions in 64 minutes) and Math (44 questions in 70 minutes), for a total of 2 hours and 14 minutes. Each section is split into two modules, and your performance on the first module determines whether the second is more or less difficult. [4] That adaptive design means accuracy early in each section matters a great deal.

The ACT

The ACT has three required sections: English (50 questions in 35 minutes), Math (45 questions in 50 minutes), and Reading (36 questions in 40 minutes). Science and Writing are optional, and neither counts toward your Composite score. [5] If you are deciding between the two, our ACT to SAT conversion guide can help you compare practice scores.

Build a Study Plan That Keeps You Motivated

A clear plan turns a vague goal into small wins you can see each week. Try this approach:

• Set a target score. Look up the middle 50% score ranges at the colleges on your list and aim for the upper half. Our article on what counts as a good SAT score explains how to set a realistic goal.
• Take a diagnostic test. Start with a full-length official practice test so you know your baseline and your weakest question types.
• Plan short, regular sessions. Forty-five minutes a few times a week, plus one longer practice test every few weeks, is easier to sustain than weekend marathons.
• Review every mistake. Keep an error log and note why you missed each question: content, careless error, or timing.
• Schedule your test date. A registered test date gives you a real deadline and makes it easier to stay on track.

Many students plan for two test dates, so a second attempt is part of the plan rather than a setback. For more on building a schedule, read our guide on how to study for the SAT.

Use Official Practice Tests to Stay on Track

Nothing keeps you studying like proof that your work is paying off. The most reliable way to see that proof is to practice with official materials, because they match the real test in content, difficulty, and timing. Unofficial question sets can be useful for extra drills, but their difficulty and style often drift from the real exam, which can make your progress look better or worse than it actually is. Save your official tests for checkpoints so each one gives you an honest read.

For the SAT, the College Board offers full-length official practice tests in the Bluebook app, the same app you use on test day. [6] Taking them in Bluebook lets you get used to the digital format, the on-screen tools, and the adaptive modules before it counts. For the ACT, use official ACT practice materials so the pacing you build matches the real sections.

To get the most out of each practice test:

• Recreate test conditions. Sit in a quiet room, silence your phone, and follow the official timing, including breaks.
• Score it the same day. Quick feedback keeps the experience fresh and helps you spot patterns while you still remember your thinking.
• Sort your mistakes. Group missed questions by skill, such as transitions, inferences, or linear equations, and focus your next week of study on the biggest group.
• Chart your scores. A simple graph of your section scores over time turns small gains into something you can see, which is often all you need to keep going.

If your scores stall for a few weeks, that is normal. Change one thing, such as your review method or the time of day you study, rather than overhauling your whole plan. If you are aiming high, our article on how to get a 1500 on the SAT covers what top scorers do differently.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Staying motivated is only half the battle. Work with an InGenius Prep test prep specialist to build a personalized study plan, strengthen weak areas, and raise your score with confidence.

Get a clear, honest read on which path actually fits your goals, and the specific next steps to build a competitive application. Click here to book your complimentary consultation.