An infographic listing 10 steps students can follow to improve their SAT score.

Raising your SAT score starts with a clear plan and the right practice. Let's walk through what to do first, how to study week by week, which test strategies provide the highest yield, and where to make simple fixes that add up to real gains—so you can walk into test day confident and ready.

1. Determine Your Target SAT Score and Test Date

A target score makes studying more focused. Use our College Search Tool to look at the middle 50 percent SAT ranges for the colleges on your list. Also consider each school's acceptance rate—a rough estimate of how competitive they are—and aim for a score that will keep you similarly competitive.

Since your goal is to improve, try to choose an official test date that's far enough away for you to spend some quality time studying, but not so far out that you can't retake the test if necessary.

2. Take a Baseline SAT Practice Test

Sit for a full-length exam in a quiet setting that resembles actual test conditions. Treat it like the real thing with precise timing, limited breaks, and no distractions.

Your baseline tells you two things—your starting score and where your time and accuracy fall apart—so you can study what actually moves the needle.

3. Create an Error Log and Find Patterns

After every practice test or homework set, track your misses in an error log. The goal isn’t just to see what went wrong—it’s to spot repeatable patterns you can fix. Use three categories:

  • Content gap: You didn’t know or couldn’t recall the rule or concept (for example, exponent rules, grammar rules, or function notation).
  • Process issue: You knew the content but fell for a trap, misread the question, or changed a correct answer to an incorrect one.
  • Timing problem: You ran out of time, rushed through the last few, or skipped steps under pressure.

At the end of each week, review your log. If most errors fall into one category, make that your top focus for the next study block. For example, if timing problems dominate, practice pacing drills; if content gaps dominate, re-learn those rules before retesting.

This simple system turns mistakes into a roadmap for score improvement.

4. Build an SAT Study Plan That fits Your Schedule

Choose an SAT study plan that works with your schedule. Try following one of these study plans, depending on how much time you have.

Six-Week SAT Study Schedule (Accelerated)

  • 5–6 study days/week
  • 2–3 full-length tests + 2-hour review
  • Focus: top three weak skills from your error log, plus daily mixed practice

Three-Month SAT Study Schedule (Balanced)

  • 4–5 study days/week
  • 1 full-length test monthly in month 1–2; bi-weekly in month 3
  • Focus: rotate content areas (Reading, Writing, Math) through the week, and add one “mixed set” each week to keep earlier material fresh

Six-Month SAT Study Schedule (Extended)

  • 3–4 study days/week
  • 1 full-length test monthly in month 1–4; bi-weekly in months 5–6
  • Focus: rebuild fundamentals first, then progress to timing and strategy

Pro tip: schedule two “checkpoint” tests (about halfway and two weeks before your exam). If your score growth stalls, update your plan based on the newest error patterns.

Use High-Quality SAT Prep Materials

You’ll improve faster when you practice with content that matches the real test’s wording, difficulty, and format. Use expert-designed lessons and drills that teach you how to think through each question type.

If you want a guided path, consider:

5. Study in Short, Focused Blocks of Time

Long cram sessions don’t stick. Instead, aim for 30–45-minute blocks of focused practice, then take a short break. This keeps your concentration sharp and makes it easier to sustain consistent study habits over weeks of prep.

6. Prioritize Your Toughest Areas During Practice

Lead with your weaknesses from the error log. If algebra trips you up, start there. Keep your strengths fresh with one weekly mixed set but dedicate most of your practice time to the areas where you can gain the most points.

7. Apply Strategies for Each Section

You can score higher even before you drill the math or grammar rules that you’re struggling with—if you apply strategies that cut through trap choices and save time.

SAT Reading and Writing

  • Task-Based Reading: Read the question stem before diving into the passage so you know what to look for.
  • Prediction First: For evidence questions, predict the proof in your own words, then scan for the line(s) that say exactly that—no more, no less.
  • Plug-in Synonym Method: For Vocabulary questions, replace the underlined word with your own simple synonym from the sentence’s clues, then match meaning (not memorized definitions).
  • Grammar, Punctuation, Logic (GPL) Sequence: For Rules questions, check in this order: grammar (subject-verb agreement, pronouns), punctuation (commas, colons, dashes), and sentence logic (modifiers placed next to what they modify).
  • Process of Elimination: Eliminate choices that add new claims, repeat ideas, or change the author’s point.

SAT Math

  • Translate & Define: Translate word problems into equations step by step: define variables, write the relationship, and solve only for what the question asks.
  • Plugging In Numbers: When the answer choices are all numbers, you can plug them in to see which is correct. When the answer choices have variables, you can plug in easy numbers to see which expressions are equivalent.
  • Graph and Check: For graph-based items, use the on-screen graphing calculator to quickly test functions and confirm intercepts, slope, and transformations before committing.
  • Must-Know Math Facts: Know your “must-memorize” facts: linear equation forms, exponent rules, function basics, percent change, and geometry properties.
  • Calculator Discipline: Use the calculator strategically: check arithmetic, evaluate functions, and model data—but don’t use it as a crutch on questions you can do faster by hand.

8. Take Full-Length Practice Tests and Review Errors

Consistency builds both accuracy and stamina. Each week:

  • Do 2–3 targeted practice sets in your weakest areas.
  • Match section pacing during practice.
  • Once a week, add a longer session to build endurance.
  • Every two weeks, take a full-length test under realistic conditions.

During full-length practice tests, practice everything you’ll do on test day: timing per module, answer selection habits, calculator setup, and break routines. The goal is to make test day feel familiar.

For each missed or uncertain question:

  • Write the reason (content, process, timing)
  • Rewrite a one-line “fix” (e.g., “Highlight what the question asks before solving.”)
  • Redo the question without notes 48 hours later to confirm the fix works
  • Re-drill that skill with a few similar practice questions from Princeton Review or prep materials

If you keep missing the same type of questions, pause new practice and revisit the underlying rule or concept with a focused lesson from your prep book, course module, or tutor before trying again.

9. Refine Pacing and Choose Just One Letter for Guesses

Don’t let time pressure cost you easy points.

  • Reading and Writing: Skim with purpose; answer easier questions quickly; save extra time for evidence-based items.
  • Math: Sweep for quick wins, mark time sinks, and leave a final minute to check your entries.

If you run out of time, use the Letter of the Day (LOTD) strategy: pick one letter (like B or C) and use it for all remaining guesses. This is better than random guessing and can get you extra points.

10. Gather Everything you Need to Bring on Test Day, Then Rest

Score gains aren’t only academic. The week before your test:

  • keep sleep and meals consistent
  • taper study volume; prioritize light review and confidence-building sets
  • confirm your test-day logistics (admission details, ID, charged device if applicable, calculator, pencils, snacks, transportation)
  • plan a calm evening routine the night before

A steady routine helps you start the exam focused instead of frazzled.

Resources to Improve Your SAT Score

You can improve your SAT score. Start with a plan, practice with purpose, and use strategies that simplify tough questions. Your effort will show up on test day.

FAQs: SAT Score Improvement

How much can you improve your SAT score?

Most students who commit to a focused plan and complete multiple practice tests see meaningful gains. The size of your increase depends on your starting score, how precisely you target weaknesses, and how consistently you practice. The fastest improvements come from fixing patterns of errors and mastering time management.

How long should you study for the SAT?

Plan for 4–12 weeks. Shorter timelines require more study days per week; longer timelines give you room to rebuild fundamentals and space out full-length tests. Choose the plan that you can stick to without burning out.

How many times can you take the SAT?

You can test multiple times. Many students take the SAT twice: once to establish a record and a second time after targeted practice. Schedule your first test early enough to allow a retake before college application deadlines.

Is it better to study strengths or weaknesses?

Do both. Lead with weaknesses to unlock quick gains, then maintain your strengths with mixed practice sets so you don’t lose easy points.

What if my score plateaus?

Plateaus usually mean you’re practicing without changing your process. Return to your error log, take a fresh full-length test, and identify one or two skills to rebuild. Consider a course or tutor to diagnose blind spots and adjust your strategy.