How Long Should I Study for the SAT?

How Long Should I Study for the SAT?

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If you are planning to take the SAT, one big question is likely on your mind: “How long do I actually need to study to get the score I want?” While the answer isn’t the same for everyone, there are some general guidelines you can follow to create a study plan that will get you ready by test day. Let’s break down exactly how many hours you need to study for the SAT, how to determine your personal timeline, and how to find SAT study resources that guarantee success.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

About the SAT

The digital SAT is a standardized, computer-based exam designed to assess your college readiness out of a maximum score of 1600. Lasting 2 hours and 14 minutes, the test is divided into two main sections—Reading & Writing and Math—with each section split into two modules. Compared to the old paper format, the digital SAT features shorter, more accessible questions, giving you more time per question to focus and maximize your score.

How many months should I study for the SAT?

According to Kaplan exam experts, the sweet spot for thoroughly preparing for the SAT is two to three months. This timeline provides your brain with enough runway to internalize advanced math formulas and grammar rules, build pacing endurance for the fast-paced computer format, and deeply analyze practice errors without triggering burnout. While an intensive 1-month SAT study plan is possible for students on a tight deadline, spacing your preparation over a multi-month period remains the gold standard for achieving maximum score gains.

How many hours per week should I study for the SAT?

Within the two-to-three month study window, Kaplan SAT experts recommend dedicating approximately 10 hours per week to targeted studying, balancing reviewing fundamental  content with completing (and reviewing) full-length digital practice tests. Your ideal amount of study time will depend on factors including your SAT score goals and your weekly schedule. Whether you have a lot of free time or a little, be sure to purposefully schedule time each week for SAT prep—you’re much more likely to study if you plan for it ahead of time. Remember, even during busy weeks, any study time you can manage, as long as it’s focused, quality practice, will help you improve.

4 Factors That Determine Your SAT Study Timeline

Ask yourself these questions to help determine how long you should study for the SAT.

  • 1. What are you involved in outside of your regular school schedule?

    There are a lot of pieces involved in the college admissions process, including your involvement in extracurriculars. If you are involved in activities like sports, band, or student government, you’ll need to carefully consider when you want to schedule your study time. If you know you don’t study well at night after practice, you might want to consider scheduling most of your study time on the weekends. However, if you’re a night owl who appreciates your down time on the weekends, you may want to spread out your studying during the school week.


  • 2. What schools are you applying to?

    You can locate the SAT scores of students who’ve been accepted at the colleges and universities you’re planning on applying to by searching their admissions websites. The “median” score is often listed, and it represents the general score of accepted students. That median score means that fifty percent of their admitted students had a lower score and fifty percent of their admitted students had a higher score. While the median score provides a baseline, your odds of acceptance will increase the higher you can push your score. More competitive schools will have higher median scores than local or state universities, so it’s best to plan accordingly.


  • 3. Are you planning on applying for scholarships?

    As you (and your parents) know, college is a big financial undertaking. Many students are searching for ways to make college more affordable, and scholarships are one of the main ways that students can save money while going to school. A lot of students across the country are hunting for good scholarships, and some scholarships will require you to have a certain SAT score. A higher SAT score can open up more scholarship opportunities for you, such as fully covered tuition or tuition with room and board. If you’re looking at applying for big, nationwide scholarships, a higher SAT score could make you more competitive. The same goes for scholarships or aid given directly from the college or university you will be attending.


  • 4. What is your starting score, and what is your SAT goal score?

    One of the best things you can do early on in your studies is take a practice test to see where your starting point is. If you have a strong baseline score, you may not need to put in as many hours toward preparation as you might have expected. However, if you want to make a big score jump, you may have to spend more time working on practice exams and reviewing some of the content that’s tested on the SAT. While you can compress study time by studying for multiple hours a day, it’s always better to pace yourself. Understanding your score goal can help you plan out how many hours you’ll need to devote to studying for the exam.


Free SAT Study Resources

Kaplan offers several high-quality and free tools designed to help you gauge your baseline score, master test strategies, and build a consistent study routine. Integrating these free Kaplan SAT resources into your weekly study timeline can give your score a serious boost:

  • Free Digital SAT Practice Test: The best way to start your SAT prep is by establishing a baseline score. Kaplan offers a full-length, realistic practice exam that mimics the adaptive digital format. After completion, you receive a detailed score report breaking down your strengths and areas of opportunity.
  • Free SAT Question of the Day: Perfect for building consistency, Kaplan’s SAT Question of the Day delivers an exam-style question with a comprehensive answer explanation directly to your inbox every day. It is an ideal tool for micro-studying on a busy schedule.
  • Free SAT 20-Minute Workout: If you do not have time for a full diagnostic exam but want a quick challenge, this free SAT resource from Kaplan features 12 exam-style questions spanning both the Reading & Writing and Math sections to test your pacing and knowledge.
  • Free SAT Live Online Trial Classes: Sign up for a free session led by Kaplan’s 99th-percentile-scoring SAT instructors. These live-streamed classes cover fundamental content review, time-saving strategies, and walkthroughs of difficult questions.

Looking for more SAT support and resources? Check out Kaplan’s wide range of SAT prep courses.

Digital SAT Readiness Quiz

Test your readiness for the SAT by taking our short quiz.

Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College at Kaplan North America.

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