Preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a Homeschooler

For high schoolers, the ACT, SAT, and PSAT are often a major source of stress. For parents, it is a time of anxiety and questions as you wonder if you have provided your teen with the right tools for success. There are a number of standardized test preparation resources available, but you have likely wondered what is actually worth your and your student’s time. That’s why we’ve compiled information for you here about preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a homeschooler. 

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This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, onto preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a homeschooler!

General Exam Info

Before we begin, let’s talk a bit about each of these tests. The ACT and SAT are college entry exams, and universities often use these scores for admission and scholarship consideration. While several schools have gone test-optional for admission in recent years, these tests are still important for many schools and academic scholarships. Even if your teen ends up attending a school that doesn’t require test scores, it is better to take it than to not take it and be limited on schools one can apply to. Most schools accept either the ACT or SAT, so your child can try both and submit the scores for whichever they perform better on.

The PSAT, on the other hand, is not used for college admission. It is a test both to practice for the SAT and to try and qualify for National Merit. National Merit is a competition based on PSAT scores that students will be considered for if they take the PSAT in their junior year of high school. The semi-finalists are chosen from each state based on test scores. Then, to move on, students provide letters of recommendation and a personal essay. There are scholarships awarded to Finalists. Even if your student does not make it to this level, however, there are a number of commended students in each state who scored well, but not high enough to continue in the competition. This honor looks great on college applications, and is an accomplishment your teen can be proud of 🙂

With that, let’s move into our discussion of prep resources for each of these exams!

ACT Resources and Info

The ACT tests students in four areas: English, math, reading, and science. Additionally, there is an optional writing component students can take. Reading comprehension is crucial for the ACT, as even the science section is primarily interpreting graphs and data. As this is a timed test, students should also be prepared to work efficiently. They should be prepared to use the process of elimination and critical thinking to make an educated guess on questions when they aren’t certain. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so it is best to answer every question.

Taking practice tests is a great way for students to familiarize themselves with the test layout and practice working in the time limit. The Princeton Review offers review books that include test strategies and 6 full-length practice tests. These are a perfect intro to the ACT if your student has never taken it before, and they can also be a good refresher for students who have. 

FundaFunda’s ACT tutor Lea Bosse did a blog post with 10 Tips to Improve your ACT Score. She designed out ACT Intro class for students who have never taken the ACT before. This course will help students get an idea of what to expect when they take the exam. She also offers her one-on-one tutoring to students who want to improve their ACT score. This tutoring helps students target areas that need improvement, boost confidence, and increase their score. 

SAT Resources and Info

The SAT  consists of three sections: Reading, writing and language, and math. Like the ACT, there is an optional essay portion. Previously, the SAT counted off points for incorrect answers, meaning it was better to leave questions blank than to guess. However, the SAT changed this rule a few years ago. It is now like the ACT and has no penalty for guessing. The main difference between the content of the ACT and SAT is the lack of a science section on the SAT. Many students who prefer language arts to math and science perform better on the SAT. The SAT also allows for slightly more time per question than the ACT. This is important to consider if your student tends to need more time to complete exams. 

Like with the ACT, the best way to increase your student’s comfort with the SAT is through practice tests.  The Princeton Review has prep books for the SAT.  If your teen wants some quick practice without doing a full test, they can visit this website. They offer a free “SAT Question of the Day” in each subject category. Additionally, the PSAT is very similar in content to the SAT, so taking the PSAT before taking the SAT can be great preparation.

Because the SAT is vocabulary-heavy, websites like Vocabulary.com are great for review, and they can be used on the go. They have a basic word quiz that anyone can play for free, or you can pay for specialized SAT vocabulary practice. Of course, you can also make your own flashcards for your student to study with using Quizlet or some good old-fashioned pen and paper 🙂 

For even more options, you can view our blog post here on SAT resources for homeschoolers with suggestions for improving each subject area. 7 Sisters homeschool blog also has a comprehensive post with lots of resources for homeschoolers to study for the SAT. I recommend looking through both of these posts for more ideas. Then customize your plan to whatever works best for you!

PSAT Resources and Info

The PSAT covers the same three subject areas as the SAT, minus the optional essay section. The time limit, format, and content between the two tests is almost identical. This is why it’s important for your teen to take the PSAT to practice before taking the SAT. As mentioned above, junior year is when students qualify to compete for National Merit. However, freshmen and sophomores can and should still take the PSAT as practice. This way, they will be well-prepared when junior year comes!

Students can use many of the resources we list for SAT practice to prep for the PSAT as well since the content is so similar. The Princeton Review has PSAT prep books as well that contain test-taking strategies and practice tests. Additionally, we have a blog post with some more ideas for PSAT practice. For help specifically on the math section, this YouTube channel is fantastic. He walks through entire practice tests of math and explains each problem in detail.

If the PSAT is your student’s first standardized test in high school, it might also be their first time using a scientific calculator in a timed format. Students often see that they are allowed to have a calculator and assume that will make the math section easy. However, having a calculator helps nothing if you don’t know how to use it! This YouTube video says it is SAT calculator tips, but the info applies to PSAT math as well. And, make sure your student knows to charge their calculator before the exam! I made the mistake of forgetting this one time, so I feel it necessary to caution others 🙂 

Blog Series Info

We hope these tips make preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a homeschooler a bit easier! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions for test prep, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!