8 Steps to a Custom Study Calendar for SAT/ACT Target Date
Every year, thousands of students in Palm Beach and Broward County take the SAT or ACT, hoping to open doors to the next chapter in their academic journeys. Many of those who saw large score increases attributed their improvements to personalized study routines. With competition on the rise and many colleges weighing test scores heavily in admissions, building a well-structured study plan is more important than ever.
While earning A's and a strong GPA is the baseline for getting into reputable colleges, research from Flowing Data shows grade inflation has made top marks more common than ever. With many schools adopting test-optional, a strong ACT or SAT score can still give applicants a significant edge. Keep in mind, "test optional" does not mean "test blind".
This is why a custom study calendar is so valuable: it helps reduce stress, builds consistency, and maximizes your score potential. Having even a rough roadmap makes it much easier to stay organized, track your progress, and confidently move toward your goals.
In this post, we'll share a step-by-step guide to creating a realistic, effective study calendar to prepare for your target test date. Whether you’re aiming for the summer, fall, or spring test window, these strategies are tried and tested among students throughout South Florida.
Step 1: Choose Your Target Test Date (and a Backup)
We recommend starting the process by defining a clear end goal: when do you plan to take the SAT or ACT?
Test dates for both exams fall throughout the school year. SAT usually offers national tests in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December. ACT offers similar seasonal dates in February, April, June, July, September, October, and December.
When determining your test date, take into account any commitments, like:
AP exams
Sports seasons
Family obligations
We recommend that you avoid setting your main exam during a high-stress period. In Palm Beach and Broward, students typically prefer summer or early fall dates to avoid conflicts with end-of-year events and to leave time for retests, if needed.
Once you’ve picked your “main” date, pick a backup date if you don't get the ACT or SAT score you want. This would usually be the next available date after your first choice. Having a backup eases anxiety and gives you a second chance, which is especially important as most colleges in Florida accept your best scores, and some take “superscores” that combine the best sectional results from multiple tests.
Step 2: Assess Your Starting Point
Progress starts with an honest assessment. We strongly recommend taking a full-length official SAT or ACT practice test under timed conditions, as close as possible to test-day procedures. There are free SAT practice tests and ACT tests available.
When you take a practice test, the data is easy to access and build your plan around. In South Florida, many local schools and tutoring centers offer proctored practice tests on weekends for students who want a more classroom-like environment. After the test, score it yourself or with an adult, then analyze which sections and types of questions you missed to determine:
Strengths and weaknesses by section (math, reading, answer explanations, etc.)
Timing issues and content gaps
This baseline score, broken down by subject and question type, will anchor your study plan.
For example, if your main weaknesses are in SAT Math or ACT English, you’ll know to allocate more study blocks to those areas as you create your plan.
Step 3: Set a Realistic Score Goal for SAT or ACT Prep
Setting goals with your ACT or SAT prep should be based on an understanding of score ranges and target scores for your chosen college board.
Take some time to research the required scores for your desired colleges and scholarships to find out their most recent admitted student score ranges (these are published on college admissions websites). For many Florida schools - like Florida Atlantic University or the University of Florida - admissions averages are readily available.
Aim for a target score at or slightly above these ranges.
Next, set a secondary, “stretch” goal for extra motivation, but keep your main goal realistic based on the time you have and your baseline score. For example, a 200-point SAT jump from your first score to your second score in six weeks is unlikely for most, while a 60–120 point increase is common with consistent effort.
Step 4: Determine Your Available Study Time
The best thing you can to develop consistency in your studying is by auditing your weekly schedule. Take note of commitments like school, sports, work, and family obligations. Then, decide how many hours you can consistently dedicate to test prep each week. Even 10–20 minutes a day is a good starting point.
Think about when you feel most alert. If possible, try to schedule your study sessions in the morning, as the SAT and ACT are given early in the day. Choose time slots that fit your energy levels and stick to a routine for the best results.
Step 5: Create a Weekly Study Breakdown
To make your test prep more manageable, we recommend breaking your weeks into focused, repeatable routines. Whether you’re working with an 8, 10, or 12-week calendar, a well-defined weekly structure for an ACT or SAT study schedule might look like this:
Content review: Dedicate 1–2 sessions per week to grammar, math formulas, and reading strategies.
Timed practice: Set aside 1–2 sessions to complete practice exams under timed conditions.
Practice tests: Every 2–3 weeks, take a full-length assessment with high-quality practice questions to build endurance and track progress.
Review mistakes: After each practice, spend time analyzing errors and targeting weak areas.
Coaching or tutoring: Schedule regular check-ins with a tutor or join group sessions for accountability and guidance.
Balance subjects: Alternate between your strengths and weaknesses to keep all test taking skills sharp.
Want to see how this works in real life? Watch a short video featuring a real student, parent, or tutor who’s followed this plan. They’ll share their authentic experience and success.
Step 6: Add Key Milestones
Setting clear milestones keeps your study plan on track and makes your progress visible. Here are some common milestones you can incorporate into your ACT or SAT schedule:
Week 2: Master key grammar rules
Week 4: Take a full-length first practice test
Week 6: Focus on pacing and test stamina
Week 8: Score review + strategy adjustments based on the final practice test
Tracking your progress with milestones helps you identify strengths in your correct answers, spot areas for improvement, and make timely adjustments to your plan. Regular check-ins keep you motivated and ensure you’re not falling behind.
To give you an idea, here is a sample study timeline for an 8-week SAT/ACT study plan:
Visuals like this timeline bar or a weekly checklist can help you map out your milestones and stay organized throughout your prep.
Step 7: Incorporate Flexibility
Things happen and schedules can change without warning. This is why we recommend building buffer weeks into your calendar to account for unexpected events like illness, burnout, or other schedule conflicts.
Having flexibility built into your plan can help you stay on track even when things don't go as expected. If you fall behind, use these buffer weeks to catch up rather than rush through important material. Give yourself lighter review days when needed to stay focused and maintain steady progress.
This is a big one: celebrate small wins, like improving on a tricky section or completing a tough week to keep motivation high throughout your study journey.
Step 8: Evaluate and Adjust Weekly
Each week, use data from your practice tests to understand where you need to shift your focus. Analyze which sections or question types showed improvement and which areas still need attention. Adjust your study plan accordingly so you are making consistent progress toward your target score.
Next, take time to review what strategies worked well and what didn’t. Adjust your study plan accordingly. Maybe you need to add more time to weaker subjects, or trying new practice techniques as needed.
We typically recommend keeping a journal to track your progress, reflect on challenges, and note any breakthroughs. Regular check-ins with a tutor, coach, or even a study buddy can help you stay accountable and get targeted advice for continued improvement.
Gather Study Materials: Tools & Templates for Your Calendar
Organizing your SAT/ACT prep is much easier with the right tools. Consider using Digital planners like Google Calendar, Notion, and dedicated study planner apps to help you visualize your schedule, set reminders, and stay on track.
To make things even simpler, download our customizable study calendar template here (NEED THIS LINK). This template allows you to enter your test date, weekly study blocks, and milestones—so your plan is always clear and actionable.
If you want expert guidance, Score at the Top’s tutoring team can help you build a personalized study plan, keep you accountable, and adjust your calendar as you progress. We’re here to support you through every step of your test prep journey.
The Score at the Top Advantage
When you work with Score at the Top, you get expert educators working closely with you throughout your ACT or SAT prep journey to customize your study calendar to your academic needs and personal schedule for efficient progress. With ongoing support and regular check-ins, we help you stay motivated and accountable from start to finish. We offer services like:
Personalized SAT/ACT prep plans built around your strengths, weaknesses, and goals
Diagnostic testing and in-depth score analysis to pinpoint exactly where to focus
1-on-1 coaching for motivation, accountability, and expert test strategies
Flexible scheduling with both in-person and online sessions to fit your life
Here's a recent success story from one of our students:
SAMPLE SCRIPT
"I struggled to stay consistent with my SAT prep until Score at the Top helped me create a detailed study calendar. Their support and weekly check-ins made a huge difference—my score jumped 140 points, and I felt confident walking into the test!"\
— Emily R., Boca Raton
Quick Quiz: Build Your Personalized Study Plan
Want a custom study calendar for your ACT or SAT prep plan? Answer these quick questions:
What is your target SAT/ACT test date?
How many hours per week can you dedicate to studying?
What is your current baseline score (from a recent practice test)?
How many weeks until your test (8, 10, or 12)?
Do you prefer in-person or online prep support?
Send us your answers to get your personalized study builder!
Your Calendar, Your Confidence
A custom study plan isn’t just about working harder; it’s about working smarter toward test day.
When your calendar matches your goals and your life, every session feels more purposeful and every milestone brings you closer to your ideal test score. By organizing your study time around your unique commitments, you’ll reduce stress and maximize your improvement. Staying consistent with a custom plan also helps you build confidence as test day approaches.
Need help creating your personalized study calendar? Schedule a meeting with Score at the Top today!
For most people, the hardest part is getting started. Let us help you design a study calendar that truly fits your life, so you can move forward with confidence.
