How to Help Your Child Prepare for the SAT: A Parent’s Guide to Success
Is your high schooler getting ready for the SAT? Learn how to support your child with expert strategies, free resources, and personalized tutoring tips from Tutors & Friends.
For many high school juniors and seniors, the SAT is a major milestone on the road to college. As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child feel confident and prepared—not just academically, but emotionally too. At Tutors & Friends, we’ve worked with hundreds of students through every phase of SAT prep, and we’ve seen firsthand how the right support makes all the difference.
Here’s how you can help your child prepare for the SAT and set them up for success:
1. Start With a Baseline Score
Before diving into test prep, encourage your child to take a full-length official SAT practice test. This will help you both understand their current strengths and areas for improvement. The College Board (which runs the SAT) offers free digital practice tests online.
👉 Resource: Official College Board SAT Practice Test
2. Create a Realistic Timeline
SAT prep is most effective when spread out over 8–12 weeks. If your student is planning to test in the fall or spring, count backwards to identify when to start studying. Build in time for busy school weeks, family events, and extracurriculars so the prep feels manageable.
3. Use Free Practice Tools
There are great (and free!) SAT resources available online. Encourage your student to start with these:
Khan Academy Official SAT Practice: Personalized practice tailored to your child’s skills.
UWorld SAT Practice: Exceptional question explanations and strategies.
College Board Daily Practice App: A question-a-day keeps skills sharp.
4. Encourage Consistent Practice, Not Cramming
Instead of long weekend study marathons, SAT prep works best with short, focused practice sessions a few times a week. Even 30 minutes a day can lead to major improvement over time.
You can help by creating a study calendar or asking your child to check in weekly with you on their progress.
5. Focus on Strategy, Not Just Content
The SAT isn’t just about knowing math and grammar—it’s about test strategy. Many students benefit from learning how to:
Eliminate wrong answers efficiently
Manage time across sections
Decode tricky question wording
Avoid common test traps
If your student struggles with these, consider bringing in a tutor for strategic support.
6. Consider Personalized Tutoring
Some students thrive with structured self-study—but others need guidance. At Tutors & Friends, we offer one-on-one SAT tutoring with expert instructors who specialize in test strategy and student engagement. We meet students where they are, and help them build a personalized plan that works.
✅ Flexible scheduling
✅ $65/hour
✅ Online or in-person (based on availability)
✅ Homework can be assigned between sessions
Let us know your child’s goals, and we’ll help them get there.
7. Support Without Pressure
Finally, the best thing you can do as a parent? Be encouraging. Test anxiety is real, and while the SAT matters, it’s just one piece of the college puzzle. Remind your child that effort, consistency, and growth matter more than a single score.
Need Help Getting Started?
We’re here to support your family. Reach out to learn more about SAT prep tutoring or book a free consultation.
