Planning for Tests in Sophomore Year | Winward Academy

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How to Plan Ahead for Tests in Sophomore Year

Parents and their teens always want to better understand what to take and when.

Here is an overview of what TESTS to expect in sophomore year

You’ll take the PSAT in the Fall through your school. While many sophomores are required to take the PSAT, the scores don’t “count” for college. Some high schools use students’ PSAT scores to place them into AP classes for junior year. The PSAT only “counts” in the junior year for students interested in qualifying for the National Merit Scholarship program.

Not every student will take SAT Subject Tests. However, if you’re a sophomore and taking advanced, honors, or AP classes, it’s advantageous to take a subject test in May and/or June of your sophomore year. It’s best for your sanity — and your score — to take the subject tests at the end of the school year in which you’ve taken relevant coursework. Don’t miss that opportunity by taking a subject test in the Fall. By then, you may have forgotten a great deal of the content you learned during the previous school year.

In the late Spring or early summer of your sophomore year, you should take a practice ACT and a practice SAT to determine which test is better for you. Once you’ve identified your preferred test, develop an individualized test preparation plan to implement during the summer between sophomore and junior year.

Is there anything to do prior to or during sophomore year?

Absolutely. All students can use their first two years of high school to build a strong academic foundation. Two key areas that deserve focus: (1) reviewing conventional grammar rules and (2) solidifying basic algebra and geometry concepts. Students can learn grammar concepts and practice them regularly in their writing, emails, and even texting with friends (none of this “ur fun” stuff – you should type “you’re fun”). Students can also keep running lists of all the math equations they’re learning, so they don’t forget basic concepts like equations of lines, exponents and radicals, perimeter and area equations for basic shapes, combining fractions, FOIL, and factoring.

Here is an overview of what tests are offered when, so you can plan ahead for junior year.


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About Winward Academy – Winward Academy is one of the world’s leading innovators in the online education space, providing web-based academic support that enhances students’ knowledge, confidence, and competitiveness in middle and high school academics and in college applications. We help thousands of students every year by providing personalized, comprehensive ACT and SAT test preparation and extensive math curriculum support. The Winward Academy learning platform honors over 40 years of education and cognitive psychology research, incorporating proven techniques that promote effective learning.

Winward Academy’s unmatched reputation is wholly attributable to our students’ exceptional success and to the trust earned among students, parents, and schools around the world.

Jennifer Winward, Ph.D.

Dr. Jennifer Winward is a renowned college instructor, a distinguished 20-year veteran of high school tutoring, and the founder and lead instructor of Winward Academy. She earned her Ph.D. specializing in adolescent brain development and adolescent learning. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude with highest distinction honors. Dr. Winward has been widely recognized for her academic success, published research, and philanthropic efforts with awards from the President of the United States, the California State Assembly, Rotary International, the Marin County School Administrator Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Science Foundation.