How early should Swiss students start preparing for the SAT?

The best time to begin SAT prep is roughly six to nine months before your preferred test date. For Swiss students, we typically recommend starting in the second semester of Grade 10 (or early in Grade 11), particularly if you’re balancing demanding programs like the IB or Matura. Why start so early? Because unlike Swiss school exams, the SAT requires not just subject knowledge but test-taking strategy—like how to pace through reading passages, manage adaptive math modules, and use the on-screen tools efficiently. With more prep time, students can take a diagnostic test, pinpoint weaknesses, and improve gradually—without the stress of last-minute cramming. This timeline also leaves room for retakes, should you need them, and aligns with U.S. application deadlines in Grade 12. Starting early also allows us to coordinate SAT prep with your child’s academic and extracurricular calendar, so test success doesn’t come at the cost of everything else.