# Study for ACT and SAT Simultaneously?

**URL:** <https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/study-for-act-and-sat-simultaneously/7673>\
**Category:** Answers\
**Tags:** testdates, act, sat\
**Created:** [March 31, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/study-for-act-and-sat-simultaneously/7673 "2016-03-31T06:34:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/user_avatar/experthub.prepscholar.com/laura_prepscholar/32/15_2.png) [@Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Laura_PrepScholar)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/study-for-act-and-sat-simultaneously/7673/1 "2016-03-31T06:34:39Z")

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Is it a good idea to prepare for the SAT and ACT simultaneously? What if, for instance, I want to take the ACT in September and the SAT in October? Or even if I want to take both the SAT and ACT in June? Is this doable, or is this a terrible idea?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/user_avatar/experthub.prepscholar.com/laura_prepscholar/32/15_2.png) [@Laura\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Laura_PrepScholar)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/study-for-act-and-sat-simultaneously/7673/2 "2016-03-31T07:29:36Z")

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**If you're taking either test for the first time, I'd advise you to stick for studying for one or the other, rather than both.** Part of preparing for both the [SAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-sat-score-by-a-2400-sat-scorer) and [ACT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-act-score-by-a-36-full-scorer) is not just knowing the material, but understanding the test structure and practicing taking the test under realistic conditions. Neither test is particularly short (ACT with Writing is [around 215 minutes](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-is-the-act-with-breaks), while the SAT with essay [clocks in at 230 minutes](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-long-is-the-sat)), so it can be difficult to take [multiple realistic](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-the-most-realistic-sat-practice-test-experience) [practice tests](https://blog.prepscholar.com/realistic-act-practice-testing-with-parent-proctoring) when preparing for just the SAT or ACT, let alone both. Plus, keep in mind that there's no rule that says you must take [both the SAT and ACT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/do-you-need-to-take-both-the-act-and-sat) - **no school's going to require scores from both tests for college admission.**

If you _have_ to take both tests in a relatively short period of time (due to fast-approaching deadlines), I would recommend taking the tests a month apart (e.g. a September ACT and an October SAT), rather than in the same month (e.g. the [June 4th](https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-test-dates) SAT and [June 11th](https://blog.prepscholar.com/act-test-dates) ACT).