How to Prepare for the SAT in Kentucky: A Parent’s Guide
The landscape of college admissions testing in Kentucky is shifting. With the SAT now positioned as the standard assessment for high school juniors across the Commonwealth, many parents are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory. You might have grown up taking the ACT, or perhaps you’ve already guided an older child through the ACT process. Now, the game has changed, and you want to make sure your current high schooler is ready to win.
Navigating this transition doesn't have to be stressful. In fact, with the right approach, this new chapter can offer your child a fantastic opportunity to shine. The key is preparation—not just for the student, but for the parent as well. Understanding the test, knowing when to start, and finding the right support system are the pillars of a successful testing season.
This guide provides actionable steps to help you support your child through the SAT preparation process, ensuring they walk into test day with confidence and walk out with a score that reflects their true potential.
Step 1: Demystify the Digital SAT
The first step in helping your child is understanding what they are up against. The SAT has undergone a major transformation recently. It is no longer the pencil-and-paper endurance test of the past. Today's SAT is fully digital and adaptive.
What Does "Adaptive" Mean?
The test is divided into two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section contains two modules. The first module contains a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. The difficulty of the second module depends on how your child performs on the first. If they do well on the first module, the second will be harder (and worth more potential points). If they struggle, the second module will be easier.
The Breakdown
Time: The test is much shorter now—about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Tools: A graphing calculator is allowed for the entire Math section, and there is one built directly into the testing app.
Format: Reading passages are shorter (usually one paragraph) with a single question per passage, which is often less exhausting for students than the long reading comprehension sections of the past.
By understanding these mechanics, you can help lower your child's anxiety. It’s not a mystery; it’s just a format they need to get used to.
Step 2: Start Early (Ideally, Sophomore Year)
One of the biggest mistakes families make is waiting until the spring of junior year to think about the SAT. By then, schedules are packed with AP exams, sports, and finals, leaving little mental bandwidth for test prep.
The "sweet spot" for starting preparation is often the summer before junior year or the very beginning of junior year. However, laying the groundwork can start as early as sophomore year.
Why Start Early?
Low Stakes Practice: Starting early allows your child to take a diagnostic practice test without any pressure. This baseline score tells you exactly where they stand and how much work is needed to reach their goal.
Skill Building vs. Cramming: True score improvement comes from strengthening core skills in algebra, grammar, and data analysis. This takes time. Cramming might help with a history test, but it rarely works for the SAT.
Confidence: A student who has been practicing for months feels in control. A student who starts two weeks before the test feels panicked.
Step 3: Create a Realistic Study Plan
Once you have a baseline score, sit down with your child and map out a schedule. Consistency is far more effective than intensity. Thirty minutes of practice four times a week is better than a four-hour marathon session on a Sunday night.
A Sample Timeline
3-4 Months Out: Focus on content review. Revisit geometry formulas, grammar rules, and algebra concepts.
2 Months Out: Shift to strategy. Learn how to eliminate wrong answers, how to manage time per question, and how to use the built-in calculator efficiently.
1 Month Out: Take full-length, timed practice tests on weekends to build stamina. Review every mistake to understand why it happened.
Step 4: Leverage Professional Support
While self-study is important, most students reach a plateau where they can't improve their score any further on their own. This is where professional guidance becomes invaluable. At Educational Resources, we specialize in bridging the gap between a student’s current score and their goal score.
We offer two distinct paths depending on your child's learning style and needs:
Group Test Prep
If your child thrives in a structured environment and enjoys learning with peers, our group classes are an excellent choice.
Comprehensive Curriculum: We cover all sections of the SAT, ensuring no topic is left behind.
Cost-Effective: Group sessions provide expert instruction at an accessible price point.
Scheduled Accountability: having a set class time ensures that prep actually happens, rather than getting pushed aside for other homework.
One-on-One Tutoring
If your child has specific weak spots (e.g., great at Reading but struggles with Math) or has a busy schedule, private tutoring is the gold standard.
Targeted Instruction: We don't waste time on what they already know. We focus 100% on their opportunities for growth.
Personalized Pacing: The tutor moves at your child's speed, stopping to explain complex concepts until they are fully understood.
Mentorship: Our tutors act as coaches, building confidence and reducing test anxiety through positive reinforcement.
Step 5: Prioritize Practice Tests
You wouldn't run a marathon without doing a few long training runs first. The same logic applies to the SAT. Taking full-length, timed practice tests is non-negotiable.
Since the Kentucky SAT is digital, your child needs to practice in a digital environment. They need to get comfortable with the screen interface, the timer counting down in the corner, and the tools available to them.
Parent Tip: Simulate test day conditions at home. Find a quiet room, take away their phone, and stick strictly to the time limits. This builds the mental endurance required to stay focused for over two hours.
Step 6: Focus on Wellness
Finally, remember that the brain is a biological organ. It needs sleep, fuel, and hydration to function. In the week leading up to the test, ensure your child is:
Getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
Eating protein-rich breakfasts.
Managing stress through exercise or downtime.
A tired or stressed brain will make silly mistakes, no matter how much they have studied.
Ready to conquer the SAT?
The shift to the SAT in Kentucky is a big change, but with a proactive plan, your child can turn it into a major advantage for their college applications. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
At Educational Resources, we are dedicated to helping Kentucky students unlock their potential. Whether through our collaborative group classes or our focused one-on-one tutoring, we have the tools and expertise to help your child succeed.
Don't leave your child's college future to chance.
About the Author: Lindsay O’Brien
Lindsay O'Brien is the active Executive Director of Educational Resources in Louisville, KY. Previously, she spent over 10 years as a teacher before transitioning to tutoring and standardized test preparation.