When it comes to standardized testing - or any academic endeavor, really - time is often an ally. Having a long runway to prepare can certainly help promote improvement, and perhaps even more importantly, alleviate anxiety. That said, I also believe that burnout is real, and am not an advocate of starting standardized test prep too early (typically the second semester of sophomore year is the right time to start taking diagnostics). There are certainly ways, however, to get a jump on SAT/ACT prep even earlier without actually prepping for the tests themselves. In fact, there's plenty that a high school freshman can do to lay a strong foundation for future testing without even looking at an SAT or ACT.
Read, read, read
So much of the SAT and ACT is grounded in critical reading and analysis. Yes, even the ACT Science section, in a way, challenges students' reading comprehension skills. With that in mind, take advantage of freshman year to become a stronger reader. Whether it's just starting with an article a day, or committing to a longer work of fiction or nonfiction (and not one assigned in school!) before you go to sleep each night, pick something that encourages active engagement. Need some recommendations? Here are some of our favorites. The more you read, the more comfortable you'll be analyzing text, which is a fundamental skill to develop for future success on the SAT and ACT.
Develop your mental math skills
While a calculator is allowed on the ACT and on some SAT math questions, now is the time to develop your numerical fluency. Students tend to think that the calculator saves time, but I'd actually contend that strong mental math skills will put that assumption to the test (seriously, see for yourself!). The calculator can be a helpful tool, but it shouldn't be a crutch. And now is the time to develop your foundational numerical skills so that you can more confidently engage with higher-level concepts when you're preparing for the SAT or ACT.
Learn how to study
So much of freshman year is about finding out what works for you as a student: Where do you get the most effective studying done? How do you utilize your weekends to complete your academic work? What's best way to manage your academic, social and extracurricular commitments? The answers to these questions will be different for every student, but now is the time to learn what works best for you so that when the academic work intensifies and your test preparation official begins, you'll be ready to take on the additional commitment.
Ultimately, this year is about developing the underlying skills that will support your successful standardized testing in the future. The best part is that these skills are deeply applicable to all school assignments starting...well, now. So, remember to pace yourself and recognize that change takes time, but with the proper study habits and habits of mind, you'll be well ahead of the game when the SAT and ACT arrive.