Should Parents Start Thinking About The SAT Or ACT Now?

Key Takeaways

Audience Spotlight: Building Confidence Habits from the Start

If you are a parent focused on helping your child grow strong confidence habits, you’re not alone. Many families wonder how to gently introduce future academic milestones without overwhelming their child. Thinking ahead about the SAT or ACT can feel too early in elementary school, but it’s actually the perfect time to lay emotional and behavioral foundations that will support your child’s confidence for years to come. By focusing on routines, goal setting, and self-belief, you’re helping your child face future challenges like standardized tests with calm and determination.

Definitions

SAT and ACT: These are standardized tests used by many colleges in the United States to assess readiness for college-level work. While not taken until high school, preparation starts long before.

Confidence habits: These are consistent behaviors and mindsets, such as positive self-talk, resilience, and self-motivation, that help children feel capable and secure in their learning journey.

Why now? Understanding when parents should start SAT or ACT planning

It may seem far off, but knowing when parents should start SAT or ACT planning is about much more than a test date. Many parents notice that children begin to form attitudes about learning, testing, and confidence as early as elementary school. These early years are a critical window to build habits that will eventually make test prep smoother and less stressful. The idea is not to start drilling practice questions in third grade, but to create a mindset and system that will support success later on.

Experts in child development note that early exposure to goal-setting, time management, and positive self-talk can help children feel more in control of their learning process. These skills translate directly into test readiness. When the time comes for SAT or ACT prep in high school, your child will already know how to set a study schedule, ask for help, and bounce back from mistakes.

What does early SAT or ACT preparation look like in elementary school?

We’re not talking about flashcards or test booklets. Early SAT or ACT preparation in the elementary years is all about skill-building. Encourage your child to stay organized with homework folders, try new vocabulary words during reading time, and reflect on what they’re proud of at the end of the week.

For example, if your fourth grader struggles with reading comprehension, helping them feel successful with a challenging book boosts their belief in themselves as a learner. That same confidence will later help them tackle long reading passages on the SAT or ACT without shutting down or giving up.

Many teachers and parents report that children who regularly practice focus, task completion, and healthy coping skills are more resilient when facing academic challenges in later grades. These habits are the building blocks of test confidence.

Elementary school and SAT vs ACT: What should parents know?

While your child won’t decide between the SAT and ACT until high school, understanding the differences early can help you guide them later. The SAT places more emphasis on problem-solving and evidence-based reading, while the ACT includes a science section and has a faster pace. Some students feel more comfortable with one format over the other.

Knowing this, you can observe how your child responds to different types of tasks. Do they enjoy logic puzzles? Do they work better at a steady pace or quickly under pressure? These observations will help when it’s time to choose between the two tests.

In the meantime, focus on developing strong reading habits, flexible thinking, and math fluency. These form the academic base for either test.

Parent concerns: Are we pressuring our kids too early?

This is a valid and important question. When thinking about when parents should start SAT or ACT planning, it’s essential to keep things age-appropriate and emotionally supportive. Your goal is not to pressure or stress your child but to open up conversations and build habits that will serve them later.

For example, you might say, “One day, you’ll get to show colleges how much you’ve learned. For now, let’s keep practicing how to focus and ask good questions.” This keeps the tone light and forward-thinking, without making it feel high stakes.

Habits that support long-term test readiness

• Focus and attention: Practice short periods of focused work with breaks in between. This helps build stamina for longer tasks later on. Visit our Focus and attention resources for ideas.
• Time management: Even young students can learn to estimate how long homework will take and plan accordingly. Building this awareness early makes future study schedules easier. See our Time management tips.
• Goal setting: Setting small, achievable goals gives your child a sense of progress. Celebrating these goals builds motivation and self-trust. Explore more at Goal setting.
• Confidence building: Help your child notice their own growth. Statements like “You worked really hard on that” reinforce effort over outcome. Our Confidence building section has more strategies.

How to talk about future testing with your child

Keep conversations curious and open-ended. You might say, “Some kids take a test called the SAT or ACT when they’re older. It’s one way they show what they’ve learned. What do you think about that?”

Talking about future testing doesn’t mean you need to explain everything now. Instead, use these moments to build a sense of calm anticipation rather than fear. Reinforce that tests are just one part of a larger learning journey.

Final thoughts: It’s about preparation, not pressure

Knowing when parents should start SAT or ACT planning allows you to focus on what matters most—supporting your child’s growth. Whether your child is in third grade or fifth, it’s never too early to build the emotional and academic habits that lead to success. Keep your approach kind, consistent, and age-appropriate, and your child will feel equipped and confident when the time comes.

Tutoring Support

K12 Tutoring understands the importance of long-term planning and emotional readiness. Our tutors help students of all ages build the confidence, focus, and academic habits that make future test prep smoother. Whether you’re just starting to think about the SAT or ACT or already supporting a high schooler, we’re here to help every step of the way.

Related Resources

• SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should I Take? – College Board
• ACT vs. SAT: Key Differences & Picking the Right Test – ACT Official
• SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Is Right for You? – The Princeton Review

Trust & Transparency Statement

Last reviewed: December 2025
This article was prepared by the K12 Tutoring education team, dedicated to helping students succeed with personalized learning support and expert guidance. K12 Tutoring content is reviewed periodically by education specialists to reflect current best practices and family feedback. Have ideas or success stories to share? Email us at [email protected].