Remember when you waited until the night before your History test to start studying? That panicky, overwhelming feeling in your chest?

Don’t let that be your SAT or ACT test experience. Like a lot of things in life, the earlier you start, the smoother the process will go for you. No need to study for four hours every single day. Start small now, before crunch time.

Using these free resources will help you gradually build your confidence over time and get you into the habit of studying.

Apps

1. Dictionary.com

Instead of scrolling through Instagram on your way to school, open the Dictionary.com app for two minutes to check the word of the day. Challenge yourself to try to use that word in a sentence at some point during the day. Learning a new word every day will help you learn prefixes, suffixes, and roots, which will help you if you come across a new word on the SAT/ACT. Or, if you’re more likely to check your inbox, you can sign up for daily emails instead.

2. Daily Practice for the New SAT

The best way to start a daily habit is to start small -- so small it’s hard to come up with an excuse not to try. The official app of the College Board, Daily Practic asks one question a day and provides answer explanations to help you refine your skills.

3. Magoosh Flashcards

Practice English vocab and Math concepts on the free Magoosh App.

4. Varsity Tutors App

Varsity Tutors offers two separate apps, one for the SAT and one for the ACT. Both include practice tests, quizzes, and flashcards. Taking a full-length practice test will allow the app to personalize your study sessions and tell you what to focus on.

Websites

5. Khan Academy SAT Prep

In collaboration with the College Board, the Khan Academy SAT Prep website provides practice plans for students that take your SAT or PSAT scores into consideration. It also includes 8 full-length practice tests.

20 hours of practice on Khan Academy is associated with an average 115-point score increase from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT, nearly double the average gain without Khan.

6. Kaplan Test Prep

Take a look at Kaplan’s free events page, which includes free SAT practice tests and free ACT practice tests. The best part about the practice tests is that you’ll also receive score reviews.Sign up for a practice test during one of the available times through the website.

In-Person Prep

7. Your Local Library

Many libraries offer courses and SAT/ACT prep workshops throughout the year. Stop by or check out your local library’s website to see what’s on the calendar of upcoming events.

8. Your High School  

Keep a lookout for announcements about SAT/ACT prep courses and workshops that your school might offer. Always feel free to reach out to your guidance counselor and find out about local SAT/ACT prep workshops.

Start Now. Start Slow.

Building a new habit into your busy schedule is challenging. Spend your commute or down time between classes flipping through your flashcard app. Challenge yourself to learn a new word everyday. Try out a couple of the apps and see which one works best for you. Over time, these free resources will be a great supplement to your studying. Instead of tackling everything at once, start slow and start small.