Evidence-Based Study Strategies for Standardized Tests

Most test prep advice is anecdotal. "This worked for me" isn't evidence. Here's what cognitive science research says about the strategies that actually improve performance on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, and which popular strategies are wasting your time.

1. Practice Testing (Retrieval Practice)

The evidence: A landmark meta-analysis by Dunlosky et al. (2013) rated practice testing as one of only two study strategies with "high utility" across all learning contexts. Students who test themselves on material retain 50–80% more than students who simply re-read it [1]Dunlosky et al., 2013.

For standardized tests: This means taking full-length practice tests under realistic conditions is the single most effective thing you can do. Not just answering practice questions, sitting for the full test, timed, in one sitting.

How to implement:

• Take a diagnostic practice test before any studying
• Take a full practice test every 1–2 weeks during prep
• Use official materials (College Board for SAT, ACT.org for ACT)
• Simulate real conditions: timed, no phone, quiet room, one sitting

2. Spaced Repetition

The evidence: Distributing study over time produces significantly better retention than cramming. The "spacing effect" is one of the most robust findings in cognitive psychology, replicated across hundreds of studies since Ebbinghaus's original research in 1885 [2]Cepeda et al., 2006.

For standardized tests: Don't study for 8 hours the day before. Study for 1–2 hours, 4–5 days per week, over 8–12 weeks.

Optimal spacing schedule:

The taper matters: Reduce intensity in the final week. Research on performance anxiety shows that last-minute cramming increases stress without proportional learning gains [6]Cassady & Johnson, 2002.

3. Error Analysis

The evidence: Simply taking practice tests isn't enough, you need to analyze why you got questions wrong. Research on deliberate practice shows that focused attention on errors produces faster skill development than undirected repetition [3]Ericsson et al., 1993.

How to do error analysis:

After every practice test or problem set:

1. Categorize each error:

   • Content gap (didn't know the concept)
   • Careless mistake (knew it but messed up)
   • Time pressure (ran out of time)
   • Misread the question
   • Narrowed to two, chose wrong one

2. Track patterns in a simple spreadsheet:

3. Focus next study session on your most common error types and topics. This is more effective than re-studying everything equally.

4. Interleaving

The evidence: Mixing different types of problems in a single study session (interleaving) produces better learning than practicing one type at a time (blocking), even though blocking feels more productive [4]Rohrer & Taylor, 2007.

For standardized tests: Don't spend Monday on algebra, Tuesday on geometry, Wednesday on statistics. Mix them together. When doing practice questions, randomize topics. The initial difficulty is the point, it forces your brain to identify which strategy to use, which is exactly what the test requires.

What the Research Says Doesn't Work

Highlighting and Re-Reading

Dunlosky's meta-analysis rated these as "low utility" strategies. Re-reading your notes or highlighting a textbook feels productive but produces minimal retention. You're recognizing information, not retrieving it, and recognition and recall are different cognitive processes [1]Dunlosky et al., 2013.

Cramming

Works for short-term recall (a quiz tomorrow) but fails for durable learning. Since SAT/ACT prep takes place over weeks or months, cramming is actively counterproductive, it creates an illusion of competence that collapses under test-day pressure.

Studying Without Timing

If you never practice under time pressure, test day will be a shock. The ACT gives you roughly 49 seconds per question on average. Untimed practice doesn't prepare you for this.

Timing Strategies

Time management is a skill that must be practiced separately:

SAT Timing

ACT Timing

Timing rules:

• Never spend more than 2x the average time on any single question
• If stuck, mark it and move on, come back if time allows
• Practice with a visible timer from the start of your prep
• On the ACT especially, unanswered questions are the biggest score killer (no penalty for guessing)

Breaking Through Score Plateaus

Most students hit a plateau, a score range they can't seem to break through. Here's the data on what causes plateaus and how to break them:

Plateau cause #1: Practicing strengths instead of weaknesses. Students naturally gravitate toward problems they can solve. Deliberate practice requires the opposite. If your error log shows reading inference questions are your weak point, that's where 60% of your study time should go.

Plateau cause #2: Not reviewing practice tests thoroughly. Taking a test and checking the score without deep error analysis is like going to the gym and only doing exercises you're already good at.

Plateau cause #3: Content ceiling. At higher score ranges (1450+ SAT / 32+ ACT), raw practice has diminishing returns. You need targeted content mastery of the most difficult question types. This is where a tutor or advanced prep book becomes valuable.

A Sample 8-Week Study Plan

Total practice tests: 4 full-length (plus the real thing) Total study hours: ~50–60 hours over 8 weeks

Test-Day Performance

Preparation doesn't end with content. Research on test anxiety and performance shows:

• Sleep: Students who slept 7+ hours the night before scored significantly higher than those who crammed late [5]Gillen-O'Neel et al., 2013.
• Nutrition: A protein-rich breakfast stabilizes blood sugar; avoid sugar crashes from pastries.
• Arrival: Get to the test center 30 minutes early. Rushing triggers cortisol release that impairs working memory.
• Don't study the morning of. Last-minute review increases anxiety without improving performance.

The Bottom Line

Effective test prep isn't about the number of hours or the amount of money. It's about how you practice:

1. Take timed practice tests with official materials
2. Analyze every error systematically
3. Space your study over weeks, not days
4. Focus on weaknesses, not strengths
5. Interleave problem types
6. Sleep before the test

Everything else is noise.

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