Why Summer Is the Perfect Time for Test Prep (And What Most Students Get Wrong About Studying)

It’s almost summer more sunshine, more free time, and for most students, a rare chance to hit pause and reset. But here’s something families don’t hear often enough:

Summer is the single best time to focus on test prep, especially for sophomores and juniors.

During the school year, students are swamped with classes, activities, homework, and everything else competing for their attention. Even the most motivated kids don’t have enough time to properly prep. But summer? That’s when we can finally zoom in on SAT/ACT prep, study habits, and filling in the gaps—without the school-year stress.

But here’s the catch: not all studying is created equal.

Students often spend hours rereading, highlighting, and "reviewing" in ways that feel productive... but don’t actually help information stick. And the research backs this up. Researchers reviewed ten of the most common study strategies. Their goal? Find out which ones actually work and which just make us feel busy.

Here’s what they found and how you can apply it this summer:

What Works (And How You Can Use It at Home)

1. Practice Testing
Instead of rereading notes, have your child quiz themselves or better yet, quiz them yourself!
Consider turning flashcards into a game. Ask, “What’s the capital of Illinois?” or “What’s the difference between area and perimeter?” No need to grade, just encourage trying and learning from mistakes.

Practice testing forces the brain to retrieve information, which actually strengthens memory.

2. Distributed Practice (a.k.a. Spaced Out Studying)
Don’t cram all the studying into one long session. Spread it out. If your child is reviewing math on Monday, wait until Wednesday or Thursday to review it again. Then come back to it next week. Use a calendar or sticky notes to plan review days.

Spacing out practice helps your child remember more over time, even if it feels slower at first.

What Feels Productive But Isn’t

1. Highlighting
➡ It makes the page look colorful, but unless students are engaging with the material (e.g., asking questions, making connections), it does little to support learning.

2. Rereading Passages
➡ Rereading might feel familiar—but familiarity doesn’t equal understanding. The brain starts to zone out, thinking, “I already know this,” even when it hasn’t stuck.

Want to Take It Further?

Try These Summer-Friendly Study Habits:

• Self-Explanation: After a reading passage or math problem, ask: “Can you explain this in your own words?”

• Mix It Up (Interleaving): Don’t just study one subject all day. Rotate between math, reading, and science in the same session.

• Teach It Back: Let your child explain a concept to you as if you’re the student. This works wonders for retention and builds confidence.

Why This Matters (Especially Over Summer)

Summer is a golden opportunity not just to “catch up,” but to actually learn better. You don’t need expensive apps or 4-hour cram sessions. You need the right study strategies that your child can practice a little each day.

This is most especially important for sophomores and juniors, as the have the most to gain right now. It’s the one window in the year when they’re not overwhelmed by schoolwork and the perfect time to build a solid test prep foundation. Even students who work incredibly hard during the year often miss out on real prep time. Summer is their chance.

We work with students to replace busywork with brain work. We teach how to study smarter, not longer using proven techniques that boost confidence and performance. This summer, let’s work together to build study habits that stick, so next fall feels a lot less stressful.

Want help designing a summer study plan that actually works? Let’s chat. We’ll help your child build better habits, one small win at a time.