“SAT and ACT prep tips for students with Executive Function challenges” might sound like a contradiction in terms. These tests demand focus, time management, and long-term planning—areas that can feel especially tough for students struggling with Executive Function skills. But here’s the good news: feeling stuck or scattered doesn’t mean you’re incapable. This blog post is here for students (and the adults who love them) to offer real strategies that work with your brain, not against it—especially if traditional study methods just haven’t clicked.
This guide offers SAT and ACT preparation strategies that actually work for students with Executive Function challenges because they’re rooted in how the brain works. Drawing from insights in my book, Your Kid’s Gonna Be Okay, and nearly two decades of experience coaching students with ADHD and other Executive Function struggles, my simple message is that you can do this. And this post will help you do it smarter.
Step 1: Start Where You Are, Not Where You “Should” Be
SAT and ACT prep with Executive Function challenges requires starting from reality, not from anxiety. Maybe you've downloaded a prep guide, bookmarked three websites, and watched half a YouTube video. That’s okay. It’s a start. We don’t need to shame spiral. We need to plan.
Executive function is all about the brain’s ability to manage time, tasks, and motivation—three things the SAT and ACT seem designed to mess with. So rather than trying to brute-force your way through prepping for the SAT and ACT, you’ll need to outsmart the process by working with your brain, not against it. Once you’ve accepted where you are, you can move on to making a plan, which is the next step of SAT/ACT prep.
Bonus resource: Take a look at our Task Initiation resource page for helpful strategies that apply just as well to studying as they do to cleaning your room, which we all know is secretly a form of academic procrastination!
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Step 2: Create a Time Map, Not a To-Do List
If you have ever made an SAT or ACT to-do list that looked more like a scroll from a medieval manuscript with every stress point written down, stop. Allow yourself to stop. I’ve done it myself, and it doesn’t work. Long-winded to-do lists can be overwhelming, especially when you’re feeling stressed. Students with Executive Function challenges can benefit much more from a “time map” that makes your study plan visual and flexible. It shows when tasks will happen, not just what needs to happen.
Here’s a real-life example of this kind of thinking in action. One of my 10th-grade students was studying for the PSAT to get an early jump on both the SAT and ACT exams. His plan was to learn one section well, then begin the next section, and so forth, and get to as many as he could before his test in three weeks. The step he missed was getting a good sense of where he needed to focus his energy. After doing an assessment and reviewing the results together, we prioritized his time so that he put time and energy first into the section where he was within range of achieving his goal. He then briefly reviewed his areas of strength. Finally, he spent a relatively short time on sections that he thought were unlikely to go well to decide which of those to put effort into and which to simply skip over during the test. This last decision might seem completely out of bounds, but it’s not. It’s a timed test, and time management is partly what is being tested. Why spend a large amount of time on something that’s almost certain to be a waste of time? Instead, focus on your strengths and the areas where you have a good shot.
Here’s a sample practice to make a time map. Try it out and see what sticks!
- Pick three 30-minute blocks each week for SAT prep.
- Put them on a visual calendar—paper, digital, whiteboard, your dog’s collar, whatever works.
- Decide at the beginning of the session what you’ll study, and at the end, spend some time reflecting on how that study session went. You can also decide ahead of time what you’ll study to reduce decision fatigue by waiting until study time.
This doesn’t just help you stay on task—it builds metacognition (thinking about your thinking), which research shows is critical for long-term academic success. Want to learn more about metacognition and how it supports students? Read our blog post “4 Life Skills For Teens That Help Them Do Anything” for a deeper understanding.
Step 3: Work the System With a System
You don’t need to study everything. Seriously. The SAT is a game, and like any game, it rewards players who understand the rules and practice strategically.
You can learn more from these high-quality free online resources:
Pair those tools with our Executive Function coaching strategies that build your prioritization muscle:
- Triage what topics you actually need to study. Try not to be influenced by the ones your friends are panicking about. You know yourself best!
- Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable/Ambitious, Realistic, and Time-bound).
- Use short breaks as rewards, not as permission to disappear into TikTok for three hours. You might want to use a timer for breaks so you don’t lose track of time, which is easy to do!
And don’t forget the most powerful tool in the toolbox: relevance. As I wrote in Your Kid’s Gonna Be Okay, motivation skyrockets when the task feels meaningful. You don’t need to love the SAT, and it’s understandable if you don’t. Recognizing that it could be your ticket to more choices in life can make the effort feel worth it.
Step 4: Don’t Go It Alone
Preparing for the SAT with Executive Function challenges is not a solo sport. Accountability, encouragement, and gentle nudges from others are the secret weapons that make a big difference.
You don’t have to hire an SAT tutor to get help. Ask a friend, sibling, or parent to do short “study sprints” with you. Or join a group chat that meets up once a week to check in on progress. Even a Discord server can be your study buddy. Think outside the box for support and accountability options.
You might even want to approach studying with others as an experiment if you’re not used to this strategy. Treat your studying as an experiment to learn how you might be able to incorporate new strategies to make your studying even more effective.
If you’re looking for more structured support for your SAT prep, working with an Executive Function coach can be a game-changer. A coach helps you create a personalized study plan, manage your time effectively, stay motivated, and adjust your strategies when things aren’t working. It's not about doing more—it’s about doing it smarter, with someone in your corner to keep you focused and confident every step of the way.
The Takeaway: Preparing for the SAT with Executive Function Challenges
Let’s recap what works:
- Start realistically, not perfectly.
- Build a time map, not a mile-long list.
- Use tools that make the SAT a system you can hack.
- Find people (and strategies) that make studying less lonely and more effective.
The SAT might feel like a mountain, but with the right Executive Function strategies, it’s a climb you can absolutely make—and we’ll be cheering you on the whole way. Learn how Beyond BookSmart can support you with our 1:1 Executive Function coaching program.
