10th Grade: The Year to Go Deep and Ace Those Tests

Sophomore year is when good students become competitive college applicants. Here's your month-by-month roadmap for test prep, leadership, and building applications that stand out.

This Guide is For You If You're Looking To:

  • Master the SAT/ACT and reach competitive scores for your target colleges

  • Understand exactly when and how to prep for tests (without wasting money)

  • Help your student go deeper in their activities and build real leadership

  • Make sophomore summer count with strategic planning

  • Balance course rigor without burning out your student

  • Know what "Top 50" vs "Top 100" colleges actually expect

  • Stay on track for competitive college admissions

What's Inside:


📊 Complete SAT/ACT Strategy

  • When to start prep (and when it's too early!)

  • Free vs paid prep - what's actually worth it

  • How to improve 100-200 points over the summer

  • Test score targets by college tier:

  • Top 50 Universities: SAT 1400-1600, ACT 30-36

  • Top 100 Universities: SAT 1300-1500, ACT 27-34

  • Strong State Flagships: SAT 1250-1450, ACT 26-32

  • When to take the PSAT (it matters!)

  • Real story: How my son went from 1310 to 1410

📅 Month-by-Month Action Plans

  • Fall semester (August-December): Building momentum

  • Spring semester (January-May): Testing and leadership

  • Detailed weekly priorities for busy families

  • What to focus on each month

🎯 Going DEEPER in Activities

  • How to move from member to leader

  • Quality over quantity (colleges can tell the difference!)

  • Building measurable impact in your activities

  • When to drop activities that aren't working

  • How to start new activities in 10th grade (it's not too late!)

📚 Course Rigor Strategy

  • How many APs/Honors in 10th grade? (by school type)

  • Which subjects matter most for your intended major

  • Balancing rigor with GPA

  • What competitive colleges expect to see

🏖️ THE Make-or-Break Summer

  • This summer matters MORE than you think

  • Competitive summer programs (and how to apply)

  • DIY summer experiences that impress colleges

  • Jobs, internships, volunteering, projects

  • Test prep intensive plans

  • College visit planning (5-10 schools)

💪 Building Leadership

  • How to run for officer positions (and win!)

  • Creating impact even if you're not president

  • Starting your own initiative or project

  • Quantifying your leadership (colleges want numbers!)

📖 Real Stories from My Kids:

  • How my oldest balanced D1 recruitment with academics

  • How my middle son approached test prep to jump 3 points on the ACT

  • How my daughter grew her sustainability interests into a nonprofit

🌟 Building Your Story

  • Start crafting your college application narrative now

  • How to connect activities to future goals

  • Documenting achievements as you go

  • Creating your student's unique brand

You can't afford to wait

Why 10th Grade is THE Testing Year:

✅ Start SAT/ACT prep (get ahead before junior year chaos!)

✅ Take your first official SAT/ACT (baseline score)

✅ Use summer after 10th for intensive test prep

✅ Aim to be DONE with testing by fall of 11th grade

This roadmap shows you exactly when and how to do each step.

Here's the truth: Junior year is too late to start test prep.

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What Sets This Apart:


Most college prep advice says: Study hard and do activities.
This roadmap tells you:

  • WHEN to start test prep (down to the month!)

  • HOW MUCH test prep is enough

  • WHICH activities to prioritize

  • HOW DEEP to go in leadership

  • WHAT makes sophomore summer productive

  • EXACTLY what competitive colleges expect in 10th grade

No guessing. Just a clear plan.

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FAQS

Q: My student hasn't started test prep. Is it too late?

A: Not at all! This guide includes catch-up strategies and shows you how to maximize summer prep.

Q: Should we hire a tutor or take a prep course?

A: I cover when it's worth it vs when free resources work just as well. Includes specific recommendations.

Q: What if my student is involved in too many activities?

A: This guide helps you evaluate and strategically cut activities that aren't adding value.

The Investment:

One SAT/ACT prep course: $300-$800

One college counseling session: $150-$500

This complete 10th grade roadmap: $27 You do the math.

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