What does my child need to do in 11th grade?

Nick's answer is that junior year carries the most weight, because it is the last full year of transcripts colleges see before they decide. He lays out the year: the PSAT in October, a practice ACT to compare against it, a first official SAT or ACT in the spring, deeper involvement in a few activities, and the start of a college list.

Recorded September 2025. Deadlines and policies change; check the current year's dates.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Nick Standlea, the CEO of Test Prep Gurus. If you're the parent of an 11th grader, you've probably heard that junior year is the most important year of high And it's true, because this is the year colleges look at the most closely. First, let's talk about academics. Junior year grades carry the most weight. They're the last full year of transcripts that colleges will see before they make admissions decisions. So, keeping grades strong and taking challenging courses, honors, APs, IB if appropriate, that matters more than ever. Second, testing. October of 11th grade means the PSAT.

For most students, this is the starting line. It gives a baseline score, and for top scores, it can even qualify you for national merit scholarship recognition. After the PSAT, take a full-length practice ACT, and then compare the two You can take a free ACT practice test with Test Prep Gurus, 100% for free. We're happy to help anyone do this. This is going to allow you to see which test is a better fit. Both exams are accepted everywhere, but picking the right test makes preparation much more efficient, and your eventual results much stronger.

Most juniors take their first official SAT or ACT in the spring, March, April, or May. That way they can retest in the summer or the fall of senior year if needed, and contrary to popular belief, for most kids, that's needed. Some juniors test earlier in the year, even in the fall, but that's an exception, not the rule. Those students have usually prepped over the summer prior to 11th grade. They started with naturally high scores, or they needed to finish early for some specific reason. Before going early, make sure it's the right fit for you.

And if you're in doubt, talk to your school counselor about that choice. When it comes to scores, remember two key advantages. With score choice, you don't have to send every score. You can send your best test date or dates. Most colleges take the highest section scores across multiple dates, and then they combine them into one super score. This means retesting almost always works to your advantage. Now, let's turn to 11th grade is when students should go deeper, not wider. Colleges don't want a laundry list of activities. They want to see commitment and leadership.

Whether it's sports, arts, volunteering, or clubs, junior year is the time to step into those leadership roles, start projects, or pursue something meaningful outside the classroom. Fourth, college Now is the right time to start building a college list. Visit campuses, take virtual tours, start to understand which schools are the right fit for your kid academically, socially, and financially. Visiting those schools will also give you some insider information on scholarship opportunities at those schools. Now, speaking of scholarships and financial planning, a strong GPA and test scores don't just help with admission.

They also help open doors to thousands of dollars in merit aid. Junior year is the right time for families to start learning about the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and scholarship deadlines, just so senior year doesn't feel completely overwhelming. And then finally, let's talk about mindset. Junior year is very demanding. AP classes, tests, activities, college planning, it's all coming at once. Encourage your student to manage stress, stay organized, and keep a healthy We're trying to build resilience and good study habits are going to pay off now and in college and beyond.

And the big takeaway is this. Junior year is about building the full profile. Academics, test scores, activities, and a clear sense of direction. The goal is to finish junior year with strong grades, at least one SAT or ACT under your belt, meaningful involvement outside the classroom, and the start of a college list. And hopefully we can stay mentally strong along the To learn more or to sign up for that free ACT practice test, you can visit us at prepgurus.com. Thank you for watching. Again, I'm Nick Standlea with Test Prep Gurus, and here's to making junior year the foundation of your future success.

More explainers for parents: https://www.prepgurus.com/13secrets (the free 13 Secrets to College Admission guide) and https://highschoolreach.com (look up any high school's college outcomes)