How Parents Can Help Students Succeed on the SAT® and ACT® in 2025
With a new school year underway, it’s a perfect time to clarify the important role parents and guardians play in supporting their students’ academic success. While the responsibility for learning and test prep ultimately falls on the students, parents are a crucial part of the process—and in many ways, they are our clients too. Research and experience show that when parents take an active, informed role in their child’s academics, students are more likely to stay on track, reach their goals, and achieve their target SAT® or ACT® scores.
At the same time, many parents are unsure of how to help. They may feel uncertain about what kind of support is useful, how to encourage their child without adding pressure, or even why their involvement matters. The good news is that small, intentional actions—like helping with study routines, offering emotional support, and guiding organizational strategies—can make a measurable difference.
Recent research backs this up: a 2025 study in the American Journal of Education and Technology found that parental involvement was strongly linked to higher motivation, better focus, and stronger academic performance. In fact, students in the study reported feeling “more supported and confident when [their] parents are involved” (AJET, 2025).
Key Takeaways
Parents matter. Light, consistent involvement is linked with higher motivation, better focus, and stronger academic performance.
Routines beat cramming. Short, scheduled study sessions with breaks help students retain more and stress less.
Organize the process. Parents can add real value by tracking dates, spacing practice tests, and checking progress on a weekly basis.
Support > pressure. Encourage effort, protect sleep, and keep perspective; over-involvement can raise anxiety.
Logistics count. Staying on top of test dates, materials, and accommodations reduces stress and is associated with improved attendance and follow-through.
Guide Goal-Setting and Progress Tracking
Parents know their kids want higher scores, but students often don’t know how to break that into manageable steps. This is where you can coach parents to step in and help structure the goal-setting process.
Encourage parents to:
Review the results of a baseline practice test together with their child.
Help their teen set small, achievable goals instead of aiming for one big jump.
Create a simple progress tracker (like a chart on the fridge or a shared Google Sheet).
Celebrate growth, even if it’s just a couple of points gained!
Quick Tip for Parents: Suggest they ask, “What’s one small goal you want to reach this week?” to help teens take ownership.
Why this matters: Research shows that when parents are actively involved in monitoring and encouraging progress, students tend to feel more motivated and engaged (AJET, 2025).
Encourage a Steady Study Routine
Cramming the night before the test is a recipe for stress. Parents need to create supportive routines that keep their teen on track without overwhelming them.
Parents can:
Work with their teen to set consistent weekly study times.
Provide a quiet, organized study space without distractions.
Encourage healthy breaks to keep energy and focus up.
Quick Tip for Parents: Block out “study time” on the family calendar—this helps SAT®/ACT® prep become a natural part of the weekly routine.
Why this matters: According to the AJET study, parental support with routines and time management is associated with better student focus and follow-through (2025).
Offer Emotional Support Without Adding Pressure
We know very well the stress that test prep can create for our students. Parents play a big role in setting the emotional tone at home. Encourage parents to:
Praise effort and perseverance more than just high scores.
Reinforce the idea that one test won’t define their child’s entire future.
Model calmness and help their teen stick to healthy sleep and study habits.
Quick Tip for Parents: Ask, “What’s something you’re proud of in your prep this week?” instead of “What did you score?” This shows support for progress over the end result.
Why this matters: When parents take too much control, stress levels rise. But when they focus on support and positive encouragement, students feel more confident and capable—and that confidence shows in their progress.
Help Manage Prep Resources and Practice
Parents don’t have to sit down and solve math problems, but they can make a big difference by keeping the prep process organized and consistent. They can:
Help their child create and stick to a study calendar with practice tests, tutoring sessions, and breaks built in.
Make sure their child has a dedicated, quiet, distraction-free study space stocked with pencils, scratch paper, and a calculator.
Check in weekly—not to nag, but to help balance schoolwork, activities, and rest.
Quick Tip for Parents: Do a 5-minute “prep check-in” on Sunday nights to plan the week’s schedule together.
Why this matters: The 2025 AJET study found that simple parental actions like helping with time management, homework support, and progress monitoring were strongly connected to higher motivation and better academic performance.
Get Involved in Test-Day Logistics
Parents are uniquely positioned to manage the details that can make or break test day. They can help their child:
Double-check registration deadlines so there’s no last-minute stress.
Plan a test-day route to the center, including parking or drop-off.
Ensure their child’s ID, calculator, and test-center-approved snacks are ready the night before.
Support their child in applying early for test accommodations, if needed and eligible.
Quick Tip for Parents: Do a “test-day dress rehearsal”—drive to the site before test day, at the same time of day, so you know what to expect for traffic/potential delays, and so your teen knows exactly where the entrance to the test center is.
Why this matters: Even the most prepared student can underperform if test-day details go wrong. Forgotten IDs, being late to the test center, or scrambling for the right calculator can add unnecessary stress. When parents handle the logistics, students can walk in calm and focused—ready to put all their hard work to use.
We know that test prep doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens in the middle of busy family life, with conflicting schedules and shared living spaces. Parents may not realize how much their presence matters, but when they help set routines, keep logistics in order, and cheer their students on, the results are real and measurable.
By showing parents exactly how they can help, you give your students not only stronger study habits, but also a powerful support system that carries them through the challenges of the SAT® or ACT®—and beyond.
At Clear Choice Prep, we’re dedicated to helping you, your business, and your students achieve real results. Our fully custom-branded curriculum and materials give tutors everything they need to deliver personalized, high-impact test-prep experiences for students at any level.
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