How One-On-One Tutoring Works
We start by reviewing the reading/writing and math concepts the student may not have seen since middle school and on which they have become a bit rusty. I’ll go through each concept systematically and assign homework as we go, so they can practice independently. I teach students strategies to improve their success on each question type and their speed, so they don’t run out of time. Once we finish the review and practice, they take timed practice tests. I look over the results of their tests and prepare lessons to address only the questions they missed.
I do not sell packages because every student misses a different number of problems on their homework and practice tests. I recommend trying to do 8-12 sessions or more if possible. Of course, the more practice they get, the better prepared they’ll be on test day.
When to Take the Test
Schools often give the SAT test on a school-day in March or April for free during the student’s junior year. However, students can take it on their own for $68 on a Saturday in March, May, June, August, September, October, November, or December. Here is a registration link to see the dates and locations.
I recommend students take it at least 2-3 times. Their scores generally go up after having taken it once before. If a college only wants one score, they can choose to submit their best overall score. If a college does what is called “Superscoring,” the student can report their best reading and writing score from any test date to be combined with their best math score from any test date to make a Superscore (total score better than any individual test date).
When to Start Preparing
Students who have completed Algebra 2 with some basic trigonometry may start any time. Summer is a nice time, since they don’t have the distractions of school-year homework and after-school activities. The summer before their junior year would also prepare them for the fall PSAT. If a student does well on the PSAT, they can become a National Merit Scholar, which is great for college admissions and can lead to generous merit scholarships at some schools.
One-On-One Session Pricing
SAT prep classes are $150 per 60-minute session or $225 per 90-minute session. The rate is higher than regular tutoring because each session is longer than 45-minute academic tutoring sessions and is custom-made to meet the needs of your teen. I generally spend an additional hour preparing for each lesson.
You will be auto-billed for one month of tutoring prior to the start of the month, based on the number of lessons the student has scheduled (so, not during holidays, etc.). You may choose to have your credit card, debit card, or bank account automatically charged. If you would like to see if I’m a good fit for your child before paying for a whole month, you can pay for the first session only.
Referral Bonus
Anyone (including a student) who refers my services to a new family will receive $50 as my thank you after the new student has completed four paid sessions. This referral bonus is for current families, past families, and even people who recommend me who have never used Peak Tutoring themselves. There is no limit to how many times you can recommend Peak Tutoring and receive $50. Thanks for sharing!