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Best SAT Tutoring Programs Online
Our comprehensive guide details the best SAT tutors available online to help you nail this all-important test
If your goal is to crush the SAT and get into a top tier university, your best bet might be with a 1-on-1 private tutoring package. For those looking for an edge, private tutors can often help you score some quick and easy gains. But where do you start in your search for a tutor? Our team has reviewed the tutoring services from all of the major SAT prep companies and ranked the best tutoring services here.
To make navigating this guide more convenient, we’ve added jump-to links above so you can quickly find the best tutoring service for your needs.
Video Review: Best Online SAT Tutoring Packages
In the above video, John (from the Test Prep Insight team) breaks down the best SAT tutoring services available. He walks through each company’s price, effectiveness, and which ones are best for different types of learners. Thanks for watching.
Taking the #1 position on our best SAT tutors list is Kaplan. And they take the number one spot for two simple reasons: their tutors are absolutely top-notch and they include a boatload resources and study materials with their tutoring packages.
I’ll quickly run through what you get when you opt for one of their bundled tutoring packages:
access to on-demand practice questions in their Qbank,
15+ hours of on-demand video lessons,
18 hours of live SAT classes,
and a bunch more.
In short, it’s a lotof extras. Kaplan just piles on the prep material with their tutoring, and makes it one of the more immersive prep experiences on the market. So if you’re looking for an intensive experience, this will likely be it for you.
Another view of one of Kaplan’s stellar video lessons
In addition, we thought Kaplan’s tutors were awesome. From a knowledge standpoint, they can’t be rivaled. They’ve each got decades of experience teaching to the SAT under their belt and are clearly gurus.
And in terms of pricing, Kaplan is sort of right in the middle-to-high end of the pack with rates running from $115/hour up to $200/hour depending on package size. This is expected given all the extra study materials that Kaplan includes with each SAT tutoring package.
We are very big fans of PrepScholar’s tutoring bundle for three main reasons: (1) top-notch tutors, (2) the way they integrate their top-rated prep course with the tutoring, and (3) their high-value price point.
On the first point of tutors themselves, PrepScholar’s tutors were some of the best we’ve interacted with. Not only were they clearly very smart, but they were also great communicators. I personally loved how easily they broke down some of the tougher concepts and made them really digestible, which is the key to SAT tutoring. Being able to make sense of complex subjects and deliver the message in a way that’s memorable and digestible is crucial, and they were fantastic in this respect.
PrepScholar SAT quiz question
Second, we really like the way PrepScholar integrates their prep course right into the tutoring plan. With PrepScholar, most of your individual work is done within the online prep program, and the tutor swoops in regularly to check on your progress, explain tough concepts, review practice test results, and give you targeted homework.
They also teach within the same teaching framework of the prep course, so the message and instruction is consistent. Many SAT tutoring services don’t do this, and you’re forced to learn the same concept different ways, but PrepScholar teaches everything in a streamlined and uniform fashion, which is a huge benefit.
PrepScholar provides a handy progress tracker to keep you on track
Lastly, we love the value proposition of PrepScholar’s tutoring packages. When you consider that the prep course is bundled with their tutoring, and you factor in the standalone cost of those materials and tools, the true cost of their tutoring breaks down closer to about $23 per hour of prep—a fantastic value.
Bottom line, our team was very impressed with PrepScholar for its all-around value, quality of tutors and instruction, and included materials.
Third up on our team’s list is Princeton Review, and they primarily make our list for their in-person tutoring services. While Prep Expert and a lot of other providers offer only online tutoring, Princeton Review is one of the few that offers in person tutoring as well – and of those, they’re the best.
Not only is their self-paced prep materials included, but we also really like their tutors. We got to sit in on a session with a Princeton tutor and a student in person and it had a great flow.
The two seemed to interact really well, and I thought the tutor from Princeton Review did an awesome job of being patient and slowly bringing the student along with some of the tougher SAT problem types.
The included Princeton Review prep materials are a bonus
The reality is that for some students, online Zoom sessions just don’t cut it. They need the accountability and openness of meeting up in person, face-to-face, where you can quickly bounce things off the tutor who’s looking right over your shoulder. So if you’re that type of student, Princeton is our choice.
Now, if there is a knock on Princeton, it is that their packages are a little on the pricier side. Their hourly rates fall somewhere in the $175 to $200 range (similar to PrepScholar). Though again, their standard prep materials are included and offer a lot of value.
Magoosh does things a little differently than other SAT tutoring companies. Rather than offer traditional 1:1 in-person or live online tutoring sessions, Magoosh makes their SAT tutors available via email.
So how it works is that you take Magoosh’s flagship self-paced SAT prep course, and whenever you get stuck or you need tips/advice, you simply email one of the company’s expert SAT tutors.
Now obviously, this is not as ideal as meeting with a tutor face to face, but that’s why Magoosh prices its course below the $150 mark. That’s right, less than $150. To put that in perspective, that is less than one hour of tutoring from Princeton Review!
Also with the email assistance, students also get access to a bunch of other SAT study materials, including 200+ video lessons, over 1,750 practice questions, and three full-length practice exams.
Instructor notes on a video lesson slide
So bottom line, is that if you don’t necessarily need face-to-face interaction, and instead just need assistance here and there, the Magoosh course is an excellent option. It’s a particularly good choice for shy individuals or self-motivated students who prefer learning on their own.
Our team highly recommends going through an established test prep company in order to find an SAT tutor. We say that for a couple different reasons.
First, tutors from SAT prep companies such as Princeton Review and Kaplan are required to undergo hours and hours of training before seeing their first student. Whereas local tutors or folks who you will find on sites like Wyzant or Varsity Tutors usually start teaching with no training or experience.
Next, tutors from large SAT prep companies such as PrepScholar and Magoosh follow proven strategies and teaching methods that have been honed for years and years. Whereas random SAT tutors all have their own ways and methods of teaching. In other words, when you hire a local SAT tutor from a newspaper ad, there’s a chance they don’t know what they are actually doing. They are just flying by the seat of their pants regurgitating what they read in an SAT prep book.
FAQ
Who are the best SAT tutors near me?
With all the advances in online tutoring, finding an SAT tutor near you isn’t as important as it used to be. Nonetheless, read our full guide for the best SAT tutors in your area.
How much does SAT tutoring cost?
SAT tutoring ranges widely in price, from as low as $40 per hour, all the way up to $200+ per hour for premium services with extra features.
Is online SAT tutoring worth it?
Online tutoring is a very viable option these days given the advances with video conferencing and shareable screen tech. In fact, it can be more efficient and effective than in-person tutoring.
