Best SAT Test Prep

Hi, I’m Dawn! I created this blog after researching five different SAT test prep companies for my daughter McKenzie. After enrolling my daughter in the Learner.com program, her score increased from a 1400 to a 1520 in just 3 months (placing her in the 98th percentile).

An image of McKenzie and I
An image of McKenzie and I

Click below to find an SAT Tutor:

Winner: Learner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5
McKenzie's SAT Score went from a 1400 to a 1520 in 3 months
Winner: Learner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5
McKenzie's SAT Score went from a 1400 to a 1520 in 3 months
$25 First hour
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Runner Up: Princeton Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.4/5
Kaplan ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1/5
Varsity Tutors ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.9/5
Wyzant ⭐⭐⭐ 3.1/5

Scientifically testing SAT prep companies

  • Results/Reviews/Reputation - Look for a SAT Test Prep company that has a proven track record of success in helping students achieve significant score improvements on the SAT.
  • Efficiency: With busy schedules and multiple extracurricular activities, finding time to study can be a challenge. Look for a tutoring company that can help to get significant improvements in a short amount of time.
  • Personalized Approach: Every student has unique strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose an SAT tutoring company identifies your child's specific areas of weakness and develops a study plan that focuses on improving those areas.
  • Ability to meet the tutor before paying: This allows you and your child to determine if tutor is a good fit. Meeting the tutor prior also shows that the tutoring company values transparency and wants to ensure that you are completely satisfied.
  • Price: I found that SAT tutoring can range from $25/hour to hundreds of dollars per hour. From my perspective, it’s important to strike a balance between price and quality. We looked for a tutoring company that offers competitive pricing while still providing a high level of quality and personalization.
To see all of the emails I received, click here to jump to that section.

The process of achieving a 1520 in 3 months

Through Learner's Test Prep proven methods, my daughter experienced a  significant score increase in only three months. Many of her friends spent many more months working with other companies and did not see the same increase. Learner was able to pinpoint the areas to pick up the most points.

My daughter's SAT score before starting tutoring with Learner
My daughter’s SAT score after working with Learner

The best SAT test prep tutoring I tried:
Winner: Learner

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 out of 5 stars

✅ Pros:

  • My daughter’s SAT Score improved from 1400 to a 1520, placing her in the 98th percentile
  • Tailored approach to identify specific areas where improvement is needed
  • Test-taking strategies with an emphasis on time management
  • After just a few sessions, my daughter’s confidence skyrocketed
  • How to avoid the most common traps in the math section
  • Learner provides a Trial Session so you meet the tutor before making a buying decision
  • Price is significantly lower than competitors; We paid $90/hour
  • Lots of satisfied customers on Verified Reviews
  • They offer a Guarantee Score Increase

⛔ Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer group classes
  • Doesn’t offer self-paced program
Check Pricing*
They offer a Guaranteed Score Increase!
*$25 First Hour applied with link

⭐ Overall Rating

I highly recommend Learner SAT tutoring company, and specifically Nevada as a tutor. The results speak for themselves (score increase from a 1400 to a 1520 in just 3 months) and I am so grateful for the help that they provided my daughter. The peace of mind knowing that my daughter is on the path to her dream school is priceless. Thank you, Learner, and Nevada for everything. Reviews were really strong. High level tutors.

❤️ What we love

Learner’s efficiency was top-notch. An efficient approach to test preparation allows students to make the most of their time, identify their specific areas of weakness, and focus their efforts on improving their skills and knowledge. With the help of an efficient SAT tutor, students can learn how to manage their time during the test, avoid common test traps, and hone their test-taking strategies.

Learner’s efficiency was top-notch. An efficient approach to test preparation allows students to make the most of their time, identify their specific areas of weakness, and focus their efforts on improving their skills and knowledge. With the help of an efficient SAT tutor, students can learn how to manage their time during the test, avoid common test traps, and hone their test-taking strategies.

The matching process was impressive. There is a detailed in-take questionnaire on the Learner website, where they ask thoughtful and engaging questions to create a great match between my daughter and the SAT tutor.I spoke to an Academic Advisor at Learner the same day that I submitted my information on the website. She listened to my desires and concerns and provided a solution that fit just right. I can tell that she really cared and they were going to treat my daughter special, and not just as a number.

🙈 What could be better

Learner specializes in live, 1-on-1 SAT Test Prep Tutoring. They do not have group classes and they do not have self-paced programs. I know that some people want these solutions, but I was looking for live, 1-on-1 tutoring to my daughter.

📄 Description

After just a few sessions, my daughter's confidence skyrocketed. She learned how to avoid the most common traps in the math section, break down complex problems, and identify key information in reading passages. With the help of her tutor, she practiced pacing herself to ensure she could make the most of her time during the test, achieving her goal and getting accepted to Georgia Tech.

Pupford Academy

McKenzie and I on a tutoring session with Learner.

Why I started this journey

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As a mom with high expectations for my daughter's future, I knew she needed to improve her SAT score if she wanted to attend a top-tier university. With her busy schedule and various extracurricular activities, finding the time to study was a challenge. That's when we turned to Learner Tutoring, who provided a tailored approach that helped my daughter focus on what was most important.

Thanks to the tailored approach provided by Learner Tutoring, my daughter was able to see significant improvements in her SAT score in just three short months. With the help of her tutor, she learned how to efficiently manage her time during the test, identify common test traps, and focus her energy on improving her skills and efficiency.

Despite her busy schedule, my daughter's dedication and the support of her tutor resulted in a score increase of 120 points, from a 1400 to a 1520, placing her in the 98th percentile. We were thrilled with the results and grateful for the personalized and efficient approach that Learner Tutoring provided.

Here are examples of the emails you can expect from the Tutoring Companies I tested: Wyzant, Kaplan, Varsity Tutors, Princeton Review, and Learner.

Runner up: Princeton Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.4 out of 5 stars

✅ Pros:

  • Strong reputation
  • Money-Back Guarantee
  • Personal matchmaking
  • Online practice tests
  • Reports of strengths and weaknesses
  • Customized practice questions
  • Test taking strategies

⛔ Cons:

  • Cannot try before you buy
  • Reviews not as strong
  • Doesn't offer self-paced program
Check Pricing

⭐ Overall Rating

This would have been my second choice because of their reputation, but the price was just too much for me and they would not provide me with a trial session before I needed to make a buying decision.

❤️ What we love

Princeton Review is a company that has been around for decades which gives me a sense of comfort that my daughter would have received the attention she deserves.

🙈 What could be better

Their premium offering is $6,950 for 18 hours or $386/hour, where they guarantee my daughter will get a score above 1500. They have a secondary package at $150/hour. When I asked about the difference between the primary and secondary packages, they told me the tutors for the secondary package have less experience. I considered this option, but in the end I did not want to pay premium pricing for “B Team” tutors.

📄 Description

Overall, if you can afford the premier package of $6,950 ($386/hour) for SAT tutoring, you should consider this option.

Kaplan

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.1 out of 5 stars

✅ Pros:

  • Large variety of learning/course options
  • Group classes
  • Self-paced tutoring
  • 8 practice tests
  • Payment plans available
  • Test taking strategies
  • Hard copies of SAT Prep

⛔ Cons:

  • Cannot try before you buy
  • Too expensive
  • Unfriendly refund policy
Check Pricing

⭐ Overall Rating

With Kaplan, I felt like I would be paying extra for the brand name, but the tutor experience felt the same as other companies who had lower prices. The structure of their proprietary program is solid and seemingly built on their extensive experience, but the platform feels outdated and focused on the volume of customers rather than providing a personalized experience. It feels like a larger company with a trustworthy name that has become complacent.

❤️ What we love

Like Princeton Review, they have been around for decades which means that they have accumulated materials and practice exams that have been proven to be helpful. My concern was around the quality of live tutoring which is more important to me.

🙈 What could be better

Their refund policy is very unfriendly. After 7 days, I can only get half of my money back. It feels like Kaplan is focused on their large volume of customers rather than providing a personalized experience. They are a larger company with a trustworthy name that has become complacent.

📄 Description

I did not feel good after the call with the sales rep. There is no option for a Trial Session and the refund policy leaves me in a bad situation if things do not go well.

Varsity Tutors

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.9 out of 5 stars

✅ Pros:

  • One-stop shop for tutoring
  • Reasonable price
  • Personal matchmaking
  • Online practice tests
  • Reports of strengths and weaknesses
  • Customized practice questions
  • Test taking strategies

⛔ Cons:

  • Cannot try before you buy
  • Big company feel
  • Reviews not as strong
Check Pricing

⭐ Overall Rating

Varsity Tutors has lots of options on top of SAT Tutoring. They are a really large company and I did not feel that I would get the personalized attention that I deserve.

❤️ What we love

Varsity Tutors is a one stop shop for all your tutoring needs. They have tutors for everything from math to learning how to write code. If you are looking for a solution like that, this could be a good fit for you.

🙈 What could be better

Varsity Tutors would not let us try out the tutoring before we made a purchase. They are a big company and it felt like that when I talked to the sales rep. It felt like he was reading questions off of a script and did not feel like they sincerely wanted to help me child.

📄 Description

There are some bad reviews on the web regarding Varsity Tutors and I did not want to take a risk here with something as important as Test Prep for my daughter to get into her dream school. Here is an example of a negative review on the web from an unsatisfied customer who was looking for a refund: “I called customer service ten times in a couple of days. Unfortunately, this company's message says employees aren't currently unavailable to keep up with the call volume.”

Wyzant

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.1 out of 5 stars

✅ Pros:

  • Reasonable price
  • Info about tutors
  • Can filter tutor results
  • Proprietary platform
  • Reports of strengths and weaknesses
  • Tutoring marketplace
  • Opportunity to negotiate
  • "Good fit guarantee"

⛔ Cons:

  • Need to pick your own tutor
  • No one at the company to contact
  • Poor reviews
Check Pricing

⭐ Overall Rating

This was not a good option for me and my family. Wyzant feels like the Wild West! There are so many tutors to choose from, and no guidance from Wyzant on which is the right one for my daughter. You our completely on your own at Wyzant. 

❤️ What we love

Wyzant has more info about their tutors available then anyone else I looked at. But it is just too much information, making it confusing on how to move forward. 

🙈 What could be better

It is overwhelming with all the options at Wyzant. Plus - I had to put in a credit card where they charged me $1 before I could talk to any tutor. I received 10 emails in a couple hours from Wyzant from tutors who wanted to work with us (see below) which I did not ask for. On top of that, there is a hidden 8% fee.

📄 Description

I put together this table that compares all of the companies side by side

This was just not a good fit. Between the credit card charge, emails I did not ask for, and all of the confusion, I would not recommend Wyzant. It seems like you have to work really hard and gut lucky for it to work out for you.

Reviews from the Web
Efficiency
Personalized Approach
Ability to Try Before You Buy
Price/Hour
Learner
4.9 of 5.0
High
Yes
Yes
$85-$100
Princeton Review
4.4 of 5.0
Med
Yes
No
$150-$386
Kaplan
4.1 of 5.0
Med
Yes
No
$115-$200
VT
3.9 of 5.0
Low
Yes
No
$75-$90
Wyzant
3.1 of 5.0
N/A
No
No
$5-$500

Here are example emails you can expect from the Tutoring Companies I tested: Wyzant, Kaplan, Varsity Tutors, Princeton Review and Learner.

An Image of an email from Wyzant
Wyzant
An Image of an email from Kaplan
Kaplan
An Image of an email from Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors
An Image of an email from Princeton Review
Princeton Review
An Image of an email from Learner
Learner

Why I chose Learner

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I’m Dawn! I created this blog after researching five different SAT test prep companies for my daughter McKenzie. After enrolling my daughter in the Learner.com program, her score increased from a 1400 to a 1520 in just 3 months (placing her in the 98th percentile).

An image of McKenzie and I
An image of McKenzie and I