Despite what many private tutors and test-taking agencies say, they can't guarantee success. In the end, it's all up to you. Tutors can be a great resource for students who've already taken these tests and are struggling to improve. Tutors are also great for students who have a hard time studying on their own.
So what is it about tutoring that makes it as expensive as a minor surgery? Well, tutoring (like everything else) abides by the laws of supply and demand. There is a lot of demand for test prep, but qualified tutors are in short supply.
Start early. In fact, we recommend starting your test prep the summer between sophomore and junior year. Most students will then go on to take the SAT or ACT (or both !) once during their junior year and once during the fall of their senior year.
A big part of being a great tutor is being properly prepared—these seven steps will set you on the right path to raising your student's score:
- Determine the challenges you'll face.
- Learn about the test.
- Set a score goal.
- Gather materials.
- Make a study plan.
- Teach the big picture.
- Analyze weaknesses.
Research shows that traditional tutoring can help students boost their self-confidence levels. While this may not help your child get better grades right away, it can be extremely beneficial long term. A self-confident student is more likely to participate, answer questions, and less afraid of making mistakes.
A typical tutor will charge between $17 and $45 per hour, according to our tutor pricing calculator. An experienced, certified teacher might charge up to $76 per hour.
Is a 1590 a good SAT score? It can't be beat. It places you in the top 99th percentile nationally out of the 1.7 million test takers of the SAT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a truly exceptional job answering the questions on the Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing sections of the test.
All things considered, Khan Academy's SAT prep program is high quality. It's a great introduction to the test and elevates the bar of free SAT materials. Students unable to afford books or prep programs have a useful resource to train for the test.
If you get a composite SAT score of 1083 or more, you are above average. The 75th percentile composite SAT test score is 1215, the 90th percentile is 1340 and the 95th percentile is 1410. This table, which is based on College Board data, lists the percentile ranking for various composite SAT scores.
The SAT and ACT theoretically provide an objective way to compare students from different high schools. However, the lawsuit argues that using the tests violates the state's anti-discrimination statute because it disadvantages children of color, children from low-income families and children with disabilities.
In my experience, the ONLY group test prep class that I have a positive impression of is Elite. I have worked one-on-one with students that have completed programs with Elite, and they all had pretty substantial score increases through them. They are a bit pricey, and be prepared to work hard.
While Khan Academy does offer the eight official full-length practice tests that you can take in one sitting, most of the time you will only answer about 5-10 questions at a time. The real SAT is long, and if you only answer questions in short quizzes, you won't know how you hold up during a 3-4 hour long exam.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Board had considered offering at-home online SATs in Fall 2020 if in-person testing wasn't possible. However, in June they announced they'd no longer be going forward with that plan, and future SATs will still be held in-person.
A working paper from July 2018 by the ACT suggests that private tutors can help students improve their scores. Another ACT study from May 2019 points to statistics that show score improvements for students who use the ACT Online Prep program, compared with those who purchased the program but didn't use it.
All candidates for certification must create an account on ACT's website and register to attend Certification Courses at an ACT- approved training site. Register at intl.act.org/connecme-act-tutor. Enrolling in the ACT Tutor Certification Program includes a service charge and a review of application materials.
Expect the cost to be around $30 to $40 per hour, but as high as $85, depending on the tutor's experience level and subject. Private tutors generally do not charge additional upfront fees or require contracts.
Neither the SAT nor the ACT is “easier” or “harder” than the other – but different types of students usually do MUCH better on one than they do on the other. I tutor both the SAT and the ACT, but my reputation has been built in the SAT space.
A score of 19 is a little worse than average. It places you in the bottom 44th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. If a 19 isn't strong enough to get into your dream school, consider taking a test prep course to see if you can raise your score.
ACT Prep Cost Comparison
| Type of ACT Prep | Budget Type | Price Range |
|---|
| Self-Guided Study | Inexpensive | $0-$50 per book |
| Online Programs | Moderate | $100-$1400 per course |
| In-Person Courses | Expensive | $800-$1800 per course |
| One-On-One Tutoring | Expensive | $40-$200 per hour |
- 1 ACT — ACT Online Prep.
- 2 Peterson's — ACT Prep Online Course.
- 3 PrepFactory — ACT.
- 4 Higher Scores Test Prep — ACT Prep.
- 5 Green Test Prep — Green Test Prep Premium.
- 6 The Princeton Review — ACT Test Prep.
- 7 Kaplan — ACT Prep Courses.
- 8 Testive — ACT.
C2 Education - From $99 | Groupon.
According to prospects.ac.uk, the average hourly rate for a private tutor in 2019 is between £30 – £60 dependent on experience, location, and sucess rate. That's not to say that some tutors don't charge outside of this range, but from experience upwards of £35 per hour for GCSE is pretty standard.
As of Jan 17, 2021, the average hourly pay for a Teen Tutor in the United States is $19.97 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $39.66 and as low as $7.93, the majority of Teen Tutor wages currently range between $13.94 (25th percentile) to $22.84 (75th percentile) across the United States.
How to Market Yourself as a Tutor – Part Two
- Get Your Timing Right. How to market yourself as a tutor?
- Make Sure You're Easy to Find. This is a tutoring poster from The Profs.
- Be creative. Get those creative juices flowing!
- Spread the word. Referrals are the lifeblood of tutoring.
- Get some testimonials.
- Join The Tutors' Association.
Consequently, a teacher who works for the district cannot be paid privately to provide that tutoring. For example, if tutoring is required as part of an IEP, a teacher in the district may not accept payment from the student's family to provide that tutoring.
