Best SAT Tutoring – 8 Top Choices For Your Studying

If you plan on going to college, taking the SAT is an essential step in your journey. And if you’re looking for the best SAT tutoring options to help you ace that exam, you’ve come to the right place.

For a high school student, the SAT is the ultimate test of how prepared you are for college. It can determine the colleges that you are accepted to as well as what kinds of scholarships you receive. 

This test can be challenging, and preparing for it can be a daunting task to even the most prepared and qualified candidate. Fortunately, there are plenty of SAT tutoring options out there.

Here are some of the best.

Best SAT Tutoring Programs

Studying for the SAT can seem like a daunting task. While there are great SAT prep books out there, a solid SAT tutor or tutoring program can give you deeper insights into the knowledge you need. Below are the best SAT tutoring options. Let’s dive in!

1. Olive Book

• Quality: 5/5
• Cost: 5/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 5/5
• Ease of Access: 5/5

Olive Book is a relatively new online education and test prep company, and despite the company’s young age, it has a ton to offer.

This SAT tutoring service is unique in that you’ll access video content that can break down all the content that is covered on the SAT. If you learn best through multimedia options like video, that’s great news.

The review class has features designed to reduce your anxiety about test-taking, such as deals if you qualify for financial aid and a guarantee that you’ll increase your score or receive a refund, no questions asked. 

You can access all of Olive Book’s content online and while you won’t work 1:1 with an individual tutor, you’ll find that this program is accessible and helpful at all times. 

2. Magoosh

• Quality: 4/5
• Cost: 5/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 4/5
• Ease of Access: 4/5

Magoosh is another SAT tutoring company that offers a results guarantee. This program gives you a twelve-month access period so you can work as quickly or as slowly as you would like. Most of the courses are recorded, though, so you won’t have access to a live tutor.

With Magoosh, you’ll be able to access practice questions along with in-depth video explanations. You can learn about “hacks” for taking the test, too, including common pitfalls and problems.

One of the biggest selling points for going with Magoosh is the price. This company is one of the least expensive SAT tutoring programs you’ll find, and although you won’t have the benefit of a live instructor, you’ll still be able to access all kinds of helpful features that can really seal the deal. Magoosh is also one of the few companies to offer a free trial program!

3. Ivy Bound SAT Test Prep 

• Quality: 4/5
• Cost: 3/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 2/5
• Ease of Access: 2/5

Based out of Newington, CT, Ivy Bound is an academic tutoring agency that is led by instructors who are passionate, trained instructors that rank in the top percent of the standardized tests they teach.

You’ll be able to take one of two separate in-person SAT courses, along with a one-on-one tutoring option. When you take an in-person class with other students, you will have access to up to thirty hours of class time with supplemental printed materials, writing modules, and practice tests. 

And if you’d rather work with a tutor of your own, you can search the  Ivy Bound database to find one that matches your personality and needs. The prices vary and can be as low as $150 or as high as $850 depending on where you live and what kind of assistance you need.

4. College Prep Genius 

• Quality: 4/5
• Cost: 4/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 4/5
• Ease of Access: 5/5

College Prep Genius is a superb tutoring company that, despite its name, isn’t just for geniuses! This class offers students access to high-quality instructors at rock-bottom prices. 

You’ll be able to access a variety of materials, including dedicated instructors, eBooks, and online vocabulary guides. You can take two different kinds of courses – the comprehensive course or the fundamental course. In the fundamental course, you’ll cover everything you need to earn a high score on the SAT, broken down into twelve basic online lessons. Be aware, though, you’ll also get homework!

Another option is the comprehensive course. You’ll get all kinds of bonus material for just $50 more. No matter what you choose, you’ll appreciate the prices at which these courses are offered. 

5. Saturday Academy 

• Quality: 5/5
• Cost: 3/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 3/5
• Ease of Access: 1/5

A nonprofit organization affiliated with the University of Portland, Saturday Academy has a number of camps, internships, and classes, including their college prep and studies skills that focus primarily on college admission and preparation exams. You can really design the courses according to your skills and curiosity rather than being bogged down by homework and practice tests.

All classes come with financial aid options. You’ll cover all aspects of the SAT in the class and review the basics while also developing your advanced skills. 

In-person tutoring services are the most popular at Saturday Academy, but no worries if you don’t live close by. You can also apply for one of Saturday Academy’s summer internships and take the test prep course while you’re working on your internship, too. Most courses last around five weeks and cost less than $500. 

6. The Princeton Review

• Quality: 4/5
• Cost: 3/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 4/5
• Ease of Access: 5/5

Princeton Review is a tutoring and test prep company that offers all kinds of test prep materials, so it should come as no surprise that they offer one of the best SAT tutoring services, too. 

You’ll have access to all kinds of high-quality video lectures that break down the challenging content of the SAT into easy-to-follow concepts. Each video lecture is taught by a tutor who is first vetted for his or her knowledge and teaching ability in a certain content area. The tutors all go through special training to make sure you are given the best level of instruction, too.

Princeton Review offers a substantial financial aid program and a score increase guarantee, too. 

7. Varsity Tutors

• Quality: 5/5
• Cost: 4/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 5/5
• Ease of Access: 1/5

Varsity Tutors is an SAT tutoring company based out of Clayton, MO. This company, founded by Chuck Cohn, is a tutor-led and -owned company that specializes in all kinds of subject areas and test prep services. Visit the website, and you’ll be able to select your own tutor who specializes in a specific subject area.

Not only that, but if you live in one of Varsity Tutors service cities, you can actually meet with the tutor in-person, too. You’ll be able to work through a study plan that is customized just for you. There is a satisfaction guarantee and you can choose how often you want to work with the tutor, whether it’s for twelve, thirty-six, twenty-four, or forty-eight hours. 

You’ll be able to access a variety of free resources online, too, like practice tests, flashcards, quizzes, and even a mobile app. Everything can be accessed right at your fingertips, both by you and by your tutor. Prices start at just $53 per hour. 

8. Kaplan 

• Quality: 4/5
• Cost: 3/5
• Comparison to Alternatives: 3/5
• Ease of Access: 5/5

Kaplan is another highly recognizable name when it comes to test prep and tutoring. This company offers a wide breadth of material so that you can take a self-guided course or work directly with a tutor. Regardless of your choice, you’ll be able to do all of the work from the comfort of your own home.

The courses are instructor-led and can be live-streamed or taken in-person. You’ll have access to a highly customized experience and one-on-one private tutoring. Although Kaplan’s one-on-one options can be a bit expensive, they’re a good option if you have the resources and desire to do as well as possible on the exam. 

As with many of the other tutoring options on this list, Kaplan also offers a score increase guarantee. If you don’t score higher than you’d id the first time (or on your baseline assessment) you will receive a full refund. 

Who Needs SAT Tutoring? 

Ultimately, there are very few people out there who won’t benefit in some way from some SAT tutoring. Most colleges require the SAT for admissions, and this test is challenging for even the most prepared candidate. 

Many undergraduate programs use SAT scores to determine scholarship and financial aid, too, so doing well on the SAT can be vital for getting you the scholarships and other funding you deserve. 

An SAT tutor or prep course will help you improve your score and will simulate the conditions in an actual test. You’ll usually benefit from quality instructors who can help you identify your unique strengths and weaknesses so you do well on the test. 

Not only that, but SAT tutoring will keep you on track. You don’t have to worry as much about keeping yourself motivated, since your tutor will do much of that for you. 

SAT tutoring programs and courses can be expensive and time-consuming. However, investing in the best SAT tutoring is a great way to boost your scores – and potentially save money on college expenses when you land more scholarships, too.