One-on-one ACT tutoring
We offer private, 1‑on‑1 ACT tutoring for San Diego students. Work with Blake Jensen or Matt Sheelen - ACT tutors who each have 15+ years of experience helping people raise their scores for competitive college admissions.
You can meet in person in San Diego (Carmel Valley), or work online via Zoom for maximum scheduling flexibility.
Why Hire An ACT Tutor?
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Strategy. Working with all different kinds of students over many years has given us a deep database of strategies and tactics. It makes it easier for us to figure out effective ways to explain these tricky tests to students who don't naturally test well. We teach test-taking strategies that are tailored to your skill level, learning style, and goal score.
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Support. Mastering the ACT is a process, and it's vital that tutors can not only explain the material well but also that they can be kind and encouraging along the way. Unlike a class, tutoring is adjusted to your particular learning style and speed.
How We Work
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Who it’s for: Anyone, but we specialize in helping motivated students achieve ambitious score goals.
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Format: Blake meets students in his Carmel Valley office or on Zoom.
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What’s included: a complete study plan, customized homework.
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Pricing: $248 - $375 / hour (we offer discounts on packages).
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Availability: We're on Pacific time - scheduling is flexible.
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How to get started: Contact Blake directly to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. (Matt is not currently accepting new students).
How our private ACT tutoring works
1) Free consultation
We’ll talk baseline ACT scores, goals, timeline, school workload, and what hasn’t worked so far. Then we’ll tell you exactly what we’d do next, and whether we’re the right fit.
2) Baseline and score goals
If you already have a recent ACT score, we start there. If not, we’ll point you to the right diagnostic. Then we translate your goal into a realistic weekly plan.
3) Pick a plan
Most families choose a package because it builds consistency and accountability into the process. (Hourly works too if you want targeted help.)
4) Weekly sessions (Zoom or in-person)
Sessions are focused and hands-on:
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We identify why points are being lost (timing, content gaps, recurring traps, endurance, or decision-making under pressure)
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We build repeatable strategies that hold up in a timed setting
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We train pattern recognition so students get faster and more accurate across English, Math, Reading, and Science
5) Customized homework and review of missed questions
We use missed questions to drive the next week’s plan so improvements compound instead of resetting every session.
6) Accountability between sessions
Check-ins (text/email) help students follow through, stay on track, and keep momentum between sessions, especially during busy school weeks.
7) Practice test / section reviews when it matters most
As test day approaches, we shift toward pacing, endurance, and precision, so test day feels like a normal week.
Meet ACT tutor Blake Jensen
Blake: I’m a native San Diegan, father, and an aficionado of basketball, vintage video games, pitchy karaoke, and lecturing my son on how much better Star Wars was "back in the day." I played college basketball at St. Mary’s College and Whittier College, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology in 2002.
I’m an SAT and ACT specialist with nearly 20 years of experience guiding elite students to top college admissions and scholarships. As a former Division 1 college basketball player, I understand the pressure of high-stakes performance and the demands of being a competitive student-athlete. My approach goes beyond test-taking tricks—I teach students to identify what each question truly requires and spot the test’s patterns, making them faster and more accurate under pressure.
This is especially valuable for recruited athletes, where hitting Academic Index targets can make or break a scholarship offer, even for blue-chip recruits. For example, I recently helped a fencing athlete earn a perfect 36 on the ACT, required to secure a scholarship on the fencing team at Johns Hopkins. My students have achieved perfect scores and extraordinary improvements, opening doors to Ivy League and other top universities, and a number of my student’s families have received over $200,000 in scholarships.
While I specialize in working with elite scholar athletes, recruited athletes in sports where admissions still require top academic credentials—like fencing, golf, and squash, I continue to enjoy helping any students with ambitious goals and the motivation to reach them.
Blake meets clients in his Carmel Valley office or online via Zoom.
"I wanted to write this post and thank Blake for the EXTRAORDINARY work he did with my daughter in training her, encouraging her, and giving her the tools to get a near perfect score on the ACT. I am an educator myself, training medical students, residents, and fellows to be the next generation of healthcare leaders. I will be taking a page from Blake’s book on how to be a better educator and mentor to my medical students on the medical ward. If you are a parent deciding on which test prep is the “BEST” for your child, there is no question, Vince Kotchian Test Prep is worth every penny. I have barely time to write reviews with my busy schedule, but this is a review I am blessed to write. Thank you Blake for making a difference." - Sivaraman Gounder
Blake's Tutoring Packages
Foundation — 6 Hours: $2,250
A focused start for students who want immediate traction or targeted help in a few areas.
What’s included
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6 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)
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Baseline assessment + score-improvement plan
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Weekly practice checklist
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1 quick check-in per week between sessions (text/email)
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One parent progress update
Typical use: 6 weekly sessions, or a short-term sprint.
Momentum — 12 Hours (Most Popular): $4,200
The best option for meaningful score gains over ~12 weeks. Built for consistency, accountability, and momentum.
What’s included
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12 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)
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Diagnostic + personalized 12-week plan
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Targeted practice assignments and review of missed questions
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2 quick check-ins per week between sessions (text/email)
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Parent progress updates every 3 sessions
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Priority scheduling
Typical use: 1 session per week for 12 weeks (or 90-minute sessions using 1.5 hours).
Premier — 24 Hours (High-Touch Concierge): $8,700
For families who want a higher-touch experience, heavier weekly volume, and more support between sessions.
What’s included
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24 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)
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Everything in Momentum, plus:
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Up to 4 quick check-ins per week between sessions (text/email)
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Parent progress updates every 2 sessions (optional)
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Concierge scheduling flexibility
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Two full practice-test/section reviews (time-boxed)
Typical use: 2 sessions per week for ~12 weeks, or a longer runway with built-in support.
TESTIMONIALS
"Blake was amazing at what he does!!! I had my twin girls work with him and one received perfect score of 36 and other super score of 36 on the ACT. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to improve sat or act score. Thank you so much Blake." - Haena Min (read this review on Google Maps)
Meet ACT tutor Matt Sheelen
Matt: I am originally from Hopkinton, Massachusetts - the start of the historic Boston Marathon. I went to college at Northwestern University, where I graduated with a degree in Theatre. After college, I wised up and moved to the warmer coast. I worked in Los Angeles for many years as a full-time SAT / ACT tutor and part-time arts educator.
I have been tutoring for over 10 years and have spent thousands of hours helping students improve their scores. Recently, I moved to San Diego after getting a M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and I currently work as a credentialed classroom teacher.
When I’m not working, I enjoy good books, performing improv comedy, surfing, watching Game of Thrones, and enjoying the charms of San Diego. I live in North Park, where I love to get out and take advantage of all the delicious food in the area. I am also a huge Boston sports fan - the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics are my favorite teams. I usually have something in common with every student - my interests are really diverse!
ACT tutoring with Matt is $250 an hour ($225 / hour for 10 or more hours). He meets with students online via Zoom. Matt specializes in helping students set and achieve ambitious score goals, as well as helping them build their confidence and test-taking abilities.
"Our daughter worked with Matt Sheelen to prepare for the ACT, and she could not have been more pleased. Matt gave her clear strategies to improve in the areas that she needed to most, and, from her 1st practice test to the real test she raised her score 8 points! She did so well on the actual test the 1st time she took it, that she did not even need to re-take it, as many students choose to do. On top of Matt's expertise, he happens to be a really great guy that relates well to teens (and their parents :-) ). My daughter really enjoyed working with him and we highly recommend him." - Diane Mack
Update: Matt is not currently accepting any new ACT students.
ACT Tutoring FAQ
We're the most expensive ACT tutors in San Diego. Why? In stark contrast to our competitors who employ a rotating cast of 23-year-olds, Blake and Matt each have 15 years of experience. We pay them really well because we only hire tutors who are extremely good at what they do. We're definitely not trying to serve everyone, but if you're a savvy parent with a smart, motivated kid, you're probably in the right place.
One-on-one tutoring, with us, is completely customized to your learning style, personality, and needs.
Talking through the nuances of ACT practice questions not only allows us to explain, in detail, the strategies that work, but that conversation also allows us to see what a student is thinking, ask the right questions to test understanding, and adjust our instruction minute-by-minute.
- Instruction tailored to your child's learning style, motivation level, and personality
- The opportunity to talk through the nuances of questions with someone with several years of experience with the test
- Homework adjusted to your specific needs
- Accountability and encouragement :)
About 10-12 weeks before a certain official ACT date, but that might depend a little bit on a student's situation. A great time to start ACT prep is the summer before junior year - and often students take the test once in the fall at the beginning of junior year and once in the spring, though some take it as late as the fall of senior year.
Typically, ACT tutoring works well if we meet once a week for 90 minutes, though that can vary. Ideally, the student will also have time to do about 3 hours of homework for us each week to practice more on their own.
Here's the latest concordance table.
We work closely with some great consultants if you'd like help with college admissions. Let us know if you'd like a referral.