One-on-one ACT tutoring for students
who experience test anxiety
It's quite common for us to talk to parents who tell us their child "is a bad test-taker" or "doesn't test well", or tell us about their kid's test anxiety. Since the ACT is not only timed but is also high-stakes, private tutoring can help in a few ways, even if the test anxiety your kid is experiencing is on the mild side:
- Experience. If a student literally takes ALL released ACT tests from the past few years (that's just 9 tests for those of you keeping score at home), they'll be much more accustomed to the format and patterns of the ACT, and will be more able to adapt to new questions on test day. The ACT is a standardized test: it's very predictable, so we can anticipate a lot of what it's going to throw at you.
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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 Our ACT Tutoring Works
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Format: Blake meets students in his Carmel Valley office or on Zoom. Matt is Zoom-only.
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What’s included: a complete study plan, customized homework.
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Pricing: $225 - $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 or Matt directly to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
By the way, no one likes to hear that they are going to have to prepare for both the ACT and the SAT, but students with test anxiety / bad test-takers can sometimes benefit from doing so, since two tests = more opportunities to have one good test day. Be sure to ask us about SAT tutoring if that might be an interest - both Blake and Matt also tutor the SAT.
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.
Having been a full-time test prep coach for over 15 years, I have seen just about every type of student and tutoring situation. This allows me to give my students exactly what they need to reach their goals.
My years of experience have also led me to coach my students a little differently than most. A lot of test prep revolves around how to answer a question. While that is a necessary component, identifying what is needed to answer a question is at least as important, especially for timed tests like the SAT and ACT. I show my students how to look at the test the way I do, to the patterns and tendencies of the tests to make them faster and more accurate.
Though I still work with students of all types, these days I tend to specialize in students with ambitious score goals.
Blake meets clients in his Carmel Valley office or online via Zoom.
"Just wanted to let you know how happy we were with your services. Blake worked with our daughter and after just 7 sessions, her ACT score went up 4 points! She really enjoyed working with Blake. He was very knowledgeable, not only about the subject matter, but also about time management and test taking strategies. We hope he will work with our son when he starts preparing for his testing next year. The results Blake helped our daughter achieve has expanded her college options and given her test taking strategies that she can use in the future. She is thrilled!" - Kay Scott
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.
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!
SAT / ACT tutoring with Matt is $250 an hour ($225 / hour for 10 or more hours). He meets with students online via Zoom, and in person in North Park or Mission Valley. Matt specializes in helping students set and achieve ambitious score goals, as well as helping them build their confidence and test-taking abilities.
"I received one-on-one tutoring from Matt for the ACT for a couple months. Matt was very supportive, helpful, and patient. He always supplied ample practice tests, helped me understand the errors I made, and taught me how to improve my timing on each section. Over the course of my tutoring sessions I was able to improve my score by 5 points. Additionally, I received my score goal on my first attempt at the ACT. I could not recommend Matt enough!!" - Makaylee Dahms
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.