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The most important factor in SAT / ACT prep is the person teaching you.
One-on-one Digital SAT tutoring from veteran tutors
The new Digital SAT is due to begin in the spring of 2024 - so if your kid will be a junior then, it might make sense to take it. The current version of the SAT will be ending just before then. Since we're test prep nerds, we'll be updating this page with the latest info on the Digital SAT as we learn it. Here's what we know so far.
Meet our Digital SAT tutors here!
What is the new Digital SAT?
- It's still an SAT and will be used by colleges for admissions decisions.
- The Digital SAT will be taken online using College Board software.
- The test will contain two verbal and two math sections.
- The content on those sections will be very similar to today's test, with a few exceptions (no more long reading passages; students can use a calculator on both math sections).
- The second verbal and second math sections are adaptive - how you performed on the first verbal and math sections will determine the difficulty level of the 2nd section of each type.
- This means the test is way shorter: about 2 hours instead of the current 3 hours.
- Students will get their scores right away (instead of having to wait 2-3 weeks like they do now).
Should I take the new digital SAT?
Well, it's hard to say. Let's consider some pros and cons:
Pros:
- it will probably be available to take more often than the current 7 times a year system.
- you get your scores right away.
- it's shorter.
Cons:
- you have to take it online - it's usually easier to take a test on paper, since you can annotate, underline, etc.
- new things often have bugs: the 2016 redesign of the SAT not only had some quality issues at first, but there was also a paucity of accurate practice material for it.
The Bottom Line
The new SAT is still in development, and since there's the possibility that the test will have some problems at first, it might be safer to either try taking the current SAT or just taking the ACT. But since the content on the digital SAT will be very similar to the current test, if you're gonna be a junior in March 2024, I don't think there's a downside to giving the new test a shot. All the SAT prep you hopefully started the summer after your sophomore year will help you do well on the digital SAT.
Meet our Digital SAT tutors here!
In our view, the very most important question for parents to ask is this:
"Who, exactly, will be the person teaching my kid?"
We're probably the most expensive tutors in San Diego. Why? In stark contrast to our competitors who employ a rotating cast of 23-year-olds, our tutors have an average of 10 years of experience. We pay them really well because we only hire tutors who are extremely good at what they do.
One-on-one tutoring, with us, is completely customized to your learning style, personality, and needs.
Talking through the nuances of SAT 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.
Meet our Digital SAT tutors here!
FAQ
"What are the benefits of SAT tutoring?"
- 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 :)
"When should SAT tutoring begin?"
About 10-12 weeks before a certain official SAT date, but that might depend a little bit on a student's situation. A great time to start SAT 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.
"How often should we meet with a tutor?"
Typically, SAT 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.
Private SAT tutoring is simply the most effective and efficient way to raise scores.
Look for each tutor's location and pricing in their bio. Questions? Contact any of them directly.
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 tutoring with Matt is $200 an hour ($180 / 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.
Matt also teaches all of our live SAT classes.
"My son had Matt as an SAT tutor. Matt's personality made him look forward to the sessions and made studying much less boring. The math text that Matt used was very helpful in assisting with conquering the more challenging problems. His score bumped up 320 points after 10 sessions with Matt and completing the problems that Matt assigned. Thank you!" - Lance Moore
Matt Sheelen
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 13 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.
SAT tutoring with Blake is $249 / hour (or $224 / hour for 10 or more hours).
He meets clients in his Del Mar Heights office or online via Zoom.
"My 17 year old daughter used Blake this past summer for a month to help her improve her SAT scores for college admittance. Blake thoroughly trained her for the test and she felt prepared going in on test day. Her scores went up 200 points with Blake's fantastic tutoring help. She is thrilled. Blake is worth every penny of your time." - Stephanie Asuncion
Kaitlin: I am originally from Amarillo, TX, where I developed a love of BBQ, country music, and beautiful sunsets (I can still get about 2 out of 3 of these things in San Diego).
I attended the University of Pennsylvania, and received a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering with minors in Spanish and Nanotechnology. I realized that after seeing tumbleweeds in Texas and snowstorms in Philadelphia, it was time to see the beach a bit more! After a summer of backpacking around the world, I decided to make the leap into teaching. I have now been teaching for six years and have my California teaching credential in chemistry. I have worked at High Tech High Chula Vista, La Jolla Country Day School, and I’m currently teaching at another private school. My passion is making chemistry relevant to my students, and especially connecting my curriculum to current environmental issues.
At the same time I started teaching, I began tutoring the SAT and ACT. I use my knowledge of classroom teaching to infuse my tutoring sessions with strategies for students to help improve their scores. I love helping students do well on these tests so that they can shine in other areas of their college applications. I never want a test score to limit a student from their potential dreams and goals.
SAT tutoring with Kaitlin is $175 per hour ($157.50 / hour for 10 or more hours).
She meets students in person or online.
Kaitlin Douglass
