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Online SAT Tutoring (Nationwide)

Online SAT Tutoring (Nationwide, 1‑on‑1 via Zoom)

We offer private online SAT tutoring via Zoom for motivated students aiming for ambitious score goals, with a clear plan, targeted homework, and accountability between sessions.

You’ll work 1‑on‑1 with: Blake Jensen or Matt Sheelen, veteran SAT tutors who each have 15+ years of experience helping students raise their scores.

Online tutoring: We work with students across the U.S. (all time zones) and internationally. If you happen to be in San Diego, limited in‑person sessions may be available depending on tutor and schedule.

What you get:

  • A baseline assessment + score‑improvement plan

  • Weekly practice checklist + customized homework

  • Strategy + execution help (timing, accuracy, pacing, and how to think through questions)

  • Between‑session check‑ins (text/email) for accountability

  • Parent progress updates (as appropriate / by package)

Pricing: $248–$375 per hour (package discounts available)

Scheduling: We’re on Pacific Time, but we regularly work with students in every U.S. time zone.

Next step: Contact Blake directly to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. If you’re in San Diego, in-person sessions are available with Blake.

Availability note: Matt is not currently accepting new SAT students.

Contact Us

We also offer online ACT tutoring.

 

How our online SAT tutoring works

1) Free consultation

We’ll ask a few questions (scores, goal, timeline, school workload, past prep), then tell you exactly what we’d do, and whether we’re the right fit.

2) Baseline and target-setting

If you already have a recent score, we use it. If not, we’ll point you to the right kind of diagnostic. Then we translate your goal into a realistic weekly plan.

3) A weekly plan

You’ll get a structured checklist: what to practice, how long it should take, and what the purpose of each assignment is (accuracy, pacing, content gaps, endurance, etc.).

4) Weekly Zoom sessions

During sessions we use screen share and real SAT-style questions to:

  • Fix the moments where you're losing points

  • Build repeatable strategies

  • Train patterns: what the test is really asking, and how to spot it quickly

5) Customized homework and review of missed questions

Homework is tailored to what happened in the session (and what the data says). We also focus heavily on missed questions so improvements compound week to week.

6) Accountability between sessions

Depending on your plan/package, we do quick check‑ins between sessions to keep momentum.

7) Progress updates

We’ll keep the plan transparent: what’s improving, what still needs work, and what we’re changing next.

8) Practice test/section reviews

As test day gets closer, we shift toward timing, endurance, and precision, so your kid performs like it’s a normal week.

Blake Jensen
Blake Jensen

Meet Online SAT 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.

Contact Blake

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

  • 6 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)

  • Baseline assessment + score-improvement plan

  • Weekly practice checklist

  • 1 quick check-in per week between sessions (text/email)

  • 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

  • 12 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)

  • Diagnostic + personalized 12-week plan

  • Targeted practice assignments and review of missed questions

  • 2 quick check-ins per week between sessions (text/email)

  • Parent progress updates every 3 sessions

  • 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

  • 24 hours of tutoring (in-person Carmel Valley or online)

  • Everything in Momentum, plus:

  • Up to 4 quick check-ins per week between sessions (text/email)

  • Parent progress updates every 2 sessions (optional)

  • Concierge scheduling flexibility

  • 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.

Matt Sheelen
Matt Sheelen

Meet Online SAT 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 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. 

Update: Matt is not currently accepting new SAT students.

Contact Matt

Video: How SAT / ACT Prep is like the Pizza Industry

SAT Tutoring FAQ

Yes. Most of our online SAT tutoring is done via Zoom with students across the U.S. (and internationally). We’re based on Pacific Time, but we schedule students in every time zone.

For most students, yes—and sometimes it’s better. Zoom + screen share lets us work directly on questions together, in real time, while keeping everything organized and focused. The key isn’t the room you’re in; it’s the plan, the weekly execution, and the feedback loop.

We’re a premium, boutique tutoring team. You’ll work with a senior-level tutor—not a rotating cast of new grads. 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 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.

Three things:

  • Senior-level instruction: not a rotating cast of brand-new tutors

  • A real weekly system: plan + practice + review + accountability

  • Pattern training for timed tests: so you can execute strategies on test day under time pressure

Yes. We tutor the current Digital SAT format and tailor practice so it matches what students will see on test day (including timing, question style, and section strategy).

Yes. Homework is customized, and we use missed questions to drive the next week’s plan. That review process is where a lot of score improvement happens.

  • 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 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.

A laptop or desktop, reliable internet, and the ability to use Zoom with screen share. For the Digital SAT, it also helps to practice in the official digital format so timing and endurance are realistic.

It depends on goals and runway, but here’s a practical rule of thumb:

  • 6 hours: targeted help or a short sprint

  • 12 hours: the most common “meaningful progress” plan over ~12 weeks

  • 24 hours: high-touch support for ambitious goals, heavier weekly volume, and more between-session help

(We can recommend a range after a quick consult.)

Most students do best with:

  • 1 session per week (often 60–90 minutes), plus

  • ~3 hours of homework (varies by timeline and goal)

If your timeline is tighter, we can scale up. If your schedule is intense, we’ll build a plan that’s realistic instead of optimistic.

Yes. Confidence is often a skills issue in disguise: timing, decision-making under pressure, and knowing what to do when you’re stuck. We train those situations explicitly so students feel calmer because they’re prepared.

Yes, and sometimes it’s smart to consider both tests early (especially if a student’s strengths match one format more naturally). We can advise after a baseline.

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.

SAT Tutoring Reviews

  • Brandon Diep

    Blake was an excellent tutor who understood the nuances behind the SAT and strategies to efficiently complete the exam. He was very flexible with scheduling and a very nice person overall. He pinpointed my areas for improvement and focused our work on those areas. Any time I had a question, I could text him and he would respond in no time. After about 2 months of tutoring I was well prepared and increased my score by 240 points.

  • Pete Boukouzis

    Blake helped two of our daughters prepare for the SAT (they are four years apart). Both had tremendous improvement in their scores. While working with Blake, our youngest improved her score by 250 points over her initial practice test! Blake assigned homework regularly and helped motivate them to do it. He was also aware of when they needed the "foot off of the gas pedal" for a week or so and dialed down the HW in those times. I highly recommend him.

  • Sunshine Alexis Stein

    I highly recommend Vince Kotchian Test Prep - specifically Matt Sheelen for SAT tutoring. We were late to the game - reaching out to Matt well under the recommended 3+ months for preparation / tutoring. But Matt created an overall study schedule in the limited time we had which included numerous resources for her to study in between sessions. He understood her challenges (math) and was patient as she worked through difficult concepts. Matt also provided critical insight in how to prepare going into the test date as well as testing tips. Matt was beyond supportive, always available and understanding given my daughter's difficult schedule.

  • Kemi McKenzie

    I was tutored by Matt, and it helped me tremendously on my SAT. I improved by 150 points from my PSAT to my SAT, and I really credit that to Matt. He was very engaged in every lesson, and tailored to me specifically so we could target exactly what I needed help on. He always made sure to clarify anything I needed help on, and I really recommend Matt as a tutor!

  • Louise Lu

    Blake is an exceptional SAT prep professional and helped my son improve his score by 300 points in less than 3 months! He really understands the test and knows how to analyze where my son needed to focus his energy to study. He always had a well thought-out study plan each week using effective tools and techniques. He hosted practice tests and gave solid advice on test taking strategies. He held my son accountable and challenged him. At the same time, he was patient and motivating. My son is super excited about his score!

  • Holly Vesper

    Both my son and daughter immediately enjoyed working with Blake in preparation for the SAT. They found him approachable, kind, positive and efficient with their time. Somehow Blake got them eagerly taking practice tests and learning steps to improve their test taking skills. My daughter’s SAT score enabled her to get accepted into one of the top colleges in the country. My son’s score increased dramatically from his pre-tutoring practice test, to his official SAT score, adding to his resume that he’ll be using to apply for acceptance into competitive universities this fall. All three of us are grateful to Blake and for our experience with his positive and effective approach to tutoring!

  • Hayden Kuppenheimer

    Blake helped me increase my overall SAT score by 240 points! Blake was extremely flexible to my busy schedule, and his tutoring methods were both personal and engaging. I would highly recommend working with him if you are looking to greatly improve your test scores, and knowledge in general.

  • Jennifer Murdoch

    SAT SCORE RAISED 260 POINTS!! My daughter tutored with Blake for three months to improve her SAT score . He is extremely patient, kind and understanding. He pushed her when he knew she could do better or if she got a bit lazy. She really enjoyed his style of teaching. He taught her good study habits and test taking skills. Blake was even able to ease her test anxiety. I will be recommending Blake to every parent I know. He is worth every penny!!

  • Alex Laughlin

    Blake was a great tutor for the SAT. He helped me increase my score 100 points to a 1550 as well as achieve a perfect Reading score in just a month of tutoring. Blake's tutoring method is very effective, giving me skills and experience both in test-taking strategy and with different types of questions on the SAT. Blake provides both excellent test guidance and efficient communication.