Video: How SAT / ACT Prep is like the Pizza Industry
The most important factor in SAT / ACT prep is the person teaching you.
One-on-one PSAT tutoring from veteran tutors
Preparing for the PSAT really only has two benefits:
1. You can qualify for a National Merit Scholarship if you score high enough. We're experts at working with high scorers on the SAT and PSAT.
2. The PSAT is almost exactly like the SAT, so any PSAT prep you do is also SAT prep.
In addition to those, I think it's always nice to feel - and be - ready for a test that gets dropped in front of you! However, I wouldn't worry about the PSAT - the scores are not sent to colleges, nor will you ever submit them to a college.
For PSAT prep, 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 PSAT tutoring, with us, is completely customized to your learning style, personality, and needs.
Talking through the nuances of PSAT 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.
"What are the benefits of private PSAT 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 :)
Private PSAT tutoring is simply the most effective and efficient way to raise scores.
Look for each tutor's location and pricing in their bio.
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.
PSAT tutoring with Blake is $275 / hour (or $248 / hour for 15 or more hours).
He meets clients in his Carmel Valley office, or online via Zoom.
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!
PSAT tutoring with Matt is $225 an hour ($203 / 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.
"I worked with Matt Sheelen for both the PSAT and ACT. Matt helped me with math and science specifically for the ACT and my math score jumped by 6 points and all my other sub scores increased as well. For the PSAT, I got a qualifiying selection index as well and my overall score increased. Matt was always EXTREMELY helpful, providing me with test strategies and an endless supply of practice problems to ensure I was exposed to any type of problem that I could encounter. All of our tutoring sessions were specific to the areas that I needed the most help with. I would HIGHLY recommend Matt to anyone looking to raise their test scores." - Aashka Sheth
Matt Sheelen
