SAT & ACT Tutoring in Del Mar
If you're a Del Mar family looking for an experienced SAT or ACT tutor, you're effectively next door. Our Carmel Valley office at 12625 High Bluff Dr. #113 sits roughly two miles from Del Mar Heights and about ten minutes from the village — closer than most kids' high school. Blake Jensen meets students in person there, or on Zoom when schedules don't cooperate.
Blake is an SAT and ACT specialist with more than 15 years of experience. He works mainly with motivated students aiming for ambitious score goals, including a lot of recruited athletes who need to hit Academic Index targets. We've worked with Del Mar families whose kids attend Torrey Pines High School, Canyon Crest Academy, Cathedral Catholic, Pacific Ridge School, Santa Fe Christian, and a handful of homeschoolers in the Del Mar Heights and Del Mar Mesa neighborhoods.
Contact Blake for a free 15-minute consultation, or read on for how this actually works for a Del Mar family.
What we know about Del Mar families preparing for the SAT and ACT
Most Del Mar students live inside the Del Mar Union School District boundary and matriculate from elementary schools like Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Hills, Ocean Air, Pacific Sky, Sycamore Ridge, or Torrey Hills into Carmel Valley Middle School, Pacific Trails, or Earl Warren — then on to Torrey Pines High School or Canyon Crest Academy in the San Dieguito Union High School District. (DMUSD published its 2025–2026 calendar with the last day of school as May 29, 2026, which puts most rising juniors on the standard summer-into-junior-fall test prep timeline.)
A few patterns we see in Del Mar families specifically:
- The schedule pressure is real. Torrey Pines runs a full AP slate and Canyon Crest's 4x4 block schedule (four classes in fall, four in spring) compresses workload. Kids juggling that plus club sports, water polo, surf, or theater don't have unlimited evenings — so we build study plans that fit around their actual week, not a fictional one.
- Many of you are aiming high. Del Mar parents tend to know exactly which schools they're targeting. We're a fit if you want a senior-level tutor for an ambitious score goal; we're probably not the cheapest option you'll find.
- Test prep starts in spring of sophomore year for most. A good rule of thumb: take a baseline diagnostic by spring of 10th grade, decide between SAT and ACT based on that, and begin sustained prep the summer before junior year.
Meet your tutor: Blake Jensen
Blake is a native San Diegan, a former college basketball player (St. Mary's and Whittier), and a full-time SAT/ACT specialist with nearly 20 years in test prep. He's especially good with student-athletes — he understands what it feels like to compete at a high level on a hard deadline.
His students have earned perfect 36s on the ACT, opened doors to Ivy League programs, and collectively pulled in over $200,000 in merit scholarships across recent families. He recently coached a fencer to a perfect 36, which is what was required to lock down a Johns Hopkins scholarship offer.
For Del Mar families, the format is whatever's easiest: in-person at our Carmel Valley office (about 10 minutes from most of Del Mar), Zoom, or a mix.
SAT tutoring for Del Mar students
We tutor the current Digital SAT in its actual format — including the College Board's Bluebook app, the adaptive module structure, and the section timing. Sessions are 100% one-on-one and tailored to what a specific student is missing: content gaps, pacing, decision-making under pressure, or the specific recurring traps that show up on the test.
Most of our Del Mar SAT students are aiming for 1450+ — the band where good prep makes a real difference for top-30 admissions. We'll be candid in the consult about whether that's realistic from your kid's baseline and timeline.
ACT tutoring for Del Mar students
The ACT is a different animal: faster pace, four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science), and a science section that's really about reading charts and tables under time pressure. We coach all four. For higher scorers, the difference between a 30 and a 34 usually isn't content — it's pacing, pattern recognition, and not getting stuck. That's what we work on.
If you're not sure whether your kid should take SAT or ACT, we'll help figure it out in the consult.
How our private tutoring works
- Free 15-minute consultation. We talk about baseline scores, target scores, school workload, the timeline, and what hasn't worked yet. You leave the call knowing what we'd actually do.
- Baseline + score-goal mapping. If your student has a recent score, we start there. If not, we point you to the right diagnostic.
- Pick a plan. Hourly works for targeted help; packages work for meaningful score gains over 12 weeks.
- Weekly sessions in person or on Zoom. Typically 60 or 90 minutes, once a week. We diagnose why points are being lost, then build repeatable strategies for that specific student.
- Customized homework. Missed questions from this week shape next week's plan, so improvements compound.
- Accountability between sessions. Quick text/email check-ins help students follow through during busy school weeks.
- Test-day readiness. As the test date approaches, we shift to pacing, endurance, and precision so the real test feels routine.
Blake's tutoring packages
Pricing is the same whether sessions are in person at Carmel Valley or on Zoom from your Del Mar living room.
Foundation — 6 Hours: $2,250
A focused start for students who want immediate traction or targeted help in a few areas.
- 6 hours of tutoring (in-person or online)
- Baseline assessment + score-improvement plan
- Weekly practice checklist
- 1 check-in per week between sessions
- 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 roughly 12 weeks. Built for consistency, accountability, and momentum.
- 12 hours of tutoring (in-person or online)
- Diagnostic + personalized 12-week plan
- Targeted practice and missed-question review
- 2 check-ins per week between sessions
- 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.
- 24 hours of tutoring (in-person or online)
- Everything in Momentum, plus:
- Up to 4 check-ins per week between sessions
- Parent progress updates every 2 sessions (optional)
- Concierge scheduling flexibility
- Two full practice-test/section reviews
Typical use: 2 sessions per week for ~12 weeks, or a longer runway with built-in support.
Hourly rates for ACT tutoring range from $350–$375 per hour with package discounts.
What past clients have said
"Blake was amazing at what he does!!! I had my twin girls work with him and one received a perfect score of 36 and the other a superscore 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
"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."
— Pete Boukouzis
You can read 50+ more Google reviews for the Carmel Valley office, or visit our full reviews page.
Getting to our Carmel Valley office from Del Mar
The drive is short. From downtown Del Mar (the village), it's about 3 miles up Del Mar Heights Rd. From Del Mar Mesa or homes east of I-5, you're maybe 2 miles. Even from Del Mar's south end near Torrey Pines State Beach, you're about a 10-minute drive.
The office is at 12625 High Bluff Dr. #113, San Diego, CA 92130, near the corner of Del Mar Heights Rd. and High Bluff Dr. Go down the stairs into the courtyard; Blake's office is in the back right corner. Driving directions.
Del Mar SAT & ACT tutoring FAQ
Do you work with Torrey Pines and Canyon Crest students?
Yes. Both Torrey Pines High School and Canyon Crest Academy are within walking distance of our Carmel Valley office — many of our students attend one or the other. We're also familiar with both schools' calendars and AP loads.
What about Cathedral Catholic, Pacific Ridge, or Santa Fe Christian?
Yes — we work with private school students too. The test is the same; what changes is how we fit the prep around your school's calendar and demands.
When should a Del Mar junior start SAT or ACT tutoring?
Typically 10–12 weeks before a target test date. For most Torrey Pines and Canyon Crest students, that means starting in summer before junior year for a fall test, or in January for a spring test. Earlier is fine; later is sometimes necessary.
Do you offer just SAT, just ACT, or both?
Both. We can also help a student decide which test fits them better after a baseline.
Is Blake taking new SAT students right now?
Yes. (Note: Matt Sheelen is not currently accepting new SAT students. Blake is your primary contact for in-person tutoring.)
Can I do online tutoring instead of in-person?
Yes. For some Del Mar families, especially during exam-heavy weeks at Torrey Pines or Canyon Crest, Zoom is more efficient than the (admittedly short) drive over. Zoom with screen-share works very well for SAT and ACT prep.
How long does it take to see score improvement?
For motivated students who do the homework, meaningful score gains typically show up in 6–12 weeks. Practice-test scores often jump within a month once strategy clicks; consolidated improvement takes the full runway.
Ready to start?
The fastest next step is a free 15-minute consultation with Blake. We'll talk about your student's situation and tell you exactly what we'd do next — even if that's not hiring us.