SAT Tutoring FAQs

When should I start preparing for the SAT?
How long do the sessions last?
How many times should the test be taken?
Is the program tailor-made to my child's individual needs and skills?
How much homework will be given?
How many points can my child expect to improve?
Is the tutoring all done one-on-one?
Why is it important to prepare for the SAT?
Are the tutors trained?
What kind of money will I need to invest?

When should I start preparing for the SAT?

Conventionally, students are encouraged to start preparation at least eight weeks before a test. Ideally though, three months or even longer is fantastic. The reason for trying to put aside so much time is to help the student integrate the unique test taking techniques into their strategies. The problem many students come across is an inability to finish tests on time or an inability to change the way they naturally approach problems. Both of these are big problems for score improvement and they can often be remedied by allowing for more preparation time. However, if you are looking to do one subject preparation or have already studied for the exam, doing in a shorter amount of time is fine.

How long do the sessions last?

Sessions are usually two hours long but for exceptional cases they can be 1.5 or 2.5 hours long as well. Two hours is an ideal amount of time to spend because it allows a student to get into a groove of sorts with the tutor and with the material. Furthermore, since sessions usually only occur once a week, it is imperative that the tutor have enough time to cover sufficient ground to have the student practice the new strategies for a full week's worth of homework.

How many times should the test be taken?

The vast majority of students take the SAT at least two times. Depending on the college you are applying to, it may be worthwhile to take the test three or more times as well. The reason to take the test at least twice is quite simple. Due to the fact that some tests are harder for some students and some tests are easier, allowing an extra attempt increases the student's chances of getting a higher score at least one of the two times. Furthermore, most universities do not mind students taking the test numerous times and will only look at the highest score.

Is the program tailor-made to my child's individual needs and skills?

The programs come in multiple different packages (click here to see our packages), however, built into each of the packages is a customized program. One of the unique opportunities you have working with Tier One Tutors is the ability to have a free consultation with the owner of the company and co-writer of the Tier One Tutors SAT program. During this consultation, you will have an opportunity to get expert guidance and advice and we will help to create the appropriate program that is tailor-made for your child.

How much homework will be given?

The homework varies depending on the specific student. We try hard not to take a simple approach to every student because each student has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. For students who are very bright, motivated and willing to work hard, we may assign more homework. For students needing to improve heavily on the test we would assign more work. However, if a student simply would not do a heavy workload we will not assign the work just to make them fail. We believe that confidence plays a big role in the test taking process and each program is meant to help that individual reach the highest level of confidence possible. This means that the tutor will make an informed judgment call each week regarding how much homework is appropriate for each student. However, as an average you can expect to have 2-4 hours a week excluding full-length practice tests.

How many points can my child expect to improve?

There is not one simple average for how many points one can expect to increase on the test. This is heavily dependent on how much effort and energy the student is willing to put into the program. What we are able to do as a tutoring company is present your child with the absolute best methods possible for every question and help guide them through all the intricacies of the test. However, we cannot force students to try hard or practice our methods outside of tutoring sessions. That being said, students who stick to the program and actually develop their skills over the duration of the course will often see improvements of 70-100 points per section.

Is the tutoring all done one-on-one?

All the tutoring is done one-on-one and in-home except for very specific situations. We do not offer classroom courses because they are usually highly ineffective. Since a teacher is forced to teach a rigid curriculum to a vastly diverse group of students, someone is bound to lose. Whether it is the student scoring poorly or the student scoring very well, there is no way a teacher can manage to do an ideal job conveying the information to a group of students with that kind of spectrum. When a need or desire arises to have two or three students tutored together we consider it on a case-by-case basis. We strongly believe that the best way to improve is to have individual care by a tutor who has a relationship with the student and knows them well. However, if two students are scoring very similarly on the test and they have worked well together in the past, having a group session may also be effective.

Why is it important to prepare for the SAT?

Since college admissions have become so unbelievably competitive in the last decade, the importance of high SAT scores has also heavily increased. For better or for worse, often times an SAT score can make or break a student's chances of attaining entrance to the university of their dreams. Furthermore, the SAT is an extremely coachable test. This means that as experts, we have been able to study all of the officially released SAT tests and practice problems and have had the opportunity to create unique and fantastically successful methods of how to approach every problem on the test. Through a rigorous review course with Tier One Tutors, you can be assured that your child will receive all of the pertinent and important information, tricks and methods to conquer this daunting test!

Are the tutors trained?

All of our tutors are not just trained but they have been handpicked and personally trained by the owner of the company! We have worked very hard to only hire the absolute best tutors in the region and we have also made sure that they are flexible with their time so they can work with many clients. This method has allowed us to keep our SAT staff low and their personal experience and expertise high. Furthermore, it has allowed us to personally mold each tutor into the ideal educator working with our unique program.

What kind of money will I need to invest?

Since we have many different options of ways to prepare for the test, you will be guided as to what kind of investment is ideal and necessary for your child. However, our programs run anywhere from $995 through a few thousand dollars, just depending on how much preparation you need. Scholarships are also available on a need basis.

 

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