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For many (if not all) students, a good SAT or ACT score could be the difference between getting accepted into their dream college and settling for a second choice.
Similarly, an SAT or ACT score could affect your student's access to scholarships and other merit-based opportunities during their studies.
One of the fastest ways to boost standardized test scores and ensure your student’s acceptance to top colleges is through private tutoring.
A good SAT or ACT private tutor can help your student develop better test-taking strategies, improve their skills in the subject areas tested, and most importantly, keep them accountable and motivated during their test prep.
This could be achieved in the comfort of your home when you choose an online tutoring program.
But choosing the right SAT or ACT private tutoring service is not always easy. Hence, we've spent months researching and reviewing several of the top online SAT and ACT tutoring service providers to help you find the best private online tutor for your student.
Our review considers factors like the qualification and experience of tutors, affordability, and student satisfaction.
Based on our comprehensive review of dozens of private tutoring companies, our top three picks for SAT and ACT online tutoring were PrepScholar, PrepMaven, and Prep Expert.
Our SAT and ACT Online Tutoring Services Winners
Best Overall: PrepScholar
Runner Up: PrepMaven
Most Budget Friendly: Prep Expert
PrepScholar – Best Overall
PrepScholar was founded by two Harvard University graduates who got perfect scores in their own SAT and ACT exams.
This online tutoring service provider ensures maximum preparation for students, providing over 7,100 SAT practice questions and lessons that extensively cover reading, writing, language, and math.
Their ACT question bank, on the other hand, has over 4,300 practice questions.
Although most known for their data-driven SAT and ACT online test prep courses, PrepScholar also offers a private tutor-supported SAT and ACT prep package for students who thrive best in 1-on-1 lessons.
They have a diverse team of vastly experienced tutors who hold degrees from prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, and Yale. Their tutors have all achieved scores in the 99th percentile in their SAT or ACT exams.
The base prep packages from PrepScholar include one-year access to their self-paced course platform. The platform contains a large library of SAT and ACT lesson content and practice questions that adapt to your student’s strengths and weaknesses.
PrepScholar is not the most affordable service provider on the market. Their pricing starts at $248 per hour for a 4-hour package, going down to $129 per hour for a 54-hour package.
However, they have improved their service affordability through payment plans for families who may be on a tighter budget.
Pros
Cons
Although PrepScholar includes its self-paced program as an add-on to the private tutoring program, the rates are still high compared to its competitors. This makes their program a poor fit for families looking for affordable private SAT or ACT coaching.
PrepMaven – Our Runner Up
PrepMaven was founded by two Princeton University graduates. And just like the founders, most of the instructors/tutors in PrepMaven have earned degrees from Princeton University.
They have some of the more flexible SAT prep options in the market, offering 1-on-1 tutoring, group classes, and even a boot camp for students whose exam dates are fast approaching. Students also receive the PrepMaven's course books and strategy guides when they sign up.
Much like PrepScholar, PrepMaven mostly hires tutors whose SAT and ACT scores are in the 99th percentile. Their tutors also have hundreds of hours’ worth of tutoring experience, making them better positioned to identify your student’s weak and strong areas.
Their pricing depends on the tutor tier you choose, with a starting rate of $85 per hour for standard tutors, many of which are current Princeton University undergraduate students. The pricing can go up to about $350 per hour for a premier tutor.
Pros
Cons
Prep Expert – Most Budget-Friendly
Similar to PrepScholar, Prep Expert is a relative newcomer in the SAT/ACT prep scene, competing with well-established players like The Princeton Review and Kaplan.
Their services include full-length live online and on-demand video courses as well as 1-on-1 private tutoring.
Their rigorous hiring process also ensures that their tutors have either achieved a perfect score or scored in the top 1% of their respective standardized tests.
In fact, many of their tutors are National Merit Scholars or finalists.
In addition to tutoring, your student will learn 100+ strategies developed by Prep Expert Founder Dr. Shaan Patel for a guaranteed high ACT score.
Their courses are much more affordable compared to PrepScholar and PrepMaven, with prices ranging from $99 per hour for a 4-hour package to $79 per hour for a 16-hour package.
Pros
Cons
Other Good SAT/ACT Online Tutoring Companies
Varsity Tutors – Most Flexible Payment Plans
Varsity Tutors has one of the most affordable test prep courses, with flexible Pay as You Go plans, affordable starting rates, and fair customer policies. In addition to 1-on-1 tutoring, they offer unlimited access to live classes, on-demand lessons, and unlimited family access.
Their prep classes incorporate section-specific lessons for dozens of exams, including the SAT and ACT. Through the Varsity Tutors platform, students can contact an instructor via live chat anytime when they need assistance.
SoFlo – Most Financially Inclusive
SoFlo is an online SAT and ACT tutoring service provider that has made test prep accessible to students of all economic backgrounds. Like Varsity Tutors, SoFlo offers flexible
Pay as You Go plans and affordable starting rates. In addition, the company provides free SAT and ACT tutoring to students who can’t afford to pay.
SoFlo offers 1-on-1 SAT and ACT tutoring. Students have access to SATs that were administered within the last two years. This enables SoFlo tutors to identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses to develop personalized test prep strategies.
SoFlo pricing is based on tutor tiers, ranging from $75 to $90 per hour. However, they do not offer bulk or long-term tutoring packages.
Final Thoughts
While private tutoring might be the fastest way to prep for the SAT or ACT exams, it doesn't come cheap. However, self-paced and live online SAT and ACT classes are a great alternative to private tutoring.
Your student could prep at a fraction of the cost if you trade off the high degree of personalized support that private tutoring offers. But online SAT and ACT prep will only help if it fits the needs of your students.
If you're considering investing in an SAT or ACT online course, read our in-depth reviews of the best SAT prep courses and ACT prep courses available. Unlike most review sites, we purchase and use each course for months to bring you the best recommendations.
