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Getting ready for the SAT can be challenging, but Varsity Tutors has you covered with several SAT prep offerings to choose from. Whether you prefer small group SAT courses with a few other students in order to encourage one another and share suggestions, or you prefer to meet privately with an SAT test prep tutor, signing up for SAT test prep assistance through Varsity Tutors is an excellent way to enhance the quality of your study sessions. It's easy to get started with an in-depth SAT class when you reach out to us today. Or you can keep reading to learn more about how an SAT course could help you get the most out of your study sessions.
The SAT test serves a good purpose for both the students who take it and the colleges that use the results. Colleges and universities, almost all of which accept your SAT score as part of your application portfolio, appreciate being able to compare all applicants using a common data point. They use the SAT as a tool to determine how well prepared each applicant is for successful college-level study. This is one of the reasons the quality of your SAT test preparation is so important.
For you and all the thousands of students who take the exam each year, the main purpose of taking the SAT is to get into the post-secondary institution of your dreams. Knowledgeable SAT test prep tutors can help you identify which programs you should apply for, what their SAT score requirements are, and then help keep you on track during your SAT prep sessions once you've set your goal. Because Varsity Tutors refers you to SAT tutoring professionals who know what it takes to prepare for the test, your SAT classes can provide you with helpful study skills and testing strategies that could make all the difference on test day.
How can SAT classes near me help me meet the requirements to get into the college I want to attend?
We've established that SAT tutors can help you work towards reaching your goals, but perhaps you're still wondering how they do so. Whether you're in a one-on-one SAT prep tutoring situation or in a small group SAT course, you can count on Varsity Tutors to connect you with SAT tutoring experts who know many ways to study for the exam. One of the greatest advantages of not studying in a classroom setting is the flexibility SAT tutors have in planning your sessions.
Let's look at the following SAT test prep situation for an example. Even if you're a complete math whiz, your SAT class tutor will probably give you a math assessment during your first session. When you not only score 100% on it, but also do so in half the time allotted, you probably won't spend much time reviewing the math concepts you've clearly mastered. How much time would be spent reviewing math concepts in an SAT prep classroom setting? This example illustrates how studying in a one-on-one setting can be far more efficient than classroom alternatives. As a college-bound high school student, you don't have time to spend on unnecessary tasks, and by signing up for SAT test prep help through Varsity Tutors, you don't have to.
Are you curious about exactly what you need to study to prepare for the SAT? Review the information below to learn more about the format and content of the SAT:
The Tests That Make Up the SAT
- Reading Test
- Assesses reading comprehension and reasoning skills
- Answer questions from written passages
- Some passages include tables, charts, or other graphics
- Writing and Language Test
- Assesses grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and other skills in written English
- Assesses the ability to understand words through context
- Analyze passages to identify opportunities to improve claims or relevance
- Math
- Features calculator and no-calculator portions
- Assesses problem-solving and analytical skills
- Assesses algebraic skills
- Assess the ability to understand and solve mathematical expressions
- Essay
- Optional
- Assesses writing skills
- Assesses the ability to understand an argument, present it, and support it with evidence
One thing to note is that although the Essay section is listed as optional, it's important to find out if any of the programs you're planning to apply for require applicants to complete the Essay section, as many of them do. This is another thing you can look up during your SAT prep.
What are the different options Varsity Tutors offers for SAT test prep near me?
The most intensive option Varsity Tutors offers to help you prepare for the test is one-on-one SAT tutoring. Working with SAT tutors allows for a great deal of flexibility, both in scheduling and in the study sessions. Varsity Tutors always does our best to connect you with a tutor who can meet at a time that fits your busy schedule. This is made much easier by the fact that our SAT courses are conducted online through our Live Learning Platform. This removes any travel or transportation obstacles, and also widens the timeframe that both you and your tutor have available for conducting your SAT prep sessions.
Possibly the greatest advantage to working with a private SAT test prep tutor is that they can create a customized learning plan for you that's targeted specifically towards your academic growth. If you learn one concept or topic more quickly than expected, your tutor can move your SAT test preparation on to the next subject without having to wait. By being able to adjust your study schedule in real time, your lessons are as efficient as possible, and every minute you spend in your SAT classes is productive study time. This may be the right SAT preparation choice for you if you've previously enjoyed getting individualized feedback while learning.
There are basically two SAT test preparation options you can sign up for. The first is the private tutoring and the second choice you may want to consider is our small-group SAT classes. When you sign up for these SAT courses, you'll learn from an experienced instructor in an online learning environment that replicates the traditional classroom experience. You'll even get to learn alongside and interact with a small group of peers during each SAT class. As mentioned above, this gives you the chance to give and receive encouragement among other SAT prep students who know exactly what you're going through, because they are, too. It's not like sitting in a full classroom because the group is kept smaller. This type of SAT test prep also gives you the option to work with your instructor in a one-on-one setting when you need additional help with a challenging topic.
How can SAT tutoring near me help me study better than on my own or in a class?
First and foremost, working on your SAT preparation with the personalized attention of a private SAT tutor offers the most flexible and efficient way to study, as mentioned above. In addition to taking time during your SAT course to focus on particular content, tutors have the chance to choose among the many SAT prep study methods they have in their "toolbox," to find the ones that work best for you.
Your SAT test prep can get to know you better than a classroom teacher could. This means they can get to know your current study habits, both by asking you and observing you, and the strengths you bring to the table. They can also discover the learning styles that help you learn and retain information more effectively, and where your interests lie. By taking all of this into consideration, your SAT prep tutor can design lesson plans that are most effective for your unique set of personal attributes.
We can again look at some example SAT test prep situations to show how this might work. If you're studying for the SAT after spending a long day at school sitting in a chair and listening to teachers, you might be ready to fall asleep with your eyes open as your tutor explains things. This may be an effective way for you to learn normally, but a good SAT prep tutor will probably not only observe this happening, but take action to fix it.
If you're working on certain math skills, and you happen to enjoy basketball, they may take you outside with a ball to a nearby hoop and play a game that involves answering math questions while making shots. If you're working on reading comprehension, your SAT test prep can again move outside, this time to take a walk. When you're tired, moving and taking in fresh air can help you focus better on the topics being discussed and may improve your performance. Your tutor can bring passages, read them out loud as you walk, and ask you questions verbally. Or if they have the ability, they could make up short passages that are funny or strange so they catch your attention better than a piece of 18th century British literature, and then provide questions for you to answer.
Can a SAT course near me help me with more than just content review for the test?
The SAT is a hugely popular college admissions exam. The test assesses how prepared you are for a college level of study through a series of multiple-choice questions that cover many of the most important things you studied while in high school. Students who earn a strong SAT score may become a more attractive candidate for admission at the colleges they're most interested in attending. That's why it's vital that you have a strong test preparation in place as you begin to prepare for this comprehensive exam.
Doing well on the SAT requires more from you than just remembering the content tested. Full SAT preparation involves study and test-taking skill enhancement in addition to subject review. Because each section of the exam has a limited timeframe for you to complete it, your SAT tutor can help you improve your pacing if that's an issue. They have a number of ways they can do so.
Sometimes it almost seems like the wording of SAT questions is meant to trick you. Your tutor can help you learn to first read questions carefully, then understand what they're asking for. A double-negative can make a question seem like it's asking one thing when it's actually asking for the exact opposite. Becoming familiar with the wording of SAT questions can make them less daunting, and when you're more quickly able to understand what a question asks, you can answer more quickly.
Which leads to another simple strategy your SAT prep tutor can encourage, which is trusting your first instinct. If you answer a question in your head before looking at the answers, and find your answer among the choices, you can feel confident picking that answer. In classroom tests, you're encouraged to review your work, but on standardized exams like the SAT, that's not always the best option. Depending on what your tutor observes when you take practice sections or tests, they can help you find the best way for you to pick the right answer. They may even have ideas on how you can improve your chances of picking the right answer even if you're not sure what it is.
There are other time-management tips your SAT test prep tutor can demonstrate as they help you choose the ones that work best for you. To track your pacing improvement, your instructor may administer timed sections of the exam, observe you as you answer questions, and provide more suggestions based on what they see. Because the SAT doesn't penalize you for wrong answers, but does penalize you for unanswered questions, it's in your best interest to practice your pacing until you feel comfortable in your ability to finish all items on the test.
It can be beneficial to have your SAT tutor walk you through what the whole testing experience will be like. Below, you'll find important information about what to expect on the day of your SAT exam:
- Doors open at 7:45 am on the day of the test
- Doors close at 8:00 am
- Testing starts between 8:30 and 9:00 am
- One 10 minute break and one 5 minute break
- Students not taking the Essay will be done around 12 pm
- Students taking the Essay will be done around 1 pm
Your SAT prep instructor may even be able to teach you techniques to reduce your anxiety on the day of the test if that's an issue for you. If you plan on taking the SAT soon, then consider signing up for an SAT test prep course with Varsity Tutors. You can get started with the SAT course of your choice when you reach out to us today. Whichever option you ultimately decide on, Varsity Tutors is dedicated to helping you enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your study sessions. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ingy: SAT test prep instructor
...While I have tutored a variety of subjects, such as math, economics, chemistry, finance, and linguistics, I now focus on tutoring math, primarily, since it is my passion. I have a very flexible tutoring style, and my approach strongly depends on each of my students' needs. The goal is for students to leave in a more calm, confident state than before. Outside of school, I spend much of my time biking, doing yoga, cooking, and...
Education & Certification
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Bachelors, Mathematics with Actuarial Science Specialization
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +38 subjects
Ruth: SAT test prep instructor
...of Pittsburgh, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, and Best of the Batch Foundation. Her work focuses on culturally responsive multi-cultural education, language teaching, and program development. At the Carnegie Library, she created World Family Day, an event where volunteers read children's stories in their native language, donated food from around the world, and shared cultural crafts with 90 kids and parents. During 2014-15, Ruth completed a Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, where she learned about the...
Education & Certification
- Smith College - Bachelors, Comparative Literature / Russian Civilization
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- Spanish 3
- Spanish 1
- Russian
- +27 subjects
Brianna: SAT test prep instructor
...from the University of Richmond majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Analytics and a minor in Mathematics. I have worked with kids of all ages, ranging from elementary school to college students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry my passion for working with children and have developed my...
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Current Undergrad, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- ACT
- ACT and SAT All-In-One Classes
- ACT 4-Week Prep Class
- +217 subjects
Erica: SAT test prep instructor
...in English and Ancient Latin Language and Literature. I am a licensed teacher with a diversity of experience working with young people. For the past 10 years, I have tutored students of all ages and in a variety of subjects, with a strong focus on K-12 mathematics. I am pursuing a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. I am extremely passionate about teaching and work daily...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College - Bachelor in Arts, English; Latin Language and Literature
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- PSAT
- SSAT
- +77 subjects
Linda: SAT test prep instructor
...the potential to succeed, and the key to achieving your goal is a matter of hard work and dedication rather than intelligence. I work with all students of varying levels. For those that do not do well under the pressure of standardized tests, I strive to make test-taking less anxiety-inducing and more approachable for my students. For students looking to gain an extra boost in their scores, I assess what information they already know and...
Education & Certification
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick - Bachelors, Cell Biology & Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- GRE Verbal
- Test Prep
- SAT Reading
- +13 subjects
Kevin: SAT test prep instructor
...I also offer ACT/SAT Writing, ACT/SAT Reading, SAT Verbal and ACT English tutoring. My approach to tutoring is centered on the belief that nothing is particularly difficult if you just break it down into small parts. For example, things like Advanced Placement tests and standardized tests when viewed as a whole can seem like daunting tasks which require lots of higher order reading, writing, and thinking skills. However, when they are approached question by question...
Education & Certification
- American University - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- ACT
- ACT Reading
- English
- +15 subjects
Rachel: SAT test prep instructor
...that all students have what it takes to succeed in school, its just a matter of finding the style of learning that is most effective for them. What works or makes sense for one student will not necessarily work for the next student, and so it is essential as a tutor to be able to explain the same concept in a variety of different ways and to be able to determine when a student has...
Education & Certification
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Bachelors, General Biology
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SSAT
- +89 subjects
Mark: SAT test prep instructor
...can achieve anything if they are equipped with the correct tools and skills. I work well with others, and I can connect with almost anybody. I am a natural leader. I'm a great motivator, and I have given several motivational speeches throughout my career. My tutoring goals are simple: to equip students with skills to achieve their own goals, to brighten their day, and to encourage students and let them know it is possible that...
Education & Certification
- University of North Texas - Current Undergrad, Finance
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- SAT Mathematics
- 3rd Grade Science
- 4th Grade Math
- +29 subjects
Diptesh: SAT test prep instructor
...Public Health with a concentration in Chemistry. I have been passionate about education since high school and have been teaching, tutoring, and mentoring students from grades 6-12 and college in a variety of subjects since! I specialize in mathematics and science tutoring as well as standardized exam preparation. In the past, I have helped students achieve significant improvements and success on the SAT, SHSAT, Regents and other exams! I truly believe education is a mutual...
Education & Certification
- New York University - Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- HSPT
- PSAT
- OLSAT
- +88 subjects
Max: SAT test prep instructor
...as a math teacher and coach at a public middle school (my team of 7th graders just won the 2016 New Haven regional championship!), and I've been tutoring middle and high school students for over 7 years. On top of all of that, I'm an aspiring professional in the business world - this past summer I worked at an internship in financial consulting (banking advisory & analytics), and have previously held internship positions in human capital...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- PSAT
- ACT
- ISEE
- +104 subjects
Kelsey: SAT test prep instructor
...about their own educational paths. Kelsey still attributes her academic successes to the study tactics she developed during her formative elementary and high school years, and she believes that all students (regardless of their field of focus) need to build a solid foundation in writing, reading comprehension, grammatical and syntactical knowledge, and time management techniques. Kelsey has experience working with students of all ages and a wide range of subjects through her vast tutoring and...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- GED
- SSAT
- HSPT
- +79 subjects
Gabrielle: SAT test prep instructor
...advancements in both confidence and competency levels. I am particularly passionate about tutoring English, Mandarin, and standardized test prep. In my experience working with students struggling to pass a class or to prepare for college entrance exams, we always have fun determining the study method that works best for them. Everybody has a different learning style and once we hone in on the right one for you, an improvement in scores will become more than...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Chinese Language & Global Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- TOEFL
- +29 subjects
Miguel: SAT test prep instructor
...Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in English. As for pertinent work experience prior to Varsity Tutoring, I have tutored middle school aged children in English for a year as a part of the PAIR program and helped graduate students from foreign countries practice their conversational English. Please feel invited to contact me and/or ask me your questions. I am able to travel to most of Philadelphia and its surrounding...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Computer Science / English
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- GED
- TOEFL
- PSAT
- +176 subjects
Parisa: SAT test prep instructor
...my university's economics department (one of just a few undergraduates), and I also teach debate in local schools in Charlottesville. I enjoy working with students of all ages and have experience teaching students from the elementary school level to the college level. I've worked one-on-one both with friends and with my students on various subjects, including writing, economics, math, and standardized testing. Some qualifications: I recently took the LSAT and scored a 180 after intensive...
Education & Certification
- University of Virginia-Main Campus - Current Undergrad, Politics Honors and Economics
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- Homework Support
- LSAT Reading Comprehension
- Public Speaking
- +26 subjects
John: SAT test prep instructor
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in 2008, the oldest English speaking acting conservatory in the world. I graduated Summa from University of St Thomas with a BA in English, and just wrapped up a MS in Data Science from Northwestern. I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.... Positivity. Always. I believe that if a student is given positive tools and is allowed to understand the material rather than be lectured at, they're more likely to do well in the future.
Education & Certification
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Associates, Acting
- University of St. Thomas - Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- PSAT
- STAAR
- SAT Subject Tests
- +110 subjects
Ben: SAT test prep instructor
...close, but not quite there: learning the way you want to learn and the way you learn best rather than having topics taught at you. For standardized testing: I have taken the special classes and labored through the workbooks to prepare for taking the exams myself. The trick is to learn the test and know how to beat it with the right tools, and I am eager to pass along what I have learned from...
Education & Certification
- George Washington University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
- Roosevelt University - PHD, Clinical Psychology
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- PSAT
- GED
- ACT
- +50 subjects
Matt: SAT test prep instructor
...Health major with a concentration in Immunology and Infectious Diseases. I then went on to complete a Masters program at Georgetown University in human physiology. Given the amount of schooling I have gone through myself, I have taken a wide range of subjects and more standardized tests than I would like to admit. I have taught students of almost every age in various fields such as elementary science, Hebrew, chemistry, MCAT prep, and many more.....
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelors, Public Health concentration in Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Georgetown University - Masters, Biophysics and Human Physiology
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- ACT
- Advanced Placement
- SAT Subject Tests
- +85 subjects
Cameron: SAT test prep instructor
...in their courses. During this time, I learned how to be a very patient instructor and an effective communicator. As my dad was a high school math teacher, I also learned a few things from him about how to teach difficult subjects to students. Since I am in medical school, I obviously love science involving anything that has to do with the body, so I would be very excited to assist with biology or other...
Education & Certification
- University of Southern California - Bachelor in Arts, Biological Sciences
- University of Southern California - Doctor of Medicine, Medicine
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- ACT
- Arithmetic
- Algebra 2
- +24 subjects
Margarita: SAT test prep instructor
...7th grade, and my favorite subject to tutor is math. My family is originally from Russia, and I grew up with a very strong and traditional math background. I always find teaching math to students to be gratifying, and I hope to share some of my love for math with my students. I also enjoy tutoring test prep, especially since I know how stressful the process of applying to colleges (and later graduate schools) is!...
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- ISEE
- ACT
- SSAT
- +55 subjects
Ariela: SAT test prep instructor
...else. I enjoy and excel at condensing and re-communicating facts or tasks, so that they become comprehensible to someone who may not understand them the first time around. It is not just my success at standardized tests or in my classes that will make me a great tutor, but also this skill and enthusiasm about learning. I understand that sometimes, the way you package and organize information is the most important part of teaching it...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- PSAT
- ISEE
- +50 subjects