SAT TUTORING FAQ

Strategic Test Prep is an online SAT prep company offering 1:1 tutoring, small group classes, crash courses and self-paced courses. It was founded in 2021 by Laura Whitmore, a former public school teacher with about 20 years of SAT coaching experience. Strategic Test Prep works with students across the US and internationally, and its YouTube channel has nearly 100,000 subscribers.

Strategic Test Prep is best for students who want a specific score, from first-time test takers to students pushing from the 1400s into the 1500s. Families choose it for personalized plans built on each student's own practice test data, and tutors who take the real SAT regularly.

1:1 SAT tutoring at Strategic Test Prep runs $150 to $300 per hour, depending on the tutor. Our part-time college tutors start at $150. Full-time tutors with degrees and years of experience range from $175 to $300. Most students meet once or twice a week, and we'll map out what your plan actually costs on your free consultation.

Rates reflect experience. Every tutor goes through the same training and teaches the same Strategic Test Prep method. Higher-tier tutors have more years with us and a longer track record of 1500+ results. We'll recommend the tutor who fits your student's goals, personality and budget.

No. Strategic Test Prep offers pay-as-you-go tutoring, billed weekly for the sessions you've had. Many families start this way to make sure the tutor is a great fit, then switch to a package once things are going well. We'll never lock you into something that isn't working for your student.

Yes. Strategic Test Prep's 20-hour package includes 2 free hours, so you pay for 18. You can renew another 20 hours if you need them. The discount is the same per hour on bigger packages, so there's no pressure to buy more than you need up front.

Strategic Test Prep charges a one-time $100 onboarding fee for 1:1 tutoring. It covers your student's setup and materials, including official practice tests.

No. Strategic Test Prep does not offer score guarantees. Too much is outside anyone's control: whether assignments get done, test-day nerves, getting sick on test day. Most guarantees come with fine print that makes them hard to actually use.

Instead, we stand on our results. Read our reviews to see how much our students have improved.

For 1:1 tutoring, Strategic Test Prep asks for 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule a session. Group class enrollments are non-refundable once paid in full, because we hold your student's seat in a small class. Full details are in the tutoring agreement you'll receive at registration.

Strategic Test Prep students have improved 100 to 300+ points, and many reach the 1500s. How much your student can gain depends on their starting score, how much time there is before the test, and how consistently they do the work. On your consultation, we'll look at their scores and give you an honest, realistic target.

It's possible, but it's aggressive and it takes time. A 300+ point jump usually needs several months of consistent prep. We often set a first milestone, like 100 to 150 points, so your student builds confidence and momentum, then set the next goal from there.

A good rule of thumb is about two months of focused prep for every 100 points. Students who start early and do their assignments consistently tend to move faster. Higher starting scores take more precise work, because each point gets harder to earn.

This is one of the most common things we hear. Real SATs tend to include harder, newer questions than the Bluebook practice tests, so official scores often come in 30 to 50 points lower. Test-day nerves and timing also play a role. We prep students with harder, up-to-date questions so test day feels familiar.

That's completely normal at this level. In the high 1400s, missed questions stop following a pattern. They're usually sneaky, high-level questions with a built-in trap, not gaps in content. The fix is learning those traps and faster solution paths, which is exactly what our advanced prep focuses on.

It's rare, and there's usually a clear reason: assignments weren't done, severe test anxiety, or being sick on test day. Prep is a partnership. We give students the strategies and the plan, and they put in the work between sessions.

Work backward from college deadlines and your student's school calendar. Juniors often take a fall or December test as a baseline and target March or May, so prep is finished before AP exams and finals. Seniors usually have one or two dates left before applications are due. We'll help you choose on your consultation.

The fall of 10th grade or the start of 11th grade is ideal. Starting early leaves time for multiple test dates without prep spilling into AP season or senior year applications. It also helps with math: students in advanced math can forget the algebra and geometry the SAT actually tests.

Not if you move quickly. With only one or two test dates left, Strategic Test Prep recommends intensive 1:1 tutoring focused on the points your student can gain fastest. Students already scoring 1350+ may also qualify for our Advanced Strategy Class.

It depends on your student. We often start with a practice test to see which one plays to their strengths. Whichever you choose, we prep for one test at a time. Preparing for both at once splits a student's focus and slows progress on each.

Plan on two or three times. Many colleges superscore, combining your best Reading and Writing score with your best Math score across test dates. A first official test also gives us real data to sharpen the plan.

Most colleges let you choose which scores to send, but a few require all scores. Check each school's policy directly with its admissions office. If your list includes all-scores schools, we'll plan to have your student well prepared before their first official test.

Take a full-length Bluebook practice test in one sitting, under real test conditions. We analyze the results question by question, which shows exactly where your student is losing points. That data shapes their plan from the very first session.

1:1 tutoring is best when a student has a big gap to close, a tight timeline, uneven section scores or a busy schedule, because every session targets their specific weaknesses. Our small group classes work well for students who want a strong strategy foundation at a lower cost. Some families start with a class and add 1:1 sessions after, if needed. The class reduces the number of 1:1 hours you would need.

Most students meet once or twice a week for 60 to 90 minutes. Students working on both sections often do two sessions a week, one for Reading and Writing and one for Math, so they keep momentum on both. We adjust the pace as the test date gets closer.

Plan on about one hour of practice for every hour of tutoring, usually 2 to 3 hours a week. Assignments might be a practice test, targeted drills, or reviewing mistakes. Students who complete their assignments see the biggest gains.

Strategic Test Prep classes are capped at 16 students and often run with 8 to 12. They're live and interactive: students work through questions, ask questions, share their reasoning, and learn the traps on the hardest questions. Every class ends with a full mock test and review the weekend before the SAT.

The 5-week SAT Strategy Class is $895, and the Advanced Strategy Class for students scoring 1350+ is $995. Both include our self-paced courses when paid in full.

Yes. All Strategic Test Prep tutoring and classes are live on Google Meet, so your student can work with us from anywhere. We work with families across the US and internationally, and we schedule around time zones.

Every class is recorded and comes with notes, so your student can catch up before the next session.

Strategic Test Prep tutors score 1500+ on the digital SAT or 34+ on the ACT, and complete our 40-hour training program. Founder Laura Whitmore mentors every tutor personally. Our tutors also sit for the real SAT, so they know exactly what's showing up on the current test.

College Board doesn't release recent tests, so Strategic Test Prep sends a tutor to sit for every SAT. That keeps us on top of new question types and trends as they happen. Students practice with up-to-date questions, not just the older official practice tests.

Yes. We'll recommend two or three tutors who fit your student's goals, schedule and personality, and you can review their bios and videos before choosing. If you'd like a specific type of tutor, such as a female tutor or a calm, encouraging style, just let us know.

Absolutely. Fit matters, and we want your student to love working with their tutor. Tell us what isn't working, and we'll match you with someone new.

We handle the transition for you. Your new tutor gets a full report of your student's progress, weak areas and practice test data, so nothing is lost and there's no starting over.

Strategic Test Prep is built around SAT strategy, and test prep is our specialty. Prep books and Khan Academy are a solid start, but many students find them too easy to move a high score. Every 1:1 plan starts from an analysis of your student's own practice tests, so sessions target the exact questions they're missing. Many families come to us after trying another program.

The Strategic Test Prep method teaches the rules and the strategies together. Students learn the grammar and math rules the SAT tests, plus faster ways to solve questions and how to spot the traps. We always ask students why they chose an answer, because a right answer reached the wrong way won't hold up on test day.

Your student's tutor tracks every mistake from assignments and practice tests, so you can see which question types are improving and what's next. Regular practice tests show score progress over time. You can reach out with questions anytime, and we respond to every email within 24 hours.

Yes. We use official College Board materials, including Bluebook practice tests and the question bank, plus our own questions modeled on what's appearing on recent tests. Students who have finished the Bluebook tests work with harder, up-to-date practice so they're ready for the real thing.

Each section of the digital SAT has two modules. How well your student does on Module 1 decides whether they get the easier or harder Module 2. The harder Module 2 is worth more points, so students who land the easier one hit a score ceiling. For many students, the first goal is to get so strong on Module 1 that they reliably earn the harder Module 2.

Desmos is the graphing calculator built into the digital SAT. Many students don't even know it's there. Used well, it solves many math questions faster and with fewer careless mistakes. We teach students when to use Desmos and when solving by hand is quicker.

This is very common. The SAT tests math only through Algebra 2 and basic geometry and trig, and advanced students often forget those basics or overcomplicate simple questions. We bring them back to the simpler, faster approach the test rewards.

Yes. Strategic Test Prep tutors work with neurodiverse students and adapt their teaching style and structure to each student. If your student may qualify for testing accommodations like extended time, start the College Board request early through your school counselor, because approval can take several weeks.

Yes. Anxiety is a big reason students score lower on test day than in practice. We build confidence with realistic practice, a clear plan for pacing, and full mock tests under real conditions, so test day feels familiar instead of scary.

Often the best thing a parent can do is step back and let the tutor set the work. Students tend to follow a tutor's plan more readily than a parent's reminders. Ask your student what they're learning and what they want to work on next, so the decisions feel like theirs.