How Much SAT Tutoring is Right for My Child?

by Michael Toohey, M.Ed.

Well, that depends… mostly on what kind of score increase they want or need.

That being said, here’s a general rule for the average student:

25 hours of tutoring for a 100 point increase on the SAT.

And at least 50 hours of tutoring for a 200 point increase on the SAT.

Now remember, there are exceptions.

Some fortunate students will get a 100 point increase with less prep.

And some students will struggle to break 200 no matter what they do.

So what prevents a student from getting a 100 or 200 point increase, if they are willing to do the work?

One main enemy:

Time.

If a student wants a 200 point increase, but doesn’t begin prepping until Fall of senior year, he will probably struggle to fit in 50 hours of tutoring.

And even if he does, he will only be able to take the test once while being fully prepped. (Most students take the test 2 or 3 times before they reach their scoring goal…)

That’s why I recommend students start preparing by the spring of Junior year at the latest.

And the perfect time to begin prepping is the summer between sophomore and junior year.

That being said, some prep is better than no prep.

But if you’re a junior or heading into junior year, the time to start is NOW.

It’s the best way to ensure you have the time you need to get the score increase you desire.