Frequently Asked Questions

We believe experience in test prep is the best training for tutoring, so all of our tutors have between 2-15 years of experience preparing students for the SAT/ACT. In addition, all of our tutors are graduates of top universities and take part in an extensive Mindspire™ training program at the start of their hire.

We currently offer three packages for the ACT/SAT: Basic, Premium, and Ultimate.

Basic (15 hours over 2-3 months)
While other companies may promise results with a smaller time investment, we’ve found 15 hours to be the minimum amount of time needed to really make the work we do with students stick in a significant and long-lasting way.
Our Basic Package is intended for those who are looking for a solid, straightforward test prep plan.
The Basic Package Guarantee: 3 points on the ACT, or 90 points on the SAT (with a Master tutor).

Premium (25 hours over 3-5 months)
This package was designed for motivated students who are willing to work to increase their score significantly, no matter where they begin. The Premium package is the one we recommend to most students, simply because we’ve found 25 hours to be the necessary amount of time, both in and out of class, for serious improvement.
The Premium Package Guarantee: 5 points on the ACT, or 150 points on the SAT (with a Master tutor).

Ultimate (35 hours)
The extra time provided by this package allows students to gain mastery over every aspect of the test: content, techniques, strategies, timing, and psychology. Our Ultimate package is intended for those who are aiming for top universities, or have had persistent challenges with test-taking.
The Ultimate Package Guarantee: 7 points on the ACT, or 200 points on the SAT (with a Master tutor).

All of our tutors have the same high quality, performance, and skill. Instead, experience is the primary difference between our Pro and Master tutors. While Pro tutors have 2-4 years of experience, our Masters have between 5-15 years of experience in SAT and ACT test prep.

For most students, our Pro tutors’ thorough knowledge of the tests, subject matter, and learning strategies is more than enough to see huge gains in performance. But for students who already have a thorough grasp of the subject material on the test and just need that extra something to get them to the very top, a Master tutor might be the best option.

One of the biggest factors in this decision is your baseline test score, so signing up for a free mock test and Mindspire is a good first step. And don’t forget, you can always talk to us at 844-537-PREP (7737) from 9am-5pm EST any weekday.

Our office staff get to know every tutor that comes to work for us. They will talk with you to understand your needs before matching you with the tutor they feel will be best for you.

Want a bit more information? You can visit this page to read about our tutors’ academic backgrounds, favourite subjects, and experience. We value your input and are committed to making sure we find the right tutor for you, even if it takes a second try.

Simply put, when we agree on a goal, we stick to it. Whether an off day, a brain freeze, or the practice didn’t quite stick, if a student’s score falls short of the guaranteed increase from their baseline test, they get completely free hours in preparation for their next test. You can read more about our guarantee here.

Our tutors understand that tutoring sessions will not always be the first priority in a student’s busy schedule. Our tutors are available on flexible schedules outside of normal business hours to meet your needs online or at one of our locations in Charlotte, Richmond, and the Triangle.

We work hard to match you with a tutor who fits your busy schedule. Where, when and for how long you meet is a collaborative effort between you and your tutor, based on their experience with test prep and your needs as a student, but most of our students start with a 60-90 minute session once a week and adjust as needed from there.

Short Answer: Yes.
Longer Answer: We don’t recommend it. In our experience, the minimum time necessary for most students to see solid, lasting improvement is about 15 hours. Hourly tutoring is most useful for students who just need a quick refresher before an upcoming test, but most students will benefit from the time and structure offered by one of our three packages.

Whatever you need, we can probably help! While ACT and SAT prep are what we’re best known for, we also do prep for the ISEE, SSAT, LSAT, MCAT, USMLE Step One Exam, as well as nearly all academic subjects at all levels from elementary school to college. Just call or email us and let us know what kind of tutoring you’re looking for, and we’ll make it happen!

We strongly recommend that you only prep for one test at a time. We’ll help you figure out which test is right for you and make a clear game plan before getting started on improving your scores.

See our list of locations here.

View the schedule and register for the SAT

View the schedule and register for the ACT