How Does Hiring an ACT or SAT Tutor Improve Test Scores?

Getting a high score on the ACT or SAT can be the difference between getting admitted to your preferred college or university or getting rejected. While certain institutions have decided to become test-optional, great scores on these standardized tests remain highly appreciated by admissions officers around the United States and abroad. In fact, even at test optional universities and colleges, a high ACT or SAT score is still one of the most important drivers of admissions decisions.

For those planning on taking one or both of these tests, there are many reasons to consider hiring a tutor to maximize your score. Below are a few of the key reasons why hiring an SAT tutor is a great first step towards being accepted into your dream school.

Tutors inspire self-belief

When struggling with difficult ACT and SAT concepts, it can be easy to convince yourself that you’ll never be able to succeed, or that you’re simply not smart enough to grasp a certain concept. With a tutor, students understand that this couldn’t be farther from the truth. When you’re trying to solve a problem and you’re repeatedly forced into the same errors, tutors can help you to reevaluate your strategy and change your perspective. With a gifted tutor, you’ll not only grasp the subject matter, but you’ll also see that you’re able to comprehend difficult subject matter with dedication and determination.

Barbara J. reached out to the tutors at MyGuru on behalf of her daughter when she became very anxious about taking the SAT after a prolonged period of virtual class during the pandemic.

Barbara says, “After 2-3 months of working through practice tests together she went into both the ACT and SAT with confidence. She exceeded all expectations on both tests. I credit My Guru for her test success. I will definitely use My Guru again. Money well spent.”

Tutors provide the one-on-one attention you need

Tutoring, unlike regular schoolwork in a classroom or participation in an ACT or SAT prep course, can be completely tailored to meet your needs. A classroom teacher or test prep instructor must, on some level, “teach to the average” student. While schools often try hard to accommodate students unique strengths and weaknesses, at some point it’s inevitable that a teacher moves too quickly or too slowly for a particular student’s liking through areas of study. When it comes to generic ACT and SAT self-studying a similar issue can arise, where students who prefer certain subjects will naturally neglect areas in which they are weak, working off test prep materials that, again, are intended to meet the average needs of the average test taker.

By hiring a tutor, you’ll receive dedicated coaching for the subjects you most need to improve in after a thoughtful evaluation of your skills. This provides you with the best platform for getting a high score on your standardized tests.

Tutors eliminate distractions and drive accountability

When a student has to manage his or her own time, they can easily become distracted by many attention-grabbing factors that pervade high school life. It’s easy for students to neglect test prep in favor of spending time with friends, scrolling social media, or enjoying other hobbies. When students agree to begin work with a tutor, they make an official commitment with a professional who is tasked with monitoring their growth. While it’s impossible to eliminate all distractions from a student’s life, taking time to focus on areas of study that you struggle with, helps students taking the ACT and SAT to efficiently work through problems and gain the broad base of knowledge necessary to succeed.

Tutors save you time

The job of the tutor is to explain concepts to their pupil in a clear and efficient manner. When a student is studying on their own, it can be easy to get bogged down by complicated problems that continue to puzzle and perplex them. With a tutor, you conserve study time and make more progress because a tutor helps you to circumvent these moments of deep frustration. Rather than continuing to struggle with problems that you just can’t seem to grasp, it’s much better to hire a tutor who can gracefully guide you through the problems in a clear and concise manner.

Tutoring flexibly adapts to hectic high school schedules

High schoolers often have so many things to do on a regular weekday, that it can be nearly impossible to find the time and the energy to commit extra hours outside of one’s established schedule. Tutors today can meet you when you have the appropriate headspace to be thoughtful and deliberate, whether that’s through online video chats or in person meetings. Online SAT tutoring, in particular, can be an extremely effective and efficient ways to prepare for the SAT.

When one mother wanted to find a way for her daughter to get some extra tutoring help before taking the SAT, she contacted Stefan from MyGuru who carefully planned out a schedule to fit into her hectic lifestyle.

She says, “We tried MyGuru and the online tutoring option was perfect in that it fit well into my daughter's crazy schedule. Stefan's predictions on the scores he thought were achievable for my daughter became a reality quite soon in the process and she ended up getting into the college of her dreams. I loved MyGuru because there's no "hard sell". They focus on the areas you need to improve and are very realistic about expectations.

Conclusions

There’s just no substitute for a great ACT or SAT tutor when it comes to seeing a significant improvement in your ACT and SAT scores. Targeted help allows you to reach your full potential, so don’t miss out on maximizing your score, consider in-person or online SAT tutoring.