Best ACT And SAT Prep In San Francisco
SAT Books (credit: Tama/Getty Images)
Applying for colleges can be stressful enough for high school juniors, without the added worry of having to excel at standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Hiring a private tutor or enrolling in a test prep class is a surefire way to make sure those test scores are high enough to secure college acceptance letters. San Francisco has a number of excellent tutoring options available, ranging from in-home one-on-one sessions to intensive summer immersion programs. Here are five of the best.
5705 Diamond Heights Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415) 370-2916
sflearns.com
San Francisco Creative Learning Solutions is run by professional tutor and college counselor Scott Cowan. Cowan offers a full spectrum of test prep services for grades 8 through high school. Sessions are available in group, private, and semi-private configurations and carefully tailored to each individual student's needs. Topics of focus include expanding vocabulary, solidifying writing skills and improving organization practices. Cowan also frequently assists clients in college applications and selection.
1304 Castro St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 596-0248
www.noevalleytutor.com
Providing professional tutoring services for close to twenty years, Noe Valley tutor David Freeling specializes in math, English and standardized test prep. In addition to helping clients one-on-one, Freeling has also authored several test prep books, including two focused solely on preparing for the SAT. Private hour-long sessions are $75, with discounted options for multiple students. Clients can expect friendly, fun and effective sessions.
365 Vermont St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 948-1585
tutorpedia.com
San Francisco-based Tutorpedia has a Bay Area-wide network of 70 tutors, who, among other services, assist clients in ACT and SAT prep. Clients are individually matched with a tutor who then comes to the client's home to conduct in-house tutoring. Tutors are professional, experienced and supportive. The one-on-one base rate for test prep is $115 per hour, or $75 per hour, per student for groups of two. Tutorpedia also offers a discounted option for online skype tutoring sessions.
1722 Irving St.
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 665-6988
www.testmagic.com
With two San Francisco locations, TestMagic provides a number of intensive on-site SAT and ACT prep courses. Options range from a twice weekly, 12 week long course, to an immersive summer course that runs five days a week. Course instructors are engaging and passionate about pushing students to improve test scores. TestMagic says graduates of their courses frequently raise scores by 200 to 600 points.
(415) 986-7355
www.johnlinneball.com
John Linneball is a private tutor who specializes in helping students prepare for most major standardized tests. With a law degree from the University at Buffalo, Linneball spent several years working as a tutor with other area companies before branching out on his own. He brings over a decade's worth of experience to his clients, and has an engaging style of tutoring. Scheduling is flexible, Linneball excels in keeping his clients focused and on-task in order to best prepare for the SAT and ACT.
