SAT and ACT Tutoring in Dallas

Dallas SAT and ACT Prep, One-on-One

Full SAT and ACT prep for every section, built around a real official practice test, in person in Highland Park, University Park, and Preston Hollow, or online.

Highland Park High School alumnus · Biology degree, The University of Texas at Austin · Hundreds of Dallas-area students

About this tutoring

Start with an official practice test, not a guess

Every SAT and ACT student begins with an official practice test. For the SAT, that means a full-length digital practice test in the College Board’s free Bluebook app, described on College Board’s Bluebook practice page. For the ACT, start with an official test from ACT’s free practice tests page, either as a timed digital section or a downloadable paper test. These tests are free, and they give us a true starting score instead of a guess.

From there I build a plan around your student’s target, test date, and the question types costing the most points, across the full test. Not sure which exam to take? I have students take a diagnostic for both. Some students do better on the SAT, which gives more time per question and leans on math and reading logic. Others prefer the ACT’s faster pace and more direct questions, especially if they are quick with mental math or like the science section. Comparing both results usually makes the choice clear.

I grew up in Dallas, graduated from Highland Park High School, and earned my Biology degree with an Economics minor from the University of Texas at Austin. I started tutoring in college when classmates asked for help before exams, and I have tutored full-time since graduating, working with hundreds of students across the Dallas area and online.

What we cover

Full-test SAT and ACT prep, with math as a specialty

This is full-test prep, with math as a specialty. We cover every section, and we spend the most time where it will help the score the most.

Topics and courses

Also included

Digital testing tools

Why Desmos matters on the digital SAT

The digital SAT, taken in the Bluebook app, includes a built-in Desmos calculator for the entire Math section. College Board’s calculator policy says students can use that embedded Desmos tool and can toggle between the graphing and scientific options at any point in Math. You may still bring an approved handheld calculator if you prefer, but every student already has a full graphing calculator in the test itself. That is a real change from the old paper SAT, where calculator access depended on what you brought and, on earlier versions, on which math portion you were in.

Learning Desmos is a big advantage because many SAT Math questions become faster when you can graph a function, check a table of values, or test an answer visually instead of doing every step by hand. Students who have never opened Desmos often spend time hunting for buttons on test day. Students who have practiced in Bluebook, or on the free Desmos graphing calculator, can move through those problems with more confidence and save time for the questions that still need careful algebra.

The ACT is different, so we do not treat the two tests as if they share one calculator setup. ACT’s official calculator policy allows a permitted handheld calculator only on the Math test. Students taking the ACT online have a Desmos graphing calculator built into the testing platform during Math. Students taking a paper ACT must bring their own permitted calculator; testing staff do not provide one. In other words, Desmos is part of the digital SAT for every student, and it is part of the online ACT, but it is not built into the paper ACT. We practice the tool your student will actually have on test day.

Getting started

How sessions work

Lessons are one-on-one and 60 minutes. Families choose the format that fits their week:

In your home in Highland Park, University Park, or Preston Hollow.
At The Drey in The Village or the Starbucks on Greenville Avenue.
Online, for busy weeks or students who prefer working from home.

Most students meet once or twice a week. Lessons are scheduled Monday through Friday from 11am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 10pm. Please give 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule.

Free consultation

Schedule a complimentary 15-minute call. We’ll go over your student’s situation, recommend a plan, and reserve a weekly time if it’s a good fit.

Choose a plan

Select a monthly membership or a single 60-minute lesson. Memberships are paid monthly in advance and are designed for consistent, reserved sessions.

Weekly sessions

Meet at your home in Highland Park, University Park, or Preston Hollow, at The Drey in The Village or the Starbucks on Greenville Avenue, or online. Most sessions are one hour.

Highland Park

University Park

Preston Hollow

Snider Plaza

Online

Tutoring Plans

Monthly memberships, paid in advance

Rates for new clients. Monthly memberships are the main offering, with individual lessons available when you need added flexibility.

Four sessions / month

$450

Paid monthly in advance

About $112.50 per session.

Best value

Eight sessions / month

$825

Paid monthly in advance

About $103 per session.

Single 60-minute lesson

$125

One session at a time

A flexible option when a full month isn’t the right fit.

These rates apply to new clients. Existing families keep their current arrangements unless otherwise discussed. Unused lessons in a monthly plan expire at the end of the month. Start a monthly plan here, or begin with a complimentary consultation.

Families

What families say

Sam went above and beyond our expectations as a private tutor. He worked privately with my son to assist him with all aspects of his high school Chemistry (AP and on-level) and Honors Geometry classes, even providing extra study materials. He genuinely cared about my son's success and grasp of the subjects. My son's grades in both classes improved dramatically and his confidence level in school (especially test taking) improved as well. My son felt Sam was not only a tutor but a mentor.

Lisa L.

The method

How a weekly test prep plan works

For most students, one 60-minute lesson a week plus assigned homework works well. Students aiming for a larger score increase, or with a test date coming up soon, often meet twice a week. Homework usually adds up to two or three hours a week of review and official practice.

In lessons we go through missed questions from every section, learn the patterns behind them, and practice timed sets so pacing becomes natural. Math is my specialty, and we still work Reading, Writing, English, and ACT Science as part of the same plan. As practice test scores come in, we adjust so the next weeks focus on the areas still holding the score back.

A clear process

Assess: We start by figuring out where your student stands.
Build a plan: Goals, upcoming tests, and the concepts that need the most attention.
Teach and practice: We break down difficult ideas, work examples together, and make sure your student can do the problems on their own. No generic worksheets.
Track and adjust: If the class moves ahead or a test is coming up, we shift the plan so your student stays prepared.

Frequently asked questions

Do you tutor every section, or just math?

I prep students for the full SAT and the full ACT: Reading, Writing and English, Math, and ACT Science. Math is my specialty, and lessons still cover the whole test.

Where can we find the official practice tests?

For the SAT, download the free Bluebook app at bluebook.collegeboard.org and take a full-length practice test under Practice and Prepare. College Board explains this on its Bluebook practice page. For the ACT, use the official free practice tests at act.org, either as timed digital sections or as a downloadable paper test.

What is Desmos, and do we need it for both tests?

Desmos is the graphing calculator built into the digital SAT Math section, and students can switch between graphing and scientific views. On the ACT, Desmos is built into the online Math test, but paper ACT testers must bring their own permitted calculator. We practice the setup your student will use on test day.

SAT or ACT: which should my student take?

I have students take a diagnostic for both. Some do better with the SAT’s extra time per question, and others prefer the ACT’s faster pace. Comparing both results usually makes the choice clear.

Is there homework?

Yes. SAT and ACT students get a structured weekly plan that usually adds up to two or three hours of study time, including review and official practice.

Do you guarantee a score increase?

No. Every student starts from a different place, and results depend on practice and consistency. What I promise is a clear plan, honest feedback, and focused lessons.

What are the tutoring plans, and how does payment work?

Rates for new clients:

Four sessions / month: $450 (about $112.50 per session), paid monthly in advance
Eight sessions / month: $825 (about $103 per session), paid monthly in advance (best value)
Single 60-minute lesson: $125

Monthly memberships are the main offering. You can start a monthly plan online, or begin with a complimentary consultation. Unused lessons expire at the end of the month. Existing clients keep their current rates unless otherwise discussed.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please give at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule a lesson. The same 24-hour window applies to the complimentary consultation.

Ready to begin

Let's talk about your student

Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation. We’ll go over your student’s situation, recommend a plan, and reserve a weekly time if it’s a good fit.

Or call 469-797-3588