Before you hire an SAT or ACT tutor, it is good for your teen to become familiar with the test by reviewing one of the ACT or SAT web prep programs or books that offer test strategy and practice tests. Students who review that material before starting a prep course or tutoring with a test expert are in a better position to benefit from the experience.

A great strategy is to prep using an online or print resource, take the test to establish a baseline score and then start working with a test expert or take a formal class before taking the test a second time. One word of caution is that students who are less self-directed benefit more from the pre-test review if they do it with another student or someone who will sit with them and go through it with them.