SAT Tutoring with Manhattan Review

SAT Tutoring – the fully customizable prep option

Students seeking a personalized approach to their SAT preparation should look to Manhattan Review for the best private tutoring options available. Manhattan Review's SAT private tutoring can be used either by itself as a primary option, or in combination with our comprehensive SAT group courses. Students are given a choice of tutors to see who fits your individual needs and learning style. A complementary discussion with the tutor can be arranged to ensure each student is matched with their ideal instructor. Our tutors work closely with students to set realistic, yet ambitious, goals. They then develop a personalized strategy to help you reach your goals, which is based on figuring out where each student's strengths and weaknesses lie. With both key test-taking techniques and fundamental building blocks being covered throughout the tutoring program, students can be confident that they are prepared to achieve the impressively high scores required for competitive undergraduate programs. 

Our knowledgeable and experienced SAT tutors work closely with their students to create and carry out individualized lesson plans based specifically on the student's learning style, instructional needs, and prep goals. The tutoring sessions can be held in-person or online depending on your preference and availability. If a student opts for in-person sessions, they are able to meet with their tutor at any mutually convenient location allowing for a comfortable commute for both parties. Students who choose online tutoring have the advantage of participating in their sessions from the comfort of their own home or any location with a stable internet connection, and they also have the benefit of no time lost traveling to and from a tutoring location. You decide what works best for you. At Manhattan Review, you are in charge of your test prep schedule, and we look forward to supporting you however we can.

Tutoring with or without a group course – it's your choice!

While a group SAT prep course can help students structure their learning and study time by covering a new topic each week, supplementing this course with private tutoring sessions can lead to the most effective test preparation. The flexible scheduling and personalized lesson planning offered by our private tutoring packages can help you significantly improve on any weak areas, ultimately leading to a higher score and a more well-rounded performance on the day of your exam.

No matter where you are with regards to your SAT preparation, Manhattan Review has a tutoring package that will suit you perfectly. Our instructors devote the initial session with a student to understanding individual learning-related strengths and weaknesses, which they then use to create a customized lesson plan based upon your needs, goals, and expectations. The lesson plan is flexible and is always updated and tweaked depending on how the student is responding to the prep content and material. Manhattan Review's SAT private tutoring option is quickly becoming the preferred method of preparation for the majority of students, due to the commitment our tutors show to each and every learner. We recommend that students enroll in a tutoring package as early as possible, as this secures your spot in your desired tutor's schedule and allows the tutor to begin the process of creating a personalized curriculum just for you.

Here are some of the highlights of working with Manhattan Review SAT Tutors:

Manhattan Review is best-known for its very selective hiring process of instructors and tutors. We not only expect great test scores from our instructors…we also expect them to possess a passion for helping their students improve and progress. Working with a tutor who has both extensive experience teaching standardized tests and who obtained their own superior SAT score gives you the best chance of utilizing your preparation time in the most effective way possible.

The proven Manhattan Review Process makes the difference

Once a student has expressed interest in one or more of our services, a two-stage process follows. First, all prospective students speak with an academic advisor. During this conversation, you provides some background information on your situation, including your test-taking timeline and study goals. Our academic advisors are trained to identify the ideal course or program for each individual student. After this, an introductory session is set up so you have the opportunity to get to know your potential tutor. Most of the time, this is a perfect match, thanks to the experience of our academic advisors. If, however, the student feels the need to speak to an alternative tutor, this can also be arranged. We work hard to make sure that each and every student is satisfied with the teaching style and background of their future tutor.

It is important to note that these introductory sessions are completely free of charge! We offer our introductory sessions at no charge because we believe it is Manhattan Review's duty to demonstrate the value we can create for you before asking you to pay for anything.

SAT Tutoring Sessions: Flexibility and Customization

Our private tutoring programs are designed to be customized to the needs of each individual student. With our tutors having exceptional experience assessing student needs and creating personalized lesson plans, you can be confident that you are enrolling in a program that places you and your improvement as the highest priorities. Tutors at Manhattan Review use a combination of diagnostic tests, practice questions, and in-depth discussions to learn about the student's academic background and test-related goals. Equipped with this important information, tutors can then design a curriculum that is comprehensive while making the most of the available time leading up to the exam. This customized lesson plan also determines the sequence of content that will be covered during the tutoring sessions, which varies depending on the needs and goals of each individual student.

The flexible scheduling that comes with private tutoring is perfect for SAT students who have limited free time in their schedules. Working with a tutor helps you be accountable and provides additional motivation to complete agreed-upon assignments, which is crucial to the preparation process. Manhattan Review continues to evaluate and update the curriculum, teaching methods, and preparation process used for our private tutoring students. Our commitment to our students is what keeps us at the forefront of the test preparation industry, a position we have proudly held since our founding in 1999.

SAT Tutors are available in-person and online

Manhattan Review offers different types of tutoring options, including in-person in many cities, as well as online around the world. While most students used to express a preference for in-person sessions, over the years there has been a growing trend towards online learning options. This is likely due to a few reasons. 

For starters, current learning technology makes an online learning experience nearly indistinguishable from an in-person instructional session. The online platform used for tutoring and group courses has a whiteboard, which both you and your instructor can write on. The video aspect of online learning allows you and your tutor to see each other in real time. This creates a very personal experience, quite similar to the one you would enjoy while completing in-person tutoring sessions. But there is one other reason why online tutoring continues to become more and more popular. 

With in-person tutoring, you are naturally limited to working with the tutors who are located in your area, which will vary depending on the demand for tutoring where you live. With Manhattan Review's online preparation options, you have access to a nearly infinite number of highly experienced tutors who could be located anywhere in the world, giving you the chance to work with a passionate educator who perfectly fits your study needs and learning style. At Manhattan Review, we maintain a pool of highly qualified tutors who are ready and willing to help students all around the world prepare for the SAT. Of course, even with the growing trend towards online learning, we understand that this option is not for everyone. Whatever your preferred method of preparing for the SAT, Manhattan Review has you covered, and we will happily match you with just the right online or in-person tutor for all your learning needs.

For Parents/Caregivers:

Manhattan Review is a boutique test prep company, which means we have the ability to dedicate more resources to our hiring process than most test prep firms. Because of this, we are able to execute a true 360-degree evaluation of potential tutors, ultimately hiring only those with both superb test-taking and teaching skills. We have learned a great deal from our extensive experience in the test prep industry. Specifically, we understand that taking an exam and teaching others how to take it are two separate skills. While we expect high test scores from our potential instructors, high scores alone are no guarantee of being hired. We will always prefer a candidate who scored a few points below perfection but is a successful and passionate teacher to a candidate with a perfect SAT score who is unable to convey the necessary information to help students achieve their own impressive score. Our instructors are skilled at tailoring the information they teach to each student's learning style, and the quality of our instructors is simply another reason Manhattan Review stands out from other test prep companies. 

To truly understand what makes Manhattan Review so unique, it helps to consider the origins of the firm. Manhattan Review was conceived and started at an Ivy League business school, specifically, Columbia University Business School in New York City. Manhattan Review's Founder was not only pedagogically trained but went on to become a leading academic, eventually accepting a position as a professor at a prestigious business school in Europe. The experience the founder gained by being an active member of collegiate hiring committees, as well as evaluating the teaching potential of countless applicants, cannot be overstated or acquired through other contexts. That is why Manhattan Review's preparation options are widely considered the best choice for serious SAT students.

Given the highly selective hiring process conducted by Manhattan Review, our instructors are more than capable of teaching all aspects of effective test preparation. This includes administering diagnostic tests, planning the most useful lessons, and guiding students through applicable test content. We strive to make sure each student receives the attention and expertise they deserve when preparing for such an important exam as the SAT.

What About Test-Optional Colleges?

As academic institutions attempt to move beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, many colleges are once again requiring students to submit standardized test scores—from the SAT or ACT—as part of their application. Some colleges, however, have chosen to remain test optional for another year or two. What does that mean for students preparing their college applications?

Simply because a college does not require a student to submit standardized test scores as part of their application does not mean test scores shouldn't be submitted. Test scores can make a big difference when it comes to scholarships. At many colleges, even those where admission is test optional, test scores may be required for certain scholarships or for admission to specific majors or honors programs. Private institutions or organizations that award scholarships may require test scores as part of their scholarship application. It is critically important to verify scholarship and financial aid requirements when applying to colleges, because even though the college itself might be test optional, applying for specific financial awards may require the submission of test scores. 

Test optional colleges do not require the submission of SAT or ACT scores, but should a student submit a score, it can and most likely will be considered. And this is a good thing! Consider the college applications of two high school students. The applications demonstrate nearly identical data as far as classes taken, grades received, volunteer hours completed, and the number and quality of extracurricular activities. Even though this particular college is test optional, one student chooses to submit her SAT score while the other student does not. 

Which student do you think has a better chance of being accepted? 

The one who provided more information to the admissions committee. Research from the College Board consistently demonstrates a correlation between SAT scores and college success: students with higher SAT scores achieve higher college grades and they are more likely to return for their second year of college. College admissions officials know this, and when considering who to offer acceptance to, they will always prefer having as much information about a student as possible in order to guide their decision-making.

The bottom line is that as long as standardized tests exist, there are benefits to taking them. And given that standardized tests can be mastered with the guidance of skilled professional educators, there is no reason not to take this potentially life-changing exam and ultimately gain acceptance (and perhaps financial support) at leading undergraduate programs.