Two of the most common questions I see from clients as a test prep tutor are…
“How many tutoring lessons does my student need to prepare for this test?”
“How many weeks or months should my student spend on test prep?”
Without a first lesson, this is impossible to estimate. And even after I’ve met with a student, the amount of tutoring or the total number of lessons they need is based on specific factors in their test prep. That also extends to how much time they should spend on test preparation itself. The average time is at least 2 to 3 months.
⭐Top Factors⭐
✅ A student’s commitment to study and practice on a daily or weekly basis outside of tutoring
✅ Their score goals
✅ How close they are now to their score goals
✅ Their strengths and weaknesses in the tested subject areas
✅ Consistent application of strategies and techniques they learn during lessons
✅ Any struggle areas that pop up during their practice and practice test takes
✅ How much time they have to prepare
🚫 One-size-fits-all approach to lessons
🚫 Guaranteed results within a certain range of lessons
🚫 Students need as few lessons as possible
🚫 Independent study results don’t matter
A tutor meets the student where they are at now and helps them build on the skills they have now. The test date is the final factor! This ultimate goal decides how much preparation a student can do within that time frame.
I always recommend:
1️⃣ Start test prep as early as possible
2️⃣ Make sure your student’s test date is a reasonable, realistic goal line for them to reach.
Parents, please comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve experienced this or are considering test prep for your children.
Interested in tutoring or have questions?
Contact Natalie G. Private Tutoring
FAQ about Natalie’s test prep
Do you offer a full test prep program or classes?
No, I do not offer programs or classes. My lessons are one-on-one and adapt to the needs of every student, based on where they are at in their test prep and how much support they need.
What does a typical lesson with you look like?
I help my students not only get to the right answer, but also understand how they got to the right answer and what makes it correct. They also learn how to methodically approach questions and answers. By understanding how a test works and how the testmakers have created the questions, students can better learn how to take that test with minimal stress and maximum success.
Can you guarantee a score increase on the actual test?
No, as a tutor, I cannot make any guarantees when it comes to scores and reaching score goals. Students must be fully committed to their study plans, daily practice goals, and using the strategies they learn for them to make significant progress in their test prep.
How many lessons will my child need?
I cannot provide an estimate for the total number of lessons without more information or meeting the student. Some students need more support, while others need less. Ideally, test preparation should start as early as possible before a test date, at least 2-3 months. To start, I always ask for practice test results or previous test results to help me see where we need to focus the most. I also ask about what test prep, if any, a student has done so far and what their specific test score goals are.
Natalie G. Private Tutoring 