We had a great experience at Prep Matters. Cost an arm and a leg - I am scared to even add up the tutoring sessions, and they aren't over yet since subject tests are still to come. DC went up well over 400 points, albeit from a low base (10th grade PSATs). But now solidly in the 75% range for the most selective schools. The individual tutoring approach was effective for my DC, I think more so than a class would have been.

Love Princeton Review. Thank you Joe Bloggs

See , it kind of depends on where the kid is starting. Many kids do not have 350 points to go up. More specialized tutoring works better in cases such as these. (where kid is starting at 2100 or higher)

My kid got into top Ivy with Princeton Review. Sean McKay was the Princeton Review guy we used...don't know if he is still there. If so, he's great. Kid's score raised 350 points with Sean!

+1. You don't want to pay the big bucks for a general review of geometry that could be covered in a group class. The expensive personalized instruction is more useful for the kid who is already at the 90th or 95th percentile and needs to pinpoint remaining weaknesses (usually companies will do this by testing at the start of the tutoring) so you can knock off those remaining problems.

Beyond that, I think a lot of it will come down to the actual tutor the company assigns to you. Company X could be great for one family, but maybe that same tutor isn't available for your kid. Also, DC tried a company that promised testing and then "individualized" tutoring within a group if 4 kids, but it wasn't that helpful because the group moved together at the pace of the slowest kid - it wasn't one of the companies mentioned above.

My son did CapEd and came up nearly 300 points. What I liked most is their consistency and their constant contact with me. It's good business, but they followed up with me and my son after the test and after we sent them the scores. They made suggestions about what to do over the summer to prep for the fall test - and not necessarily suggestions that would "cost" us more. I don't think they're the "hot" tutors -- but we were very impressed with them and truly felt like we were getting our money's worth.

Have used Princeton review and Prep Matters:

Princeton Review gives a good overview for a generally good upper mid level test taker. Solid B

Prep Matters is very expensive and provides a more individualized approach. I know many students that used them and increased their scores by 200-300 points. Better for the already fairly high end student.

Maybe do a course and then a few sessions with a tutor.

YMMV

Have any of you used the following test prep services, and how would you rate them?

Princeton Review
Capital Educators
Prep Matters

Thanks!