SAT and ACT prep — Austin, TX
We run 12-week SAT and ACT prep programs for high school students in Austin. Average score improvement is 180 points on the SAT and 4 composite points on the ACT. We track every session.
Why we do this
Higher Mark started in 2013 because the existing options in Austin were either group classes with 30 students or overpriced one-on-one sessions from tutors with no test-specific training. Neither worked reliably.
We built something different. Every program starts with a timed diagnostic under real test conditions. We score it by section and subsection, identify the exact question types costing each student points, and build a prep plan around those gaps. We do not teach the whole test to everyone. We teach each student the parts they are missing.
Our tutors have scored in the 99th percentile on the tests they teach. More importantly, they have taught test prep for years and understand why students miss questions, not just what the right answer is. There is a meaningful difference between those two things.
We teach each student the parts they are missing. Not the whole test to everyone.
Programs
Twelve weeks of structured SAT prep. Weekly 90-minute sessions with your tutor, two full-length practice tests, and targeted homework assigned by section. Includes all materials. Best for students 4+ months from their test date.
Same structure as the SAT program, built for the ACT. Heavy emphasis on the English and Science sections, which most students underestimate. Twelve weeks, weekly sessions, two proctored practice tests.
Not sure which test to take? We administer a timed diagnostic for both, score them, and give you a written recommendation on which test plays to your strengths. One session, no commitment to a program.
Six sessions from topic selection through final draft. We work on the Common App personal statement and up to three supplemental essays. Sessions are 60 minutes. You write every word — we edit, question, and challenge the drafts.
Your tutors
Founder, SAT Lead Tutor
Rachel scored 1580 on the SAT (2017 version) and 35 on the ACT before double-majoring in mathematics and cognitive science at UT Austin. She has taught test prep full-time since 2013 and has worked with over 400 students. Her specialty is math, particularly the problem-solving and data analysis section where most students leave points on the table. She lives in Westlake with her husband and their two kids, both of whom she will eventually tutor.
ACT Lead Tutor, English and Reading
Marcus graduated from Rice University with a degree in English literature and scored a 36 on the ACT. He joined Higher Mark in 2016 after spending two years teaching high school English, which gave him a different lens on why students struggle with reading comprehension under timed conditions. He leads all ACT English and Reading sections and teaches the college essay coaching program.
SAT Math, Subject Tutoring
Priya holds a master's in applied mathematics from Texas A&M and tutored calculus and statistics at the university level before joining Higher Mark in 2020. She covers SAT math from arithmetic through advanced algebra and works with students needing subject tutoring in precalculus, AP Calculus AB/BC, and AP Statistics outside of test prep season.
From students and parents
My son went from a 1210 to a 1430 over the summer. Rachel identified in the first session that he was losing 60 points in the math section alone on a single question type. Twelve weeks later that was fixed. We wish we had found Higher Mark a year earlier.
I took a big prep course junior year and barely moved my score. Higher Mark was different because Marcus actually looked at my wrong answers and asked me why I got them wrong. Turns out I had a process problem, not a content problem. My ACT went from 29 to 33.
The essay coaching was worth it on its own. Marcus pushed me to stop writing what I thought colleges wanted to hear and just write the actual story. My daughter got into her first-choice school. I think the essay made the difference.
I was skeptical because I had already taken the SAT twice. Priya pulled up my score report, circled three problem types, and told me that fixing those three things was worth 80 points. She was right. I went from 1380 to 1490.
Common questions
The SAT Bootcamp and ACT Bootcamp are $2,400 for the full 12-week program. That includes 12 weekly sessions, all materials, two proctored practice tests, and email support between sessions. The diagnostic is $150 and applies as a credit if you enroll in a program. College Essay Coaching is $1,200 for six sessions.
Both. In-person sessions are available at our Bee Cave Road office. Online sessions use video with a shared screen for working through problems in real time. The experience is comparable. About half our students work with us online, including students who travel for sports or activities during the semester.
Our average across all students who complete the full 12-week program is 180 SAT points and 4 ACT composite points. Students who start below the 50th percentile tend to see larger gains. Students who start above the 90th percentile typically see smaller gains because the ceiling is closer. We tell you our honest estimate after the diagnostic, before you commit to a program.
Yes. If you complete the full program, do all assigned practice, and do not improve by at least 100 SAT points or 3 ACT composite points from your diagnostic, we will extend your program at no charge until you do. In 11 years we have invoked this fewer than 10 times. The guarantee requires showing up and doing the work.
Twelve weeks before their test date is the minimum. Fourteen to sixteen weeks is better. Most students in Austin take the SAT or ACT in October or March. Starting in June for an October test gives a clean runway. If your student's test is in six weeks, we can still help, but we will be honest with you that six weeks is too short for the full program and recommend a targeted intensive instead.
Yes. We work with students who have extended time, separate testing room, or other College Board and ACT accommodations regularly. Please mention any accommodations when you schedule the strategy call so we can plan accordingly.
Get started
We look at your diagnostic score, your target, and your timeline. Then we tell you exactly which program fits — or whether self-study is honestly the better move. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Contact
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