Mark Chen

SAT Prep  ·  AP Tutoring  ·  Chess Coaching

1560 SAT · National Merit Finalist · Hawaii State Chess Champion

Turn Your Weaknesses Into Points!

Start with a free diagnostic. I'll show you exactly where you're losing points, then build a plan to help you reach your target score by your test date.

You get a personalized weakness report + a 20-minute walkthrough call for free, within 24 hours.

Credentials

Standardized Exams

  • SAT: 1560
  • PSAT: 1510 — National Merit Finalist

AP Exams — Scored 5 on All

  • Physics C: Mechanics, C: E&M, & 1
  • Calculus BC
  • Chemistry
  • …and more!

Academic Awards

  • Purdue ME Presidential Scholar
  • William Crabbs ME Scholarship

Chess Titles

  • 2023 & 2024 HI High School State Champion
  • 2024 US Open U2000 — 1st Place
  • 2020 Hawaii State Champion

How My SAT Prep Works

Lifting the hood: most of the time I spent "studying for the SAT" wasn't productive. I wasted so many hours training the wrong skills, finding low-quality practice materials, and even just bookkeeping to track my progress.

Give that burden to me! That way, you just show up ready to work and save your limited time and energy for what will actually move your score.

1

Receive a personalized plan

My diagnostic breaks your score down by domain and skill. You'll leave with a clear understanding of your strengths & weaknesses and a personalized plan to your test date, not a vague "study harder."

2

Fill in knowledge gaps

In our sessions, I figure out what exactly you actually don't understand (which usually lies beneath what you may think), explain the concept in a way that made sense to me (no textbook jargon), and drill you until you know you got it.

3

Practice, practice, practice

I have accumulated hundreds of problems, all sorted by skill and difficulty, for you to use! I tailor your homework, both in subject and difficulty, to what will lead to the most points. Every minute you study will be as efficient as possible.

4

Repeat!

Progressively more difficult homework will reveal problems you didn't know you had. This is a good thing! Your struggles mean you are learning. Bring me your questions, and we'll repeat until you know every question type the SAT can possibly throw at you!

Score Guarantee (15 & 20 session packages)

Complete your sessions and assigned work, and if you don't hit your target score, I coach you through your next test date at no charge.

15 sessionsFree coaching through one more test date.
20 sessionsPrep across two test dates, plus free coaching through one more.

Baseline = your most recent official SAT/PSAT or a full-length official practice test. Target is set together at the start. Requires attending sessions and completing assigned practice.

Read the full terms & conditions →

Pricing

Every package is built to your test date, and the more you commit to getting your score, the more you save!

Single Session
Drop in anytime
$65/hr
$65 / hour
  • One focused hour
  • Try before you commit
  • No package required
10 Sessions
Targeted help — fix specific weak spots
$600
$60 / hour
Save $50
  • Personalized study plan
  • Homework tailored to you
  • Progress tracked weekly
Most Popular
15 Sessions
Full prep run to one test date
$825
$55 / hour
Save $150
  • Everything in 10 Sessions
  • Complete run to test day
  • Free coaching through one more test date
Score Guarantee included
20 Sessions
Prep spanning two test dates
$1,040
$52 / hour
Save $260
  • Everything in 15 Sessions
  • Prep across two test dates
  • Free coaching through your next two test dates, or until you reach your target
Score Guarantee included

All packages are prepaid. The Score Guarantee applies to 15- and 20-session packages.
See full terms & conditions.
Online via Zoom or Google Meet  ·  In-person available for O'ahu residents (higher rate)

Please direct all pricing inquiries to [email protected].

Book a Session

New here?Free

20-Minute Intro Call

No pressure. Bring your questions, tell me your goal and test date, and we'll figure out if we're the right fit. You'll leave with a clear next step either way.

Book your free intro call →

Ready to dive in?

1-Hour Tutoring Session

For returning students, or anyone who already knows what they need and wants to start making progress today. Book a time that works and let's get to it.

Book a session →

Last step!

Your free diagnostic is
on the way!

Guarantee Terms and Conditions

The Score Guarantee applies to 15- and 20-session packages.

1

The promise

Complete your sessions and assigned work, and if you don't hit your target score, I keep coaching you weekly at no charge.

15 Sessions

Your prep runs to your test date. Miss your target and I coach you free through your next test date.

20 Sessions

Your prep spans two test dates: sit the first, we adjust, sit the second. Miss your target and I coach you free through your next two test dates, or until you reach your target.

2

Your baseline

Your baseline is the higher of: your most recent official SAT or PSAT taken within 12 months of your start date, or a full-length official practice test completed before your first session.

Note: the free SAT diagnostic on this site does not set your baseline. It's a short skills check built to find your weak spots; it's too brief to estimate a score fairly, so we use a full-length test instead. If you haven't tested yet, we'll get one done before we set your target.

3

Your target

We set your target score together, in writing, before your first session. Targets are capped at +200 points above baseline. If there's no written target agreed before session one, the guarantee doesn't apply.

4

Which score counts

Your target must be met on an official College Board SAT, superscored. Practice tests don't count.

5

What you need to do

  1. Attend all sessions in your package. Rescheduled sessions count; no-shows don't.
  2. Complete at least 90% of assigned homework, submitted by the agreed date.
  3. Complete every assigned full-length practice test—timed, in one sitting.
  4. Take your official SAT on or before the test date we agree on at kickoff.
6

How to claim

Email your official score report to [email protected] within 30 days of its release. Claims after 30 days aren't eligible. One guarantee per student, per package.

7

Good faith

If assigned work goes materially incomplete, I'll tell you in writing at the time—you'll never be surprised by this later. Continued non-completion after that notice voids the guarantee.

8

What this isn't

This guarantee is additional coaching, not a refund. No cash refunds, partial refunds, or transfers are offered under it. Not available on single sessions or 10-session packages.

Questions or concerns? Reach out to me at [email protected] or ask me during our free intro session.

Standardized Exams
- SAT: 1560
- PSAT: 1510 (National Merit Finalist)
AP Exams — Scored 5 on All
- Physics C: Mechanics, C: E&M, & 1
- Calculus BC
- Chemistry
...and more!
Academic Awards
- Purdue Mechanical Engineering Presidential Scholar
- William Crabbs Mechanical Engineering Scholarship Awardee
Chess Titles
- 2023 & 2024 Hawaii High School State Champion
- 2024 US Open U2000 — 1st Place
- 2020 Hawaii State Champion
- US Chess Federation 1st Category

My approach centers around identifying your current single biggest weakness and targeting it with the right practice. I'll teach you the most efficient learning process which I couldn't figure out from just books and school alone. My end goal is for you to not need me, and develop the skills to grow on your own!See below for details on each subject.

Subjects & Rates 
SAT Prep$60/hr
Chess Coaching$50/hr
AP Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M$45/hr
AP Calculus AB / BC & below$45/hr

Transparency on Pricing

My approach centers around identifying your current single biggest weakness and targeting it with the right the right practice. I'll teach you the most efficient learning process which I couldn't figure out from just books and school alone. My end goal is for you to not need me, and develop the skills to grow on your own!See below for details on each subject.

Subjects & Rates 
SAT Prep$60/hr
Chess Coaching$50/hr
AP Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M$45/hr
AP Calculus AB / BC & below$45/hr

SAT Prep: I have sunk hundreds of hours into understanding the science behind success on standardized exams, first for myself and then how it could be extrapolated to students of all backgrounds. I curate a personalized plan for you (which includes hundreds of practice problems that I have compiled and separated by domain and skill) from now to your test date to ensure the maximum possible chance of the score improvement you desire.
You’re paying for my knowledge and the time you save by leaving the dirty work of planning and finding practice & learning resources to me.Chess: I have coached students of all levels—from absolute beginners to the top 1%—and have collected extensive training resources (books, puzzles, opening trees, etc.) over the 10+ years I’ve spent climbing from learning how the pieces to move to playing and beating Grandmasters. I will analyze your games, find the major gaps in your understanding, and create a detailed study plan utilizing my resources.
You’re paying for my elite competitive experience, my ability to immediately pinpoint your biggest weaknesses, and the acceleration of your growth through my library and understanding of the limiting factor at each level.Physics & Math: As an engineer, math and physics are my bread and butter. I have spent thousands of hours over the years figuring out how to break down concepts and understand them in a way that made sense to me - which means they probably will for you too.
You’re paying me for my expertise in breaking down specific ideas and the time you save that would be wasted re-reading the same chapter in a textbook a dozen times.