Test Prep Calculator
Maximize your test score without overspending. This test prep calculator helps you estimate costs for various standardized tests including SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT. Compare different prep methods: private tutoring, small group classes, online courses, and self-study materials. Factor in your timeline, score goals, and learning style to find the most cost-effective approach. Perfect for test prep companies, tutors, and students planning their study budget.
Try the Calculator
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export function testPrepCalculator(form: FormTs) {
form.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('header', {
computedValue: () => 'Test Prep Calculator',
customStyles: { 'font-size': '1.5rem', 'font-weight': '600', 'color': '#1e293b' }
});
});
form.addSpacer({ height: 20 });
// Test Selection Section
const testSection = form.addSubform('test', { title: '📝 Test Selection' });
testSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('testType', {
label: 'Test Type',
options: [
{ id: 'sat', name: 'SAT' },
{ id: 'act', name: 'ACT' },
{ id: 'psat', name: 'PSAT/NMSQT' },
{ id: 'gre', name: 'GRE' },
{ id: 'gmat', name: 'GMAT' },
{ id: 'lsat', name: 'LSAT' },
{ id: 'mcat', name: 'MCAT' },
{ id: 'ap', name: 'AP Exams' },
{ id: 'ielts', name: 'IELTS' },
{ id: 'toefl', name: 'TOEFL' }
],
defaultValue: 'sat',
isRequired: true
}, '1fr');
row.addDropdown('targetScore', {
label: 'Score Goal',
options: [
{ id: 'basic', name: 'Basic Improvement (50-100 points)' },
{ id: 'moderate', name: 'Moderate Improvement (100-200 points)' },
{ id: 'significant', name: 'Significant Improvement (200+ points)' },
{ id: 'top', name: 'Top Scores (90th+ percentile)' }
],
defaultValue: 'moderate',
tooltip: 'Higher goals may require more prep'
}, '1fr');
});
testSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('timeline', {
label: 'Preparation Timeline',
options: [
{ id: '1-month', name: '1 Month (Intensive)' },
{ id: '2-month', name: '2 Months' },
{ id: '3-month', name: '3 Months (Recommended)' },
{ id: '6-month', name: '6 Months' },
{ id: '12-month', name: '12 Months (Long-term)' }
],
defaultValue: '3-month'
}, '1fr');
row.addInteger('currentScore', {
label: 'Current/Practice Score (Optional)',
min: 0,
max: 1600,
placeholder: 'e.g., 1200',
tooltip: 'Your baseline score if known'
}, '1fr');
});
// Prep Method Section
const methodSection = form.addSubform('method', { title: '📚 Preparation Method' });
methodSection.addRow(row => {
row.addRadioButton('prepMethod', {
label: 'Primary Prep Method',
options: [
{ id: 'self-study', name: 'Self-Study (Books & Online Resources)' },
{ id: 'online-course', name: 'Online Course (Video Lessons + Practice)' },
{ id: 'group-class', name: 'Group Class (In-person or Live Online)' },
{ id: 'private-tutor', name: 'Private Tutoring (1-on-1)' },
{ id: 'bootcamp', name: 'Intensive Bootcamp' }
],
defaultValue: 'online-course',
isRequired: true
});
});
methodSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('courseLevel', {
label: 'Course/Package Level',
options: [
{ id: 'basic', name: 'Basic - Core content only' },
{ id: 'standard', name: 'Standard - Content + practice tests' },
{ id: 'premium', name: 'Premium - All features + support' },
{ id: 'elite', name: 'Elite - VIP access + guarantees' }
],
defaultValue: 'standard',
isVisible: () => ['online-course', 'group-class', 'bootcamp'].includes(methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() || '')
}, '1fr');
row.addInteger('tutoringHours', {
label: 'Tutoring Hours',
min: 5,
max: 200,
defaultValue: 20,
isVisible: () => methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() === 'private-tutor',
tooltip: 'Total hours with tutor'
}, '1fr');
});
methodSection.addRow(row => {
row.addDropdown('tutorExperience', {
label: 'Tutor Experience Level',
options: [
{ id: 'student', name: 'Peer Tutor (College Student)' },
{ id: 'experienced', name: 'Experienced Tutor (2-5 years)' },
{ id: 'expert', name: 'Expert Tutor (5+ years, top scores)' },
{ id: 'elite', name: 'Elite Tutor (Perfect scores, 10+ years)' }
],
defaultValue: 'experienced',
isVisible: () => methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() === 'private-tutor'
});
});
// Materials Section
const materialsSection = form.addSubform('materials', { title: '📖 Study Materials' });
materialsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('officialGuide', {
label: 'Official Test Guide',
defaultValue: true,
tooltip: 'Official prep book from test maker'
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('practiceTests', {
label: 'Additional Practice Tests',
defaultValue: true,
tooltip: 'Extra official or simulated tests'
}, '1fr');
});
materialsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('prepBooks', {
label: 'Supplementary Prep Books',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Strategy guides, subject reviews'
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('flashcards', {
label: 'Flashcard System',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Vocabulary/concept flashcards'
}, '1fr');
});
materialsSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('onlineBank', {
label: 'Question Bank Subscription',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Access to thousands of practice questions'
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('mobileApp', {
label: 'Premium Mobile App',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Study on-the-go features'
}, '1fr');
});
// Additional Services Section
const servicesSection = form.addSubform('services', { title: '✨ Additional Services' });
servicesSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('diagnosticTest', {
label: 'Diagnostic Assessment',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Identify strengths and weaknesses'
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('studyPlan', {
label: 'Personalized Study Plan',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Custom schedule and strategy'
}, '1fr');
});
servicesSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('essayReview', {
label: 'Essay Scoring/Review',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Expert feedback on practice essays',
isVisible: () => ['sat', 'act', 'gre', 'gmat', 'lsat'].includes(testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || '')
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('scoreGuarantee', {
label: 'Score Guarantee',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Money back if score goal not met'
}, '1fr');
});
servicesSection.addRow(row => {
row.addCheckbox('collegeConsulting', {
label: 'College Admissions Consulting',
defaultValue: false,
tooltip: 'Application strategy advice',
isVisible: () => ['sat', 'act', 'psat'].includes(testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || '')
}, '1fr');
row.addCheckbox('testRegistration', {
label: 'Test Registration Fee',
defaultValue: true,
tooltip: 'Include actual test fee'
}, '1fr');
});
form.addSpacer({ height: 20, showLine: true, lineStyle: 'dashed' });
// Pricing Breakdown
const breakdownSection = form.addSubform('breakdown', { title: '📊 Cost Breakdown', isCollapsible: true });
breakdownSection.addRow(row => {
row.addPriceDisplay('prepMethodCost', {
label: 'Preparation Method',
computedValue: () => {
const prepMethod = methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() || 'online-course';
const courseLevel = methodSection.dropdown('courseLevel')?.value() || 'standard';
const tutoringHours = methodSection.integer('tutoringHours')?.value() || 20;
const tutorExperience = methodSection.dropdown('tutorExperience')?.value() || 'experienced';
const testType = testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || 'sat';
// Test complexity multiplier
const testMultipliers: Record<string, number> = {
'sat': 1, 'act': 1, 'psat': 0.7, 'gre': 1.2, 'gmat': 1.3,
'lsat': 1.4, 'mcat': 1.8, 'ap': 0.6, 'ielts': 0.8, 'toefl': 0.8
};
const testMult = testMultipliers[testType] || 1;
if (prepMethod === 'self-study') {
return Math.round(50 * testMult);
} else if (prepMethod === 'online-course') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 200, 'standard': 500, 'premium': 1000, 'elite': 1500 };
return Math.round((levelPrices[courseLevel] || 500) * testMult);
} else if (prepMethod === 'group-class') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 500, 'standard': 900, 'premium': 1500, 'elite': 2500 };
return Math.round((levelPrices[courseLevel] || 900) * testMult);
} else if (prepMethod === 'private-tutor') {
const hourlyRates: Record<string, number> = { 'student': 40, 'experienced': 80, 'expert': 150, 'elite': 300 };
return Math.round((hourlyRates[tutorExperience] || 80) * tutoringHours * testMult);
} else if (prepMethod === 'bootcamp') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 1500, 'standard': 2500, 'premium': 4000, 'elite': 6000 };
return Math.round((levelPrices[courseLevel] || 2500) * testMult);
}
return 0;
},
variant: 'default'
}, '1fr');
row.addPriceDisplay('materialsCost', {
label: 'Study Materials',
computedValue: () => {
let cost = 0;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('officialGuide')?.value()) cost += 35;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('practiceTests')?.value()) cost += 40;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('prepBooks')?.value()) cost += 60;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('flashcards')?.value()) cost += 25;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('onlineBank')?.value()) cost += 100;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('mobileApp')?.value()) cost += 50;
return cost;
},
variant: 'default'
}, '1fr');
});
breakdownSection.addRow(row => {
row.addPriceDisplay('servicesCost', {
label: 'Additional Services',
computedValue: () => {
let cost = 0;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('diagnosticTest')?.value()) cost += 75;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('studyPlan')?.value()) cost += 100;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('essayReview')?.value()) cost += 150;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('scoreGuarantee')?.value()) cost += 200;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('collegeConsulting')?.value()) cost += 500;
return cost;
},
variant: 'default'
}, '1fr');
row.addPriceDisplay('testFee', {
label: 'Test Registration',
computedValue: () => {
if (!servicesSection.checkbox('testRegistration')?.value()) return 0;
const testType = testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || 'sat';
const testFees: Record<string, number> = {
'sat': 60, 'act': 65, 'psat': 18, 'gre': 220, 'gmat': 275,
'lsat': 200, 'mcat': 330, 'ap': 98, 'ielts': 250, 'toefl': 245
};
return testFees[testType] || 100;
},
variant: 'default'
}, '1fr');
});
// Quote Section
const quoteSection = form.addSubform('quote', { title: '💰 Your Investment', isCollapsible: false });
quoteSection.addRow(row => {
row.addPriceDisplay('totalCost', {
label: 'Total Test Prep Cost',
computedValue: () => {
const prepMethod = methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() || 'online-course';
const courseLevel = methodSection.dropdown('courseLevel')?.value() || 'standard';
const tutoringHours = methodSection.integer('tutoringHours')?.value() || 20;
const tutorExperience = methodSection.dropdown('tutorExperience')?.value() || 'experienced';
const testType = testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || 'sat';
const testMultipliers: Record<string, number> = {
'sat': 1, 'act': 1, 'psat': 0.7, 'gre': 1.2, 'gmat': 1.3,
'lsat': 1.4, 'mcat': 1.8, 'ap': 0.6, 'ielts': 0.8, 'toefl': 0.8
};
const testMult = testMultipliers[testType] || 1;
let prepCost = 0;
if (prepMethod === 'self-study') {
prepCost = 50 * testMult;
} else if (prepMethod === 'online-course') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 200, 'standard': 500, 'premium': 1000, 'elite': 1500 };
prepCost = (levelPrices[courseLevel] || 500) * testMult;
} else if (prepMethod === 'group-class') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 500, 'standard': 900, 'premium': 1500, 'elite': 2500 };
prepCost = (levelPrices[courseLevel] || 900) * testMult;
} else if (prepMethod === 'private-tutor') {
const hourlyRates: Record<string, number> = { 'student': 40, 'experienced': 80, 'expert': 150, 'elite': 300 };
prepCost = (hourlyRates[tutorExperience] || 80) * tutoringHours * testMult;
} else if (prepMethod === 'bootcamp') {
const levelPrices: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 1500, 'standard': 2500, 'premium': 4000, 'elite': 6000 };
prepCost = (levelPrices[courseLevel] || 2500) * testMult;
}
// Materials
let materials = 0;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('officialGuide')?.value()) materials += 35;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('practiceTests')?.value()) materials += 40;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('prepBooks')?.value()) materials += 60;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('flashcards')?.value()) materials += 25;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('onlineBank')?.value()) materials += 100;
if (materialsSection.checkbox('mobileApp')?.value()) materials += 50;
// Services
let services = 0;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('diagnosticTest')?.value()) services += 75;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('studyPlan')?.value()) services += 100;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('essayReview')?.value()) services += 150;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('scoreGuarantee')?.value()) services += 200;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('collegeConsulting')?.value()) services += 500;
// Test fee
let testFee = 0;
if (servicesSection.checkbox('testRegistration')?.value()) {
const testFees: Record<string, number> = {
'sat': 60, 'act': 65, 'psat': 18, 'gre': 220, 'gmat': 275,
'lsat': 200, 'mcat': 330, 'ap': 98, 'ielts': 250, 'toefl': 245
};
testFee = testFees[testType] || 100;
}
return Math.round((prepCost + materials + services + testFee) * 100) / 100;
},
variant: 'large'
});
});
quoteSection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('costPerPoint', {
computedValue: () => {
const targetScore = testSection.dropdown('targetScore')?.value() || 'moderate';
const pointGoals: Record<string, number> = { 'basic': 75, 'moderate': 150, 'significant': 250, 'top': 350 };
const points = pointGoals[targetScore] || 150;
// Calculate total (simplified)
const prepMethod = methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() || 'online-course';
let total = 500; // Simplified estimate
if (prepMethod === 'self-study') total = 150;
else if (prepMethod === 'private-tutor') total = 2000;
else if (prepMethod === 'bootcamp') total = 3000;
const costPerPoint = Math.round(total / points);
return `Approximately $${costPerPoint} per point improvement`;
},
customStyles: { 'font-size': '0.9rem', 'color': '#059669', 'text-align': 'center' }
});
});
// Summary Section
const summarySection = form.addSubform('summary', {
title: '📋 Summary',
isCollapsible: false,
sticky: 'bottom'
});
summarySection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('summaryText', {
computedValue: () => {
const testType = testSection.dropdown('testType')?.value() || 'sat';
const prepMethod = methodSection.radioButton('prepMethod')?.value() || 'online-course';
const timeline = testSection.dropdown('timeline')?.value() || '3-month';
const testLabels: Record<string, string> = {
'sat': 'SAT', 'act': 'ACT', 'psat': 'PSAT', 'gre': 'GRE', 'gmat': 'GMAT',
'lsat': 'LSAT', 'mcat': 'MCAT', 'ap': 'AP', 'ielts': 'IELTS', 'toefl': 'TOEFL'
};
const methodLabels: Record<string, string> = {
'self-study': 'self-study', 'online-course': 'online course', 'group-class': 'group class',
'private-tutor': 'private tutoring', 'bootcamp': 'bootcamp'
};
const timelineLabels: Record<string, string> = {
'1-month': '1 month', '2-month': '2 months', '3-month': '3 months', '6-month': '6 months', '12-month': '12 months'
};
return `${testLabels[testType]} prep via ${methodLabels[prepMethod]} over ${timelineLabels[timeline]}`;
},
customStyles: { 'font-size': '0.95rem', 'font-weight': '500', 'text-align': 'center', 'color': '#1e293b' }
});
});
summarySection.addRow(row => {
row.addTextPanel('disclaimer', {
computedValue: () => 'Prices are estimates based on average market rates. Actual costs vary by provider and location.',
customStyles: { 'font-size': '0.8rem', 'color': '#64748b', 'text-align': 'center' }
});
});
form.configureSubmitButton({
label: 'Start Prep'
});
}
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does test prep cost?
Costs range widely: self-study books ($30-100), online courses ($200-1,500), group classes ($500-2,000), and private tutoring ($2,000-10,000+). Premium services like intensive bootcamps can cost more.
Is private tutoring worth it?
Private tutoring offers personalized attention and typically produces the best score improvements. It's most valuable for students who need significant score increases or have specific weaknesses to address.
How long should I prep for the SAT/ACT?
Most students benefit from 2-4 months of preparation. Students aiming for significant score improvements may need 6+ months. The key is consistent practice rather than cramming.
What's included in test prep packages?
Packages typically include instructional content, practice tests, study materials, and varying levels of support. Premium packages add personalized feedback, tutoring hours, and score guarantees.