Now accepting Summer & Fall 2026 students

Ivy-caliber SAT preparation,
delivered one student at a time.

Private SAT instruction from a Yale Classics major scoring in the 99th percentile, working in person with a small, selective caseload of families across Brentwood, Franklin, and the Nashville crescent. By application only.

99th %
Tutor's SAT Score
+100pts
Avg. Score Increase
5yrs
Tutoring Experience
12seats
2026 Caseload, Capped
About the Tutor

A scholar's eye, applied to a
standardized test.

Cael McCullum is a Classics major at Yale University, where he reads Greek and Latin alongside coursework in philosophy and English literature. He scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and has spent the past five years tutoring high-achieving students from Middle Tennessee's most academically ambitious families — and, online, from as far afield as Bermuda, Australia, China, and Canada.

His method draws less from the test-prep industry and more from the seminar room: slow, attentive reading; precise vocabulary; a calm familiarity with the structure of arguments. Students learn to recognize the SAT as a predictable exam written by people, not a mystery — and to dispatch it accordingly.

"The score is the byproduct. The real work is teaching a student to read carefully, reason cleanly, and stay composed under timed pressure — habits that outlast any single Saturday morning."

Cael is home on a gap year from June through December of 2026 and will be tutoring in person throughout that window. Because the caseload is intentionally small, families are asked to schedule a consultation early in the season.

— Cael McCullum
Yale '27 · Classics
Scientia floreat
Results

Measurable score gains,
earned session by session.

A sample of recent students. Ranges and outcomes are representative of the past three cycles.

+100pts
Avg. Score Lift
1:1
Always One-to-One
Representative Score Lifts
1280 → 14901340 → 15101190 → 14301420 → 1560

Past student outcomes. No score result is guaranteed except where explicitly stated in the Concierge program.

Programs

Three programs, each
by application only.

All programs are private and one-to-one. Group instruction is offered only in the Weekend Intensives. Hourly rates are not published — engagements are quoted as complete programs.

Essentials
For the focused student
$3,600
15 hours · 6–8 weeks
  • Diagnostic and personalized study plan
  • 15 hours of private instruction
  • Curated problem sets between sessions
  • Two proctored full-length practice exams
  • Direct text access for between-session questions
Apply for Essentials
Flagship
Comprehensive
The standard engagement
$5,400
25 hours · 10–14 weeks
  • Everything in Essentials
  • 25 hours of private instruction
  • Four proctored full-length practice exams
  • Section-by-section review with annotated reports
  • Test-day strategy and timing protocol
  • Parent progress briefings every week
Apply for Comprehensive
Concierge
By invitation · Score guarantee
$9,500
40 hours · Fully customized
  • Everything in Comprehensive
  • 40 hours of private instruction
  • Written score guarantee — terms in agreement
  • Priority scheduling, including weekends
  • 9 proctored practice exams
Apply for Concierge

Engagements are limited. The 2026 in-person caseload is capped at twelve students.

Weekend Intensives

Two-day SAT bootcamps,
capped at six students.

A focused weekend immediately preceding each national SAT administration. Saturday and Sunday, 9am–4pm. Held at a private location in Brentwood; materials, lunch, and a proctored practice exam included.

Per student, per weekend
$1,800
14 hours · 6 seats maximum
  • Two full days of intensive small-group instruction
  • One proctored, timed full-length practice SAT
  • Personalized post-exam review and target list
  • Test-day logistics and morning-of strategy
  • All materials, snacks, and catered lunch provided
2026–27 Bootcamp Calendar
August SAT
Bootcamp · Aug 22–23, 2026
3 of 6 left
October SAT
Bootcamp · Sept 26–27, 2026
Open
November SAT
Bootcamp · Oct 31 – Nov 1, 2026
Open
December SAT
Bootcamp · Nov 28–29, 2026
2 of 6 left
March SAT
Remote bootcamp · Feb 27–28, 2027
Waitlist

Bootcamp seats are released first to private students and their referrals. Public availability is rarely longer than two weeks.

Frequently Asked

Questions, answered
plainly.

Why is the caseload so small?
Because the work is genuinely individualized. Each student receives a custom study plan, hand-curated problem sets between sessions, and weekly parent-facing notes. Twelve students is the upper limit at which that level of attention remains honest. When the 2026 caseload is full, the waitlist opens for Spring 2027 remote engagements.
Where do you tutor in person?
Sessions are held at the family's home or at a private study space in Brentwood. Most current families live in Brentwood, Franklin, Belle Meade, Forest Hills, or Green Hills. Travel beyond a 25-minute radius is accommodated by arrangement.
Why don't you publish an hourly rate?
Because the work is not hourly. Each program includes diagnostic assessment, custom curriculum, proctored exams, written progress reports, and direct text access. Pricing reflects the complete engagement.
What does the Concierge score guarantee actually cover?
Concierge students who complete all assigned work and sit a minimum number of practice exams are guaranteed a specified score increase from their diagnostic. Exact terms — minimum lift, qualifying conditions, and remedy if the score is not met — are set in writing at the engagement letter stage, before any payment is taken.
How do you decide whom to take on?
Engagements begin with a complimentary 30-minute consultation with both parent and student. Fit is mutual: the student should be motivated, willing to do the assigned work between sessions, and aiming for a meaningful score lift. Roughly one in three inquiries is accepted in a given month.
Is remote tutoring available?
In person is the default through December 2026. Remote one-to-one resumes in January 2027 for returning families and select new students. The remote experience is delivered over an annotated digital whiteboard and is equivalent in quality, though we generally find in-person sessions more productive for new students.
Schedule a Consultation

Begin with a thirty-minute
conversation.

Consultations are complimentary, held with both parent and student, and typically last thirty minutes. Choose a time directly on the calendar — you'll receive a confirmation by email. Spaces in the 2026 caseload are filled in the order families confirm.

Telephone
In-person sessions
Brentwood, Franklin,
Belle Meade, Forest Hills,
Green Hills & surrounding
Current Cycle
7 of 12 in-person seats remain for the
June – December 2026 cycle.
Direct Booking
Reserve a 30-minute consultation
Open in new tab
If the calendar does not appear, open the booking page in a new tab or email cael@mccullumtestprep.com directly.