FAQ & comparison
The questions parents ask before they enroll.
Twenty-five answers organized by category, plus a direct comparison against Princeton Review, Kaplan, and the typical DFW prep tutor. We've answered as honestly and specifically as we can.
About the program — 5 questions
What makes Tejas Test Prep different from other DFW prep companies?
Three things, in order of importance. First, the founder. Dr. Karnati is a perfect ACT 36, perfect SAT scorer, and practicing neurosurgeon who has personally tutored over 2,000 students. Most prep companies hire generalist instructors; we are the curriculum the founder uses himself. Second, the depth: 30 full-length exams, 10,000+ SAT questions, 7,000+ ACT questions, hundreds of authored modules — substantially more than the typical DFW competitor. Third, the analytics: every full-length exam produces a granular report that drives the next week's plan.
Who is this program for?
Ambitious 8th–11th graders in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex (or anywhere, virtually) preparing for the SAT, PSAT, or ACT. Students who want elite admissions outcomes, National Merit recognition, or merit-aid scholarships will get the most out of it. We are not the right fit for students who want minimal commitment or a low-volume practice schedule.
Does Dr. Karnati teach the cohorts personally?
Yes — Dr. Karnati is the lead instructor for every cohort. He is supported by a small team of fellow perfect-scorers for office hours and grading, but the live instruction is his.
How small are the cohorts?
Intentionally limited so every student receives direct feedback. Exact size varies by cohort, but we cap enrollment well below the volumes typical of the larger national prep companies. Inquire for the current cohort size.
How long has Tejas Test Prep been around?
The academy launched in 2026, but it's the formalization of Dr. Karnati's teaching since 2008 — beginning as a 12th grader in Michigan and continuing through undergrad, medical school, and his neurosurgery residency, followed by years of virtual coaching. More than 2,000 students have been tutored under his instruction over that time.
Curriculum & content — 5 questions
Is the curriculum yours or licensed from a textbook?
Entirely ours. Every module, practice question, and analytics report was authored by Dr. Karnati and a team of fellow perfect scorers — refined over 2,000+ students worth of teaching. No licensed textbooks, no franchised material.
Is the program calibrated to the Digital SAT?
Yes. The entire SAT and PSAT curriculum is built around the Digital SAT's adaptive structure, scoring, and question style. Older paper-format material is not used.
Where does everything live?
In two portals, both ours. The Learning Portal holds the lessons, homework, and live instruction; the Testing Portal runs the proctored and self-proctored full-length exams and returns the score reports. Students receive a login for each when they enroll, and both are reached from the sign-in page.
Are official College Board and ACT materials included?
Yes. All College Board released SAT/PSAT exams and officially released ACT exams come with full written explanations for every question. These supplement the proprietary practice library, not replace it.
What's covered in the 18–20 live lessons?
The full content domain of each test (Reading & Writing, Math for SAT/PSAT; English, Math, Reading, Science for ACT), test-taking strategy frameworks, pacing drills, full-length-exam debriefs, and admissions-strategy context. See the sample syllabus for the week-by-week breakdown.
Cohorts & scheduling — 4 questions
When do cohorts start?
We run rolling cohorts year-round. See the current schedule on the cohort calendar page.
Is the program in person or virtual?
Both. Every cohort runs in two parallel formats — in-person across the DFW metroplex and live virtual — with the same curriculum and the same instructor. Students can also switch between formats mid-cohort if scheduling changes.
What if my student misses a class?
Every live session is recorded. Missed classes are available on-demand within 24 hours, and office hours give students a live channel to catch up on anything that didn't click on replay.
Can a student start mid-cohort?
Yes, on a case-by-case basis. We'll either match the student to the appropriate week with catch-up office hours, or recommend the next cohort start date — whichever produces the better outcome.
Pricing & enrollment — 4 questions
How much does it cost?
The SAT & PSAT course is $1,799 and the ACT course is $1,799. Taking both is $2,699, because the second course is half price. That is the whole price: every live lesson, all thirty full-length exams, the complete question bank and twelve months of portal access are included, and there is no premium tier to buy.
Do you offer payment plans or scholarships?
Yes. Tuition can be paid in two equal installments — half when the seat is reserved and half thirty days later — with no fee, no interest and nothing to apply for. We also consider need-based and merit-based partial scholarships case by case; mention your situation in your inquiry.
Are scholarships available?
We consider need-based and merit-based partial scholarships on a case-by-case basis for a limited number of students per cohort. The strongest applications are students with demonstrated commitment and a clear admissions trajectory.
Is there a discount for taking both SAT & PSAT and the ACT courses?
Yes. The second course is half price: $2,699 for both, rather than $3,598. The two can run concurrently or in consecutive terms, whichever suits your student's calendar.
Results & outcomes — 4 questions
How much will my student's score improve?
Expected score growth depends on starting baseline, time invested, and consistency with the program. Across the program's history, average growth runs around +180 points on the SAT and +4 ACT composite points, with the top quartile reaching +260 SAT or +6 ACT. Our Results page shows the full distribution by starting bracket.
Do you guarantee a score improvement?
We do not advertise a numeric score guarantee, because guarantees in standardized testing are usually marketing fictions with fine print no parent should accept. What we do guarantee: every module is authored by perfect scorers, every cohort is led by Dr. Karnati personally, and every student receives the full system. If your student does the work, the results follow.
What about National Merit?
The combined SAT & PSAT cohort is engineered specifically to produce National Merit recognition for 11th graders. Roughly 32% of program students reach National Merit Semifinalist or higher, with another ~32% earning Commended Student status — versus ~4% nationally.
How do you measure score growth?
Baseline-to-final score on official tests (College Board / ACT). Internal full-length exams give us week-over-week tracking, but the "growth" we report is from official scored test administrations only.
Logistics & format — 3 questions
What technology does my student need for virtual cohorts?
A laptop or desktop with a webcam, a stable internet connection, and a quiet space. Tablets and phones are not sufficient for the proctored exam environment.
Do parents have visibility into student progress?
Yes. Parents receive a weekly progress digest by email and have view-access to the analytics dashboard. We also share the cohort syllabus and exam calendar at enrollment.
What happens after the 16-week cohort ends?
Students retain full study-portal access for 12 months from enrollment, including the question bank, modules, and self-proctored exam library. Office hours remain available for cohort alumni at no additional cost during that period.
Side-by-side
How Tejas Test Prep compares.
An honest, dimension-by-dimension comparison against the largest national prep companies and the typical DFW private tutor.
| Dimension | Tejas Test Prep | Princeton Review | Kaplan | DFW private tutor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | ✓ Authored by perfect scorers | · Licensed textbook | · Licensed textbook | ~ Varies by tutor |
| Lead instructor credentials | ✓ Perfect 36 ACT and perfect 2400 SAT, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon | ~ Generalist instructors | ~ Generalist instructors | ~ Highly variable |
| Full-length practice exams included | ✓ 30 (10 proctored, 20 self) | ~ 4–8 typical | ~ 4–8 typical | · Usually none |
| Practice question bank | ✓ 10,000+ SAT, 7,000+ ACT | ✓ Several thousand | ✓ Several thousand | · Limited |
| Live, instructor-led cohorts | ✓ 18–20 live lessons, small cohort | ~ Often recorded video | ~ Mix of live and recorded | ✓ 1-on-1, but no peer cohort |
| Per-skill analytics | ✓ Section + skill breakdown after every exam | ~ Basic score reports | ~ Basic score reports | · Tutor-dependent |
| National Merit-specific prep | ✓ Built into the SAT & PSAT cohort | · Separate add-on | · Separate add-on | ~ Tutor-dependent |
| Long-term portal access | ✓ 12 months included | ~ Course-length only | ~ Course-length only | · N/A |
| Personal access to lead instructor | ✓ Direct messaging + office hours | · Class instructor only | · Class instructor only | ✓ Direct (1-on-1) |
| DFW-local presence | ✓ Founded and based in DFW | ~ National franchise | ~ National franchise | ✓ Local |
Still have questions?
If your question isn't answered here, ask us directly. We respond within one business day.