Tim McDermott Test Prep and Tutoring | 531 Versailles Dr #102, Maitland, FL 32751, USA

Our top-scoring tutors help students gain admission to the colleges and universities of their choice and qualify for competitive merit-based scholarships.

Expert Test Prep

Having worked for many years for other tutoring companies both big and small, Tim always felt there must be a more effective way to teach and inspire students than the generic production-line model that corporate tutoring companies use.

With this in mind, he founded Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep under the guiding belief that tutoring should be customized to each student, equipping them with the skills they need to increase their scores, boost their confidence, and develop a lasting appreciation for learning.

As Central Florida's preeminent tutoring center, we believe that tutoring can and should be not only empowering but also enjoyable, for only when students believe in themselves and desire to learn do they reach their fullest potential.

Our Story

SAT

ACT

PSAT
GRE

GMAT

MCAT
Pre-Algebra

Algebra I & 2

Geometry

Trigonometry

Pre-Calculus

Calculus

Statistics & Probability

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Our Services

Tim McDermott

Since he began tutoring for the SAT in 2006 as a sophomore in college, Tim has spent over 20,000 hours tutoring for the SAT and ACT and has worked with over 1,200 students, first across Maryland and later throughout Central Florida.

Having earned perfect scores on the SAT and ACT himself, Tim takes pride in his vast knowledge of the SAT and ACT and his attention to even the smallest details of the tests, which he believes has been the key to helping so many of his students to achieve perfect scores on the SAT and ACT. Many of Tim’s students have remarked on his ability to simplify complex topics, as well as his recall of thousands of official test questions, which he is able to retrieve at any moment to further explain any given topic.

Perhaps his greatest gift, though, is his ability to spark students’ genuine interest in the material they’re learning and boost their confidence in themselves. Tim truly believes that students can succeed to whatever extent they are willing to apply themselves, and thus he pushes his students to never settle for anything less than their absolute best.

Hampton Story

Born and raised in Orlando, Hampton attended Dr. Phillips High School and graduated from UCF with a focus on engineering and physical sciences.

He began tutoring for the ACT, SAT, and various math courses in 2014; since then, he has accumulated over 10,000 hours of teaching. He has been a part of Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep since its inception in June 2015.

Hampton earned a perfect 36 score on the ACT and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT. The knowledge he has amassed and his experience working with students has allowed him to create a comfortable and fun learning environment. His relaxed demeanor encourages students to have an open dialogue, which allows Hampton to push them to reach their personal best. Many of his students are amazed at how well he can recall problems from published tests. This expertise helps Hampton target specific test areas for each student individually, making the tutoring experience more beneficial for all. With his guidance, students have seen their scores increase by up to 280 points on the SAT and up to 10 points on the ACT.

Taylor Jeanot

Taylor has been with Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep since 2016, but she has been working as a professional tutor since 2013 and has worked with students ranging in age from 5 to early 30s in reading comprehension, writing and grammar, elementary level math, algebra I, algebra II, geometry, pre-calc, biology, chemistry, physics, adult GED, and SAT and ACT test prep.

She has extensive experience tutoring students with a variety of physical and emotional needs and learning ability levels.

What Taylor enjoys most about tutoring is helping her students develop the skill set and confidence to achieve their goals.

Jim Griffin

Born in Dallas, Texas, Jim moved to Florida in 2006, where he attended Lake Mary High School and worked with Tim McDermott for his own SAT test prep. Jim went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Applied & Computational Mathematics from Florida State University.

During his time at FSU, Jim began his career in education as an academic success coach at the Tallahassee campus of Flagler College.

There, Jim taught prospective teachers test-taking strategies for the General Knowledge, K-6 Education, and Professional Education exams and tutored students in math and accounting.

Since 2019, Jim has worked at Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep, helping hundreds of students achieve their goal scores. Jim is passionate about discovering the inner workings of the SAT and ACT in order to help his students understand more clearly how the tests are designed and how to perfect the skills the tests assess.

Will Yerkes

Will is an experienced tutor who truly enjoys helping students achieve their testing and academic goals. He began tutoring in 2010 while studying for his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Redlands, finding his calling while teaching chemistry and biology to college students, and has tutored for the SAT and ACT in Central Florida since 2014.

Will is dedicated to preparing students for the challenges of testing and academics in high school, college, and beyond.

Connor Myers

Connor is an experienced tutor in mathematics, having tutored college level math for 5 years at the University of Washington. He has a passion for math education and has tutored every experience level of mathematics ranging from high school to college courses. Tailoring his lesson plans to each student, he can readily identify areas of improvement and help students develop confidence in their test-taking.

Having achieved a perfect score on the Math section of the SAT in high school, Connor has been tutoring for the SAT and ACT since 2022 and has since scored in the top percentile on both tests.

Peter Ostiguy

Peter graduated from Wartburg College with a degree in Biology and began a career in medical research at the University of Chicago in 2010. However, in 2016 he discovered his passion for teaching and has been working in education ever since. His primary focus has been teaching coding—taking complete beginners and turning them into employable web developers. Additionally, in his free time Peter has served as a substitute teacher for high schoolers throughout Central Florida.

Peter has experience teaching a wide range of ages and abilities and has made a career of using education to empower students and change lives. He loves bringing his experience and passion to Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep and helping his students reach their maximum potential on the SAT and ACT.

Meet Our Tutors

Our Approach

We evaluate each student's learning styles to target the areas with most potential for improvement.

Diagnostic Assessment

We recommend students take a practice test after every 4-6 sessions to prepare for actual test conditions and identify what areas need to be reviewed.

Constant Analysis

We assign homework based on the specific areas where students need to practice and improve.

At-Home Assignments

Our tutors work with students one-on-one using personalized instructional plans on a weekly basis.

One-on-One Tutoring

"I can't speak highly enough of Tim McDermott Tutoring and how it helped all four of my kids with their college testing!

Not only did my children's ACT and SAT test scores improve, their confidence and time management improved significantly also. I found the tutoring staff very knowledgeable, encouraging, and professional, and my children all looked forward to their weekly tutoring sessions."

Layne

Parent

"Simply the best tutoring and help you can invest in. Tim helped me increase my SAT score by almost 300 points and gave me the confidence that, with his help and my hard work, everything would work itself out--and it did! No better tutor in Orlando."

Jonathan

Student

I had an AMAZING experience with this company. I worked with Jim for the ACT, and there are so many good things to say!!
Overall, the company really creates good relationships and works WITH the student to help them achieve their goals. They really focus on grasping and understanding the material and guide the student to success.
Not only did my score go up many points, but my confidence with the material increased greatly. They truly care!

Kirah

Student

"Tim does an outstanding job at getting high school students ready for the SAT and ACT. My kids have enjoyed and appreciated being tutored by Tim. The test results were great, allowing them to enter the colleges of their choice. They also had the opportunity to work with other tutors at his center, who are also highly recommendable. The customer service staff at Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep is excellent. They are prompt to respond, send reminders and are always willing to assist with any questions we have."

Trisha

Parent

"Tim helped both of my students improve from excellent scores to perfect and near-perfect scores. Not only was Tim brilliant, but he consistently set an example of empathic leadership, tenacity, and profoundly good character. Every time one of my children went to a session, I felt like I was entrusting them not just to a teacher but to a role model."

Chele

Parent

Testimonials

You're probably
wondering...

FAQ

What makes you different from other tutoring companies?

The depth of our tutors’ knowledge of the tests we teach distinguishes us from our competition. Our tutors have learned dozens of official SAT and ACT tests cover to cover and continue to enrich their knowledge of the tests by studying every new SAT, ACT, and PSAT released each year. This intimate knowledge of the tests is what has propelled so many of our students to perfect or near-perfect scores.
Why are there different rates among the tutors at your office?

The rates for the tutors are based on their current demand as well as the amount of time they have worked within our office. All tutors have prior tutoring experience, have trained with Tim McDermott, and have scored in the top 1% on the SAT and ACT.
When should I begin tutoring for the SAT/ACT?

We generally recommend that students begin tutoring during the summer between their sophomore and junior years, or at the beginning of their junior year. However, it may benefit some students to begin preparing earlier, such as those who are seeking to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship or to be recruited for athletics, or those who have trouble with standardized tests and would like a head start.
Should I sign up in advance or when I’m ready to begin tutoring?

Our office has waitlists for students who are currently seeking tutoring, as well as for those planning to begin tutoring in the future. Because our tutors are in high demand and are often fully booked, we advise that parents add their students to the waitlist as far in advance as possible, especially if they have specific scheduling requests, such as if they need a particular day and/or time or desire to work with a particular tutor. There is no financial commitment to be added to the waitlist.
Do you offer any services other than SAT/ACT prep?

Although we specialize in SAT and ACT prep, we also assist students with the PSAT, GRE, and GMAT. Additionally, we offer a variety of subject tutoring for general math and science courses. You can find which subjects and tests each tutor specializes in on his or her tutor bio.
How long should I tutor for?

All students progress differently and have different starting points and goal scores, so each student may receive a different recommendation of sessions. Your child’s tutor will be happy to make a recommendation based on your child’s unique situation. We do not require students to commit to any given number of sessions and allow students to do as many or as few sessions as they would like.
Should I take the SAT or the ACT?

You may take either the SAT or the ACT; no colleges or universities have a preference for one test over the other. As such, we recommend that you determine early on which test you perform better on and focus your efforts on that test. To determine which test is a better fit for you, we compare your previous scores on both tests. If you have not taken an SAT or ACT, we offer free baseline tests at our office on weekends. Additionally, if available, your PSAT scores may be used as a SAT baseline and/or your PreACT scores as an ACT baseline.
Am I required to commit to a given number of sessions?

There is no minimum number of sessions required. You may take a break from tutoring or cease tutoring at any point in time. If so, any credit on your account will be returned to you.
What are your hours of operation?

Our office hours are 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sundays.