{
  "slug": "test-prep-score-gain-value",
  "title": "Test Prep Score-Gain Value Calculator",
  "heading": "Test Prep Score-Gain Value Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/test-prep-score-gain-value",
  "summary": "Cost per point of score improvement, and whether the prep investment is worth it.",
  "description": "Test prep is sold on promised score gains, but families rarely compute what they're actually paying per point. This calculator divides total prep cost by the expected score gain to get a cost-per-point figure, then compares that against what the score gain is typically worth in scholarship dollars or admission odds, so you can judge whether a $3,000 course promising 150 SAT points is a good trade versus a $600 course promising 80 points.",
  "formula": "Cost per point = total prep cost ÷ expected score gain. Scholarship value estimate = expected gain × estimated dollars of scholarship per point. Net value = scholarship value − prep cost.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=test-prep-score-gain-value",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "prepCost",
      "label": "Total prep cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1200,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hoursCommitted",
      "label": "Student hours committed",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "expectedGain",
      "label": "Expected score gain (points)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 120,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "scholarshipPerPoint",
      "label": "Est. scholarship $ per point",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 150,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "baselineScore",
      "label": "Baseline score",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1100,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 400,
      "max": 1600
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "netValue",
      "label": "Net value (scholarship minus cost)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "costPerPoint",
      "label": "Cost per point of gain",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "costPerHour",
      "label": "Cost per hour of prep",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "scholarshipValue",
      "label": "Estimated scholarship value of gain",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "newScore",
      "label": "Projected new score",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total prep cost: 1200 $",
      "Student hours committed: 40",
      "Expected score gain (points): 120",
      "Est. scholarship $ per point: 150 $",
      "Baseline score: 1100"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Net value (scholarship minus cost): $16,800",
      "Cost per point of gain: $10.00",
      "Cost per hour of prep: $30.00",
      "Estimated scholarship value of gain: $18,000",
      "Projected new score: 1,220"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total prep cost ($).",
      "Enter student hours committed.",
      "Enter expected score gain (points).",
      "Enter est. scholarship $ per point ($).",
      "Enter baseline score.",
      "Read your net value (scholarship minus cost) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "prepCost": 700,
        "hoursCommitted": 24,
        "expectedGain": 70,
        "scholarshipPerPoint": 90,
        "baselineScore": 660
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "prepCost": 1200,
        "hoursCommitted": 40,
        "expectedGain": 120,
        "scholarshipPerPoint": 150,
        "baselineScore": 1100
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "prepCost": 1900,
        "hoursCommitted": 64,
        "expectedGain": 190,
        "scholarshipPerPoint": 240,
        "baselineScore": 1600
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How reliable are advertised score gain numbers?",
      "a": "Treat them skeptically. Most published averages come from self-reported before/after scores among students who finished the full course, which skews toward motivated, already-improving students. A realistic gain is often 60-70% of the advertised number for a typical student."
    },
    {
      "q": "Where does the scholarship-per-point estimate come from?",
      "a": "It varies enormously by school and program — some merit scholarships have hard score cutoffs where crossing a threshold (e.g., 1200 to 1210) unlocks a fixed award, which isn't linear at all. Use this as a rough planning number, and check specific target schools' merit aid tables for real cutoffs."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is cost per point a fair way to compare prep options?",
      "a": "It's one useful lens, not the whole picture. A cheaper course with a lower expected gain might still have a better cost-per-point ratio, but self-study with official practice tests often beats both on cost-per-point even though it takes more self-discipline."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does score gain diminish as baseline score rises?",
      "a": "Yes. Going from 1000 to 1150 is much easier than 1450 to 1500 because near the top of the scale, small errors matter more and the remaining question types get harder. Adjust your expected gain input downward if the baseline is already high."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/tutor-hourly-rate-utilization",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/bootcamp-isa-vs-upfront"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Test Prep Score-Gain Value Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/test-prep-score-gain-value)"
}