As a test prep tutor and coach since 2015, I have a proven track record of helping my students improve their scores significantly, with long-term gains as large as 11 points on the ACT and 310 points on the SAT. I know these tests inside and out — not just the academic content, but also the battle-tested skills and strategies that deliver consistent results.
While I’m results-oriented, I view test prep not only as a scoring game, but also as an opportunity to build deeper skills: improvement through practice, critical reading, problem-solving, mindfulness, and attention to detail. I want my students to emerge from this process with more confidence that they can learn and improve in any field they might choose to pursue.
I work with students at all scoring levels. Some may need to proceed at a more relaxed pace and start with the basics, while others are seeking to further improve an already top-percentile score. As a perfect scorer myself (1600 SAT, 36 ACT), I’m ready to coach even those students seeking perfect or near-perfect scores.
Because I work with students one-on-one, I tailor my approach for each student. Nevertheless, there are some key components to almost every student’s test prep process:
First, I help my students and their families navigate the decision of whether to focus on the SAT or ACT. Administered by competing organizations, the SAT and ACT are like the Coke and Pepsi of college admissions tests. Every U.S. college that accepts test scores will consider a score from either test, without preference for one or the other. Though the tests are quite similar to one another, there are a few key differences. The ACT is slightly faster-paced, while the questions on the SAT are slightly more complex and subtle. We’ll make an informed choice, likely guided by initial diagnostic practice tests.
We’ll determine an optimal target date for a first (and very likely second) official test sitting and work backward from there to create a tutoring schedule. On average, I begin weekly sessions with my students about 4-6 months before their first official test date; however, this can vary widely depending on a student’s starting scores, scoring goals, and other factors.
In most cases, my student and I will meet for 90 minutes each week. We start by getting to know the underlying structure and unwritten rules of the test, introducing the most useful test-taking strategies and problem-solving techniques. Over time, our sessions become more customized. We unpack missed problems together, pinpointing opportunities for improvement. These opportunities will vary widely from student to student, and might include:
Strategy — developing and refining a game plan for each test section, improving one’s skill at using specific problem-solving techniques, and finding an optimal pace
Awareness — building sustained focus for a marathon test, noticing moments of distraction or anxiety, and regaining calm and focus
Attention to detail — practicing the close reading skills essential to all sections of the test
Knowledge — reviewing (or learning for the first time) the academic knowledge relevant to the test, primarily math and grammar, with a dash of science for the ACT
The further we get into the process, the more my student can take the lead in identifying and correcting their own misses. I allow my students to discover the answer for themselves whenever possible; my role is to be a guide who asks good questions and takes the lead only when some direction is needed in the moment.
As with any skill-building process, the key to successful ACT/SAT prep is practice. That’s why I ask my students to complete roughly 2 hours of independent practice (i.e. homework) between each session. In addition, I ask my students to complete a full mock test about once per month — invaluable both as a “dress rehearsal” for the real thing and as a diagnostic tool to identify opportunities for improvement. For both homework assignments and mock tests, my students always work with real past tests.
The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a slightly shorter version of the SAT that students can take in the fall of their sophomore year and again in the fall of their junior year. Though this test is not used directly in the college application process, it does determine which students will become National Merit Finalists and receive National Merit Scholarships. I can work with students on the PSAT when they are aiming for a top score that could qualify them for a National Merit Scholarship, or when they simply want to get an earlier start on the prep process that will eventually continue with the SAT or ACT.
As an academic math tutor, I love working with Calculus students. I typically support these students throughout the school year and help them prep for their AP test in the spring. Learn more about my academic math tutoring services here.
Questions about test prep for the ACT, SAT, or another test? Please contact me to set up a complimentary consultation.