Tutoring Services

Comprehensive SAT & ACT Test Prep

Much like training for a sport, maximizing SAT/ACT performance requires a blend of fundamentals, strategy, mental toughness, and regular focused practice. Like an out of shape athlete, every untrained student — no matter how intelligent — is leaving points on the table. I help students improve their scores by focusing on the three key components of test performance:

1. Skill-Building: SAT and ACT questions all draw from a very consistent set of core concepts. While most of these are staples of high school curricula, some are less universal, and others are frequently misunderstood. By observing each student’s individual style of reasoning and problem-solving, and always maintaining dialogue about comfort level with each topic, I identify and fill in the most pertinent knowledge gaps. After learning the missing material, students become empowered to easily handle question types that were previously insurmountable.

2. Strategy: In order to take full advantage of their “toolbox” of learned skills, students must develop a fundamentally sound approach. “Test-taking strategy” is often discussed as if it is obscure and complicated, but in truth the key elements are based in discipline, common sense, and self-awareness. I coach students to apply simple core tenets that promote critical thinking and consistency, and provide a grounding force for when they get stuck. Over time, a commitment to these principles can overhaul a student’s mindset, allowing them to reliably identify and avoid common, costly exam “traps,” while also reading between the lines to gain a new level of mastery.

3. The Big Picture: Optimizing SAT/ACT performance is not only about knowledge and tactics. These are grueling, 3 hour exams that require significant mental stamina, time management skills, and other attributes that are neglected by many test prep programs. I am always conscious of my student’s next exam date; as it gets closer, we shift more attention towards the rigors of test day itself. By focusing on coping with fatigue, utilizing full length practice tests for final preparation, and discussing other factors such as sleep and confidence, I help students to not just do better on worksheets, but reach peak performance on the real test.

Tutoring for Math, Stats, & Computer Science Courses

When students need help with a particular class or subject, I believe it is essential for a tutor to develop as deep an understanding as possible of the methodology used by their teacher and curriculum. While I could independently teach the material without these considerations, doing so would be much more one-size-fits-all. Instead, paying close attention to context allows me not only to find knowledge gaps, but to determine their source: was it the way a concept was explained, or a missing building block from earlier in the year, or foundational weaknesses from years ago? By acquiring this insight, I am able to tailor my program to the most preeminent needs of my students — whether that means solidifying fundamentals to be ready for future classes, or succeeding on next week’s midterm, or anywhere in between.

AP Exam Prep - Calculus AB/BC

AP exams are challenging but more straightforward than the SAT/ACT: higher level material with fewer peculiarities. For AP Calculus, there are no shortcuts — mastery and practice are needed for a high score. I focus most on providing instruction for Calculus topics that students are struggling with, as it is essential to build a robust understanding of the subject before becoming too test-specific. Eventually I incorporate strategy as well, with particular emphasis on building comfort with the format of the free response section. As test day nears, I use my knowledge of the exam to allocate final preparation time towards the concepts that appear most frequently.

SAT Math Subject Tests Levels I & II

SAT subject tests may be more specialized than the general SAT, but they demand a similar mixture of subject-specific skills and test-specific tricks. While the level 1 and level 2 math exams differ significantly in difficulty and topic coverage, the framework of my approach is the same. Through guided practice and custom, targeted problems, I first help students build mastery over the underlying concepts. Once they have confidence in their toolbox of skills, they gain the perspective needed to see through tricky phrasing, and become equipped to handle any question thrown at them.

Other Subjects

While the subjects listed above are the extent of my tutoring repertoire, for AP Physics or Chemistry I recommend Daniel Starling at starlingtutoring.com, another Westchester-based tutor who is a great option for these subjects.