We tutor students either individually or in small groups of 2-4 students. We’ll describe below the individual tutoring option. Those interested in forming or joining a small group should contact us for more information.
Although we discuss below only SAT and ACT preparation, we also help students prepare for the PSAT, the subject tests and the AP tests. If you’re not sure which test to take — SAT or ACT — we’ll advise you regarding that decision.
This is how individual tutoring works:
1. Initial Meeting. We will meet and discuss with you, at no cost, how we propose to guide your preparation for the ACT, PSAT, or SAT test.
2. Setting Up a Schedule. If you choose to have us guide your SAT or ACT preparation, then we’ll set up a tutoring schedule. A typical schedule would be one in which we meet once a week, over a period of six weeks total. The sessions are usually one hour long, and the fee is $60. If we meet twice a week, then each session costs $50. Ordinarily, we meet in our home in North Berkeley. But if that will not work for you, we can possibly meet at your home or in a local library. We will offer a fee reduction under certain circumstances.
3. Tutoring Sessions and Homework. In between tutoring sessionss, you’ll do some homework, which consists in reviewing exam subject matter and answering practice questions. For the SAT or ACT, you will also write practice essays at home, which we will go over with you when we meet. We will always be available, at no additional charge, to talk with you on the telephone about your progress.
4. Initial Assessment. We’ll begin by assessing your current state of preparedness for the SAT/ACT exam. Our tutoring aims to amplify your test-taking strengths and to bring your knowledge and skills up to speed in problematic areas, whether they be math, critical reading, or writing.
5. Study Guides. The practice tests that we use are taken from the official test preparation guides published by the test-makers themselves. (One of the problems with the SAT/ACT prep courses offered by agencies like Kaplan or Princeton Review is that they do NOT use the official practice tests.) For both the SAT and the ACT, we have found, however, that the official guides do not provide the best study materials for reviewing the subjects covered by the test.
We use preparation materials that are tailored to the needs of each individual student, including an SAT preparation handbook and an ACT preparation handbook that we ourselves, the tutors, have written. As well, we use our own grammar review handbook. Each student has unique needs and preferences — we’ll use additional instructional resources that work well for you.
6. Practice Tests. Taking practice tests is an essential part of your preparation. Following each practice test, we’ll go over with you the questions that you found difficult, while also recognizing the progress you’re making The aim of our sessions with you will be to develop your test-taking skills and build confidence, thereby ensuring that you do well on the day of the actual exam.
Guarantee. If we tutor you and you take the official practice tests under our guidance, your test-taking ability will improve, and you’ll do better on the SAT/ACT test. If our work with you does not achieve that aim, we’ll return to you the fees we have been paid or we’ll continue to tutor you for free.
We explain our overall approach to tutoring here: GOOD TUTORING.
And see our comparison of SAT/ACT preparation with a tutor versus preparation with a company like Kaplan or Princeton Review here: TUTOR OR AGENCY?
If you’d like to discuss your SAT or ACT preparation plans with us, call us at (510) 486_ 1050.
