Targeted Content Review

Naturally, math is math. Inevitably, it's necessary to spend some time covering mathematical concepts and techniques. In my work, however, this is kept to a minimum in favor of more immediately useful and fruitful elements of test prep listed below.

Testing Acumen

Artful tactics are vitally important on high-stakes standardized tests. Simple yet powerful math strategies enable students to quickly pick correct answers without employing difficult or time-consuming analytic techniques test makers expect to be used. Teaching students to implement the most effective standardized test math strategies is one of the pillars of my method. "If the math isn't that hard, do the math. Otherwise, use a strategy!".

Productive Practice

The story is told of a man who was lost in downtown Manhattan, late for a concert. He stopped to ask a stranger for directions. The stranger happened to be a famous violinist. The man asked, “How can I get to Carnegie Hall?” The maestro answered, “Practice, practice." A great deal of consistent, smartly-focused practice is key to mastering math sections of standardized tests, and copious amounts of practice with “mini-tests” and full math sections using official materials forms the third pillar of my approach to bettering scores.

Error Analysis and Tracking

Every mistake is an opportunity to elevate performance – but only if errors aren’t repeated. Students of mine use proprietary error analysis and tracking tools to identify and monitor the most serious and persistent mistakes they make, and record the best ways to avoid these score-crushing errors. By focusing awareness and attention on precisely what’s going wrong, and how best to fix it, students are quickly able to reduce unnecessary errors and substantially raise scores.

Energy Management

Generating and sustaining maximal energy is fundamental to fulsome success. Test taking is a competitive activity, and as in athletics or the performing arts, lagging attention and lackluster commitment won’t cut it. Mindful, intense concentration and deliberate, laser-like focus light-up the brain like a Christmas tree, allowing students to move more quickly and cleverly, think more creatively and productively, and make the most of what they already know. Maintaining a sharp, energetic, highly-intentional focus throughout the test is critical. This is so important that, without it, almost nothing else matters.