Standardized testing is an inescapable fact of academic life.
Unfortunately, many students underperform simply because they lack the test-taking know-how, preparation tools, practice habits, or skilled coaching needed to optimize results on tests like the SAT and ACT.
Nowhere is this more evident than on the math sections of such tests.
Of course, mathematical ability is the best predictor of success on any math test. Accordingly, many tutors employ an entirely content-based approach in an attempt to quickly augment performance. In most cases, however, such efforts are misguided.
Hundreds of hours of dedicated effort in the classroom and at the homework desk are required to develop mathematical prowess. For all but a few students, even considering the narrowed range of topics tested on the SAT and ACT, attempting to boost outcomes through intensive, comprehensive math tutoring only makes sense as a long term project. Tutoring can be expensive and time consuming, however, and such a plan simply isn’t feasible in the vast majority of instances.
Utilization of a carefully-crafted, multi-faceted method is nearly always the best way to improve scores and typically induces better effects in far less time. In fact, done rightly, SAT/ACT math prep provides significant additional benefits, cultivating competencies not fostered in class yet vital to success in academia and beyond.
Preparation for the SAT/ACT math tess is my special area of expertise, and I've helped hosts of students maximize achievement on these exams since 1978.
Following are the core ingredients in my secret sauce.
Math is math, and it's common to spend some time covering essential mathematical concepts and practices. In my work with ambitious students, however, teaching of course content is kept to a minimum in favor of more immediately useful and fruitful elements of test prep. The closer one gets to a perfect score the less the need to review basics and the greater the need to incorporate other ingredients listed below.
Skillful application of artful tactics is vital on high-stakes tests. A small number of simple yet powerful math strategies enable students to quickly pick the right answers without utilizing difficult or time-consuming "school math" techniques test makers expect them to apply. Schooling students to implement a strategic approach to test-taking is one of the pillars of my method. "If the math isn't hard, do the math; otherwise, use a strategy!"
The story is told of a man 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." Copious, finely tuned, expertly coached practice and rehearsal are also fundamental aspects of test-takings. For this reason, loads of timed and untimed practice with question banks, “mini-tests," and full length math sections using official materials form the third pillar of my approach to enhancing scores. Practice, critique, review, repeat!
Every mistake is an opportunity to elevate execution – but only if errors aren’t repeated. Students use purpose-built error analysis and tracking tools to identify, dissect, and monitor persistent mistakes and record the best ways to avoid them. By gaining awareness and focusing attention on precisely what’s going wrong and how best to fix it, students are quickly able to reduce unnecessary errors and achieve record rankings.
Paper and pencil is fast becoming old technology, and graphing calculators like Desmos and the Ti-84 Plus CE now play a valuable role in mathematics education. Clever use of the calculator can make an big difference on the SAT and ACT, and students of mine use specialized, proprietary materials to master handy calculator tricks most beneficial in optimizing outcomes.
Students with top scores only have trouble with the toughest problems. The higher the score, the greater the need to focus additional effort on extremely difficult questions. Working with an immense set of the most vexing questions taken from my library of hundreds of official practice tests, students learn to engage and solve such perplexing puzzles. Through exercise with tough end-of-section questions, students acquire creative thinking and problem solving skills central in cracking the weightiest math challenges. Top students thus become able to squeeze from the test those last few points required to produce a dazzling result.
Effective review of pivotal takeaways and eye-opening realizations is imperative. To facilitate improvement, students keep detailed success notes and maintain curated screenshot collections, capturing difficult, knotty problems for further study. It's crucial that students scrutinize these notes and questions until critical realizations are fully assimilated. Only by employing a thorough, rigorous review process can students demystify test the exam, properly reinforce learning, and most swiftly advance.
Generating and sustaining maximum energy is vital to maximal success. Test taking is a competitive activity, and just as in athletics or the performing arts, lagging attention and lackluster commitment won’t cut it. Highly-intentional concentration and deliberate, laser-like focus light-up the brain like a Christmas tree, allowing students to think more quickly and cleverly, solve problems perceptively and productively, minimize score-crushing carelessness, and make the most of what they already know. Maintenance of a powerfully sharp, energetic, mindful "winning focus" throughout the test is critical. This is so important that, without it, almost nothing else matters.
Meetings are structured around close inspection of screenshots, mini-testing followed by probing dissection of mistakes made, and cultivation and discussion of helpful insights. Detailed, prioritized recommendations are posted after each lesson along with notes on session content. Recommended work at home generally requires three to five additional hours between sessions. Parents are given full access to their child's course folder, so they can check in anytime and monitor progress.
Most students meet with me for 8-12 ninety-minute sessions over a three to four month period. Lesson content is adjustable to reflect particular needs and goals of individual students. Scheduling is also pliant, and can be tailored to fit around educational, personal, or family commitments.
Lessons are designed to be light, interesting, entertaining, and upbeat.
Unfortunately, many students underperform simply because they lack the test-taking know-how, preparation tools, practice habits, or skilled coaching needed to optimize results on tests like the SAT and ACT.
Nowhere is this more evident than on the math sections of such tests.
Of course, mathematical ability is the best predictor of success on any math test. Accordingly, many tutors employ an entirely content-based approach in an attempt to quickly augment performance. In most cases, however, such efforts are misguided.
Hundreds of hours of dedicated effort in the classroom and at the homework desk are required to develop mathematical prowess. For all but a few students, even considering the narrowed range of topics tested on the SAT and ACT, attempting to boost outcomes through intensive, comprehensive math tutoring only makes sense as a long term project. Tutoring can be expensive and time consuming, however, and such a plan simply isn’t feasible in the vast majority of instances.
Utilization of a carefully-crafted, multi-faceted method is nearly always the best way to improve scores and typically induces better effects in far less time. In fact, done rightly, SAT/ACT math prep provides significant additional benefits, cultivating competencies not fostered in class yet vital to success in academia and beyond.
Preparation for the SAT/ACT math tess is my special area of expertise, and I've helped hosts of students maximize achievement on these exams since 1978.
Following are the core ingredients in my secret sauce.
Targeted Instruction
Math is math, and it's common to spend some time covering essential mathematical concepts and practices. In my work with ambitious students, however, teaching of course content is kept to a minimum in favor of more immediately useful and fruitful elements of test prep. The closer one gets to a perfect score the less the need to review basics and the greater the need to incorporate other ingredients listed below.
Test-Taking Acumen
Skillful application of artful tactics is vital on high-stakes tests. A small number of simple yet powerful math strategies enable students to quickly pick the right answers without utilizing difficult or time-consuming "school math" techniques test makers expect them to apply. Schooling students to implement a strategic approach to test-taking is one of the pillars of my method. "If the math isn't hard, do the math; otherwise, use a strategy!"
Productive Practice
The story is told of a man 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." Copious, finely tuned, expertly coached practice and rehearsal are also fundamental aspects of test-takings. For this reason, loads of timed and untimed practice with question banks, “mini-tests," and full length math sections using official materials form the third pillar of my approach to enhancing scores. Practice, critique, review, repeat!
Error Analysis and Tracking
Every mistake is an opportunity to elevate execution – but only if errors aren’t repeated. Students use purpose-built error analysis and tracking tools to identify, dissect, and monitor persistent mistakes and record the best ways to avoid them. By gaining awareness and focusing attention on precisely what’s going wrong and how best to fix it, students are quickly able to reduce unnecessary errors and achieve record rankings.
Calculator Smarts
Paper and pencil is fast becoming old technology, and graphing calculators like Desmos and the Ti-84 Plus CE now play a valuable role in mathematics education. Clever use of the calculator can make an big difference on the SAT and ACT, and students of mine use specialized, proprietary materials to master handy calculator tricks most beneficial in optimizing outcomes.
Hardest Questions
Students with top scores only have trouble with the toughest problems. The higher the score, the greater the need to focus additional effort on extremely difficult questions. Working with an immense set of the most vexing questions taken from my library of hundreds of official practice tests, students learn to engage and solve such perplexing puzzles. Through exercise with tough end-of-section questions, students acquire creative thinking and problem solving skills central in cracking the weightiest math challenges. Top students thus become able to squeeze from the test those last few points required to produce a dazzling result.
Intelligent Review
Effective review of pivotal takeaways and eye-opening realizations is imperative. To facilitate improvement, students keep detailed success notes and maintain curated screenshot collections, capturing difficult, knotty problems for further study. It's crucial that students scrutinize these notes and questions until critical realizations are fully assimilated. Only by employing a thorough, rigorous review process can students demystify test the exam, properly reinforce learning, and most swiftly advance.
Energy Management and Peak Performance Training
Generating and sustaining maximum energy is vital to maximal success. Test taking is a competitive activity, and just as in athletics or the performing arts, lagging attention and lackluster commitment won’t cut it. Highly-intentional concentration and deliberate, laser-like focus light-up the brain like a Christmas tree, allowing students to think more quickly and cleverly, solve problems perceptively and productively, minimize score-crushing carelessness, and make the most of what they already know. Maintenance of a powerfully sharp, energetic, mindful "winning focus" throughout the test is critical. This is so important that, without it, almost nothing else matters.
Purposeful Tutorials
Meetings are structured around close inspection of screenshots, mini-testing followed by probing dissection of mistakes made, and cultivation and discussion of helpful insights. Detailed, prioritized recommendations are posted after each lesson along with notes on session content. Recommended work at home generally requires three to five additional hours between sessions. Parents are given full access to their child's course folder, so they can check in anytime and monitor progress.
Flexible Programs
Most students meet with me for 8-12 ninety-minute sessions over a three to four month period. Lesson content is adjustable to reflect particular needs and goals of individual students. Scheduling is also pliant, and can be tailored to fit around educational, personal, or family commitments.
Fun!
Lessons are designed to be light, interesting, entertaining, and upbeat.