Test Prep

Aim Higher. Score Higher.

Tests Taught

We teach the following tests:

• SAT
• ACT
• SSAT
• ISEE
• SHSAT
• SAT2: Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math Levels 1 & 2
• AP: Calculus, Biology, Chemistry

Curriculum/Approach

A great test prep tutor is equal parts coach, mechanic, statistician and guru, occasionally with a little firefighter and comedian thrown in.

First, we use a practice exam to diagnose strengths and weaknesses, and then we create a game plan that will raise our students’ scores as much and as quickly as possible. Usually, that involves teaching specific protocols with which to approach each different question type. We teach pacing and guessing strategies so that a student will never again leave easier questions unanswered at the end of a section. If there are any gaps in a student’s math background, we fill them in. For the SAT, SSAT, and ISEE, we get started with a vocabulary-building program that is within a student’s comfort zone, usually 20-40 words weekly. And that’s just the first session…

The lesson plan for each ensuing session usually includes review of homework and techniques from the previous session, new content and new strategies, a brief upbeat “time trial” of actual test questions, and a review of the new material introduced that day. Once the “course material” has been taught, the sessions begin to include more mock exams and timed sections for homework, refining and reviewing each technique and problem type as scores continue to rise.

Mock Exams

The measure of success, of course, is the magnitude of the score increase. Mock exams are essential assessment tools, to be taken at least twice monthly throughout the tutoring program. Prospect Prep does not administer proctored mock exams, but we work with several companies where our students may sit proctored exams for a fee, and home practice tests are selected from the best available published materials.

Test-Taking Anxiety

Stress can take an otherwise confident student and reduce him to a puddle of nerves – he finds himself re-reading sentences four times, racking his brain to complete straightforward math questions, and running out of time, leaving easy points on the table. Our expert tutors teach students step-by-step approaches for each question type, eliminating the guesswork that can be so overwhelming. To reduce the pressure, we regularly make our students take timed practice exams, so that Test Day becomes just another of many rendezvous with the test-maker. We encourage an aggressive stance towards the test, which further builds confidence. Fear of test-taking indicates a powerful desire to succeed; with the right preparation, students begin to understand that this desire can be transformed into a tremendous asset.

Academic Tutoring

There are many ways for a private tutor to provide support in the classroom:

Homework Help

We can help a student study for a test, structure a term paper, or create a realistic timetable for completing a major assignment. When we supervise study sessions, we model effective academic habits. We will often take this opportunity to review note-taking techniques and strategies. We also will fill in crucial comprehension gaps if and when they appear – we are adept at reinforcing and re-teaching concepts in engaging ways.

K-12 Remedial Math

In the classroom, many students are reluctant or embarrassed to ask questions that would clarify new concepts for the entire class. The result is that many fall behind as the teacher presses ahead to cover more material. Left unchecked, this divide can grow into a chasm – because so much of math is cumulative, students who struggle to keep up can remain confused and frustrated for months, and even give up entirely. These chronic cycles persist until they are addressed head on through remedial tutoring sessions.

Essay Coaching

As an English Major at Harvard, Prospect Prep Founder David Travis had to write a lot of papers. Now, he and his experienced staff of writing instructors demystify the process of writing persuasive and well-structured essays.

We have helped students create plans of attack for writing assignments of all kinds, from two-page book reports to 15-page research papers. We break down the challenge into smaller, more manageable parts. We emphasize the importance of crafting a thorough outline before beginning work on the first draft. We then work through the drafting and revision process, providing the support students need to create essays in which they can take pride.

For students who are interested in extra-curricular programs to hone their writing skills, we can create an individualized set of short and fun writing projects investigating intriguing news items or focusing on a student’s topic of choice – from Victorian novels to popular TV shows.

Admissions Coaching

Personal Essay

Unfortunately, for many students the first time that they are asked to write a personal essay is when they are required to do so for the Common Application – a rude awakening during a stressful time, and a recipe for tension and anxiety.

The best way to control this high-stakes situation is to get started the summer before senior year. By brainstorming content ideas and writing outlines and first drafts of various options, students begin to see for themselves the direction they should take, and then begin to craft personal essays they feel best showcase their personalities, interests and aptitudes.

This approach offers the luxury of time – a commodity in short supply in the autumn – and it ensures that as the deadlines approach, cool heads and even tempers reign.

Strategy Consultation

Often, all that is required to point a student in the right direction is an initial interview. Out of that interview will come a handful of short homework assignments – we ask students to create outlines and write partial drafts of a few of the options that they are considering pursuing.

The second consultation can be face to face, or it can be a phone call or a Skype session. We review the assignments, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different choices, and the student chooses a direction. Further drafts and revisions follow, until the student has crafted the most engaging and compelling personal essay of his or her life.

Common App Assistance

In addition to assisting in the quest to craft the perfect personal essay, Prospect Prep can help students coordinate and submit the Common App to all of the schools on your list. Many families benefit immeasurably from tutorial intervention during this trying time; the buffering effect of a supportive, objective (and exacting!) presence can do wonders for maintaining the peace at home.

We guide our students through the process of using the Common App website to investigate the application requirements for the specific schools on their lists. We then help students create spreadsheets and timelines for the completion of every required supplemental essay. Our tutors then supervise the research and drafting of the supplements by recommending manageable homework assignments from week to week – until everything is complete and the family can heave a sigh of relief!