Punctuation & sentence structure
I teach complete clauses, sentence boundaries, commas, colons, and semicolons. I also review agreement, pronouns, verb forms, possessives, and modifiers.
ONE-TO-ONE TEST PREPARATIONSAT & ACT
SAT & ACT
preparation.
I use your practice results to find what is costing you points, then teach the grammar, reading, and math skills behind those questions.
I start with the questions you missed.
After a practice test, I separate gaps in knowledge from misreading and timing problems. I ask you to retry missed questions before looking at the correct answers. What you can solve on the second attempt tells me what to work on in the lesson.
If you are deciding between the SAT and ACT, I compare practice results from both. I look at the section scores, the questions you found difficult, and how the time limits affected your work.
The skills I work on with you.
Reading & answer choices
I ask you to identify the passage’s claim and the evidence for your answer. We examine why an answer is supported, too broad, contradicted, or outside the passage.
Algebra & Desmos
I teach equations, systems, inequalities, functions, and quadratic graphs. I show how to use Desmos and how to choose between a graph and an algebraic solution.
The harder math questions
I work through systems word problems, quadratic discriminants, extraneous solutions, probability, and geometry. Homework targets the particular skill that caused difficulty.
ACT math & pacing
I use untimed and strictly timed sections to separate the mathematics from the clock. I assign practice on topics such as conditional probability, similar triangles, function composition, and trig graphs.
Practice between lessons
I generally recommend about two hours of homework per tutoring hour. I choose specific exercises, review the results, and assign another practice test when it will give us useful information.
+180average SAT point improvement
+5average ACT point improvement
My students’ average improvements after 12+ tutoring hours and completed homework.
CHOOSING A TEST
SAT or ACT?
The tests cover many of the same skills, but their formats and pacing differ. A practice test of each can help us choose.
| Area | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Reading & Writing; Math | English; Math; Reading. Optional Science and Writing. |
| Format | Digital; adaptive by module | Nonadaptive; paper or digital in the U.S., digital internationally |
| Core test | 2 hr 14 min 98 questions | 2 hr 5 min 131 questions |
| Overall score | 400–1600 | 1–36, based on English, Math, and Reading |
| Math calculator | Allowed throughout; built-in Desmos | Allowed throughout; on-screen calculator for digital tests |
Standard timing, excluding breaks. ACT Science and Writing each add 40 minutes.
GETTING STARTEDTell me what
Tell me what
you’re working on.
Send me your test date, latest section scores, and a recent practice test. If you have not taken one yet, I can point you to an official practice test.
ACT 28 → 34
All testimonialsOfficial scores · September–December 2018
Ethan helped my son study for ACT last summer. He was very informative about ACT/SAT and helped my son pick the right test for him. He got 34/36 for his ACT test score.
Catherine C. · Kevin’s mother