My Approach
I use a mix of official practice tests, topic-based question sets and my own review guides.
After an initial diagnostic test, tutoring typically begins with an overview of the content that students need to know before diving in to repeated practice tests and further refining areas needing review.
Materials
My materials include:
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Digital SAT practice tests on Bluebook
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Additional third party SAT practice tests
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SAT Suite Question Bank
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Official ACT practice tests
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Additional third party ACT practice tests
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Question sets on each individual topic
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Review Guides for Math and English
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Math equation study sheets
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Lists of vocabulary words to know
Diagnostic Test
Before tutoring begins, students take a full diagnostic practice test to establish their baseline score. This can also be an opportunity to choose between SAT v ACT for students still undecided.
Tutoring Schedule
Tutoring is then broken up into 2 stages:
Content Overview
The first weeks of tutoring are typically spent learning content. Using my own Review Guides and topic-based question sets, we learn the key content on the test along with example test questions. I assign homework to reinforce the concepts we are learning.
Practice Tests & Targeted Topic Review
Once we complete the content overview, we move on to taking and reviewing official practice tests. Depending on the student’s schedule, we will review half a practice test or a full practice test per week. Taking the test is truly the best way to practice for it. During this phase, we will discuss test-taking tips and strategies. We will continue to refine content knowledge as we encounter topics that need further review.
Practice Tests: Timed or Untimed?
Most weeks, practice tests don’t need to be completed all in one sitting. They can be split up, taking each section on a different day or time. Usually, students will take each section timed, but sometimes we may experiment with taking practice tests untimed so as to have an opportunity to think through each question, before going back to timed.
At a couple benchmark points, students may take a full timed practice test, similar to the diagnostic, to assess performance under test-like conditions.
Homework Commitment
Test prep tutoring requires a HW time commitment, and students will get out what they put in to studying. Typically, at least 2 hours of HW per week is required, and the time commitment can be more for students doing intensive weekly practice tests (such as during the summer).
Online Learning
Online sessions are held over Zoom. I provide each student with their own Google Drive folder, containing all the practice tests and materials they will need. I use Kami, a virtual whiteboard, to annotate PDFs with a stylus pen during our sessions. The notes are saved directly onto the PDFs in their Google Drive folder and can be accessed at any time.
Sneak peak of sample
Google Drive folders
