BLUE TEACHES
SAT & ACT Preparation
Understand the questions. Build strong strategies. Walk into the test with confidence.
Free consultation
Preparing for the SAT or ACT is not only about completing as many practice questions as possible. Students also need to understand how the test works, recognize different kinds of questions, manage their time, and know what to do when they feel uncertain.
I provide thoughtful, individualized SAT and ACT preparation built around each student’s strengths, challenges, and goals.
Practice with a purpose
We will work through official practice questions and test sets together—but we will not simply check whether answers are right or wrong.
The goal is not to memorize isolated answers. It is to develop strategies the student can use independently on test day.
- Understand what the question is really asking
- Identify the most important information
- Eliminate answers that cannot be correct
- Approach unfamiliar or confusing material
- Respond when you do not recognize a word
- Make a strategic decision when uncertain
- Avoid common traps and unnecessary mistakes
- Use the explanation for one question to improve on future questions
Skills that last beyond the test
These are not only test-taking skills. They are valuable reading, writing, and analytical skills that students can continue using in high school, college, and beyond.
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary and understanding words in context
- Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure
- Identifying central ideas and supporting evidence
- Analyzing arguments and relationships between ideas
- Interpreting unfamiliar passages and information
- Working accurately under time limits
- Maintaining focus and recovering after a difficult question
A strategy that fits the student
There is no single test-taking method that works equally well for everyone. We will identify what is getting in the student’s way and practice realistic strategies for handling it.
- Approaching different types of questions
- Deciding when to continue working and when to move on
- Pacing within a section
- Making an informed guess
- Returning to difficult questions efficiently
- Managing uncertainty without becoming overwhelmed
- Reviewing mistakes to understand why they happened
- Building a personalized plan for test day
Writing and essay preparation
For students taking the optional ACT Writing Test—or an SAT School Day administration that includes the Essay—we can practice responding to timed writing prompts.
- Understand exactly what the prompt requires
- Formulate a clear central argument
- Organize ideas before beginning to write
- Use relevant evidence and examples
- Address multiple perspectives or analyze an argument
- Manage planning, drafting, and revision within the available time
- Continue writing effectively even when uncertain
- Produce a focused, complete response under test conditions
Experience that matters
I am an experienced writing and language teacher with five years of experience preparing students for the SAT.
My approach combines close attention to the test itself with the kind of patient, responsive teaching that helps students understand how they think. Students should leave our sessions knowing more than which answer was correct: they should understand how to approach the next question with greater independence and confidence.
Sessions and scheduling
Preparation may include guided practice, review between sessions, vocabulary development, timed exercises, and a study plan based on the student’s testing date and goals.
For students under 18, I will communicate directly with a parent or guardian before beginning. A parent or guardian must be aware of and involved in arranging the service.
- Online
- In person at a public library convenient for the student
- Flexible scheduling when possible
Pricing
My standard rate is $35 per hour, with flexible pricing available based on individual circumstances.
The total amount of preparation will depend on the student’s starting point, goals, test date, and the areas in which they need support. We can discuss those needs during a free initial consultation and develop a realistic plan together.
FOR MY FORMER STUDENTS
Former students from the Double Discovery Center, Columbia University, or Hampshire College are always welcome to pay what they can afford.
It pays to be my student!
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Let’s talk about your test-prep goals
For students under 18, a parent or guardian should be involved in the initial contact and arrangement of services.