We (Linda, Nick) offer one-on-one Private School Test Prep. Linda works with the student on math, and Nick works with him or her on reading and writing. Customized both to your child’s objectives and his or her strengths and weaknesses, this kind of help offers the greatest potential for improvement. It may also be the most time-efficient because we can focus effort on the areas with the biggest payoff and not waste time on areas in which the student is already functioning well. It is not uncommon for a student to need much more help with either math or with reading/writing, or primarily with some subset(s) of those areas; we can readily adjust to your student’s particular situation.
Don’t wait too long
Though we have worked with students who achieved excellent scores quickly, that’s atypical. Getting good scores usually takes longer than parents and students expect. One of the most common problems we run into is that we get brought in close to private school deadlines and then have to be very strategic about what is possible in the limited time available. A few to even several months may not be too much prep time, to give you an idea.
Improvement requires effort
We do assign homework, and we find this can be a sticking point for some. Most students are very busy (too busy?), and private school prep may not be at the top of the priority list. That chemistry exam tomorrow may shove aside the prep assignment. If your child can’t or won’t put in good faith, reasonably steady effort outside of the tutoring sessions, progress may be slow. Student engagement is vital. There is no magic fairy dust that produces big score gains without sustained, sincere effort.
Cost, scheduling
See the pricing at Private School Test Prep. Purchase service using the GET buttons near the bottom of the page.
Meeting about an hour a week usually works well, though a more aggressive schedule can also work well provided that the student is committed to it. Being online allows a lot of scheduling flexibility. These tests are challenging; many questions require a student’s best ability. As such, end-of-the-day meetings, e.g., at 9 or 10 at night, when the kids are tapped, may be less effective than meeting earlier. Before-school times can work well, and receive a discount as well.
Next steps
If you have background information in document form – e.g., past test reports, please upload that material. Then let’s talk about an effective approach for your student.