TEST PREP

The ACT and SAT

I regularly help students prepare for the verbal components of the ACT and SAT. I do not currently tutor on the math, but I do teach the ACT’s Science section, which does not test science knowledge but comprehension of scientific material. (The SAT does not have a separate section but incorporates these questions into the Reading and Writing section.)

I familiarize students with the tests’ content and format. The ACT and SAT cover many of the same skills but differ in crucial ways as well. Both tests have also evolved significantly over the years.

I explain test-taking strategies, such as approaches to multiple-choice questions and time management, and cover grammar, reading comprehension, and other skills being tested. The College Board dropped the SAT essay, but the ACT still has an optional one, and I can prepare students for it if they plan to do it. The ACT Science section is also optional but recommended for potential STEM majors. Students should check out schools’ requirements for general admissions and specific programs.

Once I explain the basics, I walk students through sample questions. Then I have them do questions with me. For homework, I have them read prep books and do questions on their own. I then review with them questions they missed. I want them to master the content related to the questions and general strategies for multiple choice before practicing the tests timed. Because different time management strategies work for different people, I recommend options and have them try them until they find what is optimal for them.

AP'S

As with the ACT and SAT, I can teach general test strategies. Many of my students take the US History exam. Although I am not a history expert, I can give general tips and provide general feedback on their practice essays.

Many of my students also take the Literature and Composition test. The free-response questions are similar to the analysis questions they write in class but require a somewhat different approach. For example, the analysis often follows the flow of the narrative or poem rather than being organized purely topically. Additionally, the analysis often includes more quotations but shorter ones. I show them the differences, provide insights on the rubric, and review their practice essays with them. I also teach the multiple-choice section.
Some students take the Language and Composition test, which involves rhetorical rather than literary analysis. I teach Aristotle’s appeals (ethos, logos, pathos), which are commonly discussed in the class. I explain how authors target specific audiences, use evidence, and address objections.