Who will be tutoring my child?
Our tutors are experienced professionals who have all scored in the 99th percentile on the test they are teaching. They are extensively trained not only in the necessary strategies and techniques, but in how to recognize which method of tutoring is right for each student. Finally, they enjoy their work and have the personality to evoke their students' respect.
What type of study material do you provide?
We create our study guides by analyzing actual exams. We find what the exam tests and how it tests it, and we create our manual to reflect this style. Each manual has hundreds of practice questions to prepare you for the method of questioning and the type of knowledge you will need for success.
In addition, we hold mock exams throughout the year, so you can experience the exam in an actual test setting.
How much tutoring does my child need?
Each student is different. Some just need to learn test-taking strategies while others need to relearn the fundamentals of Math or English. We prefer to meet with the student for an initial session to determine how much tutoring is needed. Usually, we meet with students between ten and twenty hours.
Why do you recommend Prestige Prep private tutoring sessions versus classroom instruction?
We recommend one-on-one tutoring because the tutor can adapt the curriculum to match the needs of the student. There is no time wasted going over techniques the student already knows and there is no chance the student will be left behind.
What can I do to help my child prepare?
This question depends on your relationship with your child. Some students need to be pushed to complete their homework, while others are self-motivated; use your judgment.
Prestige Prep believes that the easiest way for parents to get involved with the process is by quizzing your child on vocabulary lists from our proprietary study guide. These lists are compilations of frequently occurring vocabulary from every available SAT test from the last 12 years.
How come "A" students don't always do well on the standardized tests, and what can Prestige Prep do to help?
Many people are surprised when someone who does well in school does not do well on a standardized test. The cause is not necessarily test anxiety; the problem is usually the test itself. Each standardized test has a unique method that often confuses the test-taker. For example, the SAT has unique methods for testing Math, Verbal and Writing proficiency. Let's look at each of these sections individually.
Verbal
The SAT tests verbal skill through Sentence Completions and Reading Comprehension. While there are basic skills and techniques needed for Sentence Completions, they are in the end vocabulary tests, using unfamiliar words such as "conflated," "surreptitious" and "pinioned." If a student does not have a strong vocabulary, he or she will not do well on sentence completions.
The Reading Comprehension section is a departure from standard English classes. Students do read for English class, but they are usually asked to write essays as opposed to answering specific questions. In addition, they read mostly fiction while SAT passages are mostly nonfiction. Lastly, the SAT purposely makes their questions difficult, while English teachers mainly seek to determine whether or not a student has done the required reading.
Math
The SAT differs from school Math tests in several notable ways. Most importantly, with a few exceptions, school Math tests are single subject. The class covers exponents and then gives a test on exponents. Usually only twice a year, for the mid-term and final, are students given a multi-subject test where problem recognition is a factor. And even on the mid-term and final, teachers clearly define the type of problem i.e. "In the following percent questions, find..." As a result, many students do not recognize the type of problem they are facing and consequently, they miss questions they could have solved.
Writing
Most students stop studying grammar after their freshman year of high school, so many are out of practice. In addition, students aren't given comprehensive grammar tests where the goal is to trick them into choosing the wrong answer.
While students write essays, they aren't usually restricted to 25 minutes. The essay question given on the SAT is also very broad, such as "do you agree or disagree with the statement that what you don't know can't hurt you." Some students do not know how to narrow down such a wide open question in such a short period of time.
In lieu of these factors, many students enter the SAT unprepared for the types of questions and the method of questioning that they will see. It is not surprising that "A" students score below their average, as they would on a school Math or English test for which they were ill equipped. To combat these problems, Prestige Prep has compiled a vocabulary list by combing through dozens of actual SATs and recording the 300 most commonly used words. Our Math section was created by analyzing every Math question on past SATs to find out not only what the Math section tests, but how it tests it. Finally, Prestige Prep students write 25-minute practice essays until they are comfortable answering wide open questions in a short period of time. With these techniques and strategies, students enter the SAT confident and prepared, and their scores reflect it.
