13 Questions to ask a potential SAT/ACT tutor?
1. How long have they been teaching the SAT/ACT?
2. Have they taken the actual SAT Reasoning test or ACT recently?
3. What books and materials are they using to teach the SAT/ACT? (specifically whether or not they are real or simulated materials)
4. Are these real or simulated materials? Do the books that they use include
• Full length practice tests
• Detailed descriptions of each section
• Practice essay questions
• Sample essays
• Testing suggestions and anxiety advice
5. What have been the SAT/ACT test scores of their students?
6. How long is the course and how do they determine how much one-on-one time each student will need?
7. Is the student doing independent homework in between sessions so they can maximize the effectiveness of the one-on-one time?
If so how much time can they plan to commit to this homework?
8. How many students is the individual or company working with each year?
9. What study skills will they be teaching?
10. What kind of teaching style do they have?
(Always look for someone who has a coaching style of teaching.)
11. How will they be addressing “test anxiety”?
12. What type of professional training and experience do they have as an SAT/ACT instructor?
13. Can they offer you current references with phone numbers?
In recent times, the fundamental structure of the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) changed. This caused more than a ripple in college admissions and for prospective college students. This test is the most significant evaluator for college admissions and needless to say, students are taking the changes seriously.
To this end, more and more students are looking to SAT prep tutors to help them with the subjects covered in the SAT test. SAT tutors have been called on for decades. A plethora of preparatory books have also emerged that help train students in the philosophy of the tests, the way to perform well on multiple choice exams, and the basic material covered in the verbal and math sections of the test.
But what may influence your decision to go with individual, SAT tutoring sessions is this new addition to the exams – a written essay, timed and scored for clarity of expression, complexity of logic, and writing skills. Private one to one tutoring may be the best way to prepare for this aspect of the test.
When I first heard of this addition, frankly, I was relieved. It made sense. In our modern business culture, clear written communication is an essential skill. And many students only perform well when they can express their ideas in longhand. Valuing this skill, encouraging its cultivation, can only be a positive movement forward.
The problem lies in the fact that classes in written English composition have fallen below standard in most high schools. Teachers themselves are less skilled and place lower value on the poetry of language, the nuances of expression, and the clear building of an argument in a written essay.
So, SAT tutors in the Charlotte metro area are bringing forth their writing and language skills. What these personalized SAT tutors can bring is a knowledge of written composition and a love of the written word. When this understanding and appreciation for language is communicated to the student, the student has the best chance of performing well under pressure.
Some manuals are prepared with the input of the College Boards, using actual tests. These can be more weighty and comprehensive manuals, and give you a better understanding of what is to come.
Interview a few perspective SAT tutors before you choose one. You want to feel comfortable and trusting, sure that your tutor knows the material and can adequately prepare you. Don’t be afraid to change SAT tutors in mid-flow if it is not working out as you hoped for. After all, you are going to spend a lot of one-to-one after school time with that person.
So much depends on this test, practice, prepare, put into action all of your natural aptitudes. In the end, this will ensure that you test accurately and to the best of your ability. When you do that, you can be proud of your accomplishments, and work from your best to higher knowledge goals in the future.