SAT with Mike S.

I'm a Johns Hopkins University graduate who has earned multiple perfect scores on the SAT. In the decade I spent working for a test prep company, I taught students of various abilities, ran prep courses, wrote class materials for all three subjects, advised families about every aspect of the standardized testing process, and gave SAT and ACT presentations at local high schools. I doubt you'll find anyone with more experience! I often work with students whose SAT scores don't match up with their grades, so if that sounds like you, don't worry! The SAT is a unique test that asks questions about familiar topics that you've learned in school, but it does so in a way that disguises those topics. For example, you might be staring at a Math question that makes you feel totally lost - like you don't even know where to start. In fact, you probably have all the knowledge you need to solve it. My job is to help you get better at searching your brain for the right strategy. I use real practice tests so that you can see more questions and get more comfortable with the format of the exam. But I've also written my own study materials that break the SAT and ACT down into manageable "packets". Each packet is meant to narrow your focus to a certain question type. I think you'll see pretty quickly that the SAT doesn't change all that much from test to test, so once you know how to recognize each question type, you won't be surprised when you see it on the next exam. That's why they call it a standardized test - the questions don't vary all that much! By breaking the test down into manageable chunks, I can make it easier to learn the material because you won't have to memorize hundreds of formulas, grammar rules, and vocabulary words at once. Small goals are easier to achieve. And accomplishing those little goals will boost your confidence, making you more willing to try the hardest problems that you used to give up on. As you take practice tests, you'll see those scores go up, and you'll actually be excited for test day!