Flexible schedule, personalized curriculum.

I offer one-on-one and small group tutoring for standardized tests and various academic subjects to students in Northern Virginia. I work with clients to develop a personalized study plan for every student. Although each pupil presents a unique case, there are certain basic practices I follow for all. Below are brief descriptions of the various kinds of tutoring I offer.

SAT and ACT tutoring.

The SAT/ACT tutoring process begins with a free phone consultation. We'll discuss your student's academic situation and goals, and I'll suggest a time frame for the tutoring. After our call, I will send you links that you can use to schedule an initial Zoom or Skype planning session and tutoring sessions.

At the initial online planning session, which typically lasts about 30 minutes (billed at my normal hourly rate), we will review the student's previous test scores -- PSAT, SAT, and ACT. When there are no test scores available or the test scores are out-of-date, I generally ask that the student take a complete official practice test (SAT or ACT, depending on the student) before our meeting. The results from this test are important because they show students' strengths and weaknesses and allow us to make an informed decision about whether the SAT or the ACT is the better test for your student.

After the initial planning session comes the actual tutoring. It typically takes between ten and twelve 90-minute sessions (15-18 hours instructional time total) to review all sections of the SAT or ACT. This means that most students should begin their tutoring about three months before the test date. Students who are already performing at a very high level or who are focusing only on one particular subject area (e.g. Math or Reading) can usually make do with fewer meetings. Students who require more extensive help, however, should plan to begin 4-5 months in advance of the test date.

We will use several coursebooks, which you can purchase on your own by following the links that I'll send you (or by using the links on my Useful Links page). 3-4 hours of homework per session is typical. I also strongly encourage all of my students to take several complete practice tests (which I will assign as homework) before the real thing. Those full practice tests are the only way to confirm that a student can apply the techniques and strategies we've discussed in a realistic setting.

Small group tutoring.

Most of my students opt for individual tutoring, but I also work with small groups of two students. Although most small groups consist of friends or siblings, any students whose skill sets are compatible and who are preparing for the same test can benefit from group tutoring. Small groups are limited to two students because I've found that larger groups prevent me from offering sufficient attention to each student's individual needs.

Academic tutoring.

I offer academic tutoring in most subjects, including math up through Calculus BC. I also assist students in areas such as study habits and organizational skills. The following high school subjects are ones that I DO NOT tutor:

• Foreign languages
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biology
• Other sciences

Academic tutoring can consist either of regular meetings (when a student has been struggling with a subject for a while) or a small number of meetings in close succession (when a student is preparing for a big test, project, or essay). I will work with you to determine the most effective approach.