Frequently Asked Questions

It depends. The two tests share a lot but differ in content, pacing, and format. The best way to decide is to take a practice version of each under test conditions and talk through the results.

We look at where a student's score can climb the most, how much high-quality practice material exists for each test, and how well each exam matches what the student has learned in school. We recommend a consultation so we can help you choose.

For most students, the summer before junior year is a good moment to take diagnostics, with preparation beginning around the start of junior year. Many students do their best work in the spring of junior year or the fall of senior year, and starting too early risks burnout before they have seen the material in class.

After diagnostics, we outline a typical path and build a timeline that is efficient and as stress-free as possible.

Grades come first. Test prep should never come at the expense of schoolwork, and students deserve time for sports, arts, and friends.

We match students with tutors whose availability lines up with theirs, and we can speed up or slow down a timeline around finals, athletic seasons, and other busy stretches. In-person and online sessions are both available. Practice tests and homework are part of the process, but we work hard to keep them manageable.

Many tutoring companies do good work. Others rely on costly proprietary materials, or send inexperienced tutors out with little training. We take another route.

Our tutors are experienced educators and professionals. We prepare students with authentic past exams, and we care about helping students become stronger, more curious learners, not only higher scorers.

For students who are organized and have no learning differences, we treat tutoring as enrichment and encourage them to use us only when it helps. Our aim is to build independence.

Some students do thrive with consistent weekly sessions, and for them regular meetings make sense. Either way, we plan with each family to reach the best learning outcome, with the goal of lasting skills rather than a single good grade.

We recommend one-on-one tutoring from the start. Group courses tend to survey the exam and cover every topic at the same pace, so they rarely dig into what a particular student needs.

Effective preparation moves through three stages: getting familiar with the test, strengthening content and fixing weak spots, and practicing. One-on-one work serves the second and third stages far better than a class can.

We usually suggest one standing meeting at the start of each week to map out the days ahead and to build an organizational system the student can truly make their own.

We also help break big papers and projects into smaller tasks spread across days and weeks, so work does not pile up into one frantic night. Many students who struggle with procrastination simply need a steady partner to help form new habits.

We encourage students to work closely with their school counselors, who are best placed to talk about admissions chances at specific colleges. That said, we get to know our students well and are always glad to answer questions about colleges and the application process.

Essay and application support is available as a separate service. If you would like us to work with your student on essays and supplements, please reach out.

Our tutors are professionals who work with students full time, and our rates reflect their experience and demand for their time. Contact us and we will talk through options that fit your family's budget.