Jake M.

Jake's Bio & Tutoring Experience

Most students preparing to take the SAT, and similar standardized tests, have bad habits. They have "their way" of doing things, but these methods are often inefficient and lead to mistakes. To make matters worse, students often become distracted or frustrated while taking the test, or fear they won't finish on time.

I un-teach these bad habits and replace them with proven, effective strategies I've developed in over five years as a tutor.

I am a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in International Studies. In my four years studying there, I worked for Capital Educators as an SAT Reading Instructor, teaching classes of 10-15 students. After graduating, I worked for a year with C2 Education, teaching 1-on-3 sessions for the SAT, ACT, homework help and other standardized tests. More recently, I have worked as a private tutor in the New York City area, teaching the same subjects.

By the time my students sit down to take the actual test, they are confident; they really believe that they will succeed. They get to this point by repeatedly practicing my techniques on test questions, which makes them more familiar with the test's format.

SAT questions do not test advanced concepts; rather, they are phrased in a tricky way to throw students off. I teach my students to notice these deceptions, and use that recognition to beat the SAT at its own game. My students are confident because they understand the true nature of the test.

All students have a different starting point. Having worked with hundreds of students, I know how to customize lessons to emphasize their strengths and cover up their weaknesses. I don't use the curriculum of any tutoring company, or copy my lesson plans from test prep books. From our first meeting, I constantly observe my students to determine how they learn best, and tweak my lesson plans accordingly.

My students work hard for me because they can see how hard I work for them. I've spent entire lessons explaining one question, just to make sure that the student understands the concept behind it. My challenging teaching style motivates my students to ace the test.

I offer tutoring for the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, SSAT, ISEE, SHSAT, GED, GRE and Regents exams, as well as other tests upon request. I also specialize in homework help, essay composition and school subject tutoring.

I don't charge for our first meeting, so that I can learn more about the student and explain my teaching technique. It's important that a student feels comfortable before we begin lessons.

I am flexible with scheduling makeup lessons.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Jake's Expertise

Jake's Education & Certifications

BA, International Studies from Johns Hopkins University

Jake's References