Edison Prep: A Spotlight on Excellence in Test Preparation

The NTPA proudly features Brian and Silvia Eufinger as this week’s member spotlight. As the founders of Edison Prep, Brian and Silvia have become renowned experts in test preparation. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Edison Prep serves students worldwide, primarily focusing on SAT and ACT tutoring. The company also offers highly popular AP History boot camps and subject tutoring in all levels of Math and STEM.

Member Details

• Member: Brian and Silvia Eufinger
• Business: Edison Prep
• Website: edisonprep.com
• Started: 2010

How Did You Become a Test Prep Tutor?

Edison Prep’s co-founders began tutoring in 2007 alongside their corporate jobs. We had both paid our way through college via merit aid from high test scores we earned self-studying during high school; we began tutoring 12 hours a week. Things went well, with many of our initial clients telling us we should ponder doing it full-time (‘you can always go back to corporate’). We finally listened, and in 2010, Edison Prep was born. We wrote our books and curriculum. For the first 12 years, it was just the two founders; since then, we’ve grown to a team of 16 as demand has exploded. The irony that test-optional caused our business to explode is not lost on us (or our clients, who often vocalize it on phone calls!). We are excited to have just had our 23,000th student! We can help many students because 90%+ of students begin with or only do one of our popular group classes.”

How Do You Incorporate Feedback From Students to Enhance the Learning Experience?

We revise our SAT and ACT books yearly and incorporate student feedback in numerous ways. We solicit feedback sometimes in sessions when appropriate, and we also do anonymous surveys of past students asking for constructive criticism, which has helped unearth blind spots and improve materials over time. A collective of 15 of the 255 pages in our ACT book were probably directly inspired by that anonymous survey feedback!

What Key Factors Should Students and Parents Consider When Choosing a Test Prep Service?

We always tell potential clients that we are in one of the least scalable industries on earth if maintaining quality is paramount. Not impossible, but very difficult. Most NTPA members know this intuitively, having inherited many students from big-box agencies who have economies of scale yet don’t pay their staff well enough to avoid employee turnover, attract top tutors, or have nimble curricula that evolve as the test content continues to evolve. We proudly pay our staff 200-400%+, which is what most other firms in town pay since we don’t think quality tutors can be retained in the long term without paying them like professionals. When parents are skeptical, we are fond of sharing our famous Our Industry Is Broken article that illustrates the reality of our business via raw truth from GlassDoor.com. Parents should seek out testimonials, text mom “Class of 20XX” group threads at their high school for referrals, and rely on real client feedback rather than flashy ads. Tutor experience, communication skills, past score improvement results, and soft skills are paramount in our industry, and parents should ask questions to determine how potential tutors stack up on those variables!

What Strategies Do You Employ to Continually Assess and Improve the Effectiveness of Your Tutoring Methods?

The flagship services at our company are our ACT and SAT group classes, which 90%+ of students do as either the first step of their prep or their entire prep. These classes provide a natural environment to do lots of A/B testing with our students to see which ways of teaching content stick better and produce better results, rapidly iterating and incorporating what works best into our curriculum. We take notes on what works best and incorporate it into each new edition of our book. Version 14 of our ACT book is about to arrive and our Digital SAT book will be on Version 3 by New Year’s!

Do You Have a Standout Story of a Student’s Breakthrough Moment That Encapsulates the Impact of Your Tutoring Approach?

One of our students was about to be the first student in his family in four generations not to be able to make it to the Naval Academy after notching an ACT that was a literal slot machine score: 21/21/21/21. Dejected, he and his parents were about to give up and not even pursue tutoring, so we asked him to trust us and give us three weeks to show that this test is not magic nor an IQ test, but coachable content—’commas, rectangles, and putting in the reps.’ We focused exclusively on grammar for the first three sessions (the easiest section to improve), and he did his part, completing eight 45-minute grammar sections those first three weeks, pulling his English score up 10 points to a 31 in the process. Once he saw that initial proof of concept, he was pumped and locked in; he maturely paused his 10-hour-a-week job at Zaxby’s (his idea, not ours) and reallocated those 10 hours to three practice tests a week. He got his service academy nomination, got his score up to a 32, and enrolled in the Naval Academy.

We always tell potential clients that we craft our tutoring style as part teacher, part standup comic (to make material memorable and make it stick), and part Tony Robbins-style motivation, which improves tutoring efficacy and makes it more fun to boot! A slightly different spin on Roosevelt’s people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

How Has Your Tutoring Enhanced the Community?

Our tutoring has enhanced the community in three main ways: increasing odds of admissions to more selective schools, saving families $50M+ in earned merit aid, and enhancing college readiness for students, including those whose math, reading, analysis, and grammar gaps were impacted by COVID learning loss (or just had not been adequately covered at their home schools).

We also like to do meaningful pro bono work. Our two founders came from humble backgrounds and used these tests as a way to transform our college process and avoid student debt, so we pay it forward in our tutoring. We don’t go out of our way to publicize it, but always endeavor to have at least one scholarship student in each of our classes. We have cultivated a network of high school counselors and youth pastors that we let designate students for those spots who they know would really make use of the prep, and have had the pleasure of meeting some amazing kids as a result!

Tell Us About a Time a Student Really Surprised You With Their Boldness.

When our company was in its infancy (3 months old) and didn’t have a brick-and-mortar yet, we drove to clients’ houses. One particularly entitled student did not do homework for our co-founder Brian three weeks in a row, despite us asking for parents to help enforce homework completion, and Brian had to be stern with him. He said, ‘What makes you think it’s acceptable to not do homework three weeks in a row?’ and the student shot back, ‘Um…cause I’m the client?’ with the most smug face in history.

This remains to this day the rudest moment in company history. That was the end of the abbreviated session, and Brian followed up with the mother the next day. Brian had to, unfortunately, breathe while talking with his mom, bifurcating one sentence at the most inopportune time. ‘Ma’am, with all due respect, we work with winners when he’s ready to be one. Please call us back, and we can always reschedule.’ It did not go over well. Over the following three weeks, nine of that mother’s book club members quietly called me and signed up for tutoring because she had told them what happened, saying, ‘But please don’t tell her.’ If we could map our referral chains backward to those nine OG clients, probably 10% of them came from those nine clients and their subsequent referrals.

The post Edison Prep: A Spotlight on Excellence in Test Preparation appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

Dr. Oberman has over 34 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and head of school. He holds a PhD in educational psychology. His deep understanding of math and the education process helps him foster a confident and curious approach to learning in students. Believing that all students can learn math, Dr. Oberman emphasizes the importance of having a caring, knowledgeable adult for guidance. His leadership stresses regular, detailed communication with parents, teachers, and students. Based in Atlanta, GA, Oberman Tutoring offers comprehensive services nationwide, including SAT/ACT prep, academic support, and executive functioning coaching.

Member: Dr. Paul Oberman
Business: Oberman Tutoring
Website: www.ObermanTutoring.com
Started: 2013

How has your background influenced your approach to test prep?

Because of my experience as a head of school, I know that communication is the key to ensuring that tutors and families are on the same page. This is why Oberman Tutoring communicates in detail after every tutoring session.

Because of my experience in the classroom, I know that a teacher needs multiple ways to connect with a student and to ensure that deep learning takes place. Therefore, we don’t stop at Oberman Tutoring until a student understands!

How do you incorporate feedback from students to enhance the learning experience?

We want students to be curious and ask questions. Often, those questions spur deeper learning, particularly because they represent an idea that the student has been mulling over. There are times when a student provides such an elegant solution that we adopt the method, making certain to name it after the student: The Flora Method, for example.

What are the most common misconceptions about test prep that you’d like to address with new clients?

One common misconception is that the whole process is miserable, and the only happy moment is when you finish. We are thrilled but not surprised when we hear that students enjoy learning with us and that they are excited to show off their learning in the classroom. Most times the concepts and strategies we teach in Oberman Tutoring test prep translate well to thoughtful consideration of ideas in the classroom as well.

Can you describe any collaborative projects or partnerships you’ve engaged in to advance your teaching techniques?

For the first time this summer, Oberman Tutoring offers a wide array of summer classes. In the same way that I used to encourage teachers to visit each other’s classes, our tutors are encouraged to watch each other’s classes to learn new ideas and methods. We are also collaborating on a few of our summer courses. Just as we expect our students to learn constantly, we expect the same from our tutors!

Can you recount a particularly memorable transformation you’ve witnessed in a student’s academic journey?

One student came to us at Oberman Tutoring struggling in pre-algebra and having scored in the 70s on his previous tests. After our first session together, his mom shared that he “was soooo happy. He felt such relief and was saying he wished we could do that every day.”

Another student came to us for SAT prep with modest expectations and not aiming for particularly competitive colleges. She worked incredibly hard and often exceeded our expectations. After scoring 1490, including a 770 in math, her entire outlook was transformed, and she began to consider colleges that could really challenge her. We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the years ahead!

What is something unique about you that your students might not know?

Most of my students don’t know that I perform open-mic stand-up comedy regularly and won third place in an amateur comedian contest in New York. It’s important to me to learn and take risks regularly so that I can ask my students the same questions. Sometimes, my jokes fail, and I try to learn from them, aiming to improve the joke or add it to the dustbin of jokes that didn’t cut it. But if I believe in the joke, I will try it at least 3 times before giving up!

The post Dr. Paul Oberman: Founder of Oberman Tutoring appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

About Ben Sexton

Ben Sexton, owner of Sexton Test Prep & Tutoring, founded the company in 2005, based in MetroWest Boston. Sexton Test Prep offers comprehensive test preparation services for SAT/ACT and SSAT/ISEE, including class and one-on-one sessions and academic tutoring for students in grades 5-12.

After responding to a newspaper ad, Ben began his tutoring career in 2003 and transitioned to independent tutoring in 2005. Initially operating as a solo practitioner, Ben expanded the business in 2012 by hiring tutors and now oversees a team of 20 tutors alongside two managers. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Skidmore College and a Master’s Degree in Educational Measurement, Research, and Evaluation from Boston College, Ben brings a wealth of expertise to his role.

Ben lives in Dover, MA, with his two sons, Wyatt (7) and Drew (5). He and his co-parent Sarah actively manage Sexton Test Prep together. In his leisure time, Ben enjoys boxing, strength training, following Boston sports teams, and vacationing on the Maine Coast.

Member: Ben Sexton

Business: Sexton Test Prep & Tutoring

Website: sextontestprep.com

Started: 2003

What challenges did you face when starting in test prep, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was creating a curriculum. I knew that I had the skills to succeed in SAT prep. Still, the Metrowest Boston market is very competitive, and hundreds of people say they provide excellent test preparation services, so it took a lot of work to stand out as a twenty-something providing independent tutoring. I realized early that I would need my curriculum to stand out. In 2006, I wrote my first version of my SAT book, which was incredibly long-winded, but families were impressed that I had made an effort to write a whole book in the first place, citing the commitment that process required. Over the years, I attribute my and the company’s success to continuously writing and editing up-to-date test prep curriculums that are unique to us.

What strategies do you employ to build confidence and reduce anxiety in your students facing high-stakes tests?

An essential part of our company philosophy is tutor matching. We communicate with our tutors regularly and know them well, as we often retain them long-term. As such, we are confident in pairing students with tutors who have succeeded with many students with similar profiles. That way, we can explain to the student and family up front that their tutor is highly familiar with situations like theirs and knows how to maximize results.

If a student feels like their tutor is just a random company employee with availability, it is hard for the student to have full confidence the tutor can understand their case. On the other hand, if a student knows up front that the tutor was picked to help them in particular, they are much more likely to trust the tutoring process, take the tutor’s advice, and feel that they are in good hands.

What are the most common misconceptions about test prep that you’d like to address with new clients?

Clients often think that test preparation consists of a set of strategies that are primarily divorced from actual academic learning. However, in many cases, while there are strategies involved in test preparation, the content learning for test preparation and school consists of significant overlap.

Less experienced clients might buy into advertised promises of “average score improvements.” But, those score improvement promises are often manipulated or bogus. The promises of the largest score improvements are most likely bogus.

Test preparation does not need to be a grind. It can be a slow-paced, moderate process that uses longer-term repetition to instill useful academic skills permanently. Boot camps, piles of flashcards, and hours of weekly homework are one way to do test prep, but probably not the best or healthiest way.

How do you stay updated with the latest educational trends to enhance your tutoring approach?

Social media! I scour Facebook, LinkedIn, tutor newsletters, and of course, NTPA communications to stay up-to-date with developments in the worlds of test preparation, college admissions, and education in general. Through serving on the NTPA Advocacy Committee, I hear updates from other members about specific local developments in other parts of the country. Also, the numerous connections I’ve made in the tutoring universe are invaluable sources of knowledge, opinion, and news. The powerful combination of these sources leaves almost no holes in my knowledge of industry developments. Their knowledge bank is tremendous!

Can you recount a particularly memorable transformation you’ve witnessed in a student’s academic journey?

At one point earlier this fall, I was working with a student on a notoriously hard-to-grasp algebra topic – completing the square. At the end of a second or third demonstration of the procedure, the student said, “I can’t be expected to know this; I’m not good enough at Math.”

I wasn’t having it. I explained that I was not asking him to construct a rocket ship. I was asking him to learn an algebra procedure. Not only could he learn it, but he would learn it, which was the end of the story. He was not a victim, and he was not short on ability.

From then on, he learned to complete the square and completed all of his Math homework, whereas before, his submission rate had been decent but spotty. By his description, this “mediocre Math student” got a 710. He’s still preparing with total commitment and hasn’t looked back since.

In what ways has your tutoring enhanced your community?

We’re committed to giving comprehensive advice to families before they become our clients, even if they never become clients. Anyone who calls will get our time and the best advice about how to begin their tutoring process.

We also partner with numerous schools and community organizations to provide low-priced class options to students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to utilize our services. To us,  a willingness to meet almost any request such organizations make is essential.

It’s work, but we must provide an excellent, trustworthy, fundamentally sound service. We do not feature gimmicks, promos, marketing tactics, or anything other than honest, effective test preparation and tutoring. Students who work with us generally get the results they want.

Conclusion: Tell us about a time a student surprised you with their boldness.

A student I tutored in 2014 contacted me a couple of years later to ask for advice about tutoring himself. I only thought a little of it, as tutoring is a hard business to get into and sustain. But he consistently emailed me over the years – sometimes with years between emails – looking for more advice, and I always gave it to him.

Last year, he hired his tutors and took on a massive project with a problem-set database of first ACT and then SAT questions, harnessing AI to sort questions for students. Now, he’s joining NTPA. Life comes full circle when one of your former students starts a full-fledged tutoring company, not just tutoring on their own for a side hustle but turning tutoring into a career 10 years later.

The post NTPA Member Feature: Ben Sexton, Founder of Sexton Test Prep and Tutoring appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

Member: Ari Freuman

Business: Ivy Tutor

Website: ivytutor.com

Started: 2020

About Ari Freuman

Ari embarked on his test prep career while completing his Master’s degree in Psychology at SUNY New Paltz and further honed his skills through his second Master’s degree in Statistics. Leveraging his deep understanding from graduate-level studies, Ari established himself as a leading private tutor in the New York metropolitan area. Known as the original “Ivy Tutor,” he built a reputation for reliably helping students maximize their scoring potential. Recognizing the need for high-quality tutoring services, Ari founded Ivy Tutor to set a new standard in educational excellence. Ari serves students in person in Hoboken, New Jersey, but he virtually teaches many students worldwide.

How did you become a test prep tutor?

I sometimes joke that nobody chooses tutoring; tutoring chooses them. In graduate school, I had my sights set on what I considered to be a proper career: marketing research. Like most graduate students, I needed side work to make ends meet. Tutoring chooses you by rewarding you handsomely—if you’re good at it. I was good at it. For the first several years, I approached tutoring much the same way a bartender approaches bartending, as a way to bide my time and pay my bills.

What’s more, I enjoyed the lifestyle of being my own boss, setting my own hours, and having ample vacation time, etc. It did not hit me until about year five that this was my career. That was a pivotal point for me because it sharpened my focus considerably. I knew I would need to invest in myself as a brand or a company. I chose the latter. Within a few years, I founded Ivy Tutor, and I haven’t looked back.

How do you incorporate feedback from students to enhance the learning experience?

In tutoring marketing, “personalized,” “bespoke,” “tailored,” etc. are huge buzzwords. The fact is personalization is what makes tutoring effective. At the most superficial level, personalization means you’re teaching students what they need to learn, but it’s a really fun rabbit hole to go down. Before I had all the latest tools to measure cognitive abilities and personality tendencies, I took an intuitive approach by courting my students’ affinity; if you can empathize with all the strangeness associated with being a high schooler —feeling like an adult, that is being subjected to the whims of parents, teachers, and society— your students will feel an affinity toward you.

If you can go further and understand how that intersects with their personality, interests, social life, etc., you’ll be more than a tutor to that student. You’ll be a person they can be themselves with. They will open up, they will engage —and most importantly— they will soak up whatever you say like a sponge. Human connection is powerful like that. Now that we’ve incorporated technology that adds a scientific element to tutoring, I can tailor the specific strategies.

What key factors should students and parents consider when choosing a test prep service?

I’ll focus on test prep tutoring for this one, as this is Ivy Tutor’s service. The tutoring space does not have the equivalent of a bar association or medical board. This is the Wild West. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to suss out the imposters. Ask, ‘What is your tutoring philosophy?’ If you have to cut the tutor off after several minutes of thoughtful and nuanced explanation, you’ve found somebody who is thoughtful and brings a wealth of experience.

Contrary to what most parents assume, test prep is so much more than teaching some tips or tricks. It is broad and multifaceted, spanning so many domains that there is no way to encapsulate a philosophy in a few pithy sentences. The second tip might get me in trouble, but I’ll say it here anyway: avoid tutors too keen on putting the onus on the student for improvements. Tutors who don’t deliver consistent results learn how to cushion their failures early on.

How do you stay updated with the latest educational trends to enhance your tutoring approach?

I’m a voracious consumer of anything that can make me a better tutor. Unfortunately, there is no research area specifically devoted to effective tutoring techniques. However, learning about thinking and memory can be helpful, as they set you on the right track. The National Test Prep Association is perhaps the best single resource for learning how to improve tutoring outcomes. When you put a bunch of smart, collaborative people who all share the same goals in a room, the good ideas will propagate at the expense of the bad ones. This process requires a bit of humility because tutors ultimately need to be honest with themselves. Assumptions we hold near and dear might be wrong, and we must be open to this possibility.

Can you recount a particularly memorable transformation you’ve witnessed in a student’s academic journey?

I can think of many, but I’ll share one of my favorites. I had a student, ‘Steven,’ who didn’t apply himself. His primary interest was sports. Intellectual pursuits did not activate him, but I understood he had a competitive spirit. What students rarely consider, in part because it’s seldom acknowledged in schools, is that normed tests are zero-sum: scores are determined by how students perform relative to one another.

It’s ultimately a competition, and that can be very motivating for students like Steven. I’ll remain agnostic as to whether this is healthy, but Steven didn’t care nearly as much about his score as he did about his percentile rank. For the months we worked together, Steven became a sharper individual. Once reserved for sports, energy and focus became available for test prep. Yes, his scores improved significantly, but the effects were global. His grades shot up, and one of the teachers noted to the parents how amazing this transformation was.

Conclusion: If your tutoring experience were a mystery book, what would the story be?

A mystery about Ari and Ivy Tutor would sell one, maybe two copies. Here goes: I’d be a hard-boiled gumshoe tutor. A “dame,” Scarlett Montana, would sashay into my office—which doesn’t exist because we don’t have a brick-and-mortar location. She’d share her case with me. She tells me her son’s SAT results are inexplicable: “He did poorly, but he gets straight A’s in school. I guess he’s just a poor test taker.”

Initially, I’d be skeptical, suspecting that “little Jimmy” might not be the sharpest tool in the shed. But upon meeting Jimmy, I’d be struck by his boundless curiosity and sharp intellect. I’d get to know him and administer a cognitive assessment. His scores? Off the charts. Nothing would make sense. I’d buckle down with Jimmy, committed to cracking his case. Meanwhile, a subplot would unfurl—a romantic entanglement with Scarlett complicated by her jealous ex-husband.

Along the way, I discovered that Jimmy had learned the alphabet backward and couldn’t read words straight. After re-teaching Jimmy the alphabet, he aced the SAT with the highest recorded score: a perfect 1600. The story would wrap with Scarlett and Jimmy moving to Omaha because that feels just right.

The post NTPA Member Feature: Ari Freuman of Ivy Tutor appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

Member: Marc Gray

Business: Odyssey College Prep

Website: odysseycollegeprep.com

Started: Spring 2019

About Marc Gray

Marc Gray is the Founder and Director of Education for Odyssey College Prep. Marc uses advanced aptitude testing to simplify the college admissions process for students and parents. He also guides students to create targeted passion projects to differentiate their college applications. As a test prep educator, Marc helped write the Achievable ACT Prep Course, an online ACT course that uses machine learning and memory science to help students increase their test scores. Marc also serves as the Chair of the NTPA’s blog committee.

What techniques do you employ to assess and improve the effectiveness of your tutoring methods continually?

Recently, I joined an NTPA mastermind group. It’s run by NTPA Board Member Jim Wisemer of Ivy Experience. While the meetings are conversational and not overly formal, they’re incredibly instructive. Most of our discussions center around best managerial practices. Sometimes, we explore pedagogical techniques. Hearing how my colleagues handle teaching challenges often surprises me. It’s not that their approaches are superior to mine (though plenty are); it’s how different they are. Not better or worse, just different. By exposing my staff and myself to other approaches, we put more arrows in our quivers and have more options to help our clients.

What inspired you to start a test prep business?

Parents enjoy working with people they trust. And there’s no greater sign of trust than allowing an educator to teach their children. Before I founded Odyssey College Prep, I noticed there needed to be a comprehensive college prep business in Central Arkansas. There were college counseling practices, test prep firms, and some career counseling coaches locally. In that scenario, parents had to trust several organizations to give their kids a comprehensive college readiness program. No one-stop shop existed. Thus, Odyssey College Prep was born.

In what ways has your tutoring enhanced your community?

Recently, my team and I worked with over 100 Mamas Unidas students. Mamas Unidas is a nonprofit devoted to empowering Central Arkansas Hispanic students with cutting-edge education resources. Mayca Alverez and Sandra Carmona Jobe, who serve on the organization’s board, contacted us to facilitate this collaboration. Working with them was one of my greatest moments as an educator and entrepreneur. It also presented an immense but rewarding challenge. All of our tutors work exclusively with one-on-one students, not in groups. However, many of my tutors are teachers, so we’re fortunate to have a great pool of teaching talent.

I chose two of our best educators with teaching experience to prepare 65 students for the ACT. Since Mamas Unidas is a community-funded nonprofit, we wanted to give them as many discounts as possible. So, we reached out to Justin Pincar and Tyler York, our partners from Achievable, an NTPA Affiliate company. Tyler and Justin consented to give each Mamas Unidas student an Achievable ACT Course FOR FREE. This cut down the program’s overall cost immensely, allowing everyone to stay under budget while empowering each student in the class with some of the most advanced test prep curricula on the market.

Overseeing the program was a blast, but hearing the results two weeks later was encouraging. In just two 3-hour classes, the average student scored 2 points higher. Some even went up more than 5. On the last day of class, each student’s parents, siblings, and extended family gathered to celebrate their hard work. I’ve never seen the education of a group of students be so supported by their community, teachers, mentors, and family in all my days as an educator.

What strategies do you employ to build confidence and reduce anxiety in your students facing high-stakes tests?

One recent pivot we’ve made is to incorporate more technology into our tutoring. This technology comes in the form of online platforms that house our curriculum. We use Achievable’s ACT for ACT Prep and MentoMind for SAT Prep. This reduces administrative tasks (like grading practice tests) for our tutors and students. However, using online platforms does more than just cut down on clerical work.

For example, I assigned too many practice tests early in my tutoring career. Don’t get me wrong: practice tests are vital, as they approximate how a student will score on test day. However, I eventually learned that more precision learning is needed in addition to practice tests. Students who struggle with punctuation won’t learn punctuation if they take a 75-question ACT English Practice Test with eight punctuation questions. They need targeted exposure at high frequency.

Thus, using the online curriculum that we created with Achievable fixes this. If students need help with semicolons, we spend half an hour exclusively doing punctuation exercises centered on semicolons. If they need help with functions, we have an infinite number of ACT-based math questions revolving around functions. Incorporating this technology into my team’s pedagogical practices has streamlined our lessons, increased test scores, and better personalized our teaching to our students.

What are the most common misconceptions about test prep that you’d like to address with new clients?

Standardized tests could be more fun. If anyone argues that point, I’ll agree with them. However, I strongly disagree with others who say that standardized tests don’t prepare students for college. Test Prep DOES prepare students for college and their careers. There are measurable benefits of standardized testing that are hard to ignore.  I use the same grammar mechanics I teach my students in every email, article, or social media post I write. The statistics we teach in the SAT and ACT Math section are vital in running my business. The language, reading, and verbal sections of test prep, at least to me, are the most apparent transferences into the real world. So much of the corporate world is reading, scanning, or synthesizing major slabs of text into digestible information. Preparing for the Reading ACT helps students do that in spades.

While we try to make our sessions as lively as possible, Test Prep isn’t the most amusing activity on a student’s schedule. It’s no pizza party. I have no delusions about this. However, just because something isn’t fun doesn’t mean it’s not valuable or useful. If such were the case, I’d have a much easier time exercising. Yet, it’s nearly irrefutable that If more students had the hard skills required to score higher on the ACT and SAT, you’d have more literate and scientifically fluent students. That, to me, is a win. Thus, I daresay it’s appropriate to generalize the perks of test prep by saying that studying for standardized tests benefits society. It’s a bold claim, but it’s one I stick by.

Do you have a story of a student’s breakthrough moment that encapsulates the impact of your tutoring approach?

I worked with one student named Jonathan, who struggled with the English Section of the ACT. English is my favorite subject to teach students, especially for low-scoring students. It’s hands down the most straightforward score to raise, in my experience. At least with how I teach it, the trick is to turn the fuzziness often associated with language and writing into something more concrete.

Jonathan was a wiz at math. So, turning grammar mechanics into mechanics was the secret for Jonathan to master that part of the exam. We started with punctuation. I like beginning there usually because punctuation rules best illustrate the formulaic nature of grammar. Take teaching colons as an example. To use a colon correctly, you have to have an independent clause on one side and a phrase that specifies that independent clause on the other side.

In sessions, I often break down those rules like this:

Left Side: Independent Clause

Right Side: Specification.

Incorrect example: My favorite colors are: red, green, and turquoise.

Correct Example: I have three favorite colors: red, green, and turquoise.

When Jonathan learned that, he answered every colon question correctly. After completing his tutoring, he scored 34 on the English Section of the ACT.

He was happy, his parents were delighted, and I was thrilled beyond belief. Since then, I’ve taught punctuation like that to my students, and it works wonders for providing them with a solid foundation of grammar mechanics. It also helps them feel smarter, which is always refreshing to see.

Imagine that your tutoring business becomes huge in 5 years. What does your main office look like?

If Odyssey College Prep “goes viral” over the next five years, my office would be an exaggerated version of what it is now. A smattering of the obligatory college readiness books would still line my bookshelf; only I’d have more shelves. I also have sizable swathes of Greek Mythology figurines and books scattered on the tables and countertops (a quirky obsession of mine – hence the name “Odyssey” College Prep). Essentially, more books, bookshelves, and ostentatious Greek Mythology merch adorning said shelves. Lastly, there would be a picture of my wife Nikki and me on a cruise in Greece.

The post NTPA Member Feature – Marc Gray of Odyssey College Prep appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

Member: Heather Krey

Business: World Class Tutoring

Website: Worldclasstutoring.com

Started: February 2024

About Heather Krey

Heather has over two decades of experience in SAT and ACT preparation. She’s also World Class Tutoring’s leading test prep curriculum architect. Heather earned her bachelor’s degrees in engineering and psychology from Lehigh University and her M.Ed. degrees in Mathematics and Teaching from DeSales University and Kutztown University, respectively. She is certified in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English and has taught roles at various Pennsylvania high schools. Heather has also worked as an adjunct professor at Cedar Crest College. Heather has been an NTPA member since its inception and is an active member of its blog committee.

How has your background influenced your approach to test prep?

In high school, back in the 1990s, teachers and other adults often told me how unusual it was for a girl to be so good at math. (I’m not kidding – we’ve come a long way since then!) So I majored in Industrial Engineering and loved every minute until I got to work. Turns out I just loved being in college, engineering not so much. That’s when I finally realized that what I love is school. So, now I get to do the things I love the most every day: homework, studying, math, and engaging in academic discussions with all kinds of people. Engineering is a beautiful job, and I have several students who have become successful engineers. But I couldn’t be happier staying in high school for the rest of my career.

What strategies do you employ to build confidence and reduce anxiety in your students facing high-stakes tests?

One of the best things I learned in my college psychology classes was how to use the power of association to gain a measure of control over your subconscious processes. Just like Ivan Pavlov trained his dogs to salivate at the sound of a dinner bell, we can train ourselves to relax when given a specific signal. My homework in this psychology class was to practice a particular breathing exercise every night after I went to bed but before I fell asleep.

After doing this for a few weeks, my body learned to associate that wonderful feeling of my fuzzy blankets and soft pillow with my specific pattern of “in through the nose, out through the mouth” breathing. All these years later, when I’m feeling especially stressed, I can take a few of these breaths, and my heart rate goes down, my hands stop shaking, and my voice drops half an octave. I tell my students this story and encourage them to try it themselves. A breathing exercise is so simple and unobtrusive that you can do it during the SAT or ACT. It won’t completely fix anxiety, but it can help many people manage it better.

What are the most common misconceptions about test prep that you’d like to address with new clients?

Test prep isn’t about “tips and tricks.” Yes, we learn the format of the test and the best strategy for different question types, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. I spend most of my time with students doing some educational work. I use diagnostic tests to identify gaps in their knowledge, help them learn those missing skills, give them plenty of practice as homework assignments, and then check back in to ensure the concepts have been mastered. The SAT and ACT are highly well-written tests, and getting smarter is the only reliable way to raise your score. The nice side effect of this process is that my students improve their scores and are more ready for college because of their work with me.

How do you stay updated with the latest educational trends to enhance your tutoring approach?

Continuing education is so important! This is why I love being a National Test Prep Association member. I attend their online summits, town halls, and mastermind meetings to talk shop with other tutors and travel to their in-person conferences twice yearly. The SAT and ACT have been around for a long time, but they’ve also been through many revisions. Thanks to the National Test Prep Association, I know about all these changes well in advance and, in turn, can make sure my students and their families are as prepared as possible to make solid testing-related decisions.

What challenges did one of your most successful students overcome, and how did you support them through that process?

Last year, I teamed up with DAWNetwork to support five girls in Syria in preparing for and applying to colleges here in the US. These girls had many challenges, not the least of which was a terrible earthquake during the semester we were meeting. Fortunately, they were all okay, but they told me they had packed bags and sat by the door in case they needed to exit quickly at the sign of another tremor.

They also had to travel to several towns to take their SAT and couldn’t take the ACT because the journey to that center was through a war-torn area. Not only did these girls work very hard to study for their test, but they were also a delight to get to know, and I found myself looking forward to seeing them each week. About halfway through the semester, the oldest girl in the group emailed me to say that she was sad she’d be missing the rest of our classes, but she had a very good reason. She had just been accepted to Bowdoin College on a full scholarship! I’m so excited for her and wish the best for her four classmates when it’s their turn.

Imagine that your tutoring business grows exponentially in 5 years. What does your main office look like?

Of course, I want World Class Tutoring to become a leader on the international test prep stage over the next five years! But what will my office look like? Exactly the way it does now! World Class Tutoring is an all (or at least mostly) online business where we go to our students worldwide using the magic of Zoom. I’ve tutored students in Canada, Germany, Syria, the Dominican Republic, Spain, the Philippines, Ethiopia, New Zealand, and even a pair of students on a boat near Panama! And I did it all from my home office in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Over the next five years, I plan to continue meeting new and exciting people worldwide and train a team of tutors to help me reach even more students who could help with the college testing process. The fantastic thing is that I can accomplish all this without getting a bigger office or leaving my family and community.

The post NTPA Member Feature – Heather Krey of World Class Tutoring appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

A job in test prep can be a very lonely experience. When I began working in test prep through a well-known brand, I had coworkers and supervisors. If I couldn’t answer a question, I could step away and ask for help. When I joined a smaller company I still had that support AND I didn’t know how much more work there was: getting new students, staying on top of fluctuating schedules, and handling unhappy or needy families were struggles I didn’t face until I started my own business.

I missed that support. PreCOVID I was often in libraries and tried to connect with other local tutors. I made one friend out of at least 15 attempts. Then I found Test Prep Tribe and the NTPA. We could make jokes about Lady Carlotta and debate whether C was always the best guess. I’d found my people.

The only thing was, as COVID restrictions retreated and businesses returned to full force, I learned that a lot of my colleagues were much further along than I was. They had large businesses, employees, and years of experience. We were all in the same storm but we had very different ships, and mine was a canoe. I began to wonder if I had a place in the NTPA. I loved the camaraderie and the academic support, but my business was struggling. Where were the other people like me?

People like me, I’m excited to meet you. The NTPA has created Solopreneur Circle, a mastermind/support group for individuals who are self employed and run their business entirely on their own. The Circle is an opportunity for growth, support, and accountability among peers. It is only for solopreneurs and is open to anyone with a goal: improving your craft, troubleshooting, and/or ultimately scaling up. There are lectures, Q and A sessions, and endless possibilities.

The Circle is not a team as of right now, but we are certainly a fleet. I hope you join us.

—

Anna Solomon is the solopreneur behind World Class Tutoring . She offers SAT and ACT tutoring in Salisbury, MD and across the world via Zoom.

The post NTPA’s Newest Community appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

The post NTPA Town Hall — November 2022 appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

Test Pilot (Kaplan)

Discussion March 2, 2022

Stanley H. Kaplan’s uniquely effective teaching methods and his curiousity about a mysterious new test caused his tutoring business to grow at breathtaking speed from a modest Brooklyn operation into a global enterprise. Kaplan was entering uncharted territory when, in 1946, he first set out to prepare students for a little-known test called the SAT. Already established as a succ

essful tutor offering classes in the basement of his Brooklyn home, Kaplan’s fascination with this challenging new test was instantaneous. The test maker’s determined efforts to keep all aspects of the test secret, from what the test looked like to how students scored, only fueled his interest and increased the number of students who turned to Kaplan for help. Kaplan’s efforts to help students succeed on this intimidating exam led to his being attacked by the test maker and ostracized by educators, both of whom felt threatened by his results — higher scores and successful students. Ultimately, the conflict led to a showdown. Kaplan’s victory in 1979, when the Federal Trade Commission confirmed the value of his courses, changed the rules of standardized testing forever. Stanley H. Kaplan invented the business of test preparation and helped millions of students succeed on a wide range of tests. Today, millions of students face standardized tests with greater confidence born of the revolution he launched.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (Burkeman)

Discussion March 31, 2022

Time is our biggest worry: There is too little of it. The acclaimed Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman offers a lively, entertaining philosophical guide to time and time management, setting aside superficial efficiency solutions in favor of reckoning with and finding joy in the finitude of human life.

Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces listeners to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society – and that we could do things differently.

Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? (Tatum)

Discussion April 29, 2022

Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? How can we get past our reluctance to discuss racial issues?

Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about communicating across racial and ethnic divides and pursuing antiracism. These topics have only become more urgent as the national conversation about race is increasingly acrimonious. This fully revised edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand dynamics of race and racial inequality in America.

The E-Myth Revisited (Gerber)

Discussion June 2, 2022

In this first new and totally revised edition of the over two million copy bestseller, The E-Myth, Michael Gerber dispels the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business. Next, he walks you through the steps in the life of a business — from entrepreneurial infancy through adolescent growing pains to the mature entrepreneurial perspective: the guiding light of all businesses that succeed — and shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business, whether it is a franchise or not. Finally, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business. After you have read The E-Myth Revisited, you will truly be able to grow your business in a predictable and productive way.

The Dignity of Difference (Sacks)

Discussion June 30, 2022

The year 2001 began as the United Nations Year of Dialogue between Civilizations. By its end, the phrase that came most readily to mind was ‘the clash of civilizations.’ The tragedy of September 11 intensified the danger caused by religious differences around the world. As the politics of identity begin to replace the politics of ideology, can religion become a force for peace?

The Dignity of Difference is Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s radical proposal for reconciling hatreds. The first major statement by a Jewish leader on the ethics of globalization, it also marks a paradigm shift in the approach to religious coexistence. Sacks argues that we must do more than search for values common to all faiths; we must also reframe the way we see our differences.

The post NTPA Book Club Picks February-June 2022 appeared first on National Test Prep Association.

The following is the book’s description from Amazon.

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

The post NTPA Book Club January Pick: Educated by Tara Westover appeared first on National Test Prep Association.