David W.

About David

If you're serious about increasing ACT or SAT scores, you've come to the right place. I am a full-time ACT/SAT expert with a proven track record. I have helped hundreds of students increase SAT scores by as much as 200+ points and ACT scores by as much as 5+ points.

I invite you to visit the feedback section of my profile to see examples of the results I've been able to help my students achieve on the ACT and SAT.

BACKGROUND:

I have over 15 years of experience teaching the ACT and SAT, both in classrooms and as a private tutor. My private test prep students have gained admission to highly selective universities, including schools in the Ivy League.

I took my first tutoring job 15 years ago at Santa Monica College, where I received an award for excellence in tutoring writing, grammar, and literature. While attending UCLA, I worked as a teaching assistant for 6 semesters, leading review sessions and grading student essays. As a private business English coach, I've worked with executives for companies such as Cathay Bank, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney, UCLA Medical Center, and the PGA. I've also taught English at a private university and at the largest ESL school in Los Angeles, where I also served as academic director.

I've learned a lot about teaching since I first started, but my basic approach hasn't changed: my style is personable, interactive, and student-centered. That means no boring lectures and no judgmental attitude. My goal is always to help students feel confident, get involved, and make measurable progress right away.

ACT/SAT TUTORING:

I help students master both the academic content of the exam and the strategies that exploit its design. Students need to understand not only the concepts being tested, but also the ways those concepts are presented, which are often idiosyncratic and difficult to interpret. Once that light bulb goes on, the test becomes less intimidating and thus more manageable. For example, in the reading section, students see that the test has a few tricks up its sleeve, such as "bait-and-switch" answer choices, which it repeatedly presents in predictable ways. In the English section, I teach students the relatively small handful of grammar rules frequently tested. Students are often surprised at how straightforward it can be to identify the answers that conform to those rules - all it takes is having a clear idea of what you're looking for, combined with consistent practice and feedback.

My students learn to prep smarter, making it possible to produce greater score gains in less time. The key is focusing on the test's content and design during a concentrated period of consistent learning, practice, and feedback.

Unfortunately, many students who come to me haven't been taught to prep smart for the ACT or SAT. Instead, they grind away on practice test after practice test, hoping that somehow the long hours will mystically transmute into higher scores. But such grinding often just reinforces the very habits that limit students' scores in the first place. The job of a good test prep tutor is to put an end to all of that waste and frustration.

My test prep students also learn:
*The single strategic key that unlocks the answer to every reading question on the ACT/SAT
*A no-nonsense, results-oriented approach to grammar that enables students to identify ACT/SAT grammar issues with lightning speed
*A 4-step technique that dramatically enhances students' ability to learn and retain vocabulary
*A unique method for reading passages that can significantly increase both speed and accuracy
*The true nature of the ACT science section (hint: it's not a science test in the traditional sense)

The bottom line is this: though the ACT/SAT may be one of the most important tests of a student's life, it doesn't have to be one of the hardest. That's not to say my approach is a test prep version of a get-rich-quick scheme. There is definitely work involved - but, it's focused, deliberate practice, not mere grinding.

If you're serious about increasing your (or your student's) score, contact me to set-up a free, no-obligation consultation.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

While in law school, I interned in New York City's appellate law department. My work experience also includes stints in IBM's marketing division and working as an assistant to billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad.

When not teaching, I enjoy playing music. I have logged thousands of hours as a professional drummer and studied music performance at both Musician's Institute and the Los Angeles Music Academy. I'm also a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences who has co-written songs featured in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Five Aces" starring Charlie Sheen.

FAQ:
Q: How long will it take to increase my score?
A: As a general rule, I recommend a minimum of 6 tutoring sessions per section, assuming you're practicing every day in between for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Q: How long are the tutoring sessions?
A: I always aim for one hour. I don't like to cut things off in the middle of a question or explanation, so lessons sometimes go over by 5 or 10 minutes. In such cases, I just charge for the hour.

Q: How often will we meet?
A: I'm currently only accepting students who can commit to twice weekly tutoring. I've found that students do not practice consistently enough otherwise. My students are generally high achievers, so the problem isn't laziness. To the contrary, many students are over-scheduled. It's only natural to set aside prep for the sake of other priorities. However, as much as possible, this temptation must be avoided. In my experience, lack of consistency is the number one reason for sub-optimal gains. The students who achieve the greatest gains are invariably those who make prep a daily priority for 6 to 12 continuous weeks leading up to the exam.

To find out more, get in touch! I look forward to helping you achieve your goals! If you're serious about increasing ACT or SAT scores, you've come to the right place. I am a full-time ACT/SAT expert with a proven track record. I have helped hundreds of students increase SAT scores by as much as 200+ points and ACT scores by as much as 5+ points.

I invite you to visit the feedback section of my profile to see… Read more

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