David W.

About David

If you're serious about increasing your ACT or SAT verbal scores, you've come to the right place. I am a full-time ACT/SAT expert with a proven track record. I have helped 100+ students increase SAT scores by as much as 200+ points and ACT scores by as much as 5+ points.

A couple recent examples:

*My most improved student on the December, 2015 ACT increased her reading score 7 points (from 20 to 27) and her English score 5 points (from 25 to 30) after two months of weekly online tutoring with me.

*My most improved student on the October, 2015 SAT increased his SAT score 200+ points after six weeks of weekly online tutoring with me.

Note, these increases were *not* over previous practice exam scores. They were increases over official scores from prior administrations of the actual ACT and SAT.

BACKGROUND:

I have over 15 years of experience teaching SAT, ACT, TOEFL, ISEE, and SSAT, both in classrooms and one-on-one. Current and former test prep clients include students from Harvard-Westlake, Flintridge Prep, Brentwood School, Flintridge Sacred Heart, and St. Francis, among others.

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, grading student essays, leading review sessions, and supervising other TAs. I also taught English at a private university and at the largest ESL school in Los Angeles.

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 focus on helping students see the underlying design of the ACT and SAT. Once that light bulb goes on, the test instantly becomes far less intimidating, and thus much more manageable. For example, in the reading section, students see that the test has only a small number of tricks up its sleeve, which it attempts to pull off over and over in just a few highly predictable ways. In the English section, I show students the relatively small handful of grammar rules repeatedly tested, and how simple it can be to apply those rules once you learn to spot them.

My students also learn to prep smarter, often doubling their results in half the time. Understanding the test's design, coupled with a concentrated period of consistent tutoring and practice, can drastically reduce the number of hours required to achieve target scores.

Unfortunately, many students who come to me haven't been taught to prep smart for the ACT and SAT. Instead, they approach these tests as they would a regular test at school. They grind away on practice test after practice test, hoping that somehow the long hours will mystically transmute into higher scores. But the SAT and ACT are starkly different from the tests students face in high school. Thus, such grinding often just reinforces the very misconceptions and habits that limit students' ACT/SAT 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 lighting speed
*A 4-step technique that dramatically enhances students' ability to learn and retain vocabulary
*A unique method for analyzing reading passages that can 4x both speed and accuracy

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 most definitely work involved - but, it's more street smarts, less elbow grease.

Surprisingly, this "work smarter, not harder," method is unpalatable to some students who otherwise appear earnest. When it comes down to it, some would rather grind than think. If that's you - I'm not your guy! I'm a firm believer in my former principal's favorite saying: "You can't soar with the eagles if you simply go through the motions with the sheep" (or something like that). However, if you're serious about increasing your (or your student's) score, contact me to set-up a free, no-obligation initial consultation.

BUSINESS ENGLISH COACHING:

(NOTE - I'm not currently seeking ESL students. However, I do accept a limited number of adult English learners serious about improving their business communication skills.)

I taught TOEFL, writing, pronunciation, grammar, and reading for several years at one of the largest ESL schools in Los Angeles, where I became academic supervisor. I also taught ESL at a private university in Los Angeles.

As a 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.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

While in law school, I interned in New York City's appellate law department, writing briefs and appeals. My work experience also includes stints in IBM's marketing division and working as an assistant to billionaire Eli Broad - the only person to found two Fortune 500 companies in different industries.

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 and Tia Carrere.

To find out more, get in touch! I look forward to helping you achieve your goals! If you're serious about increasing your ACT or SAT verbal scores, you've come to the right place. I am a full-time ACT/SAT expert with a proven track record. I have helped 100+ students… Read more

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