Search
Alex M.'s Photo

Test Prep & Academic Skills Tutor – SAT, ACT, Writing, Grammar, ESL
Alex M.

5.0 (13 ratings)

35 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $40
Contact Alex

About Alex

Bio

Hi! I’m Alex, a versatile tutor with a strong background in test prep, academic writing, and ESL instruction. I help students raise their scores, sharpen their thinking, and express ideas with clarity—whether they’re preparing for the SAT or crafting a college-level essay.

I entered education over 15 years ago as an SAT instructor at Kaplan shortly after graduating with honors from UC Berkeley. Since then, I’ve worked with companies like Sylvan and supported high schoolers, college...

Hi! I’m Alex, a versatile tutor with a strong background in test prep, academic writing, and ESL instruction. I help students raise their scores, sharpen their thinking, and express ideas with clarity—whether they’re preparing for the SAT or crafting a college-level essay.

I entered education over 15 years ago as an SAT instructor at Kaplan shortly after graduating with honors from UC Berkeley. Since then, I’ve worked with companies like Sylvan and supported high schoolers, college applicants, and adult learners—while also pursuing work outside the classroom along the way.

To better understand the exams I teach, I retook the SAT as an instructor—earning an 800 in Critical Reading, 780 in Writing, and 670 in Math. As these results suggest, I’m academically well-rounded and able to assist high school students with math and language arts up to the level covered on College Board entrance exams.

📘 High School Math
I coach students through SAT/ACT math, focusing on clarity, pattern recognition, and time-efficient strategies—especially for those who don’t consider themselves “math people.”

📝 Academic Writing & Essay Reviews
I support students from high school through grad school with:
• Essay structure and organization
• Analytical writing
• Research integration and revision guidance

📚 Language Arts & ESL
This includes grammar instruction for native and non-native speakers, and a communicative, real-world approach to ESL.

From this vantage point, selecting the right structure isn’t about memorizing musty rules—it’s about critically analyzing meaning and intent. I help students succeed on exams and communicate with clarity and purpose across academic and professional settings.

I hold a TESOL Certificate with Honors from UCLA Extension and have taught English, writing, and test prep to learners from diverse backgrounds.

Let’s work together to meet your goals—with strategy, clarity, and purpose.

Read more

Education

UC Berkeley
Psychology
San Jose State University
Masters
UCLA Extension TESOL/TEFL Certificate Program
Other

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

CBEST

CBEST

After graduating from UC Berkeley cum laude, I entered the test prep industry as an SAT instructor at a well-known test prep company. I have since worked for several supplementary education companies, where I helped high school students prepare for the SAT and the ACT. The content of those exams overlaps considerably with that of the CBEST, and many of the recommended test-taking techniques apply to all three tests. Further, I gained first hand knowledge of the CBEST after passing the exam while applying for an emergency teaching credential. One of my long-term vocational goals is to work as a post-secondary ESL instructor, and I am passionate about helping others to enter the teaching field successfully. While my verbal reasoning skills are especially strong, I am knowledgeable about all CBEST section, including the math section.
Essay Writing

Essay Writing

I bring both personal aptitude and professional experience to essay writing support. At UC Berkeley, I earned top grades in writing-intensive coursework, including a rare solid “A” in English Composition 1A as a freshman and instructor recognition in a campus-wide writing contest. My standardized test scores reflect this strength: 780 SAT Writing and 5.5/6.0 GRE Analytical Writing. I’ve since worked as a writing tutor and essay reviewer, helping students develop strong thesis statements, improve organization, and revise with clarity and purpose—while maintaining their own voice. Academic writing samples are available upon request.
GRE

GRE

I have taught for Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions in the past and excel at standardized verbal tests. My combined score on the official GRE General Exam was 327 with an Analytical Writing Assessment score of 5.5. This includes a 96th percentile score on the verbal reasoning measure. I also scored 800 on an official SAT Critical Reading test, which overlaps with the GRE verbal reasoning measure in terms of the underlying academic content and requisite analytical skills. I love helping others to realize their academic dreams!
ISEE

ISEE

With extensive test prep experience since 2000 and demonstrated mastery of standardized test content—evidenced by my 800 Critical Reading and 780 Writing SAT scores—I bring proven expertise to ISEE preparation. The ISEE shares significant content overlap with the SAT in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and mathematical reasoning, allowing me to apply the same pattern recognition and strategic approaches that have helped countless SAT students succeed. My experience coaching students who don't consider themselves 'math people' is particularly valuable for ISEE's quantitative sections, where confidence and clear problem-solving strategies are essential. I focus on building both content knowledge and test-taking skills that translate across standardized exams, helping students approach the ISEE with clarity and strategic thinking.
Public Speaking

Public Speaking

I competed in speech and forensics as a high school student and later as a member of the UC Berkeley Speech and Forensics team. In addition, I have been an active member of Toastmasters International for over ten years and am currently a club officer at Sundays by the Sea Toastmasters in Culver City. I often compete in interclub tournaments and would love to help others improve their public speaking skills.
TOEFL

TOEFL

With my TESOL Certificate with Honors from UCLA Extension and extensive ESL instruction experience since entering the test prep field in 2000, I bring proven expertise in helping non-native speakers master academic English. I have extensively researched TOEFL format and content using official ETS materials and test-maker resources to develop targeted strategies for each section. My background in academic writing and test prep—demonstrated by my own high SAT scores in Critical Reading (800) and Writing (780)—allows me to guide students through TOEFL's integrated tasks that combine reading, listening, and writing skills. I focus on building both language proficiency and test-taking confidence for students pursuing academic success in English-speaking institutions
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Reading
Algebra 1
English
ESL/ESOL
GMAT
Grammar
Proofreading
PSAT
Reading
Vocabulary
Writing

Examples of Expertise

Alex has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 4 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Alex ’s answers ›
Alex M.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Alex before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Alex

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (13 ratings)
5 star
(13)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)
Hourly Rate: $40
Contact Alex