SAT Specialist (1110 → 1450) | FSU Finance Major | Score-Boosting

Gerald B.

I’m an International Baccalaureate (IB) graduate and current finance major at Florida State University, where I continue to use and refine the same study skills I teach my students. On the SAT, I personally raised my score from an 1110 to a 1450, so I understand exactly what it feels like to be stuck at a plateau and what it takes to break through it. That experience—plus the rigor of the IB program—shaped my approach to test prep: clear strategies, efficient practice, and a strong focus on understanding why an answer is correct, not just memorizing tricks.

Over the past year, I’ve been tutoring one-on-one, mainly helping high school friends and classmates prepare for the SAT and work through challenging math and reading concepts. Most of the students I’ve worked with have been in the 10th–12th grade range, and our sessions have focused on targeted practice: going through real test questions, breaking down mistakes, and building step-by-step methods that are easy to repeat on test day. I like to start by diagnosing a student’s current level, then creating a simple plan that includes timing strategies, question selection, and customized homework between sessions.

My teaching style is patient, encouraging, and very practical. I know test prep can be stressful, so I try to keep sessions relaxed but focused, with lots of walkthroughs and opportunities for students to “teach back” what they’ve learned. Whether a student is aiming for a big score jump or just trying to feel more confident going into the exam, I meet them where they are and build from there, using my own IB and SAT experience as a roadmap.