One-on-one test prep and writing instruction for middle school through college. Six years of experience, real score gains, and a plan built around how you actually learn.
Most test-prep gains aren't about memorizing tricks. They come from reading a passage and actually seeing what it's doing, and from writing an answer (or an essay) that says exactly what you mean. That's the part I teach.
I've tutored since 2020, specializing in the SAT and ACT while working extensively with middle and high school students across math, English, and writing, including essay and application support. My students average +170 on the SAT and +5 on the ACT composite. Ultimately, what I care most about is crafting individualized study plans that actually click, so that the work doesn't feel so daunting.
My legal training is a big part of why. A JD and years of legal work mean I've spent my professional life doing the exact skills these tests measure: reading dense material fast, finding the argument, and writing with precision under time pressure. I bring that to every session, especially on the verbal and essay side.
On the language side, the background runs deep: a degree from Middlebury College and immersion study at the Middlebury Language Schools. After college, I worked as an editor and translator at the UN Headquarters in New York before eventually getting my JD at UCLA. I have found that standardized tests tend to be learnable, no matter how intimidating they seem at first. I relish the work of helping pull back the curtain on what makes these tests tick.
Sessions run in person across the Bay Area or over Zoom anywhere, and every plan is built around the specific student in front of me, not a one-size script.
Full-test prep with a diagnostic-first plan: we find where points are actually leaking and build from there.
A faster, more straightforward test than the SAT, and one that rewards pacing. We build the speed and the system.
Middle and high school math that fixes the gap at its source instead of papering over it with more homework.
From the five-paragraph essay to the college personal statement, written so it actually sounds like the student.
Rhetorical analysis, argument, and literary close reading for both AP English exams and the coursework behind them.
Real fluency and literary analysis for both AP Spanish exams, taught by a Middlebury Language Schools alum.
My son's score jumped 190 points in three months. More importantly, he walked in feeling confident instead of panicked.— Michael D., parent
I went from a 1280 to a 1450. Practicing and getting to know my weak areas made all the difference.
— Delilah W., studentGraham did amazingly well on the January ISEE! An 8 in Verbal Reasoning, 7 in Math Achievement, and a 9 in Reading Comprehension. He got through the whole test without a single meltdown. Thank you so much!
— Tracey, parentIvan breaks down tricky concepts into little sets of instructions. I felt like the whole test was decoded for me.
— Jasper S., studentEvery student needs something different. A weekly standing session and a one-off essay rescue shouldn't cost the same, so they don't. We set a rate together on the free consult, based on subject, frequency, and what you're aiming for.
No packages to commit to before we've talked. Start with a 15-minute call and we'll figure out the right fit.
Tell me the student, the goal, and the timeline. No pressure, no script. We figure out whether I'm the right fit and what a plan would look like.
For test prep we start with a diagnostic to find where the points actually are. For everything else, we target the specific gap or assignment. You get a clear plan and a rate.
We meet, in person or on Zoom, and do the real work. You'll see progress you can measure, and we adjust as the scores and the writing improve.
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