Guest Author One of the most frequent questions we are asked is “how much will Johnny’s grades improve if we get a tutor”? It’s a valid question, especially in the hyper competitive DC area. After all, a student’s GPA can make or break the scholarships they’re offered, awards they’re given, and colleges they’re accepted to. On the … Read more
For the first time in its over fifty year history, the ACT has become the most popular college entrance exam in the country, beating out the SAT. Though the difference in the number of test takers was minor (about 2,000 students), the trend over the years is unmistakable. In 2006, 1,206,455 students took the ACT … Read more
Be completely honest with me. Have you ever been reading an article when you reach the end and have no idea what you just read? Your eyes were following the words on the paper or on the screen but your brain just wasn’t processing the material. I don’t know about you, but this happens to … Read more
It happens year after year, quarter after quarter, week after week. Students prepare for tests and quizzes by spending a day or two or maybe even the week beforehand glossing over notes and study guides. Then when grades come back, they wonder why all of their efforts garnered them a “C.” The reason: they don’t … Read more
If there is a section that the average student dreads most on the SAT, it is the Critical Reading. Why? Well, because of the “critical reading.” Try saying those words around any high schooler and notice the unconscious subtle curl of their lips. SAT reading passages are usually dry, complex, and insipid (there’s an SAT … Read more
There are a lot of “buzz words” in education right now. Collaboration, differentiation, and ‘project-based learning’ are just a few. All of these words are rooted in one general idea: providing students with a more interactive, hands-on, student-based learning atmosphere. These words and the idea behind them are being integrated into schools in both the … Read more
Jason King is at the top of his game when it comes to preparing students for the SAT. As an Educational Connections tutor, Jason typically helps his students throughout Northern Virginia achieve impressive score gains through his holistic approach. I recently asked Jason to share some of his test prep experience as well as his … Read more
If you’re panicking about SAT prep, stop! Well, actually, let me clarify: if your student isn’t taking the test for six more months, stop panicking. However, if your student is taking the test in a week and he hasn’t even so much as looked at a practice test, I hope you have a teenage savant … Read more
I am a person who hates silence. No matter if I’m driving, cleaning the house, or grocery shopping; chances are I’m listening to music. My resistance to silence has cost me hours upon hours in the library as a student convincing myself that I could write an analytical paper and listen to Third Eye Blind … Read more