| Q: WHICH TEST SHOULD MY CHILD TAKE (The ACT or the SAT) AND WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD TAKE THE TEST?
A: These are probably the most frequent questions we hear and they arise early in the process. To help, we immediately email all our students and parents a detailed write-up of the facts and issues to consider in making these decisions. For example, did you know that there are only a few specific test dates each year that return detailed score results (test booklet and each answer). Did you know that not all schools intend to use the College Board's Score Choice? If you have specific questions right now, just call us for a free phone consultation, we are happy to assist you.
Q: WHAT MAKES TEAM TALENT TUTORS UNIQUE IN SAN DIEGO?
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Our tutors have taken the New SAT several times, at the same time as the high school students, and have top scores.
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We create our own teaching materials in addition to using published materials. We have an extensive library of published materials and select the ideal combination of resources for your child.
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We use a specialized test timer designed for standardized tests that teaches students to manage time spent per question.
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Our tutors are standardized test tutors full time; this isn't a job they do on the side. Your child's success is their success.
Q: FOR WHAT STANDARDIZED TESTS DO YOU OFFER TUTORING?
A: We offer tutoring services for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, PLAN, SSAT, ISEE, GED, CHSPE, and CAHSEE.
Q: WHAT SCHOOLS DO YOUR STUDENTS ATTEND?
A: Our students attend Torrey Pines High School (TPHS), Santa Fe Christian (SFC), Canyon Crest Academy (CCA), The Bishop's School (Bishops), Francis Parker, Pacific Ridge, The Grauer School, Cathedral Catholic High School (CCHS), La Jolla Country Day (LJCD), San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA), La Costa Canyon (LCC), San Dieguito Academy, Westview, and Mt. Carmel High School (MCHS).
Q: HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
A: The first step is for us to learn more about your student and his or her goals for the test. You can either call us directly and we will gather the information over the phone or you can fill out the questionairre found on our website. If your student has already taken the PSAT or an SAT and has the results WITH the test booklet, we can begin to analyze those results in order to create a tutoring plan. Otherwise, during the first tutoring session we will administer a PSAT or SAT test and then analyze the results in order to create a tutoring plan.
Perhaps you know exactly what your student needs help with. For example, " my child got a D in Algebra II, please tutor them in the Algebra II topics on the SAT". Or "My child got a 760 on the Math Section but a 520 on the Verbal Section (Reading Comprehension/Vocabulary). Please focus on the Reading Section of the SAT." We can create as limited or as comprehensive a plan as you need.
Q: MY CHILD WANTS TO PREPARE INDEPENDENTLY FOR THE SAT OR ACT. CAN WE HIRE YOU TO GUIDE THIS INDEPENDENT STUDY PROJECT?
A: No problem. You can hire Mrs. Brown to create an independent study plan identifying specific resources to use and a schedule to follow to prepare for the test. (You must first have baseline scores in order to prepare a plan!). You can hire Mrs. Brown to write up an analysis of your SAT Question & Answer service report or your PSAT results or your ACT TIR (Test Information Release) report. I can also write-up an analysis of a timed practice test you've taken. The analysis in each case will cover each missed question and the underlying issues of each missed question. You are charged for the time it takes to prepare the analysis.
Another way I can assist with independent study is to have a students arrange tutoring sessions they have a group of problems they can't solve on their own or they don't know why their chosen answer is incorrect (or how to avoid making the same mistake again). They can arrange as many or as few sessions as they need.
Q: WHAT DO YOU CHARGE TO ADMINISTER AN SAT PRACTICE TEST?
A: The practice tests, in their entirety, take over 3 1/2 hours for the student to complete. The PSAT is shorter but still requires hours to complete. However, we don't charge clients for 3 1/2 hours. We charge the same as we do for one 90 minute tutoring session and that includes the time spent analyzing the results and writing up the analysis. Accordingly, there may be more than one student at a time taking a practice test. We administer these tests on Saturday mornings starting at 8:00am, just like the SAT they will eventually take!
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR TUTORING RATES?
A: We charge $120.00 an hour and a tutoring session is 90 minutes long. Therefore each tutoring session costs $180.00. These rates are competitive in San Diego for an experienced SAT tutor.
Q: WHAT ABOUT MATERIAL COSTS (SUCH AS WORKBOOKS?) AND PRACTICE TESTS?
A: The College Board Official Study Guide and the Real ACT Prep Guide are provided at no additional charge at the first session. Other publications recommended to be used for your student's customized tutoring plan are billed separately as they are used. They will be listed on the customized tutoring plan as they are used. Workbooks typically cost, in total, less than $125.00. Practice Tests are $10.00 each. We obtain below local retail prices on many publications that we use.
We also loan students resources, such as audio tapes for vocabulary words or test watches. This is always done without charge, as long as the students return the materials in working condition!
Q: WHAT DAYS AND TIMES DO THE TUTORS WORK?
A: Tutors are available five days a week during the school year. Private sessions are offered at:
1:00, 2:30 or 2:45 or 3:00, 4:15 or 4:30, and 6:00P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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9:00 A.M., 10:30, 1:00, and 2:30 Sundays
Weekday morning times are available by request and are usually reserved for students with free morning periods, students who are home-schooled, GED students and CHSPE students.
On school vacations and summer break, private sessions are offered at:
9:00, 10:30, 1:00, and 2:30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Q: DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?
A: Yes, we accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
Q: DO YOU ACCEPT PAYPAL PAYMENTS?
A: Yes, payments can be made to the email address patricia@teamtalent.biz
Q: WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL A SESSION?
A: Sometimes, children wake up sick or realize a bit late they have more homework than they thought. So, we don't require 24 hours notice to cancel. However, we do require eight hours notice to cancel a session so that we are able to offer the time slot to another student; otherwise you will be charged for that session.
Q: HOW DO YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS THAT DON'T PERFORM WELL ON STANDARDIZED TESTS BUT GET GOOD GRADES?
A: We love to work with these students because obviously they work hard and are motivated to get good grades. Our first step with all students is to administer a full version of the standardized test they plan to take. Then we analyze in detail which answers were incorrect and work with the student to understand on each one what threw them off track? These results are written up for the parent and student to review with a recommendation of what type of tuturing activities should overcome their specific hurdles. For some of these students, they simply over-analyze the reading comprehension questions and through specific direction and practice, they can develop the skills to narrow their analysis and identify the correct answer. For other students, it is a matter of the time pressure, which is signficant on the SAT. They understand the material and if they had more time they would answer each math question correctly. But with the time constraints, they freeze and can't identify how to solve many of the problems. Practice with a series of full length SAT tests can often help these students.
Q: DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR COMMITTING TO MULTIPLE SESSIONS AND PAYING IN ADVANCE?
A: No, we do not. The policy we've established is designed to require no up front or ongoing financial commitment for families so we do not offer discounts for paying for multiple sessions in advance.
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