My Teaching Philosophy
At its core, the SAT is a test of how well you can apply what you know when the clock is running. And to improve your SAT score, you need to get more questions correct and make fewer mistakes.
That may sound obvious, but the SAT really does come down to those two things. There is a hard way to get there, and there is a smart way to get there. Let’s walk through some examples to see those two paths.
Sample Problem
What is a solution to the given equation?
The Hard Math Class Way
You’ve been doing math how your math teacher taught you. You’ve memorized the quadratic formula and you’ve practiced solving equations like this using the quadratic formula, so it seems like that’s the obvious path:
So \(a = 3\), \(b = -17\), and \(c = 20\).
That is a lot of places to drop a negative sign, mistype a number, or lose time.
The math works. But on a timed test, the question is not just “Can I get the answer?” The better question is “What is the safest way to get the point?” and, secondarily, “What is the fastest way to secure the point?”
The Smart Way
Graph each side of the original equation in Desmos. The intersection points are the solutions.
No formula to memorize. No sign errors. No second-guessing. This is the difference between working harder and working smarter.
Philosophy for the Math Section
Think of the SAT math test differently from every other math test you have taken. For scoring purposes, the less of that unnecessary pesky math work you do, the better your score will be. This is not a “show all your work” test. It is a “secure the points under time pressure” test.
With my tutoring, you will become much better at using tools like Desmos strategically. You will learn to work faster without sacrificing accuracy, make fewer careless mistakes, and walk into test day feeling confident.
You will not need to memorize every formula the SAT might throw at you. Instead, you will focus on what matters most: getting more points and raising your score.
Philosophy for the Reading Section
The same idea applies to the reading section. The goal is to collect the easiest points first, then build from there.
In practice, that means we front-load the highest-yield items. I have seen students gain forty or more points after an hour of instruction by covering a few high-impact grammar topics that many schools leave out or rush through: dangling modifiers, tricky subject-verb agreement, and comma splices.
Try this example for yourself, and click on your guess:
Writing about the struggles of indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest, __________ against powerful logging and mining interests.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Take your guess first. Then the strategy will matter.
Tip: The hardest SAT grammar questions are designed so the right answer might sound the worst. It’s not how you would write it, that’s not what’s being tested. The SAT is testing some nitpicky grammatical issue you didn’t even know you were supposed to be looking out for.
Start with the opening phrase: “Writing about the struggles of indigenous communities…” Then ask the only question that matters: who was doing the writing? It has to be Carolina Mendes, not her novels and not the documentation in them.
A and C make the novels do the writing. B makes the documentation do the writing. Only D works, because Carolina Mendes is the writer.
Fast SAT move: read the opening phrase, then look at the noun that comes next. If that noun cannot logically do the action, cross it off.
That is what a dangling modifier is: an opening phrase that ends up describing the wrong thing. Once you know that pattern, you can often spot the correct answer quickly and confidently.
When possible, I try to avoid unnecessary grammar jargon. You can absolutely get the grammar points without becoming a professional proofreader. The goal is not to make the SAT feel more academic than it needs to be. The goal is to help you hit your score goals with the least pain inflicted.
My Teaching Style
What is the best way to learn something? Is it simply watching someone who is already good at it go through the motions? Of course not.
In sports, there is no replacement for actually taking free throws yourself or playing in a scrimmage with teammates. The same principle applies to SAT prep. If you want to get better at the SAT, you need to practice the specific types of questions that gave you trouble on your last practice test.
My job is not to show off that I can solve the problems. My job is to help you think like a perfect scorer when you approach each question so you can improve your score.
That is why my teaching style is Socratic. Instead of lecturing, I guide you toward the best approach for you. We identify your weaknesses from practice tests, then systematically turn those weak spots into strengths through targeted practice and strategic thinking.
Conclusion
Traditional math class prepares you to become better at math. SAT prep has a different goal: maximize your score under timed conditions. Of course, being good at math helps with SAT math. However, these are related skills, not the same thing.
My philosophy is about efficiency and strategy. The SAT is not only a test of how much you know. It is also a test of how well you can apply what you know when the clock is running. With the right mindset and the right tools, students can approach the exam with clarity and confidence instead of stress.