Strategies and Tools
Graphing Calculators for Testing
Increasingly, schools are allowing students to test with advanced calculators. The new Digital SAT allows for the use of Desmos Graphing Calculator for all math sections. This makes sense, since real world advanced math is done with calculators. We find that a major differentiating factor between a good test taker and a great one is how well they know their calculator.
Upwards of half of SAT problems can be ‘cracked’ with Desmos. This means fewer formulas, less careless errors, and less time spent per problem. We specialize in working with students on how to utilize assistive technology like Desmos to solve problems with ease. Even students who have always struggled with math can do exceptionally well on standardized tests when they familiarize themselves with the tools and technologies now allowed. Surprisingly, many major test prep companies still exclusively teach ‘math by hand’. Of course, we teach this as well, but we pride ourselves in our unique ability to teach calculator shortcuts in unexpected ways.
Explain it back to me
At our core, we believe people only truly understand a concept when they can teach it to others. We ask our students to re-explain practice problems, formulas, and more general math solving strategies back to us. This gives them the opportunity to think about and process the problem while simultaneously allowing us as tutors to see specifically what our students understand and what they do not.
“Explain it back to me” allows us to identify and patch specific misunderstandings while better understanding how our students think about the math concept at hand.
Mental Preparation
The most successful students are the ones who feel just as calm and collected on test day as they did during preparation. We work with students on breathing techniques, visualization, and strategic routines to ensure that they perform to their fullest during exams. We pride ourselves in our ability to help students overcome testing anxiety and leverage their academic mental game to their fullest.
Collaborative Illustrations
Math is best understood when the numbers and symbols are accompanied by graphs and pictures. Whether in person or virtually over Zoom, we collaborate with our students on whiteboards to draw the math we’re doing when applicable. It’s our goal to minimize confusing mathematical abstractions and provide our students with concrete pictorial examples we can work through together.
