EDUCATIONAL SERVICE OPTIONS
- General tutoring
- Academic Coaching
- Executive Functioning Coaching
- Standardized Test Preparation
- GAP Year Planning (see sample proposals and course plans below)
- Online College Writing & Academic Coaching Program
STANDARDIZED TEST PREPARATION/SERVICE
Individualized Instruction
Standardized test scores are a key component of the college application and admissions process, and ARÊTE Educators has a flexible series of lessons to prepare students to excel in these exams. At the outset, we discuss the format of each exam to make sure students are familiar with what they will be asked to do. We then examine each section of the verbal part of the test and share an array of test-taking strategies that can be applied immediately to future tests. For vocabulary development, we use a list of common Latin roots to help students recognize the meanings of unfamiliar words. We also work with students to develop strong reading comprehension skills and provide strategies to help them make connections both within and between various literary genres. Our individualized test-taking program helps build students’ confidence and focus when preparing for these assessments.
Key areas Covered
- Reading Comprehension
- Thinking and Reasoning Skill Development
- Writing Fundamentals
- Vocabulary and Grammar Development
- Test Taking Strategies
- Timed Essay Writing
Key areas Covered
- Vocabulary and Grammar Development
- Test Taking Strategies
- Timed Essay Training
- Reading Comprehension
- Thinking and Reasoning Skill Development
- Writing Fundamentals
Programs: Tutoring in Writing and Reading Comprehension; Test Prep (SAT Verbal, ACT Verbal, AP English, English Language Subject test, SSAT, ISEE); School Admissions Essay Writing
Focus: Critical reading and writing enrichment; vocabulary and grammar development; problem-solving, thinking and reasoning skill training; test-taking strategies
SSAT & ISEE Preparation, Verbal
ACT Preparation, Verbal
The ACT is a standardized multiple-choice exam that measures students’ knowledge of basic subjects taught in high school. The English Section, which includes 75 questions, focuses on basic grammatical issues related to usage and mechanics. It also includes questions on rhetorical skills that tests students’ understanding of style, transitions and organization in writing. The Reading Section measures students’ reading comprehension skills based on their response to four different passages.
Our program provides a thorough review of grammar and includes diagramming sentences and practice in identifying issues with commas, fragments, run-ons, apostrophes and misplaced and dangling modifiers. Students also take practice tests and work through several reading passages in order to sharpen their understanding of rhetorical issues in writing. To prepare them for the 40-question reading section, we use passages from prose fiction, social science, the humanities and the physical sciences to help fine-tune their reading comprehension skills.
SAT Preparation, Verbal
The SAT is the most important test high schoolers will take to assess their readiness for college. The verbal portion is designed to test students’ literacy and writing skills and is divided into two sections: evidence-based reading and writing. The Reading section includes questions based on a short or long reading passage as well as sentence completions which test students’ vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure. The Writing section has two evaluation components. One includes questions based on standard English conventions and the other is related to the expression of ideas. Both tests students’ acumen in error identification issues or sentence and paragraph improvements. The optional essay section evaluates students’ ability to evaluate a writer’s argument based on the evidence presented and the use of persuasive elements used to build that argument.
ARÊTE Educators’ program emphasizes vocabulary development throughout the test preparation process. We also use writing prompts and test questions from previous SAT test to expose students to the kind of questions they will be asked. For the essay section, we use a variety of writing prompts and discuss strategies that will enable students to write a cogent essay in 25 minutes. Preparation for the writing section includes reviewing basic grammar rules and working through short paragraphs with issues pertaining to error identification and sentence and paragraph improvements. Our critical reading classes allow us to work individually with students where we explore several techniques to strengthen their reading comprehension skills.
AP English Language
Advanced Placement (Language)
The AP English Language exam tests a student’s ability to read inferentially and write a well-organized essay. Our writing program uses prompts from various examples of discursive prose to help students practice how to respond to and extract meaning from a text. Not only do students gain confidence in their written expressive language, but they also have an opportunity to review several selections of key literature.
AP English Literature
Advanced Placement (Literature)
The AP English Literature exam shares the same format as the Language exam but differs in content. Our program focuses primarily on western literature from the 16th century to the present and offers a repertoire of writing prompts to help improve students’ critical responses to various texts. Writing instruction classes are devoted to informal and expository writing activities. Students learn to use outlining as a way to develop and organize their ideas with greater clarity and precision.
English Language Subject Tests
Sample GAP Year Proposal
Galli, Zander – Gap Year Proposal
ARÊTE Educators SAMPLE GAP YEAR ACADEMIC PLAN and SYLLABUS
SAMPLE Gap Year Humanities Course 2017-18