PREPARING FOR THE SAT:

Lyons Tutoring prepares students for the SAT by focusing primarily on a thorough mastery of the basic math, reading, and writing skills necessary to conquer the material on the test. Lyons Tutoring believes that learning the material provides the surest way to higher test scores. Students will, of course, also learn the ‘tricks’ necessary to succeed on the test, such as when and how to guess; however, in both the classes offered and in individual sessions, the focus here remains on teaching the basics, because a grounding in such fundamentals provides students with the firmest foundation from which to excel on the SAT or ACT and to succeed in college and beyond.

SAT MATH:

Students review all the math covered on the test – basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Weekly assignments provide a thoroughgoing practice of all aspects of SAT math, from fractions, decimals, percents, and exponents, to solving equations and word problems. Too often, students have become overly dependent on their calculators at the expense of a true understanding of the fundamentals. Lyons Tutoring encourages a back-to-basics approach that not only helps students master the mathematical concepts tested on the SAT, but also often translates into a more confident and solid understanding of the essentials necessary to succeed in high school math classes.

SAT WRITING AND GRAMMAR:

In an age when many students depend on computerized grammar checks, the SAT demands that students know the basic rules of grammar that will help them become stronger writers. Through weekly assignments, Lyons Tutoring teaches students the basic rules of grammar necessary to excel on the grammar section of the test.

In order to prepare for the essay portion of the SAT, students write essays each week, and review them with their instructor to hone their ability to develop a thesis, muster evidence, and organize an argument. Students work on the basic building blocks of writing – such as opening and concluding paragraphs, topic sentences, and solid grammar. Just as Lyons Tutoring’s math preparation often leads to a greater mastery in math class as well as on the SAT, so too these weekly writing assignments help students to become stronger and more confident writers overall.

SAT READING AND VOCABULARY:

Students review the basic skills of reading comprehension, making it easier for them to unpack and digest any passage the test throws at them. The instructor teaches students skills such as paraphrasing and speed-reading and demonstrates how to become a more active reader who can quickly and accurately identify the structure and overall purpose of a passage.

In preparation for the sentence completion portion of the SAT, students also review the verbal inference strategies necessary to unravel and decipher complex sentences. The instructor demonstrates how to identify hidden clues in the sentences and how to eliminate incorrect answers. Students also have weekly vocabulary assignments and gain tips on expanding their vocabulary.

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