Tutoring and Test Preparation Services

We offer tutoring and test preparation services for ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students, ideally beginning in the summer before the start of each grade.

Nitin Sawhney, Director of Tutoring Services, uses his own extensive classroom experience and works closely with our counseling team to view standardized testing in the context of curriculum and special strengths or needs. Dan Bloss and Jill Salisbury endorse the same approach, utilizing their own considerable high school and college level tutoring experience. Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, and Ms. Salisbury help each student to create a tailored Test Plan, based on learning skills, academic profile, and extracurricular priorities.

Our Test Plan is designed with an eye to the student as well as the test. Just as each child has a distinct personality and skill set, each standardized test is unique in its methodology and in the skills it evaluates. We specialize in matching each student with the tests that are most appropriate for him or her. In doing so, we take into account the student's learning style and knowledge base in each subject area tested (based on his or her academic profile). We also help students to identify their weaknesses (for example, in Vocabulary, Math, or Writing), and recommend approaches for appropriate, long-term skill building. Where necessary, the Test Plan includes suggestions for specialized testing options that may advance the students' scores.

In advising our students, we recognize that standardized tests are only one component of the college application; students need plenty of time and energy for academics and their other interests. While we do not recommend spending a great deal of time on standardized test preparation, we do advise students to build their Test Plan early in high school. An early start can help students target specific weaknesses. It can also alleviate a great deal of last-minute stress.

Charges for Tutoring (effective July 1, 2008)

The charge for Mr. Sawhney is $300 for a one-hour tutoring session.

The charge for Mr. Bloss is $175 per one-hour tutoring session.

The charge for Ms. Salisbury is $175 per one-hour tutoring session.

While individual testing needs vary widely from student to student, we provide below some general guidelines to estimate tutoring needs per test. Also, within the first couple of meetings, Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, or Ms. Salisbury will be happy to provide a reasonable estimate of the number of sessions required for each student to achieve his or her tutoring goals. In order to ensure that Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, and Ms. Salisbury can save time on their schedules, we suggest that clients schedule meetings ahead of time.

Billing Policy

Clients submit their credit card information—either on a secure, online enrollment form or on a paper form, at the Marks Counseling Associates, LLC office. We keep the information at a secure location and bill credit cards every two weeks. Clients will be e-mailed biweekly statements with itemized charges for each session. Please let us know if you would prefer to receive paper statements, or if your e-mail provider does not allow automatic e-mails.

Contacting Us

Because we see students throughout the day, e-mail is our preferred mode of contact. However, if you need to speak to someone in person, please feel free to leave a voicemail (301.907.7605) and we will return the call as soon as possible.

Please call or e-mail Mr. Sawhney (nitin@marksca.com), Mr. Bloss (dbloss@marksca.com) or Ms. Salisbury (jsalisbury@marksca.com) to discuss tutoring needs and to schedule appointments.

With other questions or concerns, please call or e-mail either Amy Kim: akim@marksca.com, 301-907-7605; or Maureen Hamilton: mhamilton@marksca.com, 301-907-7604.

Test Preparation Approach

Our test preparation approach is based on a three-part system: Customized Test Planning, Targeted Skill Building, and Test Strategy.

Customized Test Planning

Each student comes to us with a pre-existing skill set. For purposes of standardized tests, we include in the skill set past academic and standardized test performance, reading, writing and vocabulary level, and learning profile. We evaluate each student's skill set to determine the tests that best suit him or her. For instance, since there is more vocabulary on the SAT Reasoning Test, high-vocabulary test-takers often perform better on that test. While linear thinkers are sometimes troubled by the Math Subject Test, students who have trouble with data interpretation sometimes dislike the ACT Science.

Targeted Skill Building

We encourage students to identify academic weaknesses as early as possible. Students weak in specific Math areas, such as Algebra or Geometry, should ask us about Math tutoring options.

Early action can help reduce or nullify the impact of specific weaknesses on standardized tests.

Test Strategy

We believe that a successful standardized test strategy includes not just quick and efficient methods of problem-solving, but also, importantly, a focus on anxiety alleviation. Hence, our test strategy has a dual focus: individualized Math, Reading and Writing strategies that optimize standardized test performance and long and short-term methods for minimizing test-anxiety.

Guidelines for Tutoring Needs

Senior:

For Seniors re-taking the SAT Reasoning Test, we recommend 12 to 18 sessions, depending upon the amount of preparation the student has received in the past.

For Seniors taking the ACT for the first time, we recommend 12 to 18 sessions, if the student has previously taken the SAT Reasoning Test. For ACT retakes, we recommend 6 to 12 sessions.

For the SAT Subject Tests, we generally recommend between four and six sessions, depending upon the student's pre-existing knowledge base.

Needs for other SAT Subject Tests – such as the Sciences, Histories, and Languages – vary widely by the student. We recommend individual consultations with Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, or Ms. Salisbury to decide the appropriate number of sessions.

Junior:

Juniors who wish to begin in, or shortly after, the summer to prep for the PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test, and Subject Tests should consider 24-30 sessions.

Students studying only for the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT should consider 15-18 sessions. Those who wish to take the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT twice over their Junior year, should consider 18-24 sessions.

For the SAT Subject Tests, we generally recommend between four and six sessions, depending upon the student's pre-existing knowledge base.

Needs for other SAT Subject Tests – such as the Sciences, Histories, and Languages – vary widely by the student. We recommend individual consultations with Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, or Ms. Salisbury to decide the appropriate number of sessions.

Sophomore and Freshman:

Sophomores and Freshmen often choose to take a Science or Math Subject Test in May or June, shortly after their Advanced Placement (AP) or Honors class wraps up. Because tutoring needs vary by the student and test, we suggest individual consultations with Mr. Sawhney, Mr. Bloss, or Ms. Salisbury to decide the appropriate number of sessions.