Alex
Professional GMAT & LSAT trainer w/ 15+ years experience
I have been successfully training students to take the GMAT and LSAT for over 15 years, including 5 years as an instructor, tutor, and teacher-trainer for a major test-prep company. I am friendly, high-energy, and take test-preparation very seriously. Please note that I am equally familiar with all elements of both tests. I have a specific methodology for each, which is adjusted to the needs of the student. Using my proven "Training Manuals", I train (rather than merely teach) students to...
SAT writing
I love this section. Those students who commit themselves to mastering the concepts in this section will actually see an improvement in their writing skills. Not only will they be able to write more clearly, but also more quickly.
GMAT
SAT reading
The Reading Comprehension section in all standardized admissions tests follow similar patterns. The most important: most of the correct answers reflect a very basic idea from the passage - regardless of what the question actually asks. The key to extracting these basic ideas is to read the passage at an uncomfortably fast pace, taking notes along the way. Try to focus the notes any opinions (especially the author's), voices (critics, historians, etc.), and theories. Don't worry about the confusing stuff - only on what makes sense. For each question, try to predict a basic answer before looking at the answers. Use previously taken notes - try NOT to refer back to the passage. Stay away from answers that use extreme language; stay attracted to answers that use a nice & general tone. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, I charge $60 an hour for a good reason...
LSAT
SAT math
Everyone knows that students don't have to show their work. But the SAT does give partial credit. Even if a student doesn't know exactly how to do the math, he or she can very often use basic logic and estimation to eliminate answer choices. Despite the mis-named guessing penalty, reducing the number of possible answer choices increases the probability of getting a higher score. Thus, partial credit... Oh and calculators are for suckers.
Tammy S. from Youngsville, NC
Alex did a great job in a short time period. He was very easy to work with, was responsive and flexible with regards to scheduling sessions, and has a proven strategy for taking the SAT. Our son's SAT score went up by 80 points and we'd recommend Alex to anyone who needs SAT tutoring.
Maureen E. from Greenville, NC
I would recommend Alex to anyone looking for an LSAT tutor. My son ordered the LSAT study books and tried to learn the material on his own, however, after a great deal of time and frustration, he felt he need to look into some type of hand's on tutoring. I did a great deal of research and feel that WyzAnt is the best tutoring site on the Web. I was really impressed with the background checks completed, and options for FTF or Skype tutoring sessions. I read about 50 - 60 bios, and chose Alex because his teaching style, background, and philosophy seemed to fit my son's learning style best. Overall, I feel like Alex was the best investment in my son's future. Alex is an expert tutor and understands his students' needs. He tailored the instruction based on my son's ability to comprehend content and understood what his overall goals were for the process. I could tell that he seemed to genuinely listen to what he needed, which is the hallmark of a good teacher. Whenever my son had a question or needed additional clarification, Alex responded via text or telephone within 24 hours. Alex is the best, and I would recommend him to anyone looking for success.
Patrick G. from Berkeley, CA
For about two months, I supplemented my own self-studying with weekly to bi-weekly 2-hour sessions with Alex. Alex will provide you with a hand-crafted regimen to guide you through your studies and provide you with all the tools you will need to succeed. His comprehensive study guides and lessons helped me to improve both my speed and accuracy on all three sections of the LSAT. Alex brings a great deal of energy to his sessions and expects you to keep up -this not only forces you to push yourself, but it also prepares you for the frenzy of test day. The tips Alex taught me were not in either of the prep books I purchased for myself and helped me to go from a mid to high 150s diagnostic to a 170 on test day in only 3 months! Highly recommended!
V. Isabel Y. from Menlo Park, CA
I consider myself a pretty good test-taker and a diligent student, so while I knew the GMAT would be hard, I thought it might be possible to score all right on my own. (After all, I had done it on the SAT!) Unfortunately, after spending weeks studying by myself, I still couldn't score higher than the 620 I had started out with. I decided to find a tutor instead of taking a prep class because I knew I needed to concentrate on specific areas for improvement (basically: Math everything), and I also wanted a more flexible schedule. It worked: I took my test today and scored a 710 on my first try. Alex knows the GMAT inside out and has developed his own comprehensive study materials from years of reviewing OGs, official test questions, and exercises from various test prep programs. He helps you focus and tells you exactly what steps you need to take next. He's easy to communicate with, responsive, and encouraging (though he'll push you hard not to make stupid mistakes and to pay attention - which is exactly what I think the GMAT calls for). Of course, you have to do your part by practicing with his material and really understanding it. It was never easy, but after solving his worksheets and reviewing our lessons I saw my scores finally starting to break the 700 wall. He also spent time going over any questions I had, and gave me great advice for all aspects of test-taking. I would highly recommend Alex as a tutor for the GMAT (or LSAT, which is actually his specialty).
Amanda H. from Los Altos, CA
I'm very glad I decided to do LSAT tutoring with Alex this summer. There are not many tutors in the South Bay where I live, so I decided to look for options further North (near San Francisco) and found Alex's profile. Even though he lives in San Francisco, we found a halfway meeting point for both of us at a Starbucks in San Mateo. Alex has his own packet of study materials that include tips and tricks that even the most well-known LSAT test practice companies have not included in their manuals. He is patient, funny, and makes LSAT tutoring a much more bearable experience. I will be taking the LSAT this October and I'm already confident that I will be receiving the score I want because of what I learned from tutoring with him. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a high-quality, yet affordable tutor in the bay area!
Ellie S. from Burlingame, CA
Alex is incredibly smart. More importantly, he knows how to teach. He knew how to tackle every math problem from every possible source (Official Guide, Manhattan GMAT problems, previous tests, online samples, etc.) and could explain a simple and fast approach. We focused a lot on high level (700-800) problems, but Alex taught me how to solve them in under 2 minutes. I struggled a lot with timing on the math section, and when I took the Quantitative portion of the test, I actually finished a little early! The GMAT is a horrible, horrible test. I considered myself a math person, but I felt incredibly stupid struggling through the Quant by myself. With Alex's help, I actually felt capable and confident in my ability. I highly recommend using Alex's services. Thanks, Alex!
Liana E. from San Francisco, CA
I learned more in two hours with Alex then I learned in a month of GMAT courses and two months of studying on my own. He taught me a variety of great techniques for solving problems, and helped me improve my results tremendously! I recommend Alex because he is very professional, motivating, and knowledgeable of the subject.
Gwen N. from Wake Forest, NC
Alex worked with my daughter. He kept her engaged throughout their sessions. She is feeling confident about the upcoming exam.