Home of Internationally-Featured Michael DiSalvo, the "SAT M.D."...
 A+
Tutoring/Test Preparation
(513) 939-9033
(888) 90-TEACH (ME)
"Melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiossisimis."
Proverbs 8:11
Local to Cincinnati, Serving the Educational Needs of the Tri-State
and the World
OUR MISSION
Through classical and newly proven techniques,
to
help students learn how to learn and how to succeed in life.
"Melior
est enim sapientia..." In Latin, we learn
the valuable words, "Wisdom is indeed
better...than all the most precious things put together."
So what is wisdom?
Some call it a natural part of learning. Some say it is
eternal. Yet, hopefully all would agree that to
understand the principles of things, to get a bigger
picture of learning and of life is something that cannot
be valued enough.
A+
Tutoring/Test
Preparation
has been established for two types of students, whether they be young or old.
First, for the student who has "fallen behind." Whether it be because of
learning disabilities, language barriers, or even laziness, some students find
they need to play "catch up." Our programs provide for the needs of
students who have fallen behind. Other students are quite gifted, but
need someone to show them how to gain the competitive edge that will put them
ahead. They may not be good test-takers, may have fallen behind in a certain
skill that they never mastered, or, yes, may be hampered by laziness or lack of
motivation. Our programs provide for the needs of gifted students
who want to make their mark. Though one may argue that there is a
third type of student, test anxiety affects both advanced students and those who
need work on remedial skills.
A+
Tutoring offers help in overcoming
test anxiety and maximizing natural potential. It may seem
strange that similar techniques often can solve different problems, but this can
only be done with a guide who can show the way...
Our Credentials
The S.A.T.
Articles in the News About A+
Programs
for Test Anxiety
Vocabulary and
Spelling Games
Testimonials
Teletutoring (Video Conferencing)
Contact!
Our Credentials
Michael DiSalvo, our main tutor, graduated
"magna cum laude" from the University of South Florida, Tampa, with a B.A. in Psychology, in which he averaged an A+. Later, Michael left his studies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska,
with the equivalent of a Master's Degree, adding to 17 years of formal
education. Michael, like others, did not achieve success easily. After struggling with higher-level mathematics in high school, he finally mastered college-level material through hard work and constant study. A test preparation course gave him the critical thinking skills he needed to compete with the elite,
enabling him to score in the 90th percentile on the G.R.E. (what may be termed the
"big brother" of the S.A.T.).
Later, as he began to intensively study test preparation techniques,
he found that his study of vocabulary and foreign languages enabled him to
master the verbal section on the SAT as well, improving his high school
score of an 1180 to a 1390 on the Verbal + Quantitative portions of the
test. Today, in addition to a strong Math, Verbal, and Writing background,
Michael's degree in Psychology and experiences counseling have allowed him
to tailor programs to meet high goals for students with different skill
levels and various educational backgrounds.
Services Offered In the Greater Cincinnati Area
Though we offer a wide variety of educational services,
A+ Tutoring/Test Preparation
specializes in Mathematics and Verbal Skills, but most particularly in the
critical thinking skills that make up the S.A.T. Please ask about the availability of our tutors. We offer services in:
The PSAT, SAT, and ACT
The HSPT, SSAT (High School Entrance Exams)
The OAT
Algebra
Geometry
Grammar / Writing
Memorization / Study Skills / Speed Reading
Intro to Foreign Languages (Spanish, Italian, German, Latin)
Reading/Math Skills 1st - 12th
Grade
Subject Tests including Mathematics
and Foreign Languages
Our standard program in Reading and Mathematics includes a 1-2 hour diagnostic test to pinpoint deficiencies and to estimate time of program completion. Individual subject tutoring is based on the textbook, while S.A.T./ P.S.A.T. instruction
includes periodic sample tests to evaluate progress. Free consultation is available to monitor the progress of your child and to advise on any other profitable interventions. Consultation is recommended every 20 hours.
The
S.A.T.
The
S.A.T., or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standard requirement for
admittance to most colleges and is increasingly becoming the determining
factor for scholarship awards.
The Critical
Thinking Skills that the test evaluates are crucial for students to develop
in high school, to maintain through college, and to make use of for the rest
of their lives. Added to this administration is new academic content, most
notably the new Writing Section, which tests a student's abilities to
express himself, and problems involving Trigonometry on the Math Section.
The
excerpts below are taken from Collegeboard.com, referencing the change that
has been made to the S.A.T.
Some
of the changes to the SAT include:
A
student-written essay
Analogies
eliminated
Shorter
reading passages added
New content
from third-year college preparatory math
Quantitative Comparisons eliminated
What Changed?
|
Writing (new
section) |
Multiple-choice questions
(grammar and usage)
Student-written essay |
Critical Reading
(currently called Verbal) |
Analogies eliminated
Short reading passages added to existing long reading passages |
|
Math |
Math content expanded to include
topics from third-year college preparatory math
Quantitative comparisons eliminated |
Why
Did
the SAT Change?
The SAT
assesses student reasoning based on knowledge and skills developed by the
student in school coursework. The new SAT will improve the alignment of the
test with current curriculum and institutional practices in high school and
college. By including a third measure of skills -- writing, the new SAT will
help colleges make better admissions and placement decisions. In that way, the
new SAT will reinforce the importance of writing throughout a student's
education.
$$Big
Scholarship Money$$
There are
several reasons to get a good score on the S.A.T. Not only does it give
more opportunities to be accepted to prestigious universities
out-of-state, but it also allows those who are looking for a good
in-state value to find many scholarships worth thousands of dollars if
they achieve the status of savvy test taker.
A typical state school's offering of scholarships:
The most prestigious
award for a high school student is perhaps the designation of
National
Merit Scholar.
This award
is contingent on one's P.S.A.T.
score in one's junior year. Preparing early for this very important test
is crucial, as students are already given the test in their sophomore
year. To become a finalist in this challenging competition is indeed a
privilege. Not only is one eligible for the $2500
award every year after having attained this high level of academic
achievement, but one is eligible for many other scholarship and
commendations from private institutions and corporations.
Important Deadlines for the S.A.T.
The October SAT late
registration deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time),
Friday, September 19, 2008, for online and phone registrations. This
extension does not apply to international registrations or paper
registrations sent by mail.
|
2008-2009 Test Dates |
Test |
Registration Deadlines |
|
U.S. Regular |
U.S. Late
(fee applies) |
International Early |
International Regular |
| October
4, 2008 § |
SAT
& Subject Tests |
Sep.
9, 2008 |
September 16, 2008 (by mail)
September 19, 2008 (online or by phone) ‡ |
Aug.
26, 2008 |
Sept. 9, 2008 |
| November 1, 2008 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
Sept. 26, 2008 |
Oct. 10, 2008 |
Sept. 10, 2008 |
Sept. 26, 2008 |
| December 6, 2008 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
Nov. 5, 2008 |
Nov. 18, 2008 |
Oct. 15, 2008 |
Nov. 5, 2008 |
| January 24, 2009 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
Dec. 26, 2008 |
Jan. 6, 2009 |
Dec. 3, 2008 |
Dec. 26, 2008 |
| March 14, 2009 |
SAT only |
Feb. 10, 2009 |
Feb. 24, 2009 |
N/A |
N/A |
| May 2, 2009 |
SAT & Subject
Tests |
Mar. 31, 2009 |
Apr. 9, 2009 |
Mar. 11, 2009 |
Mar. 31, 2009 |
| June
6, 2009 |
SAT
& Subject Tests |
May
5, 2009 |
May
15, 2009 |
Apr.
15, 2009 |
May
5, 2009 |
§ Eid al-Fitr and the October
2008 SAT
The normally scheduled October 4 SAT test date falls during a
time of Muslim religious observance, Eid al-Fitr. To avoid any
difficulties for students of the Islamic faith, the October 2008 SAT
has been rescheduled to Saturday October 18, 2008 in
certain countries.
‡ October SAT Late
Registration Deadline Extended
The late registration deadline is extended for online and phone
registrations only in the United States, U.S. Territories, and
Puerto Rico. Any paper registrations sent by mail must be postmarked
by the original late registration deadline of September 16.
Important Information for All
Test-Takers
-
Sunday administrations occur
the day after each Saturday test date, for students who cannot
test on Saturday due to religious observance.
-
The Language Tests with
Listening are offered only in November.
U.S. Registration Deadlines
Important Information
-
U.S. deadlines apply to
students testing in the United States, U.S. Territories, and
Puerto Rico.
-
U.S. registration materials
that are mailed must be postmarked by the U.S. deadlines.
-
On March 14, only the SAT
Reasoning Test™ is offered.
International Registration
Deadlines Important Information
-
International deadlines apply
to anyone testing outside of the United States, U.S.
Territories, and Puerto Rico.
-
International registration
materials must be received by the international
deadlines.
-
There is no late registration
for international testing. Online and telephone registrations
must be completed by the international deadline dates listed
above.
-
Students registering through
International Representatives must submit their paper
registration with full payment by the early registration
deadline.
-
On March 14, the SAT is
not offered outside of the United States, U.S. Territories,
and Puerto Rico.
Important Deadlines for the
A.C.T.
|
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
(Late Fee Required) |
| Sep. 13, 2008* |
Aug.
12, 2008 |
Aug.
13-22, 2008 |
| Oct. 25, 2008 |
Sept. 19, 2008 |
Sept. 20-Oct. 3,
2008 |
| Dec. 13, 2008 |
Nov. 7, 2008 |
Nov. 8-20, 2008 |
| Feb. 7, 2009** |
Jan. 6, 2009 |
Jan. 7-16, 2009 |
| Apr. 4, 2009 |
Feb. 27, 2009 |
Feb. 28-Mar. 13, 2009 |
| Jun. 13, 2009 |
May 8, 2009 |
May 9-22, 2009 |
* The
September 13, 2008, test date is available only
in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,
Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Washington, and West Virginia.
** No test
centers are scheduled in New York for the
February test date.
Our Course
With
students raising their S.A.T. scores as much as 300 points in 2 weeks,
A
+ Tutoring/ Test Preparation continues to remain on par or superior to the
most most notable educational companies in the test preparation business.
Superior pedagogy and a superior curriculum catered to the student's needs is
what puts us above the rest. Our text, Gruber’s Complete Preparation for the
S.A.T., boasts the potential of raising a student’s scores by 300
points per section. Though few students have the capability to raise their score
in such a dramatic fashion through simply reading a test preparation book, time
has shown that a skilled teacher can bring quite unexpected results out of
students who doubt their own abilities. Our standard course during the academic
year runs between one month and six weeks, depending on the number of sessions
taken during the week. Our standard summer sessions can be completed in three
weeks. Both rates and the opportunity to take the class are based on the
availability of our tutors. Please mention that you saw our webpage for a free
diagnostic consultation and a brief on what is available.
Teletutoring
(Video Conferencing)
With the use of a
low-cost web cam and microphone and a cable internet connection,
students are now able to take advantage of modern technology to receive
high-quality one-on-one tutoring in the comfort of their own home from a
very reputable tutor). While Mr. DiSalvo first made use of this
technology to continue with his clients who needed expert tutoring at a
distance, he now has made this program permanently available for those
who want to receive training in the same critical thinking skills that
have earned his students their dramatic increases. Please call 1-888-908-3224
for more
information.
Programs for Test Anxiety
While one-on-one tutoring is known to
be one of the most effective ways for any student to maximize his
potential, human nature is such that when we are under stress, it is difficult to use our critical thinking skills. This is
why A+ Tutoring/Test Preparation has formed a partnership
with The Heartmath Corporation to help students resolve issues of
test anxiety and to maximize their performance. Helping students get
the most out of their natural skills in the realms of academic
achievement and critical thinking, the Freeze Framer (TM) technique
has been proven to lessen students' stress and improve their test
taking score in verbal areas by over 20% and in math areas by over
30%. As Mr. DiSalvo has been trained in modern and classical
psychology, he has seen a synergistic improvement in his students'
scores when test anxiety has been an obstacle in preventing them
from seeing their best results. Please call for more information
about how a test anxiety program can help improve your child's
scores.
Services Offered Outside of the Greater Cincinnati Area
(Complimentary Trial
Session)
In a
global educational environment with global needs, rather than limiting
specialties to its local tutors, Mr. DiSalvo has sought to incorporate
the best tutors in the industry to help with the more complicated
subjects and to ease the burden of fitting local tutors into the
ever-changing schedule of a household. Thanks to a partnership with
other tutoring professionals who are leaders in their field, students
can be helped in more specialized subjects from 5th grade to College,
such as:
Advanced
Trigonometry
Physics
Calculus
Biology
Chemistry
Other Specialized Subject Tests
The partnership has been facilitated so students can get the right
tutor at the right time to address needs, almost immediately. State of
the art technology now allows whiteboard interaction and voice
modulation so student and
teacher can cooperate in the learning process and get the most out of
this amazing virtual classroom. In this forum, students can
get the help they need while allowing parents to share in the classroom
experience. This allows students a complimentary 1/2 hour session to
make sure that the forum fits their needs. All that is needed is a
high-speed connection and the proper software to take advantage of what
the world wide web now has to offer. Please call 513 939-9033 or email
md@aplustutoring-testprep.com for more details.
Vocabulary and Spelling Games
Always
trying to facilitate learning for our students,
A+
proudly presents The Word of the Day,
Spelling Bee, and Matchup to sharpen your verbal
skills and put the Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes
you have learned into practice...
Word of the Day
|
|
| Definition: |
A period of fourteen consecutive days. |
| Synonyms: |
two weeks
|
Contact Us!
It is
important that both parents and students find a proper fit with the
tutor they are working with. Please contact us with any questions so
that we can direct you to a program that best fits your needs. References and
certificates of awards available.
A+
Tutoring/Test Preparation
Phone:
(513)
939-9033
Email:
MD@APlusTutoring-TestPrep.com
Local to Cincinnati, Serving the Educational Needs of the Tri-State Area
and the World
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