Collaborating with students who learn in various ways, Creative Testing Strategies builds from inherent strengths and interests to build confidence and skills, offering a holistic approach that is positive, proactive, student-centered and effective.  Focusing on Test Prep (especially SAT and ACT), organization and study skills and writing, I have experience supporting a variety of students who choose tutoring as they reach their goals.

The October SAT scores are available now, and I got a 2250 (770 Critical Reading, 750 Math, 730 Writing, and a 10 on the essay). I only got a 2010 the first time I took the SAT, so this result is a 240 point increase! I want to thank you for helping me; I am positive my score would not have increased this much without you."                                   ~Tania, Fall 2006

The more we learn about how our brains, minds and habits work, the more it confirms what we already felt: people learn in different ways with different strengths.  And yet, for the most part, our educational system has not always been able to incorporate that in the classroom.  It isn't the teachers' fault--when you are teaching 25 students you have to focus on what works best for the most people most of the time.  There can also be large gaps between elementary and middle school and again between middle school and high school.  Students can get lost.   Students need one-on-one help to reach their full potential.   Extra help in writing, organization, executive functioning, study skills, and test prep can make a huge difference.

Skillful tutoring works with students to develop their own approaches.  By giving students alternative approaches, I work to increase ownership, confidence and mastery.   

With many agencies, tutoring is subcontracted to individual tutors, and the quality can vary.  My rates are reasonable.  

Who I Am

I am an experienced professor and tutor.   I have taught SAT, SAT II (composition and literature), ACT, organization and study skills, writing, and college applications for 3 years with private tutoring companies and through The Princeton Review.  A college professor for 9 years at both CUNY and Monmouth College (a private, liberal arts college), I have worked with students from a variety of schools including Birch Wathen Lenox, Bronx Science, Buckley, Columbia Prep, Dalton, The Little Red Schoolhouse, Notre Dame, NYC Lab, Riverdale and Spence.  I also spent two years developing writing-intensive courses for a variety of learning styles across the curriculum.   In my free time, I'm involved with politics, theatre, music and ice-skating.

Contact Information

Telephone: (212) 765-0712 or Alisa at Creative Testing Strategies (as one-word) (dot) com  (sorry--spam is horrendous!) 

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Send mail to alisa@CreativeTestingStrategies.com with questions or comments.