A+ Featured Student: Fore Abinusawa

Jul 15, 2021

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Fore Abinusawa is an achiever. Whether it’s running a race for her school’s track and field team or preparing for the SAT with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, this Germantown Academy rising senior is meticulous and industrious, perfecting her skills and persevering through challenges to ultimately accomplish her goals. With the help of her A+ tutors, Beth Bantley and Rob Gelb, Fore was able to improve her score by 130 points! We spoke with Fore and her tutors so they could reflect on their work together and to better appreciate Fore’s impressive results.

A+: Congratulations, Fore, on all of your success! Looking back, what drew you to A+ and what were sessions like?

FORE: My older brother also attended A+ tutoring for his SAT. Sessions were done online, but it almost felt like I was still in a normal in-person setting. My instructors managed to keep me engaged throughout our sessions, and I had the chance to ask my own questions to help solidify my understanding of material. One thing that was particularly helpful was taking notes during my lessons. I would write them on sticky notes and arrange them right by my desk so that I could review them and keep track of different literary terms or strategies and different math equations.

A+: It sounds like the experience was a good one for your brother and for you, which is great to hear! Although your overall experience was positive, did you face any challenges?

FORE: There was a brief period of stagnation where my practice test scores and performance of homework exercises didn’t seem to be improving, which was hard to navigate. Despite that, my instructors stuck with me even if it meant reviewing the same material over and over until it made sense and I was getting problems correct.

Fore’s tutors return the praise with compliments of their own. Math tutor, Rob Gelb, describes Fore as someone whose “aptitude was clear.” He says that “working through pressure was a major challenge” for Fore, “so we took a step back and figured out how to alleviate that pressure as much as possible. The main source of that pressure was the idea of a time limit, so we flipped that limit on its head and used a stopwatch approach, counting UP to 25 or 55 minutes for each math section instead of counting DOWN. The improvement was almost immediate.”

Beth Bantley, Fore’s verbal tutor, was equally impressed. Along with asking detailed questions when she needed clarification, “Fore was determined not only to find the correct answers but also to understand why the answers were correct.” Bantley and Gelb agree that a key to Fore’s success was her flexibility and positive attitude toward the learning process. As Gelb notes, “Fore was very open-minded to the suggestions I gave her, so her progress had everything to do with finding the right approach given her personality.”

A+: Tutoring is a collaborative experience between tutor and student. Do you recall the best piece of advice you remember getting from your tutor?

FORE: The SAT isn’t a sprint but a marathon. Even if I may be unsure of an answer, I can always skip it and answer other questions correctly and come back to it. Also, when in doubt, or if I run out of time, I can always guess and won’t get penalized for that.

Gelb and Bantley not only gave great advice, but they were also pleased that Fore was able to make such good use of it during her preparation and testing. “Fore should feel very proud of her progress, as increasing already high scores as she had is no easy feat,” says Bantley. Meanwhile, Gelb describes Fore as “a joy to work with. Her commitment to the program was evident in each session we had.”

A+: So, now that you’re finished with the SAT, what are your future goals?

FORE: I’m interested in the intersection of science and business, so I hope to possibly pursue healthcare management. I also possibly am interested in the pharmaceutical industry and am considering going into pharmacy school post-grad.

Congratulations to Fore! A+ wishes you all of the best as you pursue your future goals.

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, our Client Service Directors Susan Ware and Joelle Faucette can be reached at 215-886-9188.

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   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
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