Featured Test Prep Student: Eli Minkoff

Last updated May 7, 2021

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featured-student-eli-minkoff Eli Minkoff, whose pronouns are they/them/theirs, took a good thing and made it better.

Many students would be content with an ACT score of 29, but Eli wasn’t satisfied. They wanted to soar to new heights, and got there when they earned a 34!

A+ spoke with Eli about this impressive accomplishment.

A+: Congratulations on your score! Tell us a little about how you achieved it.

Eli: I learned as much as I could about the test itself. I can’t stress enough how valuable it is to learn testing strategies and techniques. Especially process of elimination! It’s important for students to realize that the more wrong answers they eliminate, the better their odds are of scoring the point. Learning to recognize tricks in the wording of the answers helps a lot. For example, an answer choice might repeat a word or phrase from the passage but still be wrong. Avoid attractors!

A+: You obviously know your strategies well.

Eli: I tried! My biggest challenge was math, specifically time management. I told my tutor, “I’m good at math but not good at doing math quickly.” I was getting good scores on the other sections, but math was a stumbling block.

One of the things that helped was getting a time accommodation that I could tailor to my needs. The accommodation allowed me to determine where to use my minutes. Being able to budget time made a huge difference. I elected to use all of my extra time on math.

A+: What was going on at the same time you were studying for your test?

Eli: Well, AP Calculus, for one thing. I was studying a lot for that test. I was getting tons of work in both my English and Math courses. Towards the end of the year, the homework just increased dramatically. I knew I could benefit from some ACT test prep. The counselor at my school (Eli attends The Crefeld School) recommended A+.

A+: What else was on your plate beside schoolwork?

Eli: I volunteer at a food pantry several times a month. My hobby is playing computer games, and computers really relate to the career I’m interested in. My goal is to get my Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity. It’s a rapidly growing field. The demand for good cybersecurity is much greater than can be met.

A+: Have you started looking for schools that will help you pursue your career goal?

Eli: So far, I really like Champlain College in Vermont! I love the area, and there is a great sense of community there.

(Editor’s note: In 2018, U.S. News and World Report ranked Champlain College #2 in the Most Innovative Schools category. The college also ranks in the top 100 in Regional Universities North and Best Value Schools.)

A+: That’s great! Do you have any final advice for students who are just beginning the test prep process?

Eli: Practice! Being able to take practice tests was a huge help. Familiarize yourself with the patterns of the test. You don’t need to be 100% confident to get an answer right. 90% is okay! If you can eliminate one or two answer choices, go for it. Make sure you are focused and clear-headed on test day. Above all, remember what my tutor always told me: Don’t panic!

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   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
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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.
  
 
 
       
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 2023-11-28
 
 
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   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
 
 
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 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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