Featured Test Prep Student: Stella Kelley

Last updated Apr 15, 2021

SUBSCRIBE

Stella Kelley is one of our latest A+ Featured Students. We recently had a conversation with her about her success and experiences in our program. She had a lot of worthwhile things to say! stella kelley philadelphia test prep tutoring a+

A+: What brought your family to A+?

Stella: Mom did research on different tutoring companies. We liked the personal service available with A+. We especially liked that they would come to my house! It was much more convenient than having to go to a center, and I felt I could concentrate more.

A+: What were some of the factors (habits, people, or inspirations) that most helped you achieve your goals?

Stella: First of all, my tutor. Julie was amazing! Not overbearing, but always encouraging and supportive. She never made me feel like I was disappointing her. She never put too much pressure on me, but always helped me to do my best. She always listened and responded to my concerns. When I had trouble motivating myself or felt overwhelmed, Julie let me know that skipping practice or assignments sometimes (usually when I had school or extracurricular assignments and deadlines) wasn’t the end of the world. I was very busy with schoolwork (two AP classes and an Honors course), lacrosse, the Giving Club, and my involvement with the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). We worked so well together that she was the first tutor we thought of when my brother needed help in biology! She will probably do his test prep as well when it comes time (he’s a freshman).

I found that out of all my personal habits, self-motivation and staying on track were the two most important. It’s so easy to get discouraged or distracted. Don’t fall into that trap.

Finally, I can’t stress enough how extremely helpful practice tests were. I couldn’t do enough of them. In fact, Julie had to find me additional practice tests when I finished all those that came with the course!

A+: What is the best piece of advice you remember getting from your tutor?

Stella: She always reassured me that things would work out and would be okay. She didn’t let me stress. Oh, also always fill in every answer!

A+: What are your future goals?

Stella: I am very interested in a career in business. I haven’t made any final decisions on my college career yet. Right now I’m looking at schools in Virginia.

A+: What advice do you have for other students who are just beginning their testing process?

Stella: Try to find a balance. At the same time, take it seriously. Junior year goes by so fast! Don’t expect what you’re doing to always be fun, but it IS important.

Stella’s ACT tutor (in all subject areas) was Julie Mueller. Together, Julie and Stella brought her ACT composite score up from 24 to 30! When we spoke to Julie, she had this to say about their sessions:

Stella was a great student to work with. She had a genuine interest in trying to figure out not only what concepts she might need to review, but also what strategies to put in place. A lot of students listen, but they don’t always endeavor to take in and employ the strategies, which can make all the difference. I’m sure that Stella’s increased score was a direct result of how dedicated she was to improving her results.

One other thing she also discovered in the process was that the less pressure she put on herself, the more relaxed she was when she took the test and the better she did. Too many students approach the test in an all-or-nothing frame of mind, which unfortunately works against them because of increased test anxiety.

Stella was just a lot of fun to work with, and I’m glad she saw all of her effort pay off!

As Stella says, hard work and motivation are two of the keys to success. At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, we are here to help with the testing process as much as possible. We match you with tutors who work with you and encourage you to attain your “personal best” score.

If you would like more information, our Client Service Directors Anne Stanley and Susan Ware are available to answer questions and provide solutions. You may reach either of them by calling A+ Test Prep and Tutoring at 215-886-9188.

0 Comments

What They're Saying

    EXCELLENT  
  48 reviews on
 
 
         
   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!
  
 
 
  
 
  Load more