A+ Featured Student: Katie Benoliel

Featured Students | SAT | Test Prep | Test Preparation

Last updated Apr 15, 2021

SUBSCRIBE

We sat down with Katie Benoliel from Germantown Friends School to discuss her A+ experience. Just last month, Katie was able to improve her SAT score by 140 points (over her PSAT score)!

A+: What brought you and your family to A+?

Katie: It was my friends! I kept hearing how much they were learning and how successful they were with A+. I decided to come to you when it was time to prepare for my college entrance tests. I was a little worried about standardized testing. I go to Germantown Friends School right now.

The other schools I attended allowed us to take an individualized approach to our work, so we didn’t necessarily learn conventionally. Well, you can’t get much more conventional than standardized testing—by definition, it’s the same for everybody. I wasn’t sure I would be able to adapt. I thought I’d better get some help. That’s when I came to A+.

A+: How did you get started?

Katie: I thought I’d better find out which test I liked better. I took two practice proctored tests: one SAT and one ACT. In the end, I chose the SAT. It was close, but the timing on the ACT didn’t work as well for me, and I didn’t feel comfortable with an entire section devoted to science.

A+: What were some of the things that helped you reach your goal?

Katie: I had a lot of great support! When I began working, my tutors (Rob Gelb for Math and Pat Graber for Verbal) showed me that adapting to conventional testing wouldn’t be as big an issue as I feared. Pat, in particular, really helped me understand the importance of good testing strategies. Both my tutors were encouraging and positive. I liked that they didn’t focus on test scores to the exclusion of everything else. They took the time to make sure I got answers to anything I had questions about.

My friends also inspired me. They had had the A+ experience and encouraged me to get the most that I could out of the sessions. We all drove to the SAT test together for mutual support!

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

Katie: The message was always: trust yourself. Go with your gut. Don’t second-guess yourself. Both my tutors gave me the confidence to trust in my own abilities.

A+: What are your future goals?

Katie: Right now, I have no definite plans, although I am thinking about Writing and Photojournalism as possible careers. I haven’t started looking at specific schools yet. I’m proud of my scores and the work I did to earn them. I’m planning to take my time and choose a college I can be proud of and excited about as well. I’m just so glad that I had the opportunity to learn as much as I did with A+. That’s something that’s always important to me: to learn as much as I can!

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

Katie: Learn to love the work you are doing for its own sake—don’t just work for a number! Every test you take gives you knowledge and experience, and that’s incredibly valuable.

Congratulations, Katie!

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our focus is always on you. 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 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