“I wish you could have seen her face when she woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me her score.  It was incredible!”

-Parent, Class of 2018

“My daughter saw a huge jump in her scores after taking this class.  Now she’s getting mailers from colleges she never would have expected, and I’m so happy for her!”

-Parent, Class of 2020

Who are you?

My name is Helen Witt, and I have been working with DFW-area students for over 15 years as a private tutor.  A graduate of The Hockaday School, I found my passion for learning transitioned easily into a passion for teaching while finishing my education at Tulane University (BSE, MSPH).   An unabashed math lover and science nerd–I hold degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Infectious Disease–I love being able to inspire students in a small-group environment.

What do you offer?

Since their inception in 2016, my courses have helped many students improve their test scores 2-4 points on the ACT and 100-150 points on the SAT between tests.  Classes are designed to be short and to the point so that interruption to extracurricular commitments is minimal.

I diligently created courses tailored to students to prepare for either test based on my more than ten years of experience as a private tutor at the time, and I am always making improvements.  The classes cover valuable test-taking strategies, provide comprehensive reviews of important math, grammar, and rhetoric concepts, and touch on reading skills, essay writing strategies, and vocabulary as well.  Each class is based on an extensive analysis of past tests and includes real ACT and SAT questions as examples and in practice.

It is very normal for students to test a couple of times, so the classes are skills-based to allow students to repeat the class to keep building their skills.  Everything you need to succeed on each test is touched on, even in the Crash Courses, so many students have taken the same course more than once and have continued to see improvement in their scores.  In fact, the biggest gains often come the second time around!

How can I get in touch with you?

Please feel free to email me with any questions about the classes or for information about private and small-group tutoring sessions at helen@helenwitt.com or visit my website at helenwitt.com to learn more about my other offerings.

Which is the best test for my student?

The answer is always: “it depends!”  Typically, strong readers find success on the ACT and strong math students prefer the SAT, but that is not a hard and fast rule by any means.  The tests have many similarities despite their differences, and preparing for one easily begets preparing for the other.  If you aren’t sure which test to take, try my quiz to help you choose!

When should my student test?

The shortest answer to this question is “whatever works best for your schedule”–when you’ll actually have time to prepare and, most importantly, the ability to get a good night’s sleep for several days before the test!  The longer answer has to do with math class.  Check out the Suggested Testing Timeline for more detailed guidance.

How many times can my student take the test?

As many times as you need to get the score you want, but plan for 2-3 times, which is pretty typical.  The first test should be for experience, the second and third (if needed) for score gains.  Improvement between tests of 2-4 (ACT) and 100-150 (SAT) points is attainable, and continued improvement means that you can keep doing better!

Should my student take a real test without any prep and see how it goes?

Sure!  You can definitely learn a lot from a cold attempt at either test. There are so many unknowns on test day, so having some experience there can definitely ease test day nerves when making a “real” attempt.  Additionally, coming to a prep class with a previous testing experience can help students make the most of their time and also allow them to take advantage of the feedback I can provide on their existing score report.

I think my student will do better with one-on-one prep…can you tutor him? 

First, let me suggest you just try my class to get your student started.  The comprehensive review is really beneficial, even for students that ultimately find the most success with one-on-one tutoring.  It’s a great way to get a lot of practice in not a lot of time, and it’s great bang for your buck compared to private tutoring.  These courses also give students a chance to see which topics really need work so that they could get the most out of private tutoring, whether it’s with me or someone else.  If you’d like a spot on my private tutoring waitlist, give me a shout!