1. Why Ivy Exam Prep?a Ivy Exam Prep hires a large range of tutors who each specialize in a small range of standardized tests; this ensures that your tutor will be expertly qualified to assist your needs. We also offer a variety of study options to match your needs. If you live within London, we can provide individual or group tutoring in a location and on a schedule that suits you. If you live elsewhere in the world, we can provide downloadable audio lessons for the SAT Reasoning, that you can acces at your convenience; or we can tutor you, real-time, through Skype on a schedule that accomodates you. See our About page for a full breakdown of our services.
Ivy Exam Prep prides itself on its quality, flexibility and professionalism. However, in answer to the question, "Why Ivy Exam Prep?" we would have to respond: our attitude. Our tutors' enthusiasm, passion and optimisim is guaranteed to motivate your child to achieve their best, no matter what their difficulties or what exam they're studying for.
2. What programs are available? In what formats?b
We offer tuition for SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Tests, Secondarly School Entrance Exams, GCSE's, AS and A Levels. We also offer academic tutoring by request. Have a look at our Subjects page.
Ivy Exam Prep is a small company and so all subjects depend on us having the appropriate tutor available. We will never offer our services unless we feel we can provide you with the qualified, specialized tutition for which Ivy Exam Prep is known. If we are unable to provide for your needs, we will happily recommend a list of other companies whose services we know and trust.
Our semesters are usually 12 sessions long, we usually offer one session per week and each session lasts one and a half hours. However, we frequently tailor our semester length, session length and the number of sessions we tutor per week to suit our clients' needs.
Each of our subjects are available in the following formats: individual in-home tutoring, group tutoring and individual online tutoring via. Skype. Our SAT Reasoning Curriculum is also available as a downloadable audio-series, which can be downloaded on a lesson-by-lesson basis or as a full twelve week semester. We can mark and return work for all of our tuition-formats, whether online or in person.
3. How does group tutoring work? Are there any disadvantages to group tutoring?c By the time that students come to take the Standardized Tests that we tutor, they are young adults who have a fixed idea of their own needs and goals. We decided to offer group-tuition to cater to the large number of students who requested to study with their friends.
Most of Ivy Exam Prep's tuition happens in the home. In the case of group tutoring, we ask that one parent volunteers to host tuition each week. In addition to the reduced fee for group-tutoring, the host-parent will receive an extra 15% discount on the price of tuition. Of course, as with individual tutoring, we can arrange to meet in suitable public location such as a school, a library or a Starbucks. In the latter situation, it is up to the parents to arrange any necessary reservations or bookings.
Although the cost of group-tutoring is lower per student, there are no disadvantages to group-tutoring. In fact, we find that students are often more motivated to study as part of a social unit. To ensure that each student receives the same personal attention as they would in individual sessions, we limit our class numbers to four students or lower. The main difference between group tutoring and individual tutoring is that we review group-students' homework assignments using detailed written reports instead of aural evaluations. This puts more onus on group-students to review their past homework assignments independently.
4. How does online tutoring work? Will my work still get marked?d There are various ways that you can study with Ivy Exam Prep through the web. These options can be ideal for students who live outside of London, who attend boarding school or who desire a more variable schedule. Have a look at our Study Online section for details.
You can scan and email us a copy of any work that you do as a part of your online tuition. We then mark and return your work using the same method. We will email you all the relevant course materials for online tuition; but we can also send these materials by post at a small added cost.
Skype: Ivy Exam Prep offers real-time tuition through the internet-video-phone Skype.* You and your tutor will communicate on a video call via Skype at a prearranged time each week. We do not offer group-tutoring via. Skype. We will mark and return any work that you do as part of your Skype sessions via email; this is included in the cost of Online Skype Tuition (see Prices).
SAT Reasoning: Ivy Exam Prep has recorded 24 downloadable audio "lessons" to help you prepare for the SAT Reasoning exam. These sessions are divided into a 12-week SAT Verbal semester and a 12-week SAT Math semester. These semesters follow the same curriculi as our in-person syllabi and each session lasts one and a half hours.
You can purchase these files on a session-by-session basis or as full Semester packages. We email you all your course materials free of charge. We will use email to mark and return any work that you do as part of your Audio SAT Reasoning Sessions; however, because not everyone wants this service, it does come at a small added cost (see Prices).
* Skype calls are free between Skype users. We will give you instructions on downloading Skype when you sign up for Online Skype Tuition; but the software is free and easy to download.
5. What technology do I need for online tutoring?e
In order to take online tuition with Ivy Exam Prep you will need a computer with an internet connection, an email address and Microsoft word. Students wishing to email us homework assignments for grading purposes will also need a Scanner.
Our downloadable audio files should be compatible with most standard audio-players such as I-Tunes or Windows Media Player. We will also give you a link to a web-page, so that you can stream the lessons online. Students taking tuition through Skype will need a web-cam. These are built into many newer computers or can be purchased for around £20.
6. I've downloaded your Online SAT Course, should I also take private SAT tutoring?f
Our online audio sessions follow the same curricula as our face-to-face SAT Reasoning, so in general it is not a good idea to take both.
We are confident that our audio-sessions will leave you feeling very well prepared for the SAT Reasoning test, but every student is different. If - after taking our audio course - you find that you are still struggling in particular areas, we would be more than happy to meet with you and work on your trouble areas.
7. I live outside of London, can I still take classes with Ivy Exam Prep?g
Yes. You can study with an Ivy Exam Prep tutor online via Skype from anywhere in the world; or you can download our SAT Reasoning audio-lessons. (See Study Online)
8. I am a parent. How can I stay updated on my child's progress?h
Normally, communication between our parents, tutors and students happens on an informal basis. There are some cases, however, where parents want to be formally updated on their child's scores, motivation levels and behaviour. If your child is living or studying away from home, has retakes coming up or has had problems with motivation in the past, you may want to know how they are doing on a week-by-week basis. In these cases, Ivy Exam Prep will set up a password locked blog that you and your child's tutor can access. Your tutor will then write about your child's progress, allowing you to see if there are any difficulties that need to be addressed. We offer this service by request, free-of-charge.
9. I am not taking U.S. Standardized tests, should I still use Ivy Exam Prep?i
Absolutely. Ivy Exam Prep provides an equally dedicated and specialized service for students taking Secondary School Entrance Exams, GCSE's, AS and A Levels. We hire a wide range of tutors who each tutor a small range of subjects; this ensures that - whether you are taking SAT Reasoning or A Level Physics - you will be paired with a tutor whose training meets your needs.
The only difference between British exam tuition and our SAT tuition is that you will also be studying the material for your British exams in school. So, for British exam tuition, in order to tailor our tutoring to your needs, we tend to let your school-work guide the content of your tutoring sessions.
