About our Center
Academics Plus was overall an amazing choice I made. Not only did I learn new concepts and sharpen up my skills but I gained a sense of personal confidence. I used to be terrified of standardized testing. But going to Academic Plus, I learned inside and out the SAT and was no longer afraid to sit down and take a once-terrifying test. After my first 3 sessions, I definitely felt that I gained control and was able to make my own decisions in regards to omitting and knowing what kind of learner I am. It was great to have one-on-one sessions with Jacqui, and I felt that she really cared about my personal progress in preparing for the SAT. I recommend Academics Plus for everyone!
~Laura, senior at The Hewitt School
Academics Plus has provided my son with expert tutoring for the SAT. Within just a few sessions, Jacqui LoBosco quickly understood his learning style and tailored her tutoring sessions accordingly. Her highly structured and well organized approach worked well with my son, and she was always encouraging.
~BJ, parent of senior at The Browning School
I had been carrying around a torn piece of paper scribbled with the words Academics Plus for quite sometime while researching potential tutor support for my daughter’s transition from her current elementary school to the high school application jungle! As smart, creative and engaged a student as Sarah is, her test scores had been a concern. Since her school emphasizes in-depth evaluations over grades and applied learning over standardized “snapshot” measures, she needed to be helped to demonstrate a more generalized kind of knowledge base. Academics Plus advertises a personalized approach, a focus on enrichment that identifies strengths and challenges and speaks to both. A unique feature for a tutoring center, Academics Plus is equally positioned as an academic booster and a supporter of self-esteem.
I am happy to report -- there is truth in advertising! Sarah began her test-prep adventure in late July and within five sessions with Jacqui LoBosco she was on her way to developing better habits in the company of someone who “gets her”. I have been consistently impressed by Jacqui’s flexibility, her approach to the whole person, her multiple intelligences leanings. And more importantly, Sarah seems to look forward to working with her and feels bolstered up by the experience. I am confident that Sarah will come through this process better prepared and more fully in touch with herself as a learner. I couldn’t ask for more.
~Susan, parent of 8th grade student at Bank Street
My daughter, currently an eighth-grader, has been tutored through Academics Plus for almost one year. She attends a truly wonderful progressive school where she has been deeply appreciated as an individual with all her personal flair, and where her myriad strengths have been nurtured and flourished. The teachers have always been available to assist and support her. On the other hand, she is just the type of kid whose weaknesses fall through the cracks within even the most attentive of programs. Being very articulate and bright, she always managed to get by as a deep thinker and a strong learner; she could always show the wealth of what she did know without revealing all that she circumvented. When the curriculum changed in middle school, such that she was eventually being tested in a quantifiable way, some gaps were revealed, which were quickly widening, especially in math. Multiple teachers valiantly spent hours trying various methods to teach her, to no avail. She seemed to understand concepts on one day and not on the next; she could devise strategies for new problems and then be unable to apply them with simple math. It would take her so long to do operations, counting on her fingers (in seventh grade), that she would completely lose track of what she was attempting to figure out. She became exhausted by the middle of a math class or tutoring session. Some tutors became so frustrated that they blamed her for being unwilling to try. All this began to have a serious impact on her self-esteem to the point that she would feel sick just at the thought.
My daughter looks forward to seeing her tutor weekly, who has made a fantastic effort to comprehend how her brain works (and does not), and has managed to formulate methods of teaching her that succeed. My daughter is acquiring skills she had missed completely and developing compensatory skills to utilize her strengths and get through her vulnerabilities. She is finding confidence, such that she is no longer afraid of math; she can ask the teacher questions about what she does not understand and she is doing well on her tests and homework much of the time. She does not get nauseous in class. Most importantly, she is gaining insight into her own learning styles and helping others to help her navigate through what she finds difficult. She is learning techniques to get a grip on her own processes, intellectual and physiological. She is learning to self-regulate so that she can harness her attention even when a mental challenge seems unconquerable at first. Beyond the practical skills necessary for doing math, she is developing thinking and learning skills that are critical to succeeding in so many aspects of life.
We are immensely grateful to Academics Plus for artfully applying science, pedagogy, personal skills and determination to forge through the seemingly intractable difficulties we faced and restoring beauty and joy to the essential art of thinking.
~Regina, parent of 8th grade Calhoun student
Dear Michele,
Thanks so much to you and all the folks at Academics Plus. It is the perfect place for kids who are smart but just don't test well. The comfortable and energetic environment helped my daughter feel "at home" and easily get the best scores she could.
~ Robert, parent of senior at La Guardia student
I was very happy with my test prep experience with Academics Plus. I feel a lot more comfortable with the SATs in general and more confident that I will achieve my goals.
~ Lycee Francais student
Working with Academics Plus gave me the confidence to really succeed. Your tutors really know what they are doing.
~ Christine, senior at Notre Dame
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful service you provide in a professional and caring manner. John has become an inspirational role model and friend to Catherine. He is a special person!
~ Loretta, parent of senior at Marymount student
Thanks to the people at Academics Plus and especially Laura for all her great help and motivation!
~ Brian, member of The Boys Club of NY who received full scholarship into his 1st choice HS (Hackley)
About our Book
How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool is perhaps the only SAT preparation course your student will need. This book is wonderfully simple, a very welcome change to the world of SAT preparation. How to Ace the SAT begins by explaining to the reader how the SAT works and instructing the student in how to read and interpret each question on the exam. Teaching students how to take this particular exam is a key factor in earning a higher score but it is often overlooked. How to Ace the SAT fills this void while instilling confidence in the student.
How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool is a must-have for all students. I firmly believe that this book should comprise a large part of the curriculum used in the year leading to the test.
~Meg, Homeschooling Mother and School Board Home Education Advisor
This new book How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool is one of the best books on the subject that I have reviewed in quite some time.
The readability of the chapters makes it easy for students to understand. All exercises shown are geared to help a student with critical thinking skills and the use of common sense needed when approaching the SAT. It is an invaluable tool for anyone who wishes to improve their score on the Reasoning Section of this exam.
The Reasoning Section is a measure of the critical thinking skills a student will need for academic success in college. This book prepares you to assess, analyze, and solve problems. How to Ace the SAT thoroughly and easily, takes students through this process step by step.
The math section is equally helpful as it guides students in a manner that makes the processes of math completely understandable, user friendly, and "do-able."
I am very impressed with the outlay and content of How to Ace the Sat Without Losing Your Cool, and highly recommend its purchase for SAT preparation. The book's price is equitable to lesser SAT prep books and the strategies gained from reading it and doing the exercises are far superior to any.
~Kristen, School reform editor, author, and former teacher
This is a well-conceived, well-constructed and easily accessible book aimed at helping students do well on the dreaded Scholastic Aptitude Test. The people at Academics Plus, led by Director Michele LoBosco, cover the three parts of the test thoroughly and with insight into the nature of the beast.
~Dennis Littrell
How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool provides strategies for answering questions, practices and writing guides. The key is in the subtitle "Without Losing Your Cool." Relaxation is probably the key to test-taking. I can attest to that! If I was confident on exams, I did really well. If I was worried and nervous, I froze up. Over the years, I learned to take tests in a relaxed state by going to Marx Brothers movies the night before, by creating test flash cards, by employing many practice strategies. Yes, I still take exams professionally, so I know the benefit of practice.
Another use of the book is to identify weaknesses. Let's say doing math problems is not your thing. If you were to use this book early in your academic pre-university career and focus on the next year's classes, you could hope to focus in on subjects you need to brush up.
This book is readable, has a very pleasant layout and has a lot of information. It looks like something a parent could use with a child together, reading practices and strategies and discussing academics. I did well on my SAT's, but as a student, I would have LOVED to have had this book. I would have felt great going in after such a practice to take the exam.
~Joanna Daneman
This book is a refreshing and very welcome departure from the usual dry SAT preparation materials. Sister authors Michele and Jacqueline LoBosco present a solid and useful guide in a friendly and down-to-earth manner. The narrative format is very appealing and accessible. I really enjoy the conversational tone of the book; it seems as if a friend has stepped in to act as tutor.
How to Ace the SAT without Losing Your Cool utilizes a concept referred to as "the way of the enlightened SAT warrior". Reminiscent of Sun Tsu's doctrine from The Art of War, students are presented with three goals: knowing yourself, knowing your opponent, and knowing your strategies. These goals are discussed throughout the book, with specific examples and worksheets set up to assist in meeting them. Prospective test takers are also encouraged to set goals for their SAT performance, and to consider a personal strategy for each type of test question.
It was interesting to see an omitting table and note exactly how many correct answers correspond to a particular score, as long as no points are taken for incorrect answers. The authors make it clear that in some cases it is best to leave a question blank, and readers will learn exactly when "the omitting strategy" should be adopted. Every incorrect answer costs the student ¼ of a point.
The math prep section is over 100 pages in length. Mathematical concepts are broken down into consecutive integers, exponents, averages, percents, ratios, basic shapes, triangles, circles and arcs, shaded region, systems of equations and substitution, probability, permutations, conversions, functions, funky symbols, rate/distance, and slopes. These subsections each have descriptions and strategies, as well as practice problems. The overview reviews terminology and a topic chart where the reader can check off their comfort level with each type of problem. Choices are offered as "not very", "kinda", or "very".
The final section offers very helpful SAT writing preparation tips. Very specific suggestions to improve essay writing are easy to implement. There are five sample essay questions. I particularly liked the "get your feet wet" exercises. Practice questions for the writing section are also useful.
Highly recommended!
~Lorel Shea, Gifted ed editor at www.bellaonline.com
How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool was written by two tutoring center owners, who happen to be sisters. In it, there are instructions on acing the SAT: it is broken down by section, followed by sample practice problems. The authors pose questions to the reader to get them thinking about their own skills (ie. "What happens when…" and "What does this mean?"). It's almost like the authors are having a conversation with their audience.
There are step-by-step explanations, charts, and a great appendix equipped with parts of speech and sample sentences.
~Amanda Fornecker
