Are you looking for a private tutor for the AP English Language and Composition Test and don’t know where to start?
The AP English Language and Composition test is hard. In 2018 more than half a million students took the test. Almost 43 percent did not pass. What did they do wrong? Many of them took an AP English class in school, yet they still scored only a 1 or a 2 out of a possible 5. How is it possible that even after a semester-long class, so many could not get a passing score of 3, 4 or 5?
The answer: Many AP English teachers do not focus on the strategies and skills needed to score well. Let’s get a paradox out of the way. Teaching-to-the-test is loathsome to educators, and rightly so. But the tests are reality, and if you want to score well, you need to prepare for them. If your AP English teacher is one of the few who teaches to the test, or if you have tons of discretionary time and the self discipline to study on your own, maybe you do not need a tutor. But for many students, a specialized AP English Language and Composition tutor who teaches to the test can make a big difference.
Many challenges arise when trying to prepare for this test by yourself. Figuring out what resources are available is the first challenge. Dozens of study guides claim to be the best; many online sites hawk services; and the AP itself offers many resources hidden on its dense website. An experienced AP English coach knows what resources work. You save time. Unlike some tests, the AP English Language and Composition test includes two parts: Multiple Choice and Free Response Essays. Even if you spend hours studying and taking practice tests, you still need feedback from an experienced reader on your essays. The best tutor, moreover, is also a coach: motivating you to study and keep on track, when, let’s be honest, it’s not something that is all that fun.
Hiring an AP English Language and Composition tutor is a big decision. Prices range from $25 to $100 an hour and up. Why does one charge more than four times the other? Is the higher priced person better?
Specializing: Many writers offer AP English tutoring services. But you don’t want just any writer. Sure, you want to improve your writing. But what you really need is someone who can teach you specific strategies to pass both the Multiple Choice (worth 45% of the total score) and each of the three essays (each worth 18.3 %). The essays (Synthesis, Rhetoric, and Argument) require targeted techniques. Only a tutor that knows each of the essay prompts inside and out can guide you well. A generalist will not prepare you to the same level.
Resources: You want a tutor that has an extensive library of study guides, flash cards, practice tests, and practice prompts geared for this specific test. The best tutors can draw on their experiences working with students to know where most stumble. They have resources to work on these areas.
Coaching: Testing is a drag. And studying for it can be a drag as well. You need someone who is not just a tutor, but a coach—someone who motivates and keeps you on track. A good tutor knows you are juggling 6 or 7 classes as well as extra curriculars, social life, and family—but still prods you when necessary so you keep on track and meet your goal of being prepared come May.
Commitment: Tutors come from all walks of life. For some, it is a full-time job. For others, a side hustle. Some are college students juggling a lot of plates just like you. You want to hire someone who is committed to tutoring and to your success. Someone willing and able to accommodate your schedule and give you the time and resources you need when you need it.
Affordability: Not everyone’s budget can accommodate top-tier tutors. But guess what? The most expensive tutors from the major test prep companies charging more than $100 an hour are not always the best. In fact, those companies take a large percentage of the tutor’s hourly rate. If you can find a private tutor that you pay directly, you will save and the tutor will benefit, not the tutoring company. At the same time, let’s be realistic: the least expensive tutor in most cases is not a specialist. And the best use of your tutoring dollar is to hire a specialist for a few sessions rather than a generalist for many hours. You want to make the most of your time and money.
Individual or Group: Group test prep is fine for many tests, such as the SAT or ACT. But because about half the points of the AP English Language and Composition test comes from the essays, you need individualized critiques on your writing. Stick to either private tutoring or small group tutoring that includes individual writing assessment.
Flexibility: High school students and families lead busy lives juggling academics, work, sports, friends and family. A private tutor can be flexible and change an appointment if needed.
In Person or Online: It can be hard to find a tutor who specializes in the AP English Language and Composition test in your community. The good news is that it is perfectly fine to use remote tutors! Everything can be done via internet and phone. It’s far better to get a remote specialist who works with you on the phone and online than to get a local person who is not an expert in this specific test.
How do you know if someone is an expert on this particular test? Before hiring anyone, call or email and ask a few questions of the potential tutor. Ask about not only background, but more importantly, tutoring strategy. If the answer is general and could be about any test, you are not talking to a specialist. You want someone who answers with specifics about each of the the three essay prompts. You could ask: Tell me what are some of the most important techniques you recommend for the Rhetoric Essay? What do you see as the mistake students make most often on the Synthesis essay? What kind of practice do you recommend for scoring well on the Argument Essay? A good tutor will have immediate specific answers. Another way to test if a potential tutor is a specialist is to ask questions about the test, such as: how much of total score does the Multiple Choice Section account for? If the tutor does not know, he or she is not a specialist.
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