Jennifer: Jennifer has been my English tutor since the 3rd grade (I am now in 10th grade). Her teaching style had a way of making even the dullest of topics shine like a very shiny object that's indescribable. Time after time again, she helped me through roadblocks in essay writing, coming in like a wrecking ball. Her incredible arsenal of literary knowledge never ceased to amaze me. She knew every trick in the book, partly because she wrote some! Her famed "grammar notes" covered every single possible grammar dilemma one could face on the test. She's a magical grammar guru! In addition to having the best grammar notes I've ever seen, Jennifer is well versed in the realms of literature.We studied writing pieces from authors ranging from the gloomy Ernest Hemingway to the eloquent and well-spoken Shakespeare. She was even acquainted with the esoteric Mahabharata, something that's rarely even taught at the college level! Not only that, Jennifer is also an exceptional essay grader, dissecting my ham-handed attempts at writing with ease and identifying what I could do better in an instant. Her guidance helped me improve my writing and fix my essay structure. Rather than holding my hand throughout the entirety of the curriculum, she instead taught me different approaches and solutions to problems in with SAT questions. Then she explained to me how to apply them rather than telling me how to solve each individual problem. Not only that, Jennifer weaves in references to pop culture and real life events in order to give her students actual representations of mechanics rather than spewing out information without showing us how it's used well in practice. An example of this is when she told me to make a deliberately over-the-top argument in a story sound like a our current political debate to elucidate that contentions in the past still hold true today. Picture Jane and Rochester of Jane Eyre vs. Clinton and Trump, minus the romance. Even in normal day-to-day conversation, she weaves in literary devices! Leon: I first met Leon when I was prepping for the AMC (American Mathematics Competition) Test of 7th grade. The AMC is a test that goes above and beyond a school's curriculum and throws a hodgepodge of problem solving and devilish logic based problems at a test taker. The problems that I encountered were weird, wacky, and completely foreign to me. However, Leon came to my rescue. Not only did he show me the mechanics and methods needed to solve the problems, he explained where these problems would be used in real life, not just in the abstract. This had the effect of making me actually understand the information, rather than just him talking at a wall. He then pulled up related problems that I could do in order to make me apply the concepts he had just taught me. He taught me so well that I managed to get first in my grade for the AMC of my freshman year of high school. read more

I am grateful to have met Jennifer through a referral from a friend after having had struggled mightily with pushing my diagnostic test scores past the 2100 mark on the old SAT. Under Jennifer's guidance, I not only managed to "penetrate" the proverbial glass ceiling 2100 benchmark, but also managed to score a respectable 2290. Jennifer's SAT tutoring was instrumental in helping me gain acceptance into prestigious universities like Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, and Carnegie Mellon University - I am truly grateful for that! I personally find Jennifer's teaching philosophy and strategy to be extremely effective because she manages to reduce the complexity and trickery of SAT test questions by helping students identify commonly tested grammar rules and assisting students navigate the nuances of difficult critical reading passages. She successfully conveys to students what the SAT is specifically testing, and attacks the crux of the SAT with her unparalleled teaching methodologies. I must confess that in her presence, the combination of individual attentiveness Jennifer provides, and Jennifer's own amiable personality instilled into me much needed self confidence that was integral when faced with such an intimidating examination. Students like me find Jennifer to be so magnificent because she excels as a teacher from two fronts - the obvious technical side and the much underrated emotional side that some teachers lack. I think what makes Jennifer truly stand out above other tutors is that she genuinely cares for her students. I, like many others, believe that actions speak louder than words. I recall when Jennifer took time out of her own busy schedule to revise my twenty page AP English essay. Despite not being financially compensated for this work, Jennifer still meticulously spotted errors in my writing, laboriously spent multiple days revising drafts of my essay, and even bothered to call my cellphone to make sure I submitted the essay on time when the deadline rolled around the corner - this happened on multiple occasions. Her actions speak loud and clear, it shows! Jennifer is extremely kind, earnest, empathetic, and most importantly, patient. I am grateful to have been under her tutelage, and definitely recommend her over any other SAT prep programs like Elite. Do not hesitate to ask her any questions outside the realm of English language. As great as she is a teacher, she is an even greater human. read more

For most of my middle school and high school years, Jennifer tutored me, helping me grow as a writer and a critical reader. The reading section on the SAT was often a weak point for me, but with Jennifer's help I was able to improve enough to score a 800 on the reading section, as well as 780 on the writing section. Ultimately, I ended up attending UC Berkeley with the help of these scores. When I began practicing for the SAT, the reading section seemed arbitrarily difficult - in particular, the reading passages felt like a hit or miss. With Jennifer's help, though, I gradually became familiar with the workings of the SAT, and understood how to handle difficult sections. It was also with Jennifer's help that I expanded my vocabulary. It not only helped me with the sentence completion on the SAT, but also improved my ability to expand on my ideas in a plethora of ways. From my experiences as a student and now a friend of hers, I can say with the utmost certainty that Jennifer is not only qualified to help students understand and succeed on the SAT, but she has the patience and dedication to see them through no matter how insurmountable it may seem. Many times when I struggled to understand solutions, Jennifer would remind me about the proper approaches, and then work with me to apply those approaches and reach the correct answer. Perhaps we were instead revising an essay in which I had poor transitions and disjoint ideas. Jennifer would work with me to find a clear progression of ideas and well-framed arguments. It's not easy to find a teacher who will be able to connect with students and so clearly elucidate the obscure. Jennifer is a fantastic tutor, and I have no doubts that any student under her tutelage will be able to succeed. read more

I used to have a bad impression of tutors, since most of my experiences were negative and unhelpful. Yet I had the good fortune of having Jennifer and Leon as my tutor. They established something no other tutor had been able to do before: trust. They had me engaged in my studies, and were able to balance personality with focus. It was easy to talk about generic things like school, life, and the future, yet both of them ensured I stayed on task. When it came to SAT prep, I went over hundreds of new vocab words every session. Jennifer would even have me write essays IN SESSION, go over it and then have me write AGAIN within the same session. Along with the constant practice, the feedback and explanations she provided me were clear and provided structure, ensuring I fixed my bad habits and performed consistently well. With Leon, what helped most was clarifying difficult concepts and having a peer who understood how challenging the subject could be. His explanations made me enjoy math, no small feat, since historically I detested the subject. The results were immediate: My Sat essay improved tremendously, with a perfect score of 12/12! Even the best students at my high school scored less than me. I saw huge improvements in SAT Math and Calculus at school. And the lessons continued to help throughout my college career. Wherever you go, I guarantee you will not find a better mentor than Jennifer and Leon. read more

I would consider tutoring with Jennifer as one of the best academic decisions I've made. When Jennifer started tutoring me in the end of eighth grade, my English, especially my writing skills, were less than subpar. Growing up in China, I never really learned proper writing techniques until I met Jennifer. With her experience as an editor, Jennifer is able to spot errors and critique my essays in a way that no other teacher has before. When we started preparing for the SATs and the ACT, I remember that I had a tough time grasping all the grammar concepts. Thankfully, Jennifer's own list of the grammar rules, which I've dubbed the "SAT English Bible" helped me immensely in the English section. Although standardized testing has always been an issue for me due to the timing and just the pressure to do well in general, Jennifer was able to simplify, or decode, the different sections of the test, which made it so much easier to tackle. With Jennifer alongside every step of my four stressful years of high school, I'm incredibly happy to have chosen to attend Cornell University. I cannot thank Jennifer enough for her patience, kindness, and her incredible knowledge of the ACT, SAT and APs. I couldn't have done it without her! read more

Jennifer worked miracles with my son's SAT reading preparation. After scoring 620 in reading last October (total 1350), we finally connected with Jennifer in January. She immediately impressed me with her professionalism - she requested his practice tests and analyzed his errors as soon as she accepted him as a new student (before I even made a payment). After working with him, she created a personalized study plan which proved to be very effective. In just two months, my son's reading score jumped from 620 to an incredible 790 (a 170-point improvement), bringing his total SAT score to 1570. This transformation exceeded my wildest expectation. What sets Jennifer apart is her methodical approach, efficiency, and ability to connect with students. My son, who had previously worked with another tutor last summer and complained of being too slow, found Jennifer's pace perfect and was able to follow her study plan with enthusiasm. Jennifer is definitely the best tutor I have ever known. I cannot thank her enough for her exceptional guidance, dedication, and the remarkable impact on my son's academic journey. So I am writing this review to give my highest recommendation. read more

Jennifer was instrumental in helping our daughter from middle school through high school. She was like a big sister to her and she was a great role model. We felt very fortunate to have had Jennifer's guidance in those crucial years. Jennifer has all the attributes of a great mentor. She's smart, knowledgeable, caring, and she runs a tight ship. Each week, over the years, she laid out short-term and long-term goals, guided our daughter through school work, test preparation, summer studies, SATs, college essays... In addition, our daughter frequently shared her struggles and achievements with Jennifer, they emailed each other regularly, chatted over phone and Skype even late at night. Middle school and high school is such a stressful time for students and families. Jennifer helped our daughter stay focused and cope with pressure. We always see our daughter in positive thoughts after a class with Jennifer. We highly recommend Jennifer Chong's tutoring and Decoded Prep. 3 big thumbs up from us! read more

Jennifer and Leon of Decoded Prep have been especially helpful in preparing me for the SAT! They are hands-on and encouraging teachers when presenting new material for us, and guide us through questions we have on review material. By going step by step, I was able to learn about the concepts and rules presented in both the English and Math sections, thus allowing me to have a better understanding of the test and how it functions. I additionally received help in developing my writing skills for the timed essay. Through their help, my SAT score had increased by more than 100 points from my original sample test, a score I was very happy with. I recommend them to anyone who is searching for an SAT prep class and wanting to improve their test-taking capabilities. read more

Jennifer and Leon have both drastically helped me with both SAT prep and with school work. They have managed to pinpoint my specific academic needs and formed lesson plans that were suited perfectly for my learning. I have formed one on one connections with both of them, as they care for their students overall academic growth- not just the SAT score. They both have been extremely encouraging and sympathetic to my struggles with my busy schedule and stress that comes with high school. I really enjoyed the classes I have taken with them and am grateful for all the guidance they have provided me! read more

Throughout middle school and high school, Jennifer has helped me improve both as a writer and as a critical thinker. For instance, when I began to struggle in Honors English this year with essay writing, her personalized lessons and constructive criticism helped me improve my grammar, expand my vocabulary, and write in a clearer and more concise manner. With her help, I even managed to secure an A in the class despite my initial hardships. Overall, I highly recommend any high school (or even middle school) student who needs assistance in English to reach out to Jennifer and Decoded Prep! read more

Jennifer has been a teacher and mentor to me for as long as I can remember. I am an upcoming self published author and she dedicates her time to sort through hundreds of pages of stories. She helps me with my school work ensuring I get an A on every essay, quiz, and presentation. She's well versed in all the classics for literature and will surprise you with her knowledge of obscure novels and poems (many of which she has convinced me and better than classics). read more

I worked with Jennifer and Leon for about 2-3 years in SAT, English, and Math. Jennifer is very insightful and understands how to approach different topics in English from reading comprehension to writing. She definitely has ensured my success in my English classes, AP tests, and SAT scores. Leon has also helped me survive Pre Calculus and also improve my math SAT score. Overall, thanks to them, I received a high SAT score and better grades. read more

Decoded prep has helped me improve my SAT score and successfully prepared me for the ACT. I studied at Elite for a couple of months before switching to Decoded Prep and immediately saw results. Jennifer and Leon's lessons were more personalized to my needs and go deeper in the depth than Elite's. The atmosphere is very comfortable and is a great space for learning and working. Overall, I would highly recommend coming here for SAT/ACT prep. read more

Decoded Prep has improved my SAT score dramatically (from a 1300 to above a 1400). Jennifer and Leon runs an excellent program in tutoring students. They do a phenomenal job by making any learning material easily understandable and are extremely patient. With their help, I was able to get accepted into high ranking universities such as Berkeley. I highly recommend decoded prep because they show such care into what they do. read more

I went to Decoded Prep for SAT tutoring, and that was the best decision I have ever made. Both Leon and Jennifer helped me understand the SAT in ways I simply didn't before. Both of them have supportive, delightful personalities to the point where going to learn did not feel like a chore. With their vast resources and abundant knowledge of the SAT, Decoded Prep is THE place to go for tutoring. read more

Jennifer and Leon are the best. I've taken their SAT prep class, individual sessions with Jennifer, and home tutoring with Leon. They helped me in every way throughout my high school years. I started at a 1080 and ended up with a 1490. Truly a blessing to have Leon and Jennifer on my side. Just got into USC, couldn't have done it without their help! read more

Decoded Prep is an excellent program for improving one's SAT scores. Jennifer and Leon are fantastic, engaging teachers who are always ready to listen and thoroughly discuss any questions with you. I highly recommend taking one of their courses to develop a heightened understanding of the material in order to earn the best score possible. read more

Jennifer is an amazing tutor. She helped me improve my essays tenfold, which allowed me to score high grades on my essays and for some of the AP English tests. She is not afraid to give constructive criticism, which allowed me to grow in my writing skills. Would highly recommend to others who need help with essay writing. read more

Leon and Jennifer are outstanding tutors. My daughter used them not only for the SAT, but for AP Pre-Calc and AP Biology. Her SAT score improved dramatically from her PSAT score. Communication was good, and the rates were reasonable. We cannot recommend them highly enough!!! read more