Alyssa is fantastic! She was recommended to us as a writing tutor by my sons' former principal…read more She worked w/ him on both his writing & on ACT test prep. She helped him improve both dramatically. In addition, I have recommended her to others & all have reported that their childrens' test scores have improved. I will definitely use her for my 2nd son if she can take him.. Strongly recommend!

From the owner: Students Who Attend Alyssa Petrone Test Preparation Can:…read more Learn concrete strategies and methodologies that help "demystify" the test, thereby putting the student in control of the test rather than succumbing to it. Learn how to "pace" and work comfortably within the arbitrary time constraints of the test. Develop confidence and reduce test anxiety through regular, disciplined practice. Improve critical reasoning abilities through mastery of frequently asked question types including: inference, weakening/strengthening arguments, uncovering assumptions and comparing and contrasting Points of View. Develop higher levels of thinking by learning how to "synthesize" information. Identify and learn to overcome barriers to good performance such as, "overthinking", making unwarranted assumptions, and carelessness. Learn the grammar most commonly used on the SAT, ACT, GRE and GMAT as well as the "tip offs" to spotting the errors on the tests.

I have taken the ACT two times before. The first time in April with no prep and got a 23 and the…read moresecond time I prepared with a very expense tutor for a month to only receive a 24 a month later. I am not a very good test taker so my friend recommended me to take the Y2 Academy. It was my summer into senior year so I was up for anything. Let me tell you it is not cheap. After prepping with them the whole summer I only received a 26 on my ACT. Not four points higher like they guarantee they claim. You get homework that is a full-length test. First of all, I thought the homework was useless you take it home and do it and don't over it in class if you do it's very briefly. I understand we need homework but maybe something like a worksheet with exercises or half a test homework would work better. What I learned from this class that is if you don't have a fundamental understanding on a specific topic they will not go over it. They just go over test questions and answers. In this regard, I believe you need to figure out your weak points in the specific areas such as Trigonometry in math on your own. They won't do that they will just give you test scores. Not worth the money. Try to prep yourself or get a cheaper tutoring service.

Very helpful, but intense program for test score boosts. There is a sizable workload, but it pays…read moreoff with upped scores. Teachers do an incredible job preparing students in standardized testing as well as college application and preparation. Personally, the teachers are the biggest influence from my time at Y2.

I agree with HW L. I would give zero stars if I could. My daughter just got back her HSPT score and…read moreMEK was a complete waste of time and money. I have no idea what the MEK practice test was testing for, but it was not in preparation for the actual HSPT. Whatever you do do not base your continued learning on the practice test because it is truly off track. This place is a complete scam. Please know I would not write a review if my child did not put the work in. I witnessed it. Highly disappointed and I can only hope there are better ways to spend $2000 plus to help your child do well on a standardized test.

To all parents who are looking for test prep for their children, stay away from MEK. This place is…read morea money grab. The most important thing is your child will not benefit from their classes. Absolute waste of my child's time and my money. Way more expensive than other test prep places. I signed my child up for a $2600 package believing their pitch during the consultation visit. Zero improvement in the test score (my child is a sophomore and had a 1420 on the assessment SAT test and 10 weeks later is still at the same level). When I met with the director, she essentially blamed my child for not trying hard enough (he is a straight A student). For less cost, Kaplan at least offers teachers with 99th percentile score. The main issue at MEK is their classes are not taught by qualified professionals and run by a husband and wife team who takes advantage of parents who are looking for support for their children. The Operation Director at MEK, who is the co-owner, is a racist toward non-Korean Asians. This place is designed for Korean speaking families only. They are really in the wrong business. This is a business for teaching our children and yet they modeled all the wrong behaviors. The worst experience for a parent. I would give a zero star if it is an option.

Can only speak to two tutors many years ago. They were spectacular and worth every $$$$. Our teen…read morerightly argued that his Advantage tutoring put others unable to afford it at a disadvantage. I could not disagree and suggested he use his advantage to get the best education possible and work to narrow the gap. As a civil rights attorney he's working on it.

I've been fortunate enough to prep with Advantage Testing tutors for the SAT I, SAT II, and the…read moreLSAT. They had a reputation for being the best of the best, and they delivered. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Going back to high school, I had a terrific experience working with Advantage on my college entrance exams. Even though I hated studying in school, I genuinely enjoyed working with AT's teachers. Aside from being gifted instructors, they are some of the friendliest people you'll meet, and they seem to genuinely care about their students. I remember they customized a study plan for me, focusing on the areas of the test that I needed to improve the most. Following their plan, and using the strategies I learned in class, I earned a 760 Verbal, 750 Math I, 790 Writing, and an 800 Math II, all a significant boost above my diagnostic scores (which I recall being in the low ~600 range). Years later, when I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer, and began looking for the right LSAT test prep service, turning to Advantage was a no-brainer. On my first LSAT practice test, I received a diagnostic evaluation in the 55th percentile. I knew that I would need a significant (aka Elle Woods-level) jump in my LSAT score to have a decent shot at the top schools. That's when Advantage came in. Studying with Advantage tutors, you learn to break down each section of the test into a set of consistent techniques, which you hone and solidify over repeated practice tests. After months of test prep, I took the LSAT and scored a 99th percentile on the official exam. Equipped with a great LSAT score, I was admitted to my top choice for law school, a feat that had seemed impossible only a few months prior. Now, as a practicing attorney looking back on it, I am certain I would not have been nearly as well prepared with any other test prep service. In sum, I don't think there is anyone as professional or effective as Advantage when it comes to the hard work of preparing for high-stakes entrance exams. I recommend them without hesitation.

Shana and her team are consummate professionals. Their student support and growth is remarkable and…read moreits good to see they've continued to expand, opening an office in New York. Their test prep is customized for each student and results-driven. Her team is the devoted accountability you need for success at very reasonable rates. Their many happy students speak for themselves. Their flexible yet rigorous test prep curricula are incredibly well designed for students with learning challenges.

After we share almost the same last name, how could I not come here haha. I'm pretty terrible at…read morestudying for tests. I'm totally undisciplined and not self-motivated at all unless I have someone telling me what to do, and sadly with some pretty important tests coming up that I have no choice but to seriously prep for, I thought I could use some outside help just to stay motivated enough. Well I've succeeded and tremendously. I didn't think I could do it, but the girls here have been so incredibly helpful to me. Truly, they are a blessing. Love you all and thank you for everything you do!