If you're looking for a reliable test center, this is it! I've taken two exams with Pearson in the…read morepast and both times I've found the system in place to be efficient and pleasant (or as pleasant as one can be when taking an exam). It's important to note that in this particular building, the earliest you can arrive is half an hour before your appointment. Any earlier, and the security guard will force you to leave the building (they will not let you stay in the lobby). When you arrive at the security desk in the middle of the lobby, they already have your name on a list with all other test takers so you just need to show your ID to verify who you are. Upon entering the suite, you again show your ID (and a credit card or something else with your signature) to the guy up front. They give you a set of instructions to read over and when you're done, you get your picture taken. Depending on the test you're taking, you may also have to get a pulse reading. You then stash all your stuff in a locker and take your ID, locker key, and maybe a calculator if one is permitted to the entrance of the exam room. Your proctor then goes over rules with you (basically whatever you need whether it's to go to the bathroom or you need more scrap paper, you just raise your hand and the proctor comes to you). The proctor then walks you to your seat and logs you into your exam. You're taking your exam in a room with a bunch of other people separated by cubicle walls and there's a timer on your computer. This center also had two clocks on the walls so you can check what time it is. Noise canceling headphones are also on your desk and ear plugs are available upon request. Once you're done, you go to the front and there's usually a printout. Either you get your results right away or the printout instructs you on when to expect results. You get your stuff out of the locker and you're free to leave. The staff at this location are all super friendly and efficient so definitely come here if you're an anxious test taker like me and want the moments leading up to your exam to go smoothly.

Please read all information that is sent to you before going to the test center. Information about…read moreyour test is limited so the staff does not have detailed information. Double check your identifications before arrival for expiration dates, bring more than one.What some places consider identification other places might not consider so &bear that in mind. Your exam board is the ones that make the decision as to what they consider an ID. Not all exams require the same so pay close attention to what was sent via email and what the staff says. No cellphone use or studying of any kind is allowed in the test center and only test takers are allowed in the center. Your exam starts the time when you are seated at your assigned workstation and although your exam time is at a specific time and you are seated after that time you still get your all your allotted time for your exam.. Delays happen if computer updates need to be ran, if you leave your items in your pocket when they are to be stored in lockers delay time being seated. If you have specific exam questions like how many sections or the time allotted for sections, how long before you get your results and all other exam specifics you need to refer to your exam board. The test center staff is there to deliver the exam, help with computer issues, give you materials that is allowed in order for you to take your exam. I cannot stress enough that the staff is given limited information detailed information you can receive from your exam board. They do not schedule exams or make changes to the schedule. If you are late it will delay others if you are accommodated. No one wants to deal with the attitude that comes from test takers just as much as test takers don't want to deal with the attitude from the test center staff. The staff understands that test takers are nervous and try their best.

I was looking for a math tutor to prepare for the GREs. I had not done math in over 10 years and,…read morecoming from the arts, the math I did do was very basic. I am so grateful to have found Brian and to have had numerous intensive lessons with him before the exam. I have been teaching for a long time myself, and I can say first hand that Brian is an amazing teacher. Not only was he attentive to my specific mathematical needs, I could also tell he was very invested in wanting me to do well. Brian never made me feel like anything was too difficult or unattainable. He explained all my questions in depth and was always very concerned with making sure I understood everything. Even if that meant going over it again...and again. Brian helped me make diagrams for a statistics research project I was working on as part of my degree in Psychology. I was later asked to present that project at a honors convention my college was hosting. I am sure that his elaborate graphs/diagrams and extensive knowledge in statistics which he imparted contributed to that. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, fluent in every math concept known to man, enthusiastic, patient, efficient, eloquent and kind tutor--look no further. Brian was so instrumental to my success on the GREs and in boosting my confidence. I never thought I would be able to comprehend half the concepts I did. I strongly recommend Elite Ivy Tutors and Brian if you are looking to invest in a tutor. I can't imagine anyone doing a better job.

I heard about Brian through a friend of a friend, so I decided to give him a try for my daughter…read morewho is studying for the SAT. Our first session was free, so I figured why not? She's very picky about things but I figured it couldn't hurt. Fast-forward three months later, and she improved 450 points on her test score and her confidence is through the roof. Worth every penny.

I had a great experience with Tyler Johnson's GRE prep class. He made the class environment fun and…read morewas great at explaining hard to understand concepts. Tyler was always available to answer questions, particularly when it came to difficult math problems. I was able to achieve my target score with Tyler's class and would highly recommend it.

I worked with Josh Yardley on the GMAT. I'm in the office 50+ hours per week which I thought…read morewould've made tutoring sessions difficult. Josh was extremely accommodating, often moving sessions back an hour if I was working a bit later that day with only an hour or so notice. His process throughout our time together was great. We started with covering basics of the three topics, which I definitely needed, and narrowed down to individual problem types as the sessions moved on. I always left those sessions hoping to see those problem types on the test. Truly would turn weak spots into strengths of mine. Seeing the progress reflected in practice test scores was great and happened quickly. I couldn't recommend Manhattan Prep and Josh enough.

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.

It takes me some time to write this review because words can't describe how lucky am I to choose…read morethe right Toefl class and met such a good teacher like Christopher. This is not an Ad or commercial comment but a true thankful message to Test Success. I am a Malaysian girl, eager for Toefl test support as my English is just moderate. However, TEST Success provides first-hand insight of Toefl strategies of how to achieve a higher mark in the test that goes beyond others English classes I attended. Moreover, I have learned more than I have imagined in the class because Christopher always elaborate the meaning of any interesting words or the reading topics. Last but not least, to the teacher I have met, I highly appreciated your thoughtfulness teaching skills and your effort that really helps me to boost my confidence for my upcoming Toefl exam. Best wished for you and your family and wait for my good news. xoxo Fish.

Hi - I highly recommend Test Success!! Christopher…read more(Instructor) has a deep knowledge about TOELF exam and he's been focus on teaching TOEFL for about 20years. The techniques I learned were fundamental to get my desired score on the TOEFL exam. All in all, I couldn't be more happy with the classes, with the material, with the infrastructure (Apple computers available for classes) and with the instructor Christopher. THANK YOU test success!!

I sent my oldest son to this program and I loved the quality of the work and the attention his…read moreacademic needs.Well worth the time and energy.

Our son has always been a bright kid with a very good memory for numbers. Since one of his favorite…read moresubjects in middle school is math, my wife and I are pretty much clueless in helping him with problems. As soon as we became aware that our son has exceeded our knowledge of math (among other subjects as well), it was time to seek outside help. With the SHSAT exams coming up, we want to make sure he's well prepared because he wanted to attend Bronx Science High School next fall. From a friend's recommendation, we've decided to enroll him to the Mini Ivy test prep school. Mini Ivy's main goal is to prepare students to excel in taking the SHSAT exams. To enroll, each student will take Mini Ivy's version of the SHSAT exam to determine where help is needed the most. Based on the results (which do not lie), they will give an accessment of each student. The fees the school charges are determined by the test results. If the student scores high in their placement exam, then the fees will be at a minimum (b/c less help needed). Conversely, if the student requires more instructions, then the fees will be higher. I consider this a fair payment plan for the paying parents. My son was enrolled in their intensive Sunday sessions last year (Summer, 2013) to prepare for the SHSAT exam to enter high school in the Fall, 2014 school year. The instructors are very knowledgeable and prepared my son to take the SHSAT exam with confidence. Overall, my son enjoyed going to Mini Ivy (despite giving up most of his Sundays), learned a lot of math and made new friends (who he'll probably see again in high school). I know it doesn't seem fair, but I wouldn't be giving Mini Ivy five stars if my son didn't get accepted to Bronx Science (his first and only specialized high school choice). But Mini Ivy took the challenge and helped him succeed. That said, I would recommend Mini Ivy to family and friends who are looking for a specialized high school prep school.

I would give this business a negative number if I could. The person that runs the business Stuart…read moreis unprofessional and only cares about your $$$ instead of helping your child. There is a one way thinking with shsat if don't make a certain number the first time taking the test than you won't get in that is false as well. So what I mean is that the student has no room for improvement. I find that close minded teacher who has more ego than heart. There is plenty of tutoring programs and I would not recommend this at all.

I share the negative sentiments about Ibid and Stuart, the owner, as referenced in the 5/26/23…read morereview. My child used Ibid for SHSAT tutoring and found the tutors inexperienced and unable to effectively teach. Stuart was rude, unprofessional and dismissive. Any NYC parent would be better served buying a Kaplan or Tutorverse book online (or live as tutors) than using Ibid. I would not recommend Ibid for SHSAT or any test.

Scam scam scam…read more.. They charge you with no notice or input about auto renewals. I advised that I graduate in 3 weeks and had I reverie notice of an upcoming renewal I would have declined or canceled. I called customer service and the rep led and refused to give me a refund with no reason cited. I'll continue to pursue my refund.

I have the worst experience with these people- have been charged for several months despite…read morereceiving absolutely no tutoring services. No schedule was ever set up, and no tutor was assigned to my child. I have called more than six times requesting a refund and have spoken with Corrine as well as Toni T., the Escalation Manager, multiple times. Despite the fact that no services were provided, they have refused to issue a refund. Instead, I have been repeatedly given the runaround and told there are "no refunds," a policy that was never clearly communicated to me at any point. This has been an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience. I would not recommend this tutoring service to anyone. Money hungry and poor customers service.

In less than two months, Andrew helped me attain the GRE score I needed for acceptance into my…read morepreferred MBA program. His organized approach with a study plan and error log ensured that I maximized the precious time I spent studying. Being so detail oriented, every assignment, practice exam, and question we reviewed played an important role in my rapid improvement. It really felt like Andrew understood the complexities of the exam better than I grasp my favorite movies and novels. When you choose Andrew as your GRE Tutor, you will have a partner that is with you every step, and who genuinely cares about you as a person and profressional.

I cannot recommend Andrew enough if you are studying for the GRE, GMAT, or EA. When I started…read moreworking with Andrew, I had just started my test preparation for the GRE, and was struggling to stay organized and create a study schedule that was both rigorous enough and realistic with my work schedule. One of my favorite aspects of working with Andrew was the fact that he creates a detailed study plan for each of his students week by week, assigning homework based on how much time each student has to study in their day. This was incredibly helpful for me, as I knew each day the number of practice problems I needed to get done, making studying seamless and allowing me to focus on the material and improving my test-taking strategies. Our weekly meetings were also instrumental in my success on the GRE. I had to re-learn much of the material on the quant section, as I had not taken a math class in a number of years. We utilized our weekly meetings to review any homework or practice test problems I had struggled with, and drill in important concepts for the test. Andrew is both direct and encouraging in how he teaches test material, and each week I gained more confidence in my ability to handle the material. By the end of our time working together I improved my quant score from 141 to 159, and my verbal score from 159 to 164. Without Andrew's teaching and help organizing my weekly study plans, I would not have been able to make as large of a score improvement as I did. I am grateful for his help and recommend him to anyone studying for grad school entrance exams!

A while ago, I was on my way to picking up my little sister from Sylvan in the Upper West side…read moreManhattan branch at JCC and a tutor was being yelled at and screamed at by the former assistant manager named, Philesha. I was stunned! I was curious and waited for sometime and she kept yelling. After that day I never saw that tutor again. Most probably the tutor quit and I don't blame her. But it's a shame, my sister said that tutor was very good and she liked being taught by her. Philesha is the worst staff member I have seen at Sylvan. If that is the way a staff treats another staff, I wonder how my sister is being taught. On top of that, Philesha was always late from 30 mins to up to a few time 1.5 hour even! I wonder how she even got the job! If there was a way, I would give 0 star to this center

When I signed my child up for a free trial ACT prep. I received an email regarding the time &…read moredate. Then I kept receiving phone calls and different people gave me different times. I said - should I email the email confirmation I received to you, so you can see I was given a date and time already? It was clear no one was talking to one another. I finally confirmed with Felicia that everything was set. But when I received yet another phonemail with the wrong time - I said, "Why am I so worried my daughter is going to show up and no one will bet there." They laughed and said no, that won't happen. I then repeated the day and time before I hung up to make sure they had it right. I should have listened to my gut. No one was there when she arrived at the West Side JCC location. A janitor finally helped her and she waited on the 7th floor, but no one came. The worst part is when I called they never ONCE apologized. They said it was a mistake (I never got an answer as to exactly what happened) and they would try to accommodate me EVEN THOUGH it is a free test. I was wondering why I was being penalized for taking them up on a free test. Obviously, people do this to see if they would like to continue using the company. I would advise ALL to STEER clear of Sylvan - On the other hand, I talked to someone at Bespoke that was fantastic and received a great reply from Thinking Caps. I would also recommend Khan Academy online for SAT help.