Mr. Moxey's Answers to Common Questions

I am a hard worker and get solid grades, but i am a poor standardized test taker. Why is that?

Academic classes and standardized tests judge you by very different skills. As a result, preparing for the SAT and ACT needs a different approach than studying for an exam in school. I find that my workshop classes make the SAT and ACT approachable and they learn the strategies to take full advantage of their intellect and hard work that make them great students to master test day.

Should I take the tests cold before studying with moxey test prep?

Taking the tests without preparation does have some risk involved, including losing confidence, developing negative thoughts and habits, and creating irregularities in your testing history.

How many students are in each Session?

There are up to four students who work with me in workshop during a given session. There is no group instruction: each student works with Mr. Moxey individually in a private breathout room on Zoom, receiving instruction on best practices, structured repetition, and plenty of encouragement to be able to score higher next test day.

How is this class different than a classroom prep course like the one offered at my school?

Given that Mr. Moxey works with only up to four students in each session, he is able to get to know the tendencies of each student and collaborate with each student to maximize efficiency and master the material. There is no set curriculum or plan followed for the whole class. Everything revolves around each student’s specific needs.

Should I take the ACt or sat?

We like to see students take both and study for both. The skills developed on the SAT help you take the ACT and vice versa. Mr. Moxey does find that students who struggle with maintaining a fast enough pace for sections tend to fare better on the SAT given that the ACT has shorter time allowed per question. Students who don’t have the time to study for other tests can take a 70 minute diagostic test with Mr. Moxey for free. He will compare that test with previous PSAT scores and recommend which test to take.

how is this class different than traditional one-on-one tutoring?

Mr. Moxey used to do the majority of his work one-on-one, but now he prefers to individually tutor multiple students in the same session. Often in one-on-one tutoring, the student can actually have too much attention given to what he or she is doing on a given section and have the feeling of being watched. As a result, it is challenging to assess how a student is doing without a pair of eyes watching, without assigning homework, which is how many tutors work. The small group workshops are efficient, closely supervised, and the time flies by because students learn by doing. Best of all— no homework.

Do you give homework?

Mr. Moxey has a fairly strict no homework policy. Giving out homework is a deal-breaker for many high school students, leading to awkward moments when the work is not completed or completed poorly. Our students work hard and stay focused during our sessions, so they don't have to take work home with them. Mr. Moxey advises students on additional timed practice that can be completed outside of our time in our sessions.

How much do your students typically improve?

Students regularly improve by 2-6 composite points on the ACT and 80-180 points on the SAT, and I do consider those outcomes successful, especially given that the course is a fairly minimal time commitment of under 12 hours. The highest increase in ACT score of one of my students was an 8 point jump, from 22 to 30. On the new SAT, the highest amount of growth was 430 points, from a 1000 to a 1430.

do you work with students of all ability levels?

Mr. Moxey worked with students starting with scores far lower than what they needed for the schools they wanted to apply to and have helped them become much more competitive. He has also helped students get perfect scores and go on to the Ivy League. He creates an environment that is comfortable for all students to improve. The private breakout rooms within Zoom allows him to work with the students as individuals and adapt the class to make it as challenging as each student needs to score higher.

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