When high school student Susan Hamilton took the SATÂ last year, she went up over 300 points with the help of popular SAT tutor Laura Wilson known as "The Mother Nudge." And it only cost $139 for three months of tutoring, as much as one hour of traditional private tutoring.
In these tight economic times, this is good news for many parents in small cities and communities across the country who can't afford private SAT tutors.
This month Wilson launched WilsonDailyPrep.com so all students can access her personal proven approach without the usual high cost. Wilson, an English teacher and SAT tutor with 20 years of experience, believes all students should be given opportunities to excel, not just those who can afford expensive private tutoring. Her company, based in suburban Chappaqua, New York, has helped thousands of students improve their SAT scores and she guarantees a 200 point increase.
Besides the tremendous affordability factor, Wilson's program is more personal than any other online SAT tutoring program because of how it connects with students. Wilson's nudging comes in the form of sound bites -- a six question quiz e-mailed to students (five days a week) designed to break the SAT into manageable tasks that ensure the consistent practice students need.
Coaches who hold students accountable for daily, deliberate practice, give students immediate feedback. Those students who do not complete the online quizzes are put on their coach's"Slacker List"and parents are contacted. In these ways, the program builds confidence and extinguishes anxiety and stress - for both students and parents.
Wilson noticed that students who regularly practiced for the SAT scored consistently higher than those who "crammed" once a week. "You don't just go out and run a marathon," adds Wilson. "SAT tutoring has to be like Olympic training, intense, focused and habitual."
As an added incentive for daily practice, students who get correct answers earn points that help decrease world suffering. Wilson has partnered with the Heifer Foundation, where she will donate 10% of all profits in an effort to establish global sustainability.
Wilson has also recently published two "Don't Panic" books, English in English and Write the 25-Minute SAT Essay Right that address English grammar and essay writing.