A personalized approach. Built for your kid.
Every student gets the six elements below — but the plan inside each one is built around your kid: where they're starting, how they learn, and what they're aiming for. Timelines flex too: shorter for retakes and test-week sprints, longer for kids with room to grow.
The SAT is my specialty — it's the test I know best, teach most often, and genuinely enjoy. I take on other test prep when it's a good fit, but the SAT is where I do my strongest work.
1-on-1 support
Every session is with me — a licensed Massachusetts teacher with 12+ years in the classroom. No junior tutors, no rotating staff, no script. Sessions are 60 minutes, online via Zoom or in-person in Boston and nearby towns. The plan inside each session is built around your kid: where they're starting, where they want to go, and how they learn.
A study calendar
Every kid gets a personalized study calendar — what to do, on which day, for how long. Built around their school schedule, sports, and energy levels. Checklist-based so your kid can see progress build up. No guessing, no "I don't know what to work on tonight."
- Mon 11 Boundaries · Level 1 worksheet (30 min) ✓
- Tue 12 Session with Ricardo · Boundaries — semicolons & commas ✓
- Wed 13 Boundaries · Level 2 worksheet ▶ Watch lesson Today
- Thu 14 Form, Structure & Sense · Level 1 worksheet (25 min) —
- Fri 15 Boundaries · Level 3 worksheet (25 min) —
- Sat 16 Conventions mini-quiz · 15 mixed questions (20 min) —
A concise video for every topic, at every level
The Digital SAT tests 29 distinct skill areas across 8 domains — 19 in Math, 10 in Reading & Writing. Every one of them gets a short, focused video lesson at three difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard. Your kid watches the video, drills the matching worksheet, and moves up. No theory deep-dives. No filler. Just the strategy and pattern recognition that move the score — on demand, replayable, and built around the exact topic they're stuck on this week.
- ✓ Linear Equations in One Variable · Easy 4:12
- ✓ Linear Functions · Easy 5:38
- ▶ Linear Inequalities · Easy 3:45
- 04 Systems of Linear Equations · Easy 6:22
- 05 Linear Equations in Two Variables · Easy 4:08
We review every practice test together
After each full-length practice test, your kid and I sit down and go through the results — not just the score, but which questions were missed and why. We find the specific weak spots, group them by pattern, and then hone in on those exact topics in the next few sessions. No guessing, no wasted hours on stuff they already know.
- Linear Equations — nailed it
- Words in Context — all correct
- Central Ideas & Details — all correct
- Boundaries (semicolons) — missed 3
- Transitions — missed 2
- Right Triangles — missed 1
Full-length practice tests
Regular timed, full-length practice SATs — simulating real test conditions. After each one we track the score, review the new mistakes, and update the plan. Your kid walks into the real test having already done this several times. The real SAT becomes the least scary one.
Stuck? Just text me.
When your kid gets stuck during homework or practice — a question they can't crack, a concept that just isn't clicking — they can text me a photo of the problem. I send back the solution and, more importantly, the strategy for tackling that question type the next time it shows up. Stuck doesn't last long.
The artist's later works are often described as ___ ; their muted palettes and quiet compositions stand in stark contrast to the bold experiments of her youth.
- A. exuberant
- B. restrained
- C. chaotic
- D. ornate
Wondering how this would look for your kid?
Every plan is built around the student. Book a free 20-minute call and we'll map out what the six elements would look like for yours — no pressure, no commitment.
Book a free consultation →The skills behind the score.
Test scores are an output. The skills behind them — focus, planning, knowing what you don't know, managing pressure — are what actually drive improvement. Most prep programs ignore these. I build them in.
Study habits & time management
When to study (not just what), how long, and how to build a routine that fits around school, sports, and a teenager's actual energy levels.
Knowing what you don't know
Most missed questions are missed because the student didn't realize they were guessing. We build the awareness — the metacognition — to flag uncertainty before it costs points.
Sustained attention & focus
The SAT is over two hours of focused work. We build attention stamina over the course of the program — and teach the reset moves for when focus dips mid-test.
Managing cognitive load
Hard SAT problems aren't actually hard — they're multi-step. We teach the chunking strategies that turn an overwhelming question into a sequence of small, doable ones.
Realistic, milestone goals
Vague targets ("I just want a 1500") fail. Specific, weekly milestones work. We set the right targets and break them down so progress is visible — and motivating.
Test-day pressure management
The body's stress response is real — racing pulse, going blank, second-guessing. We rehearse recognizing the signs and redirecting to a calm-and-focused state, so test day isn't a surprise.
All 29 topics, no blind spots.
The Digital SAT tests these exact 29 skills across 8 domains. Tap any tile to see what's inside.
1 plan for your kid.
Every topic · three difficulty levels · worksheets, strategy, and direct feedback from Ricardo.
Same six elements. Different runway.
How long you work with me depends on where your kid is today and how far out the test is. Here's what I typically recommend — though the specific plan is always built around your student.
Short runway
Best for retakes or late starts. We skip the foundation-building phase and zero in on the highest-leverage question types for your kid's current score. Intensive — usually 2 sessions a week.
- Sessions
- 8
- Pace
- 2× weekly
- Tests
- 4 full-length
- Topics
- 8–12 priority
Standard runway
The sweet spot. Enough time to build the foundation, teach the test, simulate real conditions, and peak on test day. Most of my students start here — it's where the biggest score gains happen.
- Sessions
- ~12
- Pace
- 1× weekly
- Tests
- Every 2 wks
- Topics
- All 29
Long runway
For 10th graders and early 11th graders who want to build the SAT foundation slowly over a school year. Paced monthly — 4 sessions a month — so the SAT never competes with schoolwork or activities.
- Sessions
- 4 / month
- Pace
- Monthly
- Tests
- Monthly-ish
- Topics
- All 29 + review
Curious what each runway costs?
See pricing →1-on-1 with me vs. the big test prep companies.
Most parents have either tried a big-name course or are considering one. Here's how the experience differs — feature by feature.
| Feature | Ricardo · Boston Test Prep | Big test prep companies |
|---|---|---|
| Tutor's SAT score | 99th percentile (guaranteed) | Varies — often undisclosed |
| Class size | 1-on-1 only | Group classes of 10–20 students |
| Curriculum | 100% customized to your kid | Standardized curriculum |
| Between-session support | Direct text + email access to Ricardo | Limited to class hours |
| Teaching credentials | Licensed MA teacher · Ed.M. · 12+ yrs in the classroom | Varies — no teaching license required |
| Approach to study habits | Habit formation & behavior change built in | Content-focused only |
| Schedule flexibility | Sessions scheduled around your kid | Fixed class times |
| Who teaches your kid | Same tutor (me), every session | Rotating instructors possible |
See what it costs.
Transparent pricing.
Flat rates, three flexible programs, and a 5% discount on full bundles. Or book a free 20-minute consultation and we'll figure out the right fit together.
See Pricing →