Ben
Certified Tutor
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. I have been tutoring for over 6 years now, and I have found it to be an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. I specialize in mathematics, particularly at the high school level, and I also have experience tutoring other subjects. I also have done SAT prep for the mathematics section of the New SAT and am very familiar with the recent changes to the exam. My belief is that everyone is capable of learning with enough time, explanation, and practice, and I hope to pass this on to all the students I work with. For this reason, I believe in teaching students how to think and problem solve, rather than just having them memorize patterns or facts.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Pennsylvania - Bachelors, Mathematics
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1560
- SAT Math: 800
- SAT Verbal: 750
- SAT Writing: 760
Playing the flute, composing music, reading
- 10th Grade Math
- 11th Grade Math
- 12th Grade Math
- 9th Grade Math
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- Calculus
- Calculus 2
- Calculus 3
- College Algebra
- College Math
- Geometry
- IB Chemistry
- IB Chemistry SL
- IB History
- IB History HL
- IB History SL
- IB Language A: Literature
- IB Language A: Literature HL
- IB Mathematics SL
- IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
- IB Music
- IB Music HL
- IB Music SL
- Languages
- Linear Algebra
- Math
- Multivariable Calculus
- Pre-Calculus
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Subject Test in Chemistry
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- Science
- Spanish 1
- Spanish 2
- Spanish 3
- Test Prep
- Trigonometry
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I like to first work through problems step-by-step, asking questions at each step to make sure they are following along. This will quickly reveal any weaknesses in conceptual understanding. Then, I walk the student through a similar problem without just telling them how to do it. Next, I have the student try a problem on their own. Working through different problems that require different skills teaches the students that they are capable of learning new material and are able to apply it, which helps them feel more confident and capable in the subject.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I generally start by briefly getting an idea of the student's academic history: what subjects they have taken recently, what they like and dislike, and what has been giving them trouble. If the student does not have a specific concept or skill in mind already, then I'll use this to pick a good starting place. I generally first give simple problems to see if they understand the skill well enough conceptually to use it in basic contexts, and then move on to more complicated problems, based on how much the student struggled.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
For any concept, I always try to have several different ways of explaining it, and I choose which explanations to use based on what has worked for the student in the past. For instance, if the student seems to be more of a visual learner, I might show them a graphical way to solve a problem instead of a more algebraic method.