Kenny Tan Test Prep

04/15/2026

Based on an analysis of Bluebook Tests 4 - 11

02/12/2026

"So stop reading my diatribe on your computer and go sit on the couch with your kid and read a chapter of the following recommendations arranged in haphazard order from those your two-year-old will love to volumes appropriate for middle schoolers." - David Altshuler

I was racking my brains, searching the archives, trying to figure out if there is anything that families with children can do together that does not involve technology. Clearly sending a text from the kitchen to the children in their upstairs bedrooms reminding them that it’s time for dinner requi...

01/23/2026

"These topics didn’t make the top 75 list in the past, but they’ve shown up just enough on old tests or current enhanced ACTs to warrant attention."

A review of just-frequent-enough questions from the Legacy ACT

01/03/2026

Which challenging words appeared most often?

12/03/2025

"if we approach any child—regardless of test scores, diagnosis, or apparent limitations—with the assumption that meaningful growth is within reach, we create the conditions for that growth to occur."

And what Down syndrome can teach us about expectations

11/29/2025

David Altshuler reminds us that it is still quite easy to get into the vast majority of colleges...

"Hence the slogan I’ve been using ever since the first cohort of young people whom I advised in 1984: It’s never too late to relax about being admitted to college."

Update College Admissions Nov 8 Written By Mallika Vora It’s easy to make fun of 1968. I mean, just look at the hair. And paisley shirts? How were paisley shirts ever a thing? Of Nehru Jackets, bell bottom pants, and tie-dye shirts, not much remains. I don’t get out much—hard to read a book in...

11/24/2025

"Make sure your students know that test questions are rarely written in the supportive and transparent ways their classroom teachers favor. Not a single question on the ACT or LSAT or any other exam of this ilk is intended to be answered correctly by everyone. In fact, question difficulty more often than not reflects the percentage of test takers who answered incorrectly in pretesting, meaning that the toughest items are the ones most people get wrong. Learn to look for the reason. If you don’t see why, look out… the kick might be coming!"

…You might get kicked!

11/22/2025

Without intellectual challenge, there is no intellectual change.

AI can't substitute teachers for two reasons but is a much bigger threat to education than prior technologies.

11/22/2025

"Berns concluded, 'At a minimum, we can say that reading stories—especially those with strong narrative arcs—reconfigures brain networks for at least a few days. It shows how stories can stay with us. This may have profound implications for children and the role of reading in shaping their brains.'"

Neuroscientists have discovered that reading a novel can improve brain connectivity and function on a variety of levels.

11/19/2025

📉 The Headline Is Scary — But Your Child’s Future Doesn’t Have to Be

Reading and math performance nationwide is declining. As someone who works with students every single day, I see the same trends up close — kids who are bright, capable, and curious, but missing foundational skills they should have been taught long ago.

The truth is this:
None of this is their fault. But the responsibility to fix it falls on us — the adults.

What I’ve learned after tutoring thousands of students is that every kid can catch up when they get the right guidance, structure, and feedback. They don’t need miracle programs or complicated platforms. They need:

✅ Clear instruction
✅ Consistent practice
✅ Honest feedback
✅ Skills-based learning, not guesswork

And that’s exactly what I focus on in my sessions.

If your child is preparing for the SHSAT, high school entrance exams, or just needs stronger reading/math fundamentals, now is the time to step in — before small gaps become bigger obstacles.

If you’d like support, feel free to message me.
No judgment. Just a plan. And results.

Student achievement has fallen off a cliff. Neither Trump nor the pandemic is to blame.

09/30/2025

08/28/2025

Wrong answers are the key to improvement!

"You can’t correct errors if you don’t know they exist. But if you do find them, then you can correct them. And there aren’t that many question types on these tests. The same skills show up over and over. In fact, they have to – otherwise, it wouldn’t be a standardized test. If you methodically seek out these errors, neutralizing them one by one, the testmakers will eventually run out of questions that surprise you."

What is the optimal percent correct on a homework assignment?