PMTutoring LLC

08/22/2026

The August SAT is officially behind you! Take a well-deserved break this weekend and celebrate the hard work you've put in. No matter how you feel it went, we're proud of the effort you invested. Great job today!

08/22/2026

A quick reminder for parents ahead of today's SAT: don’t panic over your student’s immediate reaction after the test!

Students often focus on the questions that felt difficult rather than everything they answered correctly, and test difficulty is accounted for in scoring. There are also plenty of additional testing opportunities ahead.

The SAT and ACT do not give partial credit- close does not count. However, large score increases can be achieved on quicker timeframes than you'd expect with a few strategic/executional adjustments put into place! Last year, we had a student increase 130 points between the August test and the September test 3 weeks later- there was no magic, but some techniques that finally took hold and a calmer approach to the test.

We had another go up 70 between August and September, then additional 90 between September and October! All it took was thorough scrap paper usage and prioritizing accuracy over speed. This is a common mental roadblock- students can earn tremendous scores even if they run out of time on a handful on questions and have to guess!

Veteran SAT parents, please share and check in on your friends going through this for the first time!

PS- Look out for our upcoming blog post detailing the aggregate data and outcomes for this year's cohort of Aug/Sept/Oct testers!

08/21/2026

The night before the SAT = time to relax and believe in yourself. You’ve prepared, you're capable, and we believe in YOU. Get a good night’s sleep, eat a solid breakfast, and go in confident tomorrow. You’ve got this! Good luck from all of us at PMTutoring!

08/21/2026

Oh, are we all doing the "last minute tips and tricks" thing?

Well OK! Here are some from our team! Super boring, no magic hacks. Just the essential problemsolving and critical thinking skills that pay off time and time again

🤯 Close doesn't count! Everybody always worries about "time" or "the impossible questions"... while rushing and losing plenty of attainable points. Prioritize thoroughly securing points, even if it means sacrificing some others

💥Desmos is a tool, and tools require plans. If you are asking yourself "can/should I plug this into Desmos?" think longer until you know exactly what you're going to do and why.

📝 Use your scrap paper! There's a lot of information in each question, and organizing it will help you navigate it more efficiently.

‼️Make sure you know what you're solving for! It won't always be "the value of x," and the test anticipates students solving for the wrong thing.

😤 If you don't understand what you're reading, don't keep reading onwards! These passages are dense, and every detail matters. The are many interlinked ideas, so make sure you fully understand before moving on to the next sentence.

Trust yourself- the SAT is a standardized test of critical thinking. The thinking (before the "doing") is the most important part.

08/19/2026

PSA 1 of many as we head into the Aug/Sept/Oct SAT stack!

Parents- DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN MAKE EXTREME CHANGES TO THEIR TESTING TECHNIQUES BECAUSE OF A 20 SECOND TIK TOK OR INSTAGRAM CLIP THE WEEK OF THE TEST!!!

If they had a prep plan and followed it, this is not the time to be experimenting or panicking. Panic sells, and that's how this type of content gains traction and spreads.

Many of our close friends and colleagues run great channels with great content- ask us for suggestions! But if students have spent significant time and effort to build skills and comfortable processes, don't mess with them.

We'll see tons of "quick fixes" and "magic tools" being pushed right now... and we get it. We all love the idea of quick and easy improvements. Unfortunately, changes to what is comfortable and routine can be quite counterproductive.

A student sent us this clip- "WOW-DESMOS!!!"- every student ever
Just type in!!
.. or, with a bit of information gathering and reasoning, recognize that the y column goes up by 23 every time the x column goes up by 17. And D is the only answer choice with a slope of 23/17. No need for any typing, tables, or regressions at all. Can be answered in under 5 seconds without a single keystroke.

The SAT is a critical thinking test. Don't skip the thinking part- that's what's being measured, in the grand scheme of things. And "shortcuts" are often... not shortcuts.

08/17/2026

Ever wonder why some students seem to study less but remember more?

Our newest blog post breaks down 4 habits highly successful students use to learn more effectively.

Read the full post here!

Every parent has heard some version of “I get it, I just made a careless mistake” or “I studied, I just blanked on test day.” After years of working with students across every level, we’ve noticed a consistent pattern: the students who improve fastest aren’t necessarily the ones who are ...

07/21/2026

July ACT scores are on the way!
Have questions about your results or wondering whether you should test again? We're happy to help you interpret your score report and discuss the best path forward based on your college goals.
Reach out to us at [email protected].
Congratulations to everyone who took the July ACT we're excited to celebrate your successes with you!

07/11/2026

Congratulations to everyone who took the July ACT!
Now it's time to relax, you've earned it. No matter how you feel about today's test, be proud of the hard work you put in.
Great job!

07/10/2026

Good luck to everyone taking the July ACT!
Trust your preparation, manage your time, and stay confident. Don't let one tough question throw you off just keep moving forward.
You've got this!

07/04/2026

🎆 Happy Fourth of July from all of us at PMTutoring! 🇺🇸
We hope you and your family have a fun, safe, and relaxing holiday filled with great food, fireworks, and time with loved ones.
Whether you're taking a well-earned break or sneaking in a little summer studying, remember that consistency over the summer can make a huge difference when fall testing season arrives.
Have a wonderful Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙