Our Approach
Most test preparation teaches procedures for a test students will never take again. We use the preparation process to teach something that outlasts it.
Functional Learning is built on three literacies: comprehension, critical thinking, and problem solving. They are what the ACT and SAT actually measure, and they are what a student carries into every course after them.
Scores rise as a consequence. But the students who finish with us become the kind of learners who can walk into any classroom, any challenge, and say: I have a process for this.
Programs
ACT & SAT Preparation
One-on-one instruction from teachers trained in Functional Learning. We build the reading and reasoning the test measures — not tricks for beating it.
SIGN UPISEE & SSAT Preparation
One-on-one preparation for private school entrance exams, on a program built around the individual student. The same three literacies do the work here, and they carry directly into the demands of advanced high school coursework.
SIGN UPProgram Cadence
The typical program is two 90-minute sessions per week for eight to twelve weeks. Students then usually move to one session per week with more frequent mock exams. Every program is built around the individual student. If they need fewer sessions or more, we say so.
What Each Session Looks Like
Every session targets one or more of the three literacies. One session might focus on comprehension — learning to accurately process what you're reading, and to notice the gaps in understanding rather than read past them. The next might focus on problem solving — learning to find the small, undeniable truths that reveal the next step, instead of trying to see the whole answer at once. The teacher adjusts the focus based on where the student needs the most growth.
“Test scores are a lagging indicator of functional literacy. If your child can teach themselves how to solve a problem they’ve never seen before, no test can scare them.” — Dr. Johnny Duda
