Test Preparation
Building a Strong Mindset for Success
"As prep taught me, achieving my goals starts with my mindset, and I want everything I accomplish to be started with positive thinking, determination, and self-confidence."
– Tina, test prep student
At RTC, we work with motivated students to help them achieve amazing things. RTC Founder Claire Russell personally assesses all test prep students for their strengths and needs in our proprietary assessment process. Claire understands that investing time in a thorough initial assessment and a great tutor match sets every student up for success.
Comprehensive Test Prep Assessment
Our test prep assessment begins with a multi-step evaluation to determine the best path forward for your student:
Diagnostic Testing – Your student takes a full-length SAT and ACT at home.
Student Interview – A 60-90 minute video call with Claire Russell to discuss test-taking tendencies, strengths, and challenges.
Family Meeting – A final video meeting with Claire, you, and your student to review findings and create a tailored plan.
Based on this assessment, we provide a customized educational recommendation that aligns with your student’s starting score, target score, and individual needs.
A Holistic Approach to Test Prep
Our curriculum goes beyond just studying for the SAT and ACT. RTC focuses on four key areas:
Test Content Mastery – Subject-specific knowledge required for college success.
Test-Taking Strategies – Improving accuracy, efficiency, and time management.
Understanding Test Design – Mastering “the game” of a standardized test.
Mindful Test-Taking – Performance skills for calm, confident, focused test-taking.
Students become specialists in their best-fit test. With expert guidance and practice, elite test-taking becomes second nature.
The Mental Game of Test-Taking
At RTC, we know that the if you can’t perform on Test Day, your preparation won’t count. All test prep programs include evidence-based mind-body-spirit strategies to help students develop awareness and reduce stress on Test Day. Just as we teach geometry for solving triangle problems, we teach students how to regulate their nervous systems for peak performance.
Confident test-takers work with their tutors to refine their approach, and may meet with an expert Performance Coach a few times to learn essential skills for success on Test Day.
Students who struggle in testing meet with an expert Performance Coach regularly to build calm, confidence, focus, and test-taking resilience.
Specialized Support for Test Stress
RTC has developed a reputation for helping students who identify as “test anxious” or “bad test-takers.” If we assess that your student struggles with calm, confidence, or focus during exams, we incorporate regular Performance Coaching into their test prep. If you believe your child would benefit from 1-to-1 coaching, we are happy to tailor their program accordingly.
Test Prep is College Prep
Test preparation at RTC is about more than just achieving a high score—it’s about building essential academic and life skills for success in college and beyond. Our programs help students develop:
Critical reading and thinking skills
Time management and organization skills
Study habits and self-discipline
Cognitive flexibility
Resilience, perseverance, and grit
Self-advocacy, stress management, and self-care skills
We case-manage each student’s tutoring journey, providing weekly progress reports to ensure they stay on track. At RTC, we are invested in your child’s success—because your child’s future matters to us.®
Your Path to Success Starts Here. Now.
Choose Your Focus – Test prep, academic support, strategic reading & writing, college essays, or performance coaching.
Let’s discuss your needs and create a plan together.
Success is closer than you think—let’s take the first step together!