Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Best Part of Tutoring: Success Stories!

Despite my almost two decades of teaching test prep, there is one thing that will never get old: hearing from students about their successes. 

Here is a recent e-mail that put a smile on my face (name is changed to protect the students): 



“I wanted to let you know that Sierra just received her test score from the September ACT and she did so well. She increased from a 28 to a 31. She is really happy and we wanted to thank both of you for your help.”

Sierra spent some time with two of our tutors, but more importantly she put in the practice time. 

And here is a text that brings me joy (name is changed here, too): 

“Bianca got a 30 on the ACT! Thank you. She did better in the science part. The first thing she said after she left the test venue was that your strategies really helped, how you taught her to approach each question, etc.” 

Bianca, too, put in the time. 

As much as I share in the student’s success, the real story for both of these students is that they put in hours of practice and preparation. 

Test-taking is a skill. And like any skill, test-taking improves with consistent and quality practice.

Want to be a CROSSWALK success story? Contact us here to learn more. 



Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

The Ideal Mindset for Test Day

With less than a week away from the next SAT, it is time to get your mindset prepared for the big day. 


My students and followers of this blog know that I wax poetic about a growth mindset. The opposite of a fixed mindset, a growth mindset is the thinking that you can learn new things with dedication, hard work and effort. With a growth mindset, an old dog can learn new tricks. 

The problem with a growth mindset is that it takes time. If you are taking the SAT on Saturday, you don’t have the time to develop a growth mindset. 

Fret not as there is a mindset that is ideal for test day. Better yet, it takes very little time to establish. 

The mindset that is ideal for test day is the 3F mindset. The 3F mindset means fun, focused and free. It is the same kind of mindset you would use when you tackle a jigsaw puzzle, a board game or something like a sudoku. 

When facing these kind of puzzles, you have fun, you stay focused and you set yourself free within the challenge you undertake. 

So on test day, try to pretend that the SAT or ACT is a fun challenge. Each test question is a crossword puzzle, Rubik’s Cube or other logic challenge. 

Setting your mind to fun, focused and free will allow your critical thinking skills to perform at the optimum level. 

On the other hand, if you approach test day with a bunch of anxiety, you will not be able to use your best problem-solving skills. 

Put differently, the ideal mindset for test day is a healthy attitude. Your attitude can thus create the optimum aptitude. Sure, test day may not be the most fun thing to do, but as a major step in your college application process, you may as well approach it with a free, fun and focused attitude. 

Zig Ziglar once said that your attitude determines your altitude. I would add that your attitude can determine your aptitude. 

For more test day tips, contact CROSSWALK. Private tutoring, test prep, SAT and ACT Boot Camps is what CROSSWALK does best. Contact us today to learn more. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Buyer Beware: Khan Academy and SAT Prep

That the College Board partnered with the Khan Academy to offer free SAT resources is a glorious arrangement. 


Long the subject of criticism that SAT prep resources were exclusively available to higher income families, the College Board made a strategic move with the relaunch of the new SAT in early 2016 to make many online resources free of charge via Khan Academy. 

This partnership was intended to even the playing field a bit since reports showed that the SAT favored higher income and more educated families. 

Now, it seems, that consumers are getting what they paid for. 

Thanks to one of CROSSWALK’s top tutors, Dan Marks, it has come to our attention that the SAT resources on Khan Academy contain many errors. Dan has uncovered some wonkiness in both reading and math sections on the Khan materials and his findings are echoed by other tutors via online chat threads and discussion forums. There is even some debate as to who is really writing these questions. 

Personally, I stick to the official study guide book with my students. Purchasing the College Board’s Official Study Guide to the SAT continues to be, in my opinion, the best bang for your buck. $25 for accurate questions, loads of study resources and full-length practice tests is an economical and worthwhile investment. 

So sad that the mantra, “you get what you pay for” turns out to be true for Khan Academy and SAT prep. I hope that both the College Board and Khan Academy take a deep dive into the online forums, comments and feedback in order to make their resources as useful as the guidebook. 

If you find yourself in need of support for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT or academic subjects, contact CROSSWALK today. We offer private Skype and face-to-face tutoring as well as group classes and other resources to help you succeed in the classroom and on test day. 

Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

Hiring a Tutor is Fruitless Unless…

Another true confession of an SAT/ACT tutor: hiring a tutor for test prep does not automatically guarantee a score increase. 

Hiring a tutor is fruitless unless…

  •  …a student has time to boost a test score. There are no quick fixes. Test prep takes time. 
  • …a student is stress-free. Anxiety and stress do not foster learning so an over-scheduled and overstressed student will not see any point increase. 
  • …a student is motivated to put in the work. Tutoring sessions are only productive if the student puts in the practice time between sessions. No practice, no improvement. 
This last point may be the most important. Students need to care about improvement. The best tutors can teach test content and strategies until they are blue in the face, but if the student does not care, there is no point to the sessions. 

If you are considering hiring a private tutor for SAT or ACT prep, ask yourself: Do you have time? Are you stress-free? Are you motivated? 

If you answer “no” to any of those questions, perhaps you can avoid spending money on tutoring sessions that might not be productive. Instead, try the do-it-yourself approach or figure out ways to find time, reduce stress and increase motivation. 

If you answered “yes” to the questions above and need a tutor, contact CROSSWALK today. CROSSWALK is the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for ACT prep, SAT prep and academic tutoring. We offer face-to-face tutoring as well as Skype tutoring. Learn more here. 

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    True Confessions of an SAT/ACT Tutor: No Quick Fixes

    As August approaches, my phone starts to ring a bit more. Parents look at the calendar and realize that only weeks remain until their high school senior takes the SAT or ACT for the last time. So they call me in hopes of finding a good tutor for a quick fix, last-minute push to boost a test score. 

    “There is not much time to make a difference,” I always respond. “I can walk through some things but truth be told, the quick fix is rare and not much will happen in a month.” 

    While I am always happy to meet with any student facing the SAT and ACT, I must confess that scores rarely increase very much if I only have a few weeks to work with the student. 

    There are exceptions to this, but in general, test improvement takes time. My students and followers of this blog now that time on task is the key to boosting a score. 

    Test-taking is like any skill: the first time you try it, you are not very good. But when you dedicate quality practice over time, you get better. 

    So here is the confession: not much will change in a test score if the tutor only has a couple of weeks or months to make a difference. 

    This means that students should plan ahead. Start your test prep with at least three months lead time. Six months is better and a 12-18 months is really where we see students make the biggest leaps. 

    I always confess to a family that short and sweet does not yield much yet this rarely dissuades them from wanting a quick fix. 

    The quick fix is rare so be sure you plan for the long term. 

    For more test prep advice, contact CROSSWALK. We offer private tutors and group classes for SAT and ACT prep as well as academic tutoring for all subjects. Learn more at our website, www.crosswakeducation.com. 

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    Who is Navigating Your College Admission Journey?


    Every journey needs a navigator. If your college admission process does not have a navigator yet, consider Marisela Gomez of Collegewise.

    Marisela and I partnered on a presentation earlier in the year at the Harrison Memorial Library in Carmel with great success. I was able to bring some test prep tips to the audience while she laid out some excellent college application and admission advice.

    Marisela represents Collegewise, “America’s largest and most well-regarded private college counseling service” according to their marketing materials. While Collegewise offers outstanding services for those seeking college admission, the real gem is Marisela.

    Marisela Gomez is the Director of the South Bay Collegewise office. Prior to joining Collegewise, Marisela spent 12 years as an admissions officer and enrollment manager at her alma mater, Santa Clara University. Marisela has read over 20,000 applications, is fluent in English and Spanish and holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Santa Clara University.

    Most importantly, she is passionate about helping kids get into the college(s) of their choice. She has a unique ability to work with both parents and students through the college application process. A diligent counselor, Marisela serves as a knowledgeable navigator through the journey to college admission.

    If your journey needs a navigator, contact Marisela by email at mariselag@collegewise.com or call her at 831.578.1409.

    And along the way, if you need test prep advice, contact CROSSWALK. The Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for academic tutoring and test prep for the past 14 years, CROSSWALK offers face-to-face tutoring, Skype tutoring and group classes for SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT and all academic classes. Learn more at www.crosswalkeducation.com.

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    Summer ACT & SAT Prep Tailored to Your Needs

    The countdown is on: only a few more weeks of the school year then, SUMMER BREAK!

    With summer break comes sun, fun and…test prep? 


    That is right. If you are a rising junior or senior, it is time to get started or ramp up your SAT and ACT prep. 

    Fret not because CROSSWALK has a great summer test prep plan available to both Monterey Peninsula locals and anyone with the ability to Skype. All sessions are conducted by Brooke Higgins, Founder and Lead Test Prep Instructor for CROSSWALK. 

    The best part of this summer plan is that you pick and choose the classes that work for you. Or save some money and sign up for the whole program. Whatever works for you this summer.

    Here is an overview of the summer sessions: 

    DATE
    TIME
    TOPIC
    6/21/16
    6-8pm
    SAT vs ACT: Compare, Contrast and Diagnose
    6/28/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Play the Numbers Game
    7/5/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Tackle Math Problems
    7/12/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Read for Details
    7/19/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Spot English Errors
    7/25/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Interpret Science Data and Passages
    8/2/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Maximize Your Essay Score
    8/9/16
    6-8pm
    SAT and ACT: Create a Study Plan for More Success


    Not too stressful, right? 

    Interested? Contact CROSSWALK to learn more. Remember: you can pay by the class or do all of them, whatever works for your budget and schedule. Sessions take place at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach or via Skype. 

    Alternatively, if you need private tutoring, CROSSWALK can also offer face-to-face tutors or tutoring via Skype. Contact us today to reserve your spot. 

    Summer is upon us so get planning for your test prep today! 

    CROSSWALK has been the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for test prep and tutoring for over ten years. Contact CROSSWALK today to learn more. 

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    The Whats and Whens of College Planning

    When working with a new SAT or ACT prep student, I frequently initiate a session with the following question: what score do you need to get into the school of your choice? 


    The answer to this question generally results in two lessons, the first to determine the ideal schools for a student and the second to figure out what SAT or ACT score the ideal schools require for a student. 

    Armed with a specific score, I then work with the student to show him or her how to achieve the desired score. This is the basic concept of planning by beginning with the end in mind. 

    Nevertheless, in the pursuit of college admission, test scores are only part of the equation. There is much more to college planning than booking a good test score. 

    With this in mind, a valuable college planning resource was recently recommended to me: The Complete College Planning Calendar. This infographic is an excellent timeline for students and their families to chart out what is needed and when for college planning. 

    Whether or not you will have or use a college planner in your process, this timeline is an excellent way to stay on task and on target. It is a useful resource to plan with the end in mind for the college application process. 

    If you find you need test prep advice along the way, contact CROSSWALK. We specialize in ACT/SAT test prep for high schoolers but also offer academic tutoring and learning support for students of all ages. We offer face-to-face tutoring on the Monterey Peninsula and Skype tutors anywhere. Determine your path to learning success here. 

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    What is the Best Time of Day to Take the SAT or ACT?

    Unfortunately, the time of day to take the SAT and ACT is not something a student can decide. Test days and times are predetermined by the test administrators.

    If a perfect testing world existed, students could elect to take their standardized tests when they are most on their game. According to a study done in Denmark, this would means taking tests earlier in the day. The study shows that test performance decreases as the day wears on.

    The study cites “cognitive fatigue” as a factor in lower test performance later in the day. While this may be just common sense, researchers have data to quantify the effect of “cognitive fatigue.” 

    A deeper dive into the study reveals something even more interesting: students that take breaks during tests can see improvements in performance. In other words, if a student is offered a break during a test, they should always take it. No matter what. 

    Students may have little control over the time of day the test is administered, but they can certainly advocate for more breaks. Even a quick stretch, some breathing exercises, a snack or a drink of water can help improve test performance. 

    Additionally, most students should understand that their test prep will be most productive in the morning before “cognitive fatigue” sets in. So when planning on a time of day to do a practice set or review content, plan for morning sessions if possible. 

    For more test taking tips and ways to improve SAT and ACT scores, contact CROSSWALK, the Monterey Peninsula’s local resource for tutoring and test prep. 

    Brooke Higgins Uncategorized

    How to Train the Brain for SAT and ACT Prep

    As much as I love waxing poetic on the best way to study and learn, I am no expert in brain science. 


    Thankfully, those that research how the brain works like to share their findings, like this article here: 

    How Does the Brain Learn Best? Smart Studying Strategies 

    Check it out. Really good stuff and thought-provoking. 

    As this relates to test prep, a couple of the tactics in this article can immediately impact your test prep. Consider the following: 

    • Space out your test practice. Trying to cram a bunch of material at once doesn’t work.
    • Take breaks during your prep. Even a quick stretch or walk around the block will help the brain process and retain information.  
    • Mini-quizzes are a great way to keep you focused. As you may not have time to do full problem sets every day, find ways to stay fresh and focused with regular, shorter practice sets or even something like the SAT Question of the Day. 
    If you need more advice on how to get ready for the ACT and SAT, contact CROSSWALK. We also do tutoring for academic subjects. Let us know how we can help train your brain for success.