Bespoke Education: Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below represent ones we are often asked by families looking to set up tutoring with us. If you can't find the answers you are looking for, our full-time office staff is really helpful - call us!

Do you come to our home?

Yes, we do most of our private one-on-one sessions at students' homes, although some tutors work only out of our midtown Manhattan or Irvington offices. In Los Angeles and on Long Island, tutoring is generally done at students' homes. Mock testing and small classes are done exclusively at our offices. Bespoke also works with many students both nationally and internationally by Skype and other video-chat programs.

If we live outside of Manhattan, Irvington, or Los Angeles will you still come to our home?

For clients who live more than 25 minutes by car or train away from one of our offices, we usually ask that they come to an office location for sessions. Trips longer than 25 minutes can be arranged at a higher cost to cover travel time.

How long are your sessions?

Bespoke offers extraordinary flexibility when you are planning tutoring sessions. All tutors are in charge of their own schedules, so you are free to make whatever arrangements you'd like with your tutor. Although most sessions are one hour in length, some students may want 1.5 or 2 hour sessions either regularly or on occasion. This can easily be arranged. For test prep in grades 7-12, we suggest a minimum session length of 1.5 hours.

When are you available to meet with students?

Many of our tutors are available in the weekday afternoons and evenings usually until 10:00 or 10:30 pm. They are also available on most weekends. If students are home from school for some reason during the day and would like to meet, this can also be arranged.

Are you available by phone or email if my child has questions on a day when you don't meet?

All of our tutors are available by cell or by email if questions arise or if you need to change an appointment. Some tutors can even help with a paper, lab, or project by email alone.

How much do you charge?

Tutoring rates reflect the expertise that our tutors have in a variety of subject areas. Most of our tutors have advanced degrees in their fields or are working toward advanced degrees; and, most have many years of teaching and tutoring already under their belts. Our rates do not vary according to the service we are providing but rather according to the tutor you work with. Some of our tutors are billed out at higher rates than are others because of their experience working with our company. Our rates for 1-on-1 tutoring range from $125 to $250 per hour depending on the tutor and the location. Prepayment packages are available that can discount hourly rates by as much as 10%.

Do you have a cancellation policy?

Yes, appointments that are not cancelled at least one day in advance will be billed in full. While we understand that sports and doctor commitments may arise rather spontaneously, our schedules are so tight that the policy is necessary because appointment slots often cannot be filled at the last minute.

How often should my son/daughter meet with you?

This is a question best worked out by you and your child. For most academic subjects (e.g. tutoring in biology), one session (1-1.5 hrs) per week is usually sufficient. For more intensive work, such as organizational skills tutoring, help in more than one subject, or standardized test prep, it may be advisable to meet more than once a week. How often you should meet can generally be determined after the first session.

What subjects do you tutor?

Bespoke Education offers help in almost all subjects and for almost all standardized tests (ISEE/SSAT, SHSAT, SAT I, SAT II, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT). Call or email for more details.

What is your approach to tutoring in an academic subject?

We have a great deal of teaching and curriculum design experience in a variety of subject areas. Part of our successful approach to tutoring in an academic subject is to know the curricula and the teachers at the schools we work with. Our tutors really know the subjects they teach! Over the years, we have established contacts with many school administrators and teachers, with whom we are in contact on a regular basis. For some of the schools, we are so familiar with the school's curriculum and teachers in certain subjects that we can truly offer a personalized tutoring experience that no one else can. Our tutors also work closely with psychologists and learning specialists. We are happy to work with the specialist at your child's school or with the evaluator who has done educational testing for your child so that we can craft a unique and successful tutoring program.

Will you help my son/daughter finish homework?

One of the things we, as tutors, try to avoid is doing students' work for them. This is a common problem among tutors, who would like to see students make rapid strides and show instant improvement in their grades. Most tutoring sessions focus on learning concepts in ways that make more sense to students - re-teaching certain things that they have gone over in class so that they really understand the material on a deeper level. In this way, homework that seemed difficult at first can be delved into with confidence and the student will have no need for someone to sit with him or her as homework gets completed.

What is your overall philosophy regarding tutoring?

Tutoring is a process. Changes and progress do not happen overnight and cannot be expected to. It takes time for students to mature academically, as they get used to the expectations of different teachers and subject matter. Good tutoring helps bring the student confidence in a course or for a test that he or she would not have gained otherwise. The proper preparation lets a student walk into an exam or classroom and feel in control. The importance of this confidence cannot be underestimated. Good tutoring allows students to focus on and to relearn subject matter content that they couldn't pick up for some reason in the larger, more impersonal setting of a school classroom. Finally, good tutoring involves a relationship in which students gradually learn how to do everything on their own, without relying on someone's help - it is part of the process of moving onto college and employing a more independent and adult approach to learning.

Does Bespoke administer mock tests for every type of standardized test?

We can provide our mock testers with almost every standardized test - ISEE, SSAT, SHSAT, SAT I and II, ACT, LSAT, GMAT, and MCAT. We do on occasion administer other types of tests. For more information, feel free to contact us at mock@bespokeeducation.com.

Where do you get your mock tests from?

Some of the tests we use are real, released versions that are purchased from the test-makers, while others are tests we have designed ourselves to be extremely test-like in their content and format. We work hard to give our students the most realistic testing experience possible.

When can I take a mock test?

Our mock testing is normally done on weekends. Mock testers can sign up for either the 9:00 am seating or the 2:30 pm seating on almost any Saturday or Sunday of the year. Sign ups are done only via our website.

Can I take a mock test during the week or on a school holiday?

Yes. We often accommodate students during the week or during days off from school, especially during the summer. Keep in mind that certain tests cannot be started late in the afternoon because of how long they last (SAT I and ACT, for example). Contact us at mock@bespokeeducation.com for more information.

Do you administer mock tests to students who need extra time or other accommodations?

Absolutely! We have students who test with us and need 50% or even 100% extra time. We also have mock testers who need large-block answer sheets, readers, scribes, or other special accommodations. If you are registering for a test and need extra time, there is a place on the registration form to indicate that. For extra-time SAT I and ACT, students must sign up for the 9:00 am seating on either Saturday or Sunday. If you need other accommodations, please contact our office to set them up. Extra fees may apply for accommodations other than extended time.

If I am taking an SAT with 100% extended time, do I have to split the test over two days?

100% extended time SATs are taken over two separate days just like you'd do for the real test. We will allow you to split your test up over the course of either a single weekend (like the real test) or two successive weekends (easier for packed schedules).

If I am taking an ACT with 50% extended time, how is it administered?

For 50% extended time ACTs, we run the test as specified by ACT: you will be allowed up to five hours total time (including breaks between tests) for the multiple-choice tests. If you are also taking the Writing Test, you will be allowed 5 hours and 45 minutes total.

When do I get my score report back?

Score reports are emailed out to students and their tutors as .pdf files 2-3 days after the mock test date. Bespoke also offers RUSH scoring for a small additional charge, which enables students to get their test back either on the same day they take it or by the next morning.

What do I do with my mock test results?

Your detailed analysis will allow you to examine closely the questions you are getting right and wrong. In most cases, our score reports show the question types in addition to the correct answers (so you can tell, for example, that you are getting more algebra questions wrong than geometry questions on your ACT). The score report breakdown will help you and your tutor work specifically to improve performance on certain types of questions. The report can also indicate where you ran out of time or were under time pressure.

How often should I take mock tests?

The more the better! Mock tests are one of the best ways to get comfortable with the timing of an exam, to experience the exam's content and structure, and to see how your preparation for the exam is going. We suggest a minimum of 4-6 full-length mock tests before you take any test for real. Bespoke's detailed analysis and feedback of these mocks will help you zero in on areas of weakness well before test day.

Do I need to bring food or drinks to the mock test?

You can if you'd like, but we always have plenty of snacks at our office and there's always a full water cooler. You will not be able to eat food during the actual test, except during breaks, just like at the real test.

Do I need to bring pens, pencils, or calculators?

Again, you can if you like, especially if you have a calculator you are comfortable with. However, we always have sharpened pencils, pens, and calculators for you to use (including TI-83 Plus graphing calculators when needed).

General Tutoring Questions - Rates and Scheduling

General Tutoring Questions - Philosophy and Approach

Mock Testing - FAQs