CATES Tutoring is an invaluable and incredibly helpful resource if you have a child preparing for college. I was particularly impressed with their library of webinars - weve watched a number of them and theyre really interesting, fast-moving and helpful. Even my daughter liked them and shes a tough audience! Working with CATES is highly recommended.

I had an incredible college counseling experience with Chris and Elena. They are the most hard-working counselors. I not only learned a lot from working with them, but I enjoyed every second of the process. Thank you Chris and Elena for helping me get through 2 college applications in only 8 days!!!!

My tutor was Ryan King, he helped me get into NYU (my first choice university).! He is a very lovely person and a brilliant tutor. He helped me with each step of my applications and made sure everything was perfect. CATES got to know me very well and picked the perfect tutor for me and my abilities. As I am a student from England applying to America, I wasnt clear on most of the application so without Ryans help I dont think I couldve gotten to where I am now. The CATES experience has been the best, it has made everything very clear and simple for my admissions. I recommend this company to any who needs help with university admissions, especially my amazing tutor Ryan King.

I am really grateful for all the help Chris provided. Initially I felt overwhelmed by the SAT subject tests, but with Chris help I grew in confidence and was able to perform really well, gaining acceptance to my dream school with the scores I needed! CATES made my whole testing experience so much less stressful as I felt well prepared and confident. I achieved a 750 in the Literature subject test on the first sitting which I was really happy with, and I wouldnt have been able to do it without CATES. The test prep materials they provided were hugely superior to anything I could find online or from other providers. Thanks so much for all your help!

Ryan King is truly an excellent tutor. He is patient, knowledgeable and personable. His strategic guidance and strong tutelage helped me to build confidence and increase my overall performance. As a quintessential tutor he is able to analyze my weaknesses and lead me on a path to success. Initially I was not satisfied with my scores, but under the guidance and tutelage of Ryan my scores had increased by over 300 points. I am very happy and satisfied that I chose Ryan as my tutor. Not only did I improve but he made the subject interesting and easily understandable. Im grateful to have Ryan as a tutor.

Amazing services! Ian Schwartz from Cates tutoring was working with my son Alexander. Ian is an excellent, patient tutor, who explained every concept in great detail. He has excellent and effective teaching strategies that kept my son engaged, interested, and motivated. Ian teaches critical thinking and test taking techniques, which is extremely beneficial to my son. I have been impressed with Ian’s creativity, intellect, and genuine passion for teaching. I highly recommend Ian Schwartz as a tutor to anyone who wants to succeed academically.

Absolutely great company to work with for both ACT and SAT tests. Not only have they managed to explain it wonderfully to someone from the UK whod never even heard of the tests before they mentioned them, but they managed to put me in great shape to take the tests themselves. I managed to jump from a 24 up to a 33 in the practise tests, something that wouldnt have been possible without CATES.My tutor was Chris, an absolutely wonderful man who managed to blend good humour and good advice into a unique way of teaching that made everything he said unforgettable. Not only that, but applying his advice for my ACT tests directly improved my school work too- now I actually spend time reading the question and highlighting the key parts rather than reading it and stressing. Theres no doubt in my mind that CATES has significantly impacted my education for the better.All in all, a wonderful company that wont let you down, no matter what youre looking for from it. Thank you so much!

Ryan King is an absolutely amazing tutor and I recommend him to anybody who wants to improve any standardized test scores. He was extremely encouraging, easy to work with, and had extremely helpful tips to improve my SAT score. I had already gotten a good score before I started working with Ryan, but he made my ten times more comfortable with the test than I had been before. The CATES mock tests were also extremely helpful, something that was key to my success. I could not have asked for a better tutor to get me to the score level that I reached.

Mahalia was wonderful! She is professional, knowledgeable and worked well with my son. My sons ACT score was exactly what he hoped for, so we could not have been more pleased with the instruction he received.

I worked with Ryan King and CATES tutoring service my entire junior year and half of my senior year. He helped increase my scores on both the ACT and SAT. I jumped 300 points on my SAT after working with Ryan intensely. I also jumped from a 23 to a 31 on my ACT. Believe it or not, working with Ryan on the ACT and SAT was pretty fun. He is a very cool guy who relates to kids, and is a lot of fun to be with. After helping me improve my ACT and SAT scores, we began working on college essays. Ryan is an excellent writer who is very good advisor. My hardest part about writing my essay was coming up with an idea. We kept going through ideas, until we found the perfect topic that both liked. He worked with while we revised and revised and revised, while he constantly devoted his time to me until... it was perfect. Ryan King is an excellent tutor and writer, and i recommend CATES tutoring.

With the help of CATES tutoring, I was able to drastically improve my ACT score. Just a few months before I sat the test, I was consistently scoring in the mid-twenties. However, due to a lot of help from the wonderful staff at CATES, I was able to score a 30 on test day. Adapting to the American style of testing was a challenge with the British system being so different, but CATES made the transition go seamlessly with their attentive tutors and easy to access online resources. I will be attending Lafayette college in September and am eternally thankful to CATES for making it possible.

I worked with Sarah to write my common app essays and had a wonderful experience. She took the time to understand me as an applicant as a person, and in doing so helped me craft college essays that spoke to my true self. I was also involved in the summer workshops, which I found to be incredibly helpful. I was able to have my common app done before the chaos of senior fall started, which allowed me to focus on the supplements and doing my school work / testing during the term.My essay came out beautifully. It was a lively and revealing narrative that I was proud represented me as a person. I felt that any stranger who read it would get a feel for the kind of person I am, my drives, and my personality.Sarah and the whole CATES crew were wonderful. Whether it was the month I worked with Sarah over Skype, or the week long session in-person, everyone was enthusiastic, engaging, and supportive. I am so thrilled with my college process and my work with CATES and would definitely recommend the service to anyone who is looking for some guidance.

When I first took my ACT in the Spring I scored an overall composite of 26 which was below average for my dream college. With CATES help I began to approach the ACT more effectively over the Summer, eventually scoring a 30/36 in the Autumn. Although not a perfect score, for me this was a significant accomplishment. I hadnt studied maths for almost two years and wasnt used to the American method of assessment. But CATES helped me to understand the best methods of revision and testing strategies. I am proud to say that I will be heading off to my dream college this Autumn!

This past semester, Ari Butler helped me edit my college application essays. I was so impressed with the service CATES had to offer, especially with Aris personal attention to me. He took the time to get to know me, ensuring that the essay was written in my voice, true to my personality, and showed what I wanted to demonstrate to a college admissions officer. He was always available, and responded to my essays with thoughtful comments beyond simple grammatical errors. Something worked, because I have just been accepted to Yale University! I would definitely recommend CATES to anyone about to go through the college process, as it diminishes the overall stress of the process and informs the applicant along the way!

I seriously do not believe that I would be studying where I am today (and know for sure that I would not have received the ACT score I did) without the help of CATES Tutoring. Chris and the other tutors were so wonderful to work with and really do help you get effective results. From the initial mock ACT I took where I scored a 30, with the help of five months of intensive tutoring offered by CATES, I managed to increase my score to a staggering 34. Not only to the CATES tutors help you raise your score, they help you raise your confidence and make sure you enter the test with a positive attitude. All of the tutors I encountered during my CATES experience were genuinely nice and funny people, who apply their ACT knowledge in a fun and interesting way to help you learn. I would recommend anybody looking for help on the SAT or ACT to use CATES Tutoring!

As a British student who was unfamiliar with the US high school curriculum, the prospect of sitting my ACT was incredibly frightening! However, the advice I received from Chris and his team was priceless, and I am so pleased that I was able to improve my abilities (especially in maths). The continued support and resources provided by CATES was fantastic! Thank you for helping me bring my composite score up by three/four points, something I NEVER thought I would be able to do.

CATES is phenomenal. Chris and his staff cultivate an unrivalled atmosphere of motivation and determination. One on one sessions have afforded me crystal clarity on a variety of academic intricacies. CATES works tirelessly to forge a personal connection with each and every student. Unfaltering professionalism.

CATES is undoubtedly the best in the business. Chris and his team make the arduous process of preparing for admissions tests verging on enjoyable. Their knowledge of the tests is nothing short of encyclopedic, even in regard to some of the more obscure subject tests. They break down the necessary skills into the smallest components, making absolute sure that you understand each individual building block before progressing onto the bigger ideas. Most importantly, their strong emphasis on innovative timing techniques transformed my approach to the tests, and my results improved accordingly.

As an international student embarking on the arduous journey of applying to US colleges, CATES has helped me tremendously throughout the process. Through their ACT tutoring services and their resources (particularly the mock tests and the tips on math content and test-taking strategies), I was able to get my ACT score up from a 30 on my first try to a 34 on my re-take, a score which will definitely stand me in good stead as I continue on the journey to applying next year! I would definitely recommend CATES!

As a student who was hoping to make the leap from the English education system to the US, CATES made the whole process easier and less daunting. Their tutoring methods and resources made learning about exam techniques and subjects achievable and allowed me to manage my time effectively whilst completing my AS levels. I would highly recommend their services, especially if you are also thinking of applying to US universities, but dont know where to begin.

Oren Bitton is a great asset to CATES. He taught my daughters ACT book camp course over the summer and she found it extremely helpful. She gained such confidence with him that he tutored her one on one leading up to the real exam. He has in depth knowledge of the exam, has great strategies for each section and really understands how his students learn best and absorb the relevant material. Thank you Oren!

I worked with Ryan King on SAT prep throughout Junior year of high school. Throughout the process my scores continually increased with every practice test I took. There are so many little tricks and tips that CATES has, all in a binder, that many of my friends were never taught. These tips helped me on my time as well as my scores, making taking the test much easier and less stressful. Ryan specifically is a great tutor to work with. As someone who never enjoyed test taking, Ryan was able to make the test bearable to get through and tutoring sessions were not a chore or a drag like many tutors I tried before. All in all CATES is a great place to get help from, they make it easy and truly helped me get into a University I really wanted to attend.

Our sophomore son worked with Ari Butler, the head tutor, and he had great success taking the U.S. History SAT 2. Without our son taking the AP U.S. History Class, Ari was able to help our son diagnose his weak themes by looking over the diagnostic tests (rather than his having to memorize all of U.S. History), and help him get a 770. Aris great strengths are recognizing the students strengths and weaknesses and supporting his progress. He also appreciates the mental aspects of what a student needs during these standardized tests. I believe he cares about the students and their progress sincerely. He has done excellent work.

CATES has been incredible for me; I worked with them to help prepare for my ACT and maths & physics SAT subject tests and they were wonderful at helping me achieve the grades I needed for my college applications. They provided me with all the resources I needed and also helped motivate and encourage me in the few days before test day. All the tutors I met (Chris being the primary tutor) were kind and detailed in the advice they gave, and really helped get me through all the exams.

Ryan King was my tutor from CATES last year and I cannot give a more glowing review. I was hesitant at first by how I would cope with lessons over Skype but it turn out to be brilliant and most the time I forgot we werent sitting in the same room!The tutoring was outstanding in so many ways. Each session was completely personalized to my own style of learning and gave opportunities to tackle through areas that I was struggling with.When beginning to tackle the SAT I thought it was going to be a pretty arduous experience. However, I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and classes. Although being pushed quite hard, I felt totally supported and the lessons were fun and interesting with new and fresh ways of learning being introduced all the time.Ryan was extremely patient no matter how many times I needed to go over a problem and never ceased to amaze me with new approaches to defeat even the hardest problems.After all the work I am incredibly excited to be attending Berkeley in the fall and I know I owe so much to Ryan for his unwavering support. I honestly believe I could not have picked a better tutor. Thanks Ryan!

CATES was a fantastic help in the run up to my ACT plus Writing! Chriss in depth knowledge of the test helps prepare you not only for the content but also the trends in the test and what to expect so that you can truly achieve your best! Would recommend highly!

As a student in the UK wanting to apply to US universities, the prospect of doing the ACT without support and guidance would have been terrifying. I am so fortunate and thankful for all the knowledge, resources and strategies that CATES passed on to me. Not only did the tutors provide support and advice that I could use personally but they also gave me a confidence I did not know I previously had; the exam went better then I thought it would because my nerves had been settled and I had strategies to get me through. I cannot thank CATES enough!

As a British student the American style of assessment was very new to me and I therefore didnt even know where to start in preparing for my ACT. However last year CATES Tutoring helped me to improve my ACT score from a 22 to a 27 in a matter of months. Their way of teaching and also their fabulous resources menat that I could feel confident going into take my ACT. I was originally, especially worried about the maths section, as I had not studied any maths for a couple of years and was confused at some aspects that I had not encountered before. However due to CATES help, maths was actually my second highest score! Thank you so much to all of the CATES team!

As a student from the United Kingdom, the format of testing for the SATs and ACT contrasted majorly from what I had ever experienced. CATES tutoring provided me with straight forward, valuable advice and near unlimited resources to ease me into the tests and improve my score majorly. I am going to apply to the USA next year, and thanks to CATES I am now very confident in doing so.

ARI BUTLER, HEAD TUTOR - CATESAri Butler has been a lifesaver! Straight away he orchestrated a timeline and started teaching our daughter test taking strategies. Results were immediate, her SAT scores went up significantly and continued to rise. We knew we were on to someone special and continued to work with Ari until we reached the finish line. Throughout the Application Process Ari was encouraging and supportive, readily available to answer all of our questions, address concerns and had a voice in helping us make decisions. Ari is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, we are grateful for all of his help and guidance!

I honestly dont know if Id have been able to achieve my dreams if I hadnt had such extensive support from CATES. As a UK student, the whole examination system was completely new and initially overwhelming. After several intensive sessions with Chris (an awesome man who actually makes test preparation seem fun!) and subject specific tutors, my scores increased dramatically and I ended up with a 34 in my ACT, which was a lot different to the initial 27 that Id been getting to start with. Thanks to Chris and everyone at CATES, especially Ethan as he spent the evening before my ACT calming me down and going through last minute questions! I cant wait until I start at Yale now! CATES also helped me to prepare for my SAT subject tests and I actually found that this helped me in my A-level classes as I was ahead of everyone else! So by doing my US exams, my grades at school improved too! I was so impressed by CATES that Ive been working with them on some programmes this year to ensure that everyone can get the test help they deserve and achieve their dreams!

I cant thank CATES enough for how much they helped me! In the beginning I wasnt very confident of receiving a high mark on the ACT but thanks to CATES I eventually obtained a 34 allowing me to gain a place at the university of my choice! I was new to the american testing system but Chris made me feel relaxed and on test day I felt that I was as prepared as I possibly could be. I would recommend CATES to anyone sitting an admissions test!

I worked with a CATES tutor, Ryan King, for a little over two months before my January SAT. Ryan helped me improve my math score tremendously and also helped me to raise my reading and writing scores. On top of knowing strategies for how to answer any type of question that the SAT can throw at you, Ryan was also a very effective teacher, demonstrating new methods in a clear, easy, and understandable way. Without Ryan, I definitely wouldnt have been able to achieve such high scores on my SAT and wouldnt have had the self-confidence that I needed to do well on the test. On top of all of this, Ryan is just a down to earth and relatable guy and has the ability to connect with his students. Most other tutoring sessions are monotonous and dull, but I always had a great time with Ryan and I was always extremely interested. I would recommend CATES tutoring to any student that has the desire and motivation to succeed on their SAT.

I had the most incredible experience with my CATES tutor Ryan. Ryan molded our tutoring sessions around my needs and recognized the exact skills that I needed. I felt comfortable to ask questions and inspired to push myself to go further. I ended up at the college of my dreams and I still claim that it is because of Ryan. I recommend this Tutoring agency for any and all students.

While is was a couple of years ago, I still clearly remember the excellent job that Ryan King did with our daughter. I began with Ryan expecting the usual half-hearted service that we had seen with an instructor from a different company when our oldest was going through the process. Ryan emerged as an individual who understands that providing access to the information is not always enough. Ryan clearly had a thorough handle on the data but he also took time to get to know my daughter and figure out her interests and style so he could help motivate her to embrace the project. His approach of patience, humor and stick-to-it-ness worked quite well. Sallys score jumped significantly, putting her in the high end quadrant of results. And Sally always enjoyed interacting with Ryan, as did my wife and me. This not only included regular visits but also frequent check up phone calls. Ryan has a gift in motivating others and we were lucky to be the recipients of that gift.

Loved the tutors there, really helped me with my ACT scores and prepared me well for college. They also helped me with my high school work which I found very useful. The tutors really connect with you and help you learn very efficiently. They are also able to Skype, so if you live in another country or cannot travel, they can still meet with you. I strongly recommend using their services!

Rya was the best tutor Ive ever had. He taught me all of the strategies that helped me while I took the test. My scores in each section of the SAT have increased tremendously. Most of all, Ryan taught me that through practice (especially mock tests) and by believing in myself, I will get the results I deserve. I am so thankful for Ryan and will continue to do sessions with him.

I had a great experience with CATES. The first time I took the SATs I did not have great scores, but after tutoring sessions with Ryan King, my scores and confidence increased immensely. I have test anxiety, but the multiple practice tests and tips that were provided really helped me. Ryan showed me different tricks and ways to read questions that catered to my learning style. Ryan and CATES were always available for me to ask questions and made my SAT experience, something that usually isnt particularly enjoyable, a lot less painful.

Ryan King was the best SAT tutor I have ever had. He helped me reach remarkably higher scores on the SAT. I went from scoring an average of 1600s on the exams to a 1970 - raising my math and writing scores to the high 600s and low 700s range and my critical reading scores to the mid 600s range. I loved this experience in particular because Ryan made the sessions very accessible, as he agreed to hold the classes at my school for my leisure. Ryan wasnt only a great tutor, but he was also easy go-ing and fun person, which made me and my time in his classes that much more comfortable. I loved working with Ryan this year - he has taught me many strategies and skills that I could use throughout my life, and look forward to working with him for my SAT subject tests in the future.

Before working with CATES I had used several different SAT/ACT tutors however my scores were not improving at the rate I wanted them to be. Most importantly, practicing for the ACT and taking practice test was dreadful for me. Regardless of my grades, CATES improved my confidence and motivation for taking the ACT. Not to mention, my ACT score went up by 5 points in just a half a year, when prior I had been working with other tutoring companies for nearly 2 years. My final ACT score was one that I would have never thought I could achieve at the end of junior year. As a result, CATES brought out the best in me. CATES gave me concrete ways to increase my scores in the English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science sections of the SAT, and they most definitely showed in my scores. I was more eager and optimistic to practice for the ACT as my hard work would show in my practice tests. I owe my tutor, Ryan King, much credit for my ACT score as he was extremely helpful and an amazing tutor. In the long run, I ended up getting into a college that I would have never dreamed of being accepted to throughout high school.

CATES have really got this test prep game sorted! During my few months working with CATES on the ACT, my score jumped up by 7 points, which allowed me to get into my dream college. Amazingly, the tutors manage to keep it all interesting and engaging, which seeing as it is the ACT is a testament to their tutoring prowess. I cant recommend CATES enough - use them!

I had a great experience with CATES. I have been working with Ryan King for the past two years and now that I am done with the SAT process I can say I could have never done it without his help. When I first started tutoring I thought the SAT was going to be the worst part of my college process, but after taking it three times finally Ryans hopes for my score came true. My scores increased 100-150 points compared to what they were when I first started tutoring. I reccommend him and any other tutor from his team for anyone who feels desperate about the SAT, because they will make it easy and with no doubt increase your scores.

I worked with Ryan King on SAT tutoring and couldnt have asked for a better experience. Ryan and CATES helped me raise my SAT score a solid 100 points in each section and were critical in ultimately helping me reach my goal of attending my top-choice college next year, Princeton University. The tutoring was personalized, enjoyable, and effective. Ryan was extremely committed to helping me out, always giving me new tips on how to improve and look at problems in different ways. His help proved invaluable throughout the college process. I cannot thank him and CATES enough.

I would not be at my top choice college without CATES. Not only did the test prep improve my scores, but the individual tutors boosted my confidence and I felt so much more confident in my applications and high school work as a result. Thanks so much : )

Cates has an exquisite tutoring service for those taking the SAT or ACT. Not only is the tutoring relatively affordable, the sessions are very enjoyable and conducive. If the tutors at CATES are similar to my tutor, Ryan King, then Im sure CATES has a great plan. Ryan is personable, smart, savvy, caring of his students, and will most certainly have a strong positive effect on the students scores.WORK WITH CATES!

Chris Ajemian provides an all-round learning experience which covers extensively each of the four sections within the ACT, along with exam strategies that address timing, process of elimination and question comprehension. After beginning training for the ACT for the first time last April under Chris help, I sat it that June and in those three months I had enough knowledge to score 31/36, way above average! As Chris and CATES are dedicated to getting students into college, he also provides advice on college applications, essays and supplements. A truly dedicated service to help you find your place in a US university.

CATES really helped me with their tutoring service. My tutor came to my house and taught me very well exploiting my strengths and building on my weaknesss. The personal connection I had with my tutor was unmatched and help me reach my potential with the SAT. He even helped me out with my college essays. The help pushed me over 400 points from my PSAT to my SAT. CATES has the ability and will deliver the results.

As we all know, the British education system differs heavily when compared to the US system. This of course is a daunting prospect for young people who dream of studying across the pond, however, CATES great resources and spectacular teaching methods allow students to conquer and overall, flourish in the tests and essays required for colleges in the US. Chris Ajemians enthusiasm and amazing belief in each individual student makes such a huge difference because, along with the CATES team, they strive to make the dream of studying in the US a reality.

CATES really helped me! I worked with a CATES tutor, Ryan King, for 6 months. I took the SAT twice, once in March and once in May. I dont think I could have achieved a high score without Ryans help. On the PSAT, I got a 179 (which would translate to be roughly a 1790 on the SAT), but on May SAT test, I got a 2190. The reason why my projected score was so much lower than my final score is because I hadnt studied with Ryan at that point! Working 1 on 1 was really helpful. We assessed my strengths and weaknesses in a personalized way that cant be achieved in a classroom or in group test prep setting. CATES also offers free mock tests which I took to help me prepare for test day. All in all, the higher score, flexible tutoring schedule (he came to my house to tutor), and the mock tests made the CATES experience really worth it.

I worked with Ari Butler. He was very responsive throughout the experience, and gave me lots of extra practice sheets to work on to make the most use of my time outside of lessons. He especially gave me great tips on essay-writing, and sent me into my next SAT much more confident and knowledgeable about what I was doing. Furthermore, he proofread my admissions essays, and helped me refine them to pieces of work that I was proud of.

Amazing! We are so grateful to Cates and to Matt Biagini, our daughters incredible SAT tutor. With his help and guidance, our daughter went up over 400 points from her PSAT score (for real!!). He is so patient, caring and always available. Cates sets up practice tests at their center which was a huge help. Additionally, after the SATs were done, Matt continued to work with our daughter on her college applications. He assisted with editing her essays and supplements and was with her every step of the way. She just got into her first choice ED and we know Matt helped so much with that. We are VERY grateful!

I had a really good experience with CATES, they allowed me to boost my score to a well-respected mark and secure a place at Brown University! They had some unique tips + tricks to help you through these tough exams.

I worked with Ryan King on ACT prep and saw my scores dramatically increase, brining me up to a 33. He always responded to my emails promptly and was always in a good mood during our sessions. My experience with Ryan and CATES was terrific and I recommend their services to all.

The British system is so different to the US system regarding how you take the tests. CATES tutoring introduced me perfectly into the US standardized tests with past papers and other helpful resources. I was able to track my progress through them keeping track of my test scores. Not only that, but I was able to see in what areas I was weakest at. I managed to increase my score from a 26 to a 32 which was what I needed to get into my dream college- Swarthmore! This was really useful and I think essential in helping me to revise for the tests.They were great and I wish there were similar tools to help me with other exams!

Ryan from Cates helped Jesse raise his SAT score by more than 140 points. He is one of their top tutors and the results that we got prove that. Ryan is patient, engaged and thorough. This is my youngest of three children - we have seen a lot of tutors - and Ryan is top notch.

Hi, just wanted to say a MASSIVE thanks to everyone at CATES, thank you for the fabulous tutoring, especially with the reading section on the ACT! I got a 33 Composite and an amazing 36 in the reading section!CATES were fabulous, and the tutors were so easy to talk to and relate to!

As an Irish student with the dream of attending university in the US, the main thing standing in my way was the US standardized test - the ACT. At the beginning, I wasnt doing overly well in my first attempts at the exam, scoring mid-20s at most and never being able to finish it. On my first try at the official test, I scored a 27 (out of 36). However, with CATES outstanding tutoring and resources, I was able to re-sit the exam two months later to achieve a 35! Thanks to their amazing direction and advice, especially from Chris, I was able to break the exam down and master each section bit by bit to achieve a score I couldnt have imagined I would get!Since then, I was accepted EA to Yale University and cant wait to attend! Without CATES, this wouldnt have been possible and I wouldnt be about to embark on the greatest experience of my life! CATES tutoring comes thoroughly recommended.

Matt Biagini worked with my daughter as she prepared for the SHSAT. He was patient and thorough, essentially teaching her a years worth of math that her private school had yet to cover. They worked together weekly from May through October (with a few weeks off during the summer). Matt was always prepared and predicted the areas she needed extra help in easily. She improved her score greatly from her initial practice test and garnered a spot in her first choice SHSAT school. We couldnt be more pleased with Matt and Cates for matching us with him.

Without CATES I know I wouldnt be where I am today. I couldnt have passed the ACT without the help of the tutors and the brilliant access to mock papers. I went from a 25 to a 29 in my ACT, helping me to secure a spot at my dream school; Smith College. My experience with CATES felt so personalised, you could tell CATES actually cared about each student.

Very attentive service. Andy helped my daughter gain confidence to improve her scores and she got into an amazing school. Thanks!!

Ari Butler and the whole Cates team were instrumental in having my daughter gain entry into her top choice college by vastly improving her test scores and her confidence in taking the SAT. While there are so many things to love about Ari, his demeanor and ability to have a calming influence over the crazy college admissions process were key. Ari easily scheduled appointments and had a rapport with our daughter so that not only did she improve in her tests scores, she developed ownership over her college admissions process. Ari was able to give actual, practical advice to tackling the SAT. As parents we also had great communication with him and he was extremely responsive to all of our concerns. I cannot recommend Ari or Cates more!

In August of this year, I will be attending my dream law school at the University of Virginia. There is no doubt in my mind that this would not have been possible without Chris Ajemian and the fantastic support staff at CATES Tutoring. To anyone reading this and considering taking the LSAT, or any test for that matter, call CATES right now!Over the years, from middle school through college, Ive taken prep courses, worked with with personal tutors, and met with teachers for office hours - I have never in my life come across an educator more attuned to the specific skills and needs of the people he works with. Good tutors understand a course or test so well that if they teach their students to see and think about the course or test as they do, those students will be successful. What makes Chris a great tutor is his ability to look through the students eyes and specifically craft his approach to that student. During my LSAT prep with him, we would isolate highly specific weaknesses and then work to identify new approaches and helpful tricks until I was consistently getting those questions right. Beyond his talents as a teacher, he is also a great motivator. He is incredibly committed to what he does and demands the same level of dedication from his students.I whole-heartedly recommend CATES to anyone looking for top of the line educational services. Thank you Chris and everyone at CATES!

Sammy Feldblum worked with our daughter on the SATs. His patience, motivational skills and his ability to target areas that needed greater focus were among his greatest assets. Above and beyond that, Sammy was kind, composed and had a great sense of humor. Our daughter raised her SAT scores by 200+ points. She was just accepted early decision to her top choice university!

My daughter had Ryan King as a tutor and he was absolutely terrific: bright, personable, funny, and a marvelous explainer. He made the whole process so enjoyable that she actually looked forward to the lessons--a real achievement.

I couldnt even begin to describe how much I have benefited from the help of the CATES team. CATES have put so much effort and resources into helping Sutton Trust students and other students alike. I definitely owe it to them for my 32 ACT score! THANK YOU!!!!

I had a great experience with CATES! Ryan was a great tutor and really helped me raise my SAT scores, especially in the are that I was struggling with, which was math. Ryan helped me raise my score by over 150 points while keeping our sessions interesting and stress free. He taught me tricks that made me realize that SATs are just a predictable formula rather than daunting task. I got into my first choice college and the SATs were the least stressful part of the college process, thanks to Ryan and CATES!

I loved CATES Tutoring. I had Ryan King as my tutor and he helped me improve my SAT math score by one hundred points. I took private sessions with him and he really took the time to help me discover my strengths and weaknesses. Ryan is an amazing tutor and I would recommend him to anyone who needs an SAT tutor. He also helped me come up with ideas for my college essay and supplements. Hes truly a caring tutor who caters to you specifically and goes over whatever you need him to go over with you. - Arlene and Dina Gambino

Everyone we spoke to at Cates was extremely helpful. This process is not only academically important, but also very emotional. Ryan King was absolutely amazing with our daughter in every way. He is not only well-skilled, but wonderfully motivating, encouraging, flexible, kind and more importantly helped her to reach her goal! We are so happy to have had him as our tutor.I highly recommend Cates!

Our daughter worked with Marc Buxton from CATES this past spring. He is an excellent tutor. Marc was able to address the multiple levels of a teacher-student relationship. He not only helps with learning the facts but also addresses the whole student. This is also reflected in his caring manner. He tailors his approach to the individuals learning style. This has led the way for an increase in our daughters confidence level when studying for and taking the SAT tests. Thank you to Marc and to CATES for hooking us up with him. PS: She saw an increase in her scores after taking the SAT again this June.

Really, really, *really* useful. I found that the online programme was excellent in tracking my progress and breaking down where I needed to improve. I went up 5 points on the ACT! Would definitely recommend

Cates Tutoring was great. We had a tutor named Sammy Feldman. He was warm and funny, making the unpleasant task of SAT prep much more tolerable for my son. As a result my son did better than expected on the test. I would highly recommend them.

We were introduced to Chris Ajeman by a very reliable source, a close friend who is also a pre school admissions advisor. We read some reviews and decided he would be able to help us with our daughter’s college admissions. He came highly recommend from a good friend, reviews were great for Cates tutoring.We bought a 10 hour package at $450 an hour (gulp!).We met with Chris twice, he was methodical and gave us good advice.The first two hours we met, we talked about what our daughter wanted to do, what her interests were and we also scoped out a huge number of schools that were a good fit and some that were not that great, not realistic with her given GPA. My daughter started the Essay writing and that’s where we stalled. It took appox. 7 hours according to them for the ONE Essay, back and forth between Chris and my daughter. They edited the essay written by our daughter and a draft was given to her parents(us) to read and approve. Final Essay was still to be written. This was a final draft.After all that work the written piece was similar to 8th grade writing. Unimpressive. Not college level writing at all. No decent school would accept a senior with that kind of writing. We talked to Chris and we agreed to tweak it. In the meantime we talked to his staff, who by the way were absolutely clueless about the hours spent. They said we had 4 hours left. Then they went against what they said and insisted we ran through the hours doing just the ONE essay. We had no hours left. Vague and unclear. And completely unprofessional.We were asked to buy another package for another 10 hours. My daughter decided to do the college applications herself and wrote out a completely new Essay. So the hours spent with Chris were a waste. We didn’t use the Essay they worked on together, she wrote a new Essay. This was all done during crunch time... when deadlines were upon her.We ended up not buying another package and we wasted $4500 and the 10 hour session we already purchased.We had to make this decision midway during the application process and were really left high and dry with no idea as to what we needed to do next. I wouldn’t recommend Cates Tutoring for college counseling. The writing was mediocre and the counseling was sub par. Value for money was zero.We have gone back to our friend who recommended them to us and she pulled back two additional recommendations she had made to common friends for Cates Tutoring. Reviews arent always right I guess...Since everything they do is subjective, we have no recourse on money paid - but hey, they get this review for free.

The one on one sessions I had with Erin Buckley where really helpful as she prepared me for my SAT test. The experience was good and I got the opportunity to review things I had done in school but had forgotten. I would happily recommend Cates to anyone either be it international students to take the opportunity and book tutoring through Cates.

Looking for a tutoring service in NYC can be overwhelming and VERY expensive. Having a son who has always been a very strong student at a highly competitive school, who never needed tutoring, made the process even harder. I am so grateful that a friend steered us towards CATES. Initially, taking the diagnostic test helped our son understand what he would be going through, and the CATES adminstrators were beyond supportive in helping him work towards taking the right test for him. Being able to take a practice tests almost weekly, in a simulated testing situation was invaluable, and he looked forward to working with his tutor each week going over each test. He felt stronger, and the anxiety level of taking this OH SO IMPORTANT element of the college application process, became less immense. It is impossible to express the spectacular relationship and bond that was developed between our son and his tutor, Ryan King. His support, in person and through frequent emails, plus the cheering and positive feedback, were the reason our child was so successful. It was always about the confidence, and Ryan believed in him from day 1!! The entire CATES team is professional, compassionate, and believe in the students success from the first day, to the moment our child received his scores. Bravo for not getting caught up in the glitz and glamour of NYC and doing a brilliant job of focusing on helping students believe in themselves, and showing them they can reach the highest level of success with hard work and diligence YOU ARE ALL IN THE RIGHT BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION AND LEARNING!!

Ryan King was an excellent tutor who helped me with my essays and application to NYU. Without him I would not have been able to write a sufficient essay that would be compatible with NYUs standards. After meeting with Ryan a couple of times I was able to put together a winning essay to send to NYU. I recommend Ryan and Cates tutoring to everyone as they helped me tremendously with getting accepted to NYU.

I went to an English boarding school which was very good at getting people into U.K universities but was fairly unfamiliar with the U.S college application process. I had extremely minimal help from my school in applying to the U.S and so I looked to CATES for some SAT tutoring. After having taken my last set of SATs my score had increased by 400 points thanks to Ryan King(one of the tutors). There are somethings about the SAT that I would not have ever been able to figure out myself. Its the little tricks, the time management and the recognising of patterns that CATES helped me so well with. They made my job a hell of a lot easier and thanks to Ryan, I am now studying as a freshman at Cornell university. They are extremely professional and efficient with your time and I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their scores even marginally. Though Im sure all of the tutors are extremely helpful I highly recommend Ryan King as he was a fantastic help and one of the main reasons I am where I am. Thank you CATES and Ryan.

I had an amazing experience with Chris and his team. They helped me improve my ACT score by 10 points! They really are the experts at this type of testing and thoroughly train you so that you are mentally prepared. I have never felt so equipped or confident before going into an exam. Not only are CATES gurus in their field, they are such genuine people who really want to see you excel. If I could do it over, I would definitely choose CATES again. I really encourage anyone who needs help with their ACT or SAT Tests to contact CATES. They are, by far, one of the best companies Ive ever had the privilege of working with.

My experience with CATES has been absolutely phenomenal. Being a UK resident, I originally had no idea about the ACT, however, Chris Ajemian was able to show me the most effective ways to approach the unfamiliar method of testing and improved my original composite score by 10. From Chris Ajemians incredible tutoring, I have developed skills that have not only helped me with the college admissions test, but also my A-level tests. I would recommend CATES tutoring to anyone wishing to get into a top US college because they provide the very best materials and advice that is not available anywhere else.

Ryan is an amazing tutor and truly helped me achieve my goals. Our sessions were filled with laughter and constant jokes, while still getting all the work done! He raised my ACT score from a 21 to a super score of 28. Not only did my scores improve, but my overall work ethic at school started to thrive as a result of Ryans enthusiastic energy and commitment. I recently got into my first choice college, Skidmore, as well as my second choice Univeristy of Vermont with a merit based scholarship. Im so thankful to have had Ryan as a tutor and a friend. Because of him I know I will succeed in my future academic challenges at college and in life.

As part of the cohort 3 Sutton Trust US programme, I would definitely recommend the use of CATES tutoring services or anyone who plans to take the ACT or SAT tests. Personally, I initially found the ACT to be difficult as it differs so much from the examinations in the UK. In saying this, tutoring from CATES helped not only to increase my scores but also helped with work in the British curriculum. Through intensive tutoring sessions, in both lecture form and smaller tutor groups, mock examinations and inline tutorials CATES definitely helped me to improve in all areas of the ACT examination.

Being a UK student the US standardised testing process was completely alien to me, but with the help of Chris and his team at CATES I quickly became familiar and comfortable with the whole thing, and without their help theres no way I wouldve been able to get a 30 on the ACT first time!

I started out with a 25 and had no idea what I was doing. CATES were so helpful, and Chris made massive amounts of difference to my math scores! (21 to 30). I also felt supported with the meta-mocks and exercises, even though I was doing the ACT on a different continent. The webinars and resources made revision simple, and Im hoping my 33 will help me get into Stanford, MIT, SOKA or Chicago! Thanks so much CATES!

CATES has been a really great resource to all of us on the Sutton Trust US Program, and I know I felt much more confident about taking both the ACT and SAT subject tests due to Chris tuition, as well as attaining a higher mark on the ACT than I expected.

At some point during the college process you will need some advice, orguidance. The key is you want this advice from someone you feel understands youand went through the same process. Simply put, and admittedly a tad cliché, whyCATES? Because CATES understands. CATES is unique in that every member of theteam is more than just a tutor; they are a friend and a connection, a connection toyour success. I told CATES I was a big sports fan and the people I got to work withat CATES were perhaps bigger sports fans than myself, including some with realexperience in the sports world that I could talk not only about the college process,but the life process itself of how to get into sports journalism for example. In thesame vein CATES can match you up with an aspiring actor who’s been to dramaschool, if that’s your calling, or someone who really understands the financial world.The results speak for themselves. As a 2011 graduate of the fairlydemanding Dalton School, I would not be where I am now (finishing up junior yearof Kenyon College) without CATES. CATES understood how the amount of work Iwas doing for school was on par with a college workload. They helped formulate aschedule that worked for me as I worked on preparing for the SAT, SAT subjectTests, ACT and my college application through the College Essay Workshop(HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!! EVEN IF IT FALLS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY). The skillsCATES gave me translate to more than standardized tests, you can use them in allfacets of life. Particularly the organizational skills and setting of priorities to help youget things done. Thanks to CATES I passed chemistry, improved my ACT compositescore from a 28 to a 31 and got accepted early into my top choice school – KenyonCollege. Would I be in college somewhere right now without CATES? The statisticssay yes. But would I be the person I am today who can balance being captain of thegolf team, a staff writer for the school paper and a member of the percussionensemble without CATES? No. Would I have felt like I had the best, most catered tome college prep experience without CATES? Absolutely not. So why CATES?Succinctly put CATES = College of your choice + Standardized Test Improvement +Important Life Skills + A friend/connection who cares and who helps.

Experience with Cates exceeded our expectations. We are parents of a high school boy, educated in the UK but originally from Poland. Our Head Tutor was Ari Butler who was extremely helpful with all aspects of the preparation and application process. He suggested that our son should do better in ACT tests which are a bit more knowledge based than SAT which is a bit more reasoning based. This was just spot on - our son got better grades in ACT, he took them twice and improved on the second test. However the REAL work was done with the essays for applications. Our son Early Actioned to a major university and he worked with Ari very closely to finesse essays... I can tell you that I liked these essays very much myself. So did the admissions tutors :) To be honest - as we did not know Ari nor Cates before - we also commissioned in parallel another tutor from the UK and this was a total disaster. First of all this tutor charged us in advance for an all-inclusive package, which eventually showed to be an all-rubbish-package. With Cates you get an itemized bill every month which you pay only if you are happy with the work... and Ari is worth his weight in gold! Thanks Ari!

Excellent! Couldnt recommend CATES more for preparing high schoolers for college test prep. An absolute yes to get into Americas top schools!

I worked with Chris Ajemian roughly one year ago to improve my ACT score. The program of work that he organised was very focussed and carefully structured; a feat, given that I was part of a large group.The advisers worked meticulously to explain foreign concepts, particularly in the mathematics section of the paper, where many of my peers felt that they lacked confidence. Their paper-specific exam technique and strategy plans reflected the depth of understanding they have of the paper.From my experience, many people who worked with CATES improved by several points over the intense sessions. From my initial test to the final exam, I improved by 3/4 points on my composite score, reflecting the vast improvement across all four subject areas and I was able to track my progress on CATES software.I would recommend their service to anyone who is looking to score even a point higher in their ACT exam.

Id credit CATES with being one of the main reasons that I received an offer to study in the US. Their tutoring and expertise managed to get my from a 28 on my ACT to a 34.

Chris and his army of extremely qualified tutors are second to none in new york as far as I am concerned. Chris Ajemian took me on as a student himself despite the fact that he is the CEO of the company. I dont know how I could have gotten through the college application process with out him. His tutors were kind, patient, and always knew how to get the best out of me. I am a student at Poly Prep, one of the more academically competitive schools in the city, and his tutoring allowed me to stay competitive with the best of them! My SAT critical reading alone went from a 680 to a 750 in the span of a month, and my score rose significantly overall. In addition, Chris and some of the other tutors have helped me immensely with my college essays, which have had vague, simplistic prompts. Cates is worth any money you can spare, and I would not recommend any other company in NYC for tutoring and test prep.

CATES taught in a very unique, effective and accessible way. Really fantastic teaching!

CATES was absolutely wonderful in preparing me for the SATs. I started taking classes and taking practice tests for the PSATs, and the extensive preparation and feedback they gave helped me cross the 200 threshold that Id been working towards. Ryan King was my tutor for the SATs, and he is, in short, the best. Working one on one with him helped me realize both my strengths and weaknesses, and I was able to raise my score around 100 points per section for my second test. I couldnt have gotten there without Ryan! He also helped me write my college essays :)

We have been working with Oren Bitton as a science and math tutor for our high-schooler. Oren is terrific and a real asset.

We had a great experience with CATES. My son Jackson was preparing to take the SHSAT. He had prep in his school in the spring and he worked through test books over the summer but we thought it would be beneficial to have some one on one sessions in the fall leading up to the test. Before going to CATES we had a not so great esperience with a private tutor who we had found online. After speaking to me on the phone to get a feel for what my son was like and what his needs were he was matched up with Sammy Feldblum. Sammy was absolutely fantastic in every way. He made Jackson very much at ease and really got into how to think about how to approach the test in general and how to approach a variety of different questions. He and Jackson had some really interesting math discussions that I listened in on and I could see Jackson was very, very engaged. In addition to being a great tutor Sammy is just a very nice guy. Jackson twice went to mock tests at CATES and it was a great (and free!) resource. He took the first one before we had even signed up for tutoring. Jackson ended up taking the test feeling quite confident and relaxed and he is happily attending Brooklyn Tech which was his first choice. All good! My daughter will be taking the SHSAT in 2 years and we definitely will be returning to CATES. Highly recommend SAMMY & CATES!!

Cates is an amazing tutoring facility. I had a great tutor, Ryan King, who helped me go from a SAT score of around a 1150 to a 1380 (superscored). That 1380 was a huge jump from the 1250 I was aiming for. On my first practice tests with Cates I was scoring around upper 500s. From there, Ryans vast knowledge of the test helped me tremendously. He was very attentive with me and always had my individual success in mind. Ryan taught me very useful skills for taking the test and also taught me how to solve complicated problems with relative ease. Ryans good personality made the tutoring sessions very enjoyable and allowed me to learn more than I would of with any other tutor. Ryan also had me use a notebook, filled with notes personalized for me on things I had to study and work on. Ryan spotting areas I was weak on and lists of things I did not know (such as math formulas) was crucial to my success on the test. Throughout the tutoring process, Cates offered practice tests every weekend which were extremely helpful in preparation for the real test. Throughout my entire time with Cates and Ryan, things went very smoothly and I did much better that expected.

Having not studied maths and science since I was 16, CATEs was an absolute life saver in brushing my knowledge and skills up to scratch-my Maths score jumped from a 19 to a 25! I cannot thank them enough for the continued guidance and support, not to mention the incredible enthusiasm of Chris! As an important part of the US admissions process, I really wanted my ACT score to be the best it could be and CATEs’ comprehensive, well-structured revision process was fantastic. The practise tests and continued feedback, in addition to the webcam sessions proved beneficial and I definitely recommend CATEs with the highest enthusiasm!

To start, thanks to CATES Tutoring, my college application process was a marvelous success. I learned of CATES Tutoring through some friends and was immediately impressed by the level of praise the company was given. I heard about the individualized attention that each student got with regard to their schedule, and being a professional ballroom dancer with a hectic schedule, I was immediately interested.I began working with a tutor named Sarah in late summer, hoping to get some insight into how to write an outstanding college essay. I got more than I bargained for. By the time I made up my mind (to actually start utilizing CATES Tutoring), i only had a couple of months left to finish all of my essays for a whopping 18 schools, each with their own set of essays. Immediately, Sarah created a comprehensive and well structured plan of action that we would follow. The plan consisted of face-to-face meetings where we would be able to sit down for hours to brainstorm and write. The plan also consisted of a plethora of Skype video chats in which Sarah would assist me with anything I needed. In order to retain the efficiency of a tutor-student relationship, we used Google Docs so that we could highlight and discuss specific sentences or phrases in real time during our Skype chats. Sarah was always available to talk, and speedily responded to all my emails and inquiries. After sending a multitude of drafts through email and Google Docs, I finally accomplished what seemed impossible; to finish 30+ high quality essays in about 2 months time (not including holidays and sick days).I would have never accomplished this if it wasnt for the outstanding services of CATES Tutoring, and specifically, the help of one of the most friendly, well-rounded, helpful and creative people Ive ever met in my life; Sarah. Many teens who have gone through the college application experience have said that it was a grueling and tiresome one. I somewhat agree. However, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life thanks to CATES and Sarah. Its not too often that you hear THAT about a tutoring company, right? Its true. Now, at the end of the process, I can see that CATES has definitely helped me achieve my childhood dream of attending an ivy-league university. Ive only had the pleasure of working with Sarah, but just from that, I can conclude that CATES Tutoring is a one of a kind resource that anyone can use. The staff is extremely personable and intelligent, and at the end of the day, youll think to yourself, why havent I been using CATES Tutoring all along?

Robert Colpitts was my daughters tutor to prepare her for the SAT after the 10th grade PSAT. She took the SAT in December of her Junior year and with Roberts help her score increased by 420 points. Robert worked weekly with my daughter. He helped her to understand the content that she needed to know and how to prepare for the types of questions that would be asked. Robert increased my daughters confidence. He was patient and really listened to where she needed help. I highly recommend Robert Colpitts.

Cates helped me greatly during my ACT preparation. I live in the UK so I needed to learn everything about it from the ground up, however Cates made this an interesting and simple process. The staff are extremely friendly and willing to answer any questions you might have. They are very effective in their tutoring methods, my scores went up over 4-5 points during my Cates tutoring - a rather large difference on the ACT test. I would highly recommend Cates to anyone sitting the ACT or SAT.

The workers at Cates are so helpful and approachable and fun to be around. They helped me get my maths grade up around 4/5 points in the ACT in only a few weeks!

Both of my sons had great experiences with Cates. Our older son only used them to assist with the common essay required while my other son used Cates for everything SAT related as well as the common essay and additional essay(s) for admission.Ryan King was (and is) phenominal. He and my son bonded almost instantly and this created a great working relationship, helping motivate my son to work his hardest. On practice tests---which Cates offers its clients almost every weekend--he kept doing better and better, then for the actual SAT test, his scores jumped dramatically. Ryan was aware of what areas needed focus and together, they worked towards the goal of doing better in those specific areas. It worked and we have no doubt that our sons improved scores helped him when applying to the schools he wanted. Ryan is the best (and others are pretty good too). I highly recommend their services.