Get ahead of the curve
Hi, I’m Laurence
I’m a tutor specialising in preparation for the SAT and ACT exams. I grew up in Northern California and have now been living in the UK for over a decade. I earned my Bachelors degree in Pure Mathematics at the University of California, San Diego, and then went on to complete a Masters in Professional Acting at the renowned Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
I’ve been teaching these exams full time for about 10 years now. In that time I have worked with hundreds of students and taught exam prep courses at schools like Harrow, City of London School, and Dulwich College. My students have gone on to attend outstanding American universities including Stanford, UPenn - Wharton, Yale, Georgetown, Northwestern, and NYU.
The approach I bring to my work is to combine my extensive knowledge of the exams—the concepts covered, the question styles, common patterns and traps—with a focus first and foremost on the individual thinking of the student I’m working with. No two students are the same, and so the teaching required to work with a student must suit that student individually. These exams can seem mystifying, but they don’t have to be. I love seeing my students master these tasks, and achieve exam scores that they can feel proud of sending off to the university of their dreams.
Want your child to excel on their SAT/ACT? Click here to book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss their individual needs. I’d love to help if I can.
ACT, SAT, what’s the difference?
SIMILARITIES
Both tests have 4 sections
Both tests cover topics limited to American high-school level Math and English
Both are timed
Both are restricted to multiple-choice style questioning (for the most part)
Neither offer partial credit, or reward a student’s demonstration of their reasoning
Both are likely to include styles of questioning that are extremely unfamiliar to students without a history of completing American-style standardised exams
SAT vs ACT
KEY DIFFERENCES
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English 1
English 2
Math 1
Math 2
*This means the test is 50% Math -
~ 2 hours
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Greater emphasis on math skills.
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This SAT format is only a few years old, and seems to me to be a big improvement over the old format.
Thankfully, more practice tests are now available, and the exam seems to have become fairly predictable.
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Grammar
Math
Reading
Science (Optional)
*The “Science” is better thought of as “technical reading comprehension” -
~ 2 hours without Optional Science
Just under 3 hours incl. Science
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Greater emphasis on timed reading comprehension.
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The ACT is changing its format somewhat, primarily by shortening sections and making the Science now optional. These changes will roll out for international students Sept, 2025.
The primary challenge I anticipate this creating is that for the time being there may not be many practice tests available that accurately portray the new exam format.
*This is a brief structural overview of exam differences, but decisions about which exam to take should always be made on a case by case basis, in order to determine the test that will be most appropriate for each individual student.
How can I help?
Please feel free to get in touch for a 15-minute complementary call to discuss your students particular needs, as well as rates and tuition packages.
Blog
I received tutoring from Laurence Varda, and it was extremely beneficial in raising my ACT score. His support and patience were incredibly helpful during the stress of college applications, and with his help, I am now attending my dream school – Brown University.L - 34 ACT - Brown University
What some of my past students have to say…
Laurence was fantastic to work with for my ACT prep. He was knowledgeable, supportive, and encouraging. He not only prepared me for the test material but also the mental aspects of test taking. With Laurence’s help, I was able to achieve my target score and was accepted to my top choice university. E - 35 ACT - Northwestern University
Laurence is an amazing SAT tutor. He guided me through the test topics with patience and understanding. He also helped me plan and shape my thought process when approaching questions. He is extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and thoughtful. With Laurence’s help I was able to take the test feeling prepared and confident. S - 1330 SAT - Boston College
Laurence's clear yet sophisticated method of teaching allowed not only for my scores to grow exponentially, but also allowed me to enjoy and engage with the seemingly boring content. Ranging from simple textbook techniques to unique ways to tackle any problem, Laurence's teaching philosophy creates immediate progress and, importantly, a greater understanding of both the SAT and ACT to improve even further. However, his best quality is his understanding of his pupils; pinpointing how and where one must improve whilst creating a relaxing environment to actually enjoy oneself seems an impossible task: yet, one Laurence achieved. Without him, I would not be where I am and I owe so much to him.M - 1510 SAT - University of Chicago
