Hi, I'm Carrie Bach.

My Personal Test Prep Journey

Although I can definitely sympathize with those who find standardized tests annoying at best or deeply problematic at worst, I’ve personally always enjoyed them. Part of the reason is that I’ve always thought of them partially as a logic puzzle. If I can figure out strategies to approach the questions and techniques to keep myself encouraged while testing, I can perform my best.

I spent K-12 in a predominantly low-income neighborhood. We did not have the best schools in the city, but my classmates worked extremely hard, and it rubbed off on me. When the time came for my SAT, I studied hard, even hard-core studying SAT vocab while on a family vacation at the beach! I told everyone my goal was a 1400, but secretly it was a 1500. And secretly secretly, it was a 1550.

When I got back my 1590, it changed my life.

My test scores have opened up so many doors for me. Not only did I get admitted to the University of Washington with not one but two full-ride scholarships, but I also used my test scores to get a job at a prominent test prep company my junior year. And I’ve never looked back.

Tutoring the SAT and ACT gave me a boost when I studied for the GRE and the LSAT, and I am so grateful for what those scores have unlocked for me as well. My GRE scores and teaching experience got me full funding for graduate school. I never had any desire to go to law school – I just love helping others fulfill their law school dreams.

Why I Tutor

I tutor because I love seeing my students make progress and succeed. I love hearing back from students telling me about the programs they got into, the scholarships they were offered, and most importantly the confidence they gained. These emails and texts are by far the best part of my job. 

It’s true that test scores are only part of an application, and generally not the largest part. However, it’s also true that raising your scores can unlock opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be available. I’ve worked with student athletes looking for a score to provide recruiting eligibility, military veterans looking for a score that will allow them to use the GI Bill, and students of all ages looking to make their application that much stronger and hopefully qualify for scholarships.

Students sometimes ask me why I never went to law school or business school even though I had the test scores to get into really great programs. My answer is always that I love the tests and I love helping other students achieve those goals, but I have no interest in becoming a lawyer or going into corporate myself. I love that I’m always getting to learn new things, and I really enjoy the real impact I can make in my students’ lives. I’ve had students get full-ride scholarships to college and massive scholarships for law school after working with me. I’m so glad I work in an area of education with such a clear return on investment for my students.

About Math Tutoring

Although I started as a test prep tutor, I’ve always loved teaching high school math as well. I found that many of my SAT and ACT students benefitted enormously from revisiting math concepts from previous years, and I noticed that often what was missing was an understanding of WHY the math worked the way it did.

After many of my test prep students went on to work with me for general math tutoring, and then after they started referring me to their friends as a patient and empathetic math tutor, I decided to officially label myself as a math tutor in addition to a test prep tutor.

I specialize in Algebra through AP Calculus, with a particular fondness for Algebra II and Pre-Calculus.

In tutoring, I emphasize building true understanding of HOW the math works, both algebraically and graphically. I love exploring a traditionally dry topic like the unit circle with students, turning it from something boring to memorize to something pretty cool that works on so many levels. Once students have built an actual understanding the HOW and WHY behind the math, I find that they are so much better equipped for future math classes and standardized tests. The boosted confidence is also so great to see!

Teaching Experience

• Started tutoring in 2003; working for myself since 2013; partially online since 2017; fully online since 2019 

• Graduate teaching assistant at University of Hawaii at Manoa – Second Language Studies

• Teacher at the Hawaii English Language Program

• Test prep tutor at Kaplan and a couple of smaller academies in Seattle

Ratings & Awards

• 5.0/5.0 star rating out of 1800+ hours logged on Wyzant (top 1% of Wyzant tutors)

• 5.0/5.0 star rating on Thumbtack

• Kaplan National Tutor of the Year (2005)

Education

• MA (2017): University of Hawaii at Manoa – Second Language Studies
  • President of Second Language Studies Student Association (2016-2017)
• BA (2004): University of Washington – Dual Degree in Linguistics and Psychology

Please fill out the contact form with information about the test you are preparing for and a brief message. I’ll be in touch to contact you for the next steps!