Testimonials

Peter Baum is the best of the best when it comes to SAT tutoring. My three children were faced with the daunting task of studying for the SAT their junior year of high school. With Peter’s guidance and expertise, they were able to improve their scores tremendously. After taking practice tests, he patiently instructed them in the areas that needed improvement, teaching and practicing these skills with them. In addition, Peter taught them practical and effective test-taking strategies that proved invaluable. Always prompt and energetic, he related well to my children. Several years later, my oldest son was studying for the GRE, living on the east coast, and wanted some extra help to prepare for the exam. He worked with Peter over Skype. The results were equally impressive, with an outstanding score on the GRE and acceptance into Harvard Business School. I highly recommend Peter Baum. His style and approach around the SATs and test-taking strategies helped my children improve their test scores, which ultimately helped them with their college and graduate school application goals.

Freddy: Princeton, 2007/ Harvard 2012
Emily: Yale, 2009
Brian: Washington University in St. Louis 2012

Lauri and Jon Flaxman
Gunn High School parents

We wanted our child to have every advantage when applying to college and had heard that Peter Baum was the best SAT tutor in the San Francisco Bay Area. Consequently, my wife put him on Peter’s wait-list when he was a freshman. Since Peter is a one-man operation, he collects information on the current SAT himself – by taking it several times a year. I have never asked, but my bet is that he gets a 2,400 each time. Peter worked with our son on the material, strategy, and writing, with lots and lots of practice tests that were updated to accurately represent the current tests. When our son took the SAT, he was confident and relaxed and aced all sections of the exam, including a perfect score on the essay. We met a Stanford assistant director of admissions at a local bookstore and mentioned that Peter Baum was our son’s SAT tutor. She exclaimed “He’s a god!” We couldn’t agree more. Our son is a junior at Columbia, and planning to take both the LSAT and GMAT. We couldn’t have been more delighted to learn that Peter tutors these exams and works in New York City during summers. Over the years we have referred at least a dozen friends’ children to Peter and now enthusiastically recommend him to you.

David Kahn (Parent)
Gunn High School

From the first moment I witnessed Pete Baum's expertise as an SAT mentor, to the present moment when I consider him the most valuable standardized-test resource available in this country, I've remained in awe. Pete combines a Princeton education with 25 years of teaching experience, then adds a tremendous sense of humor, excellent preparation skills, total reliability, AND psychological insights into ways kids learn. What a combination! Having taught English in public and private schools and observed educators in 13 different Silicon Valley schools, I know excellent teaching when I see it. Not only have I recommended scores of students to Pete, but I've entrusted my own children's standardized test-taking into his hands (both are now practicing attorneys). Peter Baum is a consummate professional; he delivers success.

Patricia Weaver
Palo Alto, California

Two of our kids worked with Peter and he did an outstanding job getting both of them ready for the PSAT, SAT and SAT Subject Tests.  The work he did demystified the tests and made the whole process a much easier and less stressful experience.  Peter assessed their ability and did a great job tailoring programs to address their areas of relative weakness, refresh their memories and fill in gaps in their knowledge. Just as important, he gave them a plan and a strategic approach to the test.  He has a particular gift for effectively and efficiently preparing students in just a few sessions. How would they have done without Peter?  We’ll never know exactly, but probably really well. What we do know for sure is that his work allowed them to take the tests with confidence and achieve near-perfect results.  Peter’s work removed a lot of anxiety (for us and our kids!) by helping to make sure they were ready for the tests.  We were all thrilled with the results. We - and our children - strongly and unreservedly recommend Peter.  We are happy to talk directly to any parents interested in more color on our experience. 

Sacred Heart Prep (Parents)
Atherton, California

Pete Baum is a master.  He has more insight into how to teach the SAT than anyone else in the business.  While most tutors make vague claims about “customizing” their teaching to the individual student, Pete has developed myriad methods to diagnose and resolve subtle patterns of thinking that hold back students’ scores. Here's just one example: he uses one approach for (the majority of) math students who are algebraically inclined, but has also devised an entirely different (and exceptionally clever) approach for those with a numerical bent.
In my 28 years as a test prep professional—and the owner of a large, New York-based test prep firm—I have never met a tutor who matches Pete’s resourcefulness in raising scores.  And, unlike many equally well-credentialed but less skilled tutors, he performs his craft efficiently, usually requiring no more than 13 hours with a student to work his magic.  If you’re serious about raising your child’s SAT scores, look no further than Peter Baum.

Frank S. Pomilla
President, TestTakers

Peter is simply the best instructor for standardized testing. I have recommended him to many of my clients, all of whom have varying learning differences, and each one had a positive experience preparing for the SAT and ACT. In addition, Peter is proactively communicative and keeps both parents and other professionals updated regularly on a student's progress. He is knowledgeable and realistic regarding a student's test taking capabilities and probability for improvement. Peter is superbly prepared to teach entrance exam techniques, as he takes the tests himself, and analyzes the results, which he has done during his entire career. Any college or graduate school bound student would be fortunate to make it into Peter's case load.

Carol Ann McAusland, M.Ed. CAES

Peter Baum was instrumental in helping my children prepare for all parts of the SAT I test and several SAT II tests.  Peter is dependable, smart, and deeply familiar with the kinds of questions on these tests. He seems to understand why different kids have trouble with different kinds of questions, and he tailors his sessions to meet each child’s needs. Peter is the perfect combination of “fun” and “firm” with the kids.   All of our children significantly improved their scores by working with Peter, and we feel grateful to have had his help.

Lynn and Pete Wendell (Parents)
University High School

Peter assisted our daughter to get ready for the 2011 SAT exam. Our daughter was originally cautious about getting a tutor for this (her independent streak), but after a couple of lessons, she could not wait for him to arrive and looked forward to it all day (we did Sunday evenings, 7PM). Peter was always on time, often worked extra time, and was no-nonsense and straightforward, exactly what our daughter needed. Peter tells it like it is, gives homework, demands accountability and gets it. He also gets results, our daughter increased her SAT score by 300 points over her work with Peter. We recommend him without reservation (although he is not inexpensive, but as in so many things in life, you get what you pay for).

Mike Powell (Parent)
French-American School

Peter's logical, meticulous encouragement allowed me to carve my mind to fit the SAT mold. He inspired me to acquire the attitude necessary to tackle a task so odious: gumption. I was able to see that the only real obstruction to a high score is a lack of test taking skills. As a less math-oriented person, Peter supplied me with the tools I needed to make up for any lack of conceptual understanding with an intimate knowledge of how to take the test, and I can't be more grateful.

Megan (Student)
Urban School