About Walker Prep

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I'm Dave Walker, founder of Walker Prep and a specialist in SAT® and ACT® preparation.

In 2014, while working in management at a tutoring center, I was asked to temporarily fill in as an SAT Reading & Writing tutor. At first I I hesitated, as at the time I had little experience with standardized test prep. However, after encouragement from my boss, I ultimately agreed, diving head-first into the available prep materials to get up to speed.

What I found disappointed me. Most strategies were vague and superficial: common-sense advice that could apply to any test, heavy on the "what" but light on the "how." Where were the specific tactics? The concrete methods for actually executing those strategies?

That gap piqued my interest. I began analyzing the tests myself, studying their design elements and translating what I found into actionable techniques. Around the same time, I had a young son at home and was looking for ways to spend more time with him during those early years. These two interests dovetailed nicely, and I decided to strike out on my own as an independent tutor specializing in the verbal components of the SAT and ACT.

Since then, I've had the pleasure of helping hundreds of students reach the 90th to 99th percentile range on SAT Reading and ACT English, Reading, and Science. My approach combines a repeating cycle of expert feedback, targeted study, and deliberate practice—a methodology refined through years of working with ambitious, high-achieving students. This systematic approach has helped my students gain admission to highly selective universities including Harvard, Stanford, University of St. Andrews, UPenn, Cornell, Georgetown, West Point, Purdue, and many others.

I focus exclusively on the areas where I can provide the most value:

• SAT Reading & Writing
• ACT English
• ACT Reading
• ACT Science

My tutoring is designed for students aiming for substantial score improvements, typically those already scoring in the above-average range who are targeting elite percentiles.

I offer three types of tutoring services:

Package Deals: My most comprehensive option, providing individualized guidance with structured, ongoing support tailored to each student's specific needs and timeline.

Jam Sessions & Q&A Sessions: Flexible, one-time sessions purchased as needed. Perfect for targeted help on specific topics or quick strategy refreshers.

Small Group Zoom Sessions: Live group instruction sessions that can be purchased individually, offering the benefits of collaborative learning at a more accessible price point.

My flagship live program combining complete fundamentals mastery with ongoing expert support. Features the SAT® Reading & Writing Mastery Course, weekly OPT Workshops™ and Strategy Spotlight™ sessions, plus 1-year Score Accelerator Lab™ community membership for sustained, flexible, cost-effective preparation.

Complete flexibility with my proven curriculum, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

I publish a regular newsletter five days per week on Substack, featuring practice questions, strategy insights, and general test prep guidance.

My academic foundation includes a B.A. in Philosophy from UCLA, where I developed the analytical skills that now inform my test preparation methodology. My teaching career includes years of experience tutoring English at both Santa Monica College and UCLA, as well as five years as an English teacher and Academic Director at the largest ESL school in Los Angeles.

These diverse experiences have equipped me with unique insights into how students learn and process information—skills I now apply to help them master standardized tests.

Test preparation requires consistent effort and a methodical approach. My experience has shown that significant score improvements don't come from quick fixes or last-minute cramming, but from systematic skill development through targeted study, deliberate practice, and expert guidance. My approach emphasizes:

• Understanding the underlying patterns in standardized tests
• Building core knowledge and analytical skills
• Applying targeted strategies to specific question types
• Practicing deliberately with official test materials and high quality third-party resources
• Tracking progress through systematic assessment

I believe that proper test preparation does more than just improve scores—it builds analytical thinking skills that serve students well beyond test day.

My Reviews - See results and testimonials from previous students (For an archive of 10+ years of reviews, visit my Wyzant profile)

Score Accelerator -  Join Score Accelerator - the proven system that systematically develops elite SAT® Reading & Writing scores through expert guidance, achievement-based community, and flexible timelines. 

Tutoring Services - Learn about my comprehensive tutoring packages and specialized sessions

SAT® Reading & Writing Mastery Self-Paced Course - Explore my complete SAT® Reading and Writing curriculum