Founder, Peak Prep
Charlie Kasov
I've spent two decades turning standardized tests from a black box into a solvable problem.
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My story
I didn't set out to spend my life on standardized tests. At Skidmore College, where I earned my B.A. in English Literature, I took Stanford's Language, Proof, and Logic course almost on a whim. It showed me exactly how test questions are built—the formal logic and hidden structure underneath the surface. I've been reverse-engineering these exams ever since.
Over the past twenty-plus years I've helped hundreds of students master the SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE and navigate the college admissions process—from students panicking about a single section to top scorers chasing the last few points.
How I teach
My methods draw on cognitive psychology research alongside techniques I've developed on my own that you won't find in any prep book. I care less about drilling content and more about how a student thinks under pressure—because that's what the test actually measures.
No two students learn the same way, so I don't teach from a script. I meet students where they are, find the specific skills holding them back, and build from there. The goal isn't a temporary score bump; it's real, transferable skill.
Why I built Peak Prep
I founded Peak Prep because I wanted something between the impersonal test-prep mills and the lone-tutor practice: a tight-knit team that actually teaches each other, argues about hard problems, and adapts when something isn't working.
These days I live in Upstate New York with my wife and two vigorous toddlers, where—when I'm not tutoring—I'm building custom software tools to help students hone the exact skills these tests demand.