Huntington Learning Center

Meet the SAT/ACT Experts Securing Students’ Futures


Although Arya (left) and Ziya are identical twins, Huntington Learning Center has created a program tailored to each one’s specific needs.


Huntington Learning Center of Dr. Phillips has been providing students with the skills they need to succeed for nearly 18 years. It caters to all students with a study skills program for grades K-12, as well as tutoring for college students. The facility offers one-on-one instruction in a quiet, distraction-free environment.

Huntington Learning Center also offers comprehensive SAT and ACT programs. Both programs are so popular, Executive Director Aziz Kabani said, “almost half of the students we work with are preparing for the SAT or ACT.  We have students from Dr. Phillips High School, Olympia High School, West Orange High School, Lake Highland Prep, Windermere Prep and The First Academy. We have a great referral rate from all the schools of the area and from former students, highly recommending us to their friends. Our programs yield big results. We see increases in SAT scores by about 300 or more points. For the ACT, we usually see at least 5-point increases. A lot of times, our students are able to get into universities that they would not have been able to before, based on their increased scores. Even students with grades of A’s and B’s have a hard time with the ACT and SAT tests.”

Kabani explained that one of the reasons for this is nerves.

“Even star students feel the pressure of the SAT or ACT test. We teach testing strategies and familiarize the students with the type of questions asked. This helps build the student’s confidence. Confidence is key, especially with these timed tests. We make sure students understand the key concepts of the test.”

Another reason advanced students may not score as highly as they desire is because the questions asked are based on material they haven’t been exposed to in a while.

“The tests include algebra, algebra II, and geometry,” Kabani said. “A lot of students who are in calculus or trigonometry haven’t seen basic algebra or geometry in years, so they are not familiar with those concepts anymore. To re-train yourself in these areas is very difficult. What we do here at Huntington Learning Center is give the students an ACT or SAT test and thoroughly evaluate what they are deficient in. We then build a program catered toward those specific needs, so we don’t waste time going over concepts the student does not need help in.”

Learning sessions at Huntington Learning Center are always one-on-one.


Aidan (left) and Joshua receive exceptional test preparation from the team at Huntington Learning Center.


“We feel individual attention is the best way to learn. When students are in a group session, they may spend the majority of the time listening to the tutor answer other students’ questions that may not be their question. In a two-hour session, there may only be 45 minutes to an hour devoted to the things that student really needs to know. It is not an efficient use of time. When it’s one-on-one, the teacher can focus solely on the material pertinent to that student’s specific needs.”

That’s exactly what they do at Huntington Learning Center.

Students are often able to use the skills they have learned through HLC’s SAT and ACT programs in other areas of their lives, too.

“A lot of students struggle with completing the reading portions of these tests in a timely manner. The student might be accurate in the reading section but only finish half of it in the allotted time, then have to guess the rest of the answers. We want them to be accurate and be able to finish on time. They leave our program knowing how to pull things out of what they’re reading the first time and apply it to the answers. These are skills that will stay with them through college and beyond.”

The peaceful classroom settings at Huntington Learning Center allow students to learn without the interruptions they may have at school or home. Another advantage to HLC’s learning sessions is its incredible teaching staff.

“We have 30 teachers, including an actuary scientist, a rocket scientist and former engineer from Lockheed Martin,” Kabani said. “All of our teachers have strong academic backgrounds. They know the material, and they know the tests. They also sincerely care about the students and are passionate about helping the students succeed. Students are paired up with the teacher that best meets their needs. We try to keep the teacher consistent so that the student and teacher can build up a rapport with each other.”

Huntington Learning Center, located in the Grand Oaks Village shopping center at 5060 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Suite 102, in Orlando, is open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The frequency of sessions is based on student’s needs and availability.

Huntington Learning Center is currently offering Southwest Orlando Bulletin readers an academic evaluation at a discounted rate of $49 (valued at $199). For more information, call 407-290-1111. 💓