Hawaii State Chess Champion · National Merit Finalist · 1560 SAT
Turn Your Weaknesses Into Points!
I don't just hand you a generic SAT prep book. I diagnose your weakest domains, build personalized problem sets to practice, and take you to test day on a plan made for you.
"Mark is absolutely phenomenal at teaching. He made the most challenging concepts understandable and made even the hardest material genuinely click. The 5 I scored [in AP Physics 1] was thanks to him!"
— Logan H. (Punahou '26 & Johns Hopkins '30, 7/10/25)
"I was very lucky to have Mark teach me AP Physics. He was able to answer every single one of my questions articulately and break down concepts I didn't understand to first principles. I couldn't have gotten a 5 on the AP exam without him!"
— Abigail D. (Punahou '26 & Cornell '30, 7/8/25)
"I've gained over 300 ELO and am now in the top 1% of players on Chess.com in both rapid and blitz after just a year of lessons with Mark. Highly recommend him as a coach!"
— Ethan L. (Punahou '27, 5/16/26)
"Mark tutored me in AP Physics 1 & 2 and Pre-Calculus when I was struggling on tests. He truly explains concepts in a way that textbooks can't. I'm confident I got a 5 on both AP exams, and highly recommend him for all students."
— Skylor C. (Punahou '27, 5/8/26)
"Mark is absolutely phenomenal at teaching. He made the most challenging concepts understandable and made even the hardest material genuinely click. The 5 I scored [in AP Physics 1] was thanks to him!"
— Logan H. (Punahou '26 & Johns Hopkins '30, 7/10/25)
"I was very lucky to have Mark teach me AP Physics. He was able to answer every single one of my questions articulately and break down concepts I didn't understand to first principles. I couldn't have gotten a 5 on the AP exam without him!"
— Abigail D. (Punahou '26 & Cornell '30, 7/8/25)
"I've gained over 300 ELO and am now in the top 1% of players on Chess.com in both rapid and blitz after just a year of lessons with Mark. Highly recommend him as a coach!"
— Ethan L. (Punahou '27, 5/16/26)
"Mark tutored me in AP Physics 1 & 2 and Pre-Calculus when I was struggling on tests. He truly explains concepts in a way that textbooks can't. I'm confident I got a 5 on both AP exams, and highly recommend him for all students."
— Skylor C. (Punahou '27, 5/8/26)
"Mark is absolutely phenomenal at teaching. He made the most challenging concepts understandable and made even the hardest material genuinely click. The 5 I scored [in AP Physics 1] was thanks to him!"
— Logan H. (Punahou '26 & Johns Hopkins '30, 7/10/25)
"I was very lucky to have Mark teach me AP Physics. He was able to answer every single one of my questions articulately and break down concepts I didn't understand to first principles. I couldn't have gotten a 5 on the AP exam without him!"
— Abigail D. (Punahou '26 & Cornell '30, 7/8/25)
"I've gained over 300 ELO and am now in the top 1% of players on Chess.com in both rapid and blitz after just a year of lessons with Mark. Highly recommend him as a coach!"
— Ethan L. (Punahou '27, 5/16/26)
"Mark tutored me in AP Physics 1 & 2 and Pre-Calculus when I was struggling on tests. He truly explains concepts in a way that textbooks can't. I'm confident I got a 5 on both AP exams, and highly recommend him for all students."
— Skylor C. (Punahou '27, 5/8/26)
"Mark is absolutely phenomenal at teaching. He made the most challenging concepts understandable and made even the hardest material genuinely click. The 5 I scored [in AP Physics 1] was thanks to him!"
— Logan H. (Punahou '26 & Johns Hopkins '30, 7/10/25)
"I was very lucky to have Mark teach me AP Physics. He was able to answer every single one of my questions articulately and break down concepts I didn't understand to first principles. I couldn't have gotten a 5 on the AP exam without him!"
— Abigail D. (Punahou '26 & Cornell '30, 7/8/25)
"I've gained over 300 ELO and am now in the top 1% of players on Chess.com in both rapid and blitz after just a year of lessons with Mark. Highly recommend him as a coach!"
— Ethan L. (Punahou '27, 5/16/26)
"Mark tutored me in AP Physics 1 & 2 and Pre-Calculus when I was struggling on tests. He truly explains concepts in a way that textbooks can't. I'm confident I got a 5 on both AP exams, and highly recommend him for all students."
— Skylor C. (Punahou '27, 5/8/26)
Credentials
Standardized Exams
- SAT: 1560
- PSAT: 1510 (National Merit Finalist)
AP Exams — Scored 5 on All
- Physics C: Mechanics, C: E&M, & 1
- Calculus BC
- Chemistry
...and more!
Academic Awards
- Purdue Mechanical Engineering Presidential Scholar
- William Crabbs Mechanical Engineering Scholarship Awardee
Chess Titles
- 2023 & 2024 Hawaii High School State Champion
- 2024 US Open U2000 — 1st Place
- 2020 Hawaii State Champion
- US Chess Federation 1st Category
Approach
My approach centers around identifying your one biggest weakness and targeting it with the right the right practice. I'll teach you the most efficient learning process which I couldn't figure out from just books and school alone. My end goal is for you to not need me, and develop the skills to grow on your own!See below for details on each subject.
| Subjects & Rates | |
|---|
| SAT Prep | $60/hr |
| Chess Coaching | $50/hr |
| AP Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M | $45/hr |
| AP Calculus AB / BC & below | $45/hr |
All sessions online via Zoom or Google Meet · In-person available for O'ahu residents (higher rate) · Package pricing available
Transparency on Pricing
I never want my rates to be a barrier to accessing me as a resource. If pricing is an issue, I would be happy to discuss what would be both something you could afford as well as fair compensation for my efforts.Please direct all pricing inquiries to [email protected].Below is a detailed account of my services.
SAT Prep: I have sunk hundreds of hours into understanding the science behind success on standardized exams, first for myself and then how it could be extrapolated to students of all backgrounds. I curate a personalized plan for you (which includes hundreds of practice problems that I have compiled and separated by domain and skill) from now to your test date to ensure the maximum possible chance of the score improvement you desire.
You’re paying for my knowledge and the time you save by leaving the dirty work of planning and finding practice & learning resources to me.Chess: I have coached students of all levels—from absolute beginners to the top 1%—and have collected extensive training resources (books, puzzles, opening trees, etc.) over the 10+ years I’ve spent climbing from learning how the pieces to move to playing and beating Grandmasters. I will analyze your games, find the major gaps in your understanding, and create a detailed study plan utilizing my resources.
You’re paying for my elite competitive experience, my ability to immediately pinpoint your biggest weaknesses, and the acceleration of your growth through my library and understanding of the limiting factor at each level.Physics & Math: As an engineer, math and physics are my bread and butter. I have spent thousands of hours over the years figuring out how to break down concepts and understand them in a way that made sense to me - which means they probably will for you too.
You’re paying me for my expertise in breaking down specific ideas and the time you save that would be wasted re-reading the same chapter in a textbook a dozen times.
Book a Session
I offer a free 20-minute intro call before we commit to sessions. Come with any questions!
calendly.com/markchen-tutor/20-minute-intro-sessionIf you're a returning student or just want to hop straight in, book a session here!
calendly.com/markchen-tutor/1-hour-tutoring-sessionFeel free to reach out with any inquiries:
[email protected]
