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Award-Winning AP United States History Tutors

Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

The APUSH exam tests whether students can do what historians do: analyze sources, weigh competing interpretations, and build a thesis under a ticking clock. Jessica's Penn history degree and her certification as a writing tutor through the university's Critical Writing Department mean she can sharpe...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Erika

Certified Tutor

Erika

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Erika's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

The AP United States History exam rewards students who can think in terms of historical causation and continuity, not just recall dates. Erika tackles each period by anchoring it to a few key turning points — the Constitutional Convention, Reconstruction, the New Deal — and teaching students to trac...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32
Molly

Certified Tutor

Molly

Master of Science in Education
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
1st-8th Grade math
1st-8th Grade Writing
1st-8th Grade Reading
Pre-Algebra

Molly earned her history degree from Columbia, where she wrote two distinguished theses that required the same kind of evidence-based argumentation the AP United States History exam tests. She unpacks complex periods — from Reconstruction to the New Deal — by teaching students to identify causation,...

Education

Northwestern University

Master of Science in Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelor in Arts, History

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Asta

Certified Tutor

Asta

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Asta's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Arithmetic
Middle School Math

The APUSH exam tests historical thinking skills — causation, continuity and change, comparison — not just recall of dates and names. Asta, who holds a political science degree from the University of Chicago and has passed the CLEP US History exam, tackles each period by connecting political developm...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
35
Ethan

Certified Tutor

Ethan

Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Science and Public Policy
Ethan's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra

Studying public policy means tracing how ideas become laws and how laws reshape societies — exactly the kind of causal thinking APUSH demands. Ethan tackles each period by connecting policy decisions to their social consequences, whether it's Reconstruction-era amendments or New Deal legislation. He...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Science and Public Policy

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1510
ACT
36
Tom

Certified Tutor

Tom

PHD, American Studies
Tom's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Geometry
Calculus

Periodization is where most AP United States History students struggle — not memorizing events, but explaining why 1848 or 1877 or 1945 marks a turning point. Tom's PhD in American Studies means he thinks in exactly these terms, connecting economic, cultural, and political threads across eras. He al...

Education

Boston University

PHD, American Studies

Harvard University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Catherine

Certified Tutor

Catherine

PHD, History
Catherine's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Arithmetic
Middle School Math
Elementary Math

Catherine is finishing a PhD in History, which means she doesn't just know the APUSH content — she thinks like the historians who write the exam. She unpacks periodization and causation as thinking tools, showing students how to trace threads like westward expansion or evolving conceptions of libert...

Education

Stanford University

PHD, History

Princeton University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1590
Patrick

Certified Tutor

Patrick

JD
Patrick's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Subject Test in World History
PSAT Writing Skills

Scoring well on AP United States History means mastering a specific skill: turning raw historical evidence into a coherent, thesis-driven argument under time pressure. Patrick's MA in History and legal training at Duke gave him years of practice doing exactly that — synthesizing sources, identifying...

Education

Emory University

Bachelor in Arts, History

Duke University

JD

Duke University

MA in History

Deirdre

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Deirdre

Bachelors, History and Science, Pre-Medical Studies
Deirdre's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Elementary Math
Calculus

APUSH asks students to do something most find uncomfortable: argue with history rather than just memorize it. Deirdre earned her BA in History of Science from Harvard, where analyzing primary sources and constructing document-based arguments was daily practice. She walks students through periodizati...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelors, History and Science, Pre-Medical Studies

Harvard University

BA in History of Science

Richard

Certified Tutor

Richard

Bachelor in Arts, Government
Richard's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Linear Algebra

Scoring well on AP United States History means writing persuasive, evidence-rich essays under serious time constraints. Richard's Government concentration at Harvard keeps him deep in primary sources and historical argumentation daily, and he walks students through how to dissect a document set, ide...

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts, Government

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600
ACT
36

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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Allen

College Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Yale University as well as of a prestigious New York City Magnet High School. I graduated with a B.A. in an interdisciplinary major focused on economics and political science (3.9 GPA and magna cum laude). I am well equipped to tutor various standardized like the SAT, PSAT, SAT IIs, GMAT, and Regents because of both my familiarity with the exams as well as my success on the exams (2330 on the SAT, 760 on the GMAT)as well as in most subject areas. I have extensive prior experience tutoring in both group and private settings and am excited to make the experience as stress-free and rewarding for my students. Beyond tutoring, I have great familiarity with the college process and have even held a position as an on campus interviewer for students applying to Ivy-league schools. Outside of academics, I enjoy exploring (and eating) at New York city restaurants as well as ballroom dancing. Look forward to working with you!

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Paula

8th Grade math Tutor • +123 Subjects

I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests and have been privileged enough to pursue knowledge in those areas. I even enjoy tucking away "useless facts"...in fact, those very tidbits got me past the Jeopardy! Online Test and into the Contestant Audition!

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Jake

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +49 Subjects

I am a current undergraduate student at Stanford University but am spending the summer interning in Dallas! In school, I am a Human Biology major, concentrating in Game Theory and Health Policy. I have experience tutoring in Math, Spanish, and Writing and am eager to help you achieve your goals. I am flexible, patient, and willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. Hobbies: reading, music, hiking, art, sports, books, writing

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Paul

Calculus Tutor • +44 Subjects

I am a graduate of Brown University, where I completed a double major in biology and public health, and received honors in the biological sciences.

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Emerson

AP Statistics Tutor • +57 Subjects

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, working towards a pre-med double major in Psychology and Biology (with a specialization in Neuroscience). Beginning in my early teens, I began working and volunteering as a tutor in a variety of environments: I began as a volunteer at a summer program for underprivileged children at the Learning and Tutoring Center of East Austin, and since I have worked as a private elementary school tutor, a private SAT-prep tutor, and a preschool tutor for the Neighborhood Schools Program in South Side Chicago. I have taken, and succeeded in, a broad range of Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, and am familiar with the latest formats, question varieties, and scoring guidelines of these standardized tests, along with the SAT. My teaching philosophy is to go beyond "teaching to the test". Although test-taking skills are crucial for any assessment, I believe the most valuable thing a tutor can do is to enhance and help develop conceptual understanding in our clients. I believe that once a student understands something at the conceptual level, he or she will be much better prepared for the topic, not only in the specific test we are preparing for, but anywhere else it may come up. Memorizing words or equations might help somebody in the short term, but understanding why that word means what it means, or what an equation is actually depicting is worth the extra effort. Besides test-prep I think I can be a great help in writing and editing, as I have experience in everything from short, timed essays such as the SAT essay, to college essays, to research papers such as the IB Extended Essay. I am fully fluent in Spanish for anyone who wishes to communicate in or practice the language.

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Alex

Calculus Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am proficient at US History and can help an AP US History student towards a 4 or 5 on his or her exam. My concentration for both of my post-high school degrees was religion, and I would love to tutor students who are taking religion courses. My favorite hobby is reading, and I believe it is important to instill an enjoyment of reading in students as early as possible. I can help young people who need extra support to become better readers.

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Priscilla

Calculus Tutor • +39 Subjects

I am a student at Harvard College, studying government with a secondary focus in economics. I am currently teaching a class on civic engagement and government to fifth graders. In the past, I have also run simulations with high school students for academic conferences. While volunteering in Peru, I tutored students at an all-girls orphanage in a bilingual environment. Throughout high school, I also helped students prepare for standardized examinations such as the SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests, AP Exams and Regents examinations. I am eager to work with students in these areas, with a particular emphasis on reading, writing, and history. My experience working with children expands beyond tutoring. I also have worked with students on their college essays. I absolutely enjoy working with them and deeply care about promoting their education. In my free time, I keep up with the current events, read, run, sail, and watch Netflix.

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Alastair

Calculus Tutor • +32 Subjects

I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University in the City of New York, a member of the Ivy League, where I have compiled a track record of academic success across a variety of disciplines including my majors in History and Political Science. I currently maintain a 3.96 GPA, with especially strong success in social science related fields and English courses. I am living in our Writers House next year, a selective, competitive residential space for students interested in a career in writing. Hobbies: art, books, music, reading, writing

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Ryan

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am looking to get some more experience tutoring and teaching with the idea of pursuing further academic work in the future.

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Sarah

Calculus Tutor • +37 Subjects

I'm drawn to those topics myself, they are the things I am most passionate about, and therefore the things I love to teach and the subjects in which I love to share what knowledge I have. I believe enthusiasm goes a long way, and that some of my best teachers have been the ones who loved their subjects the most. Hobbies: books, music, art, reading, writing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Students often find the colonial and early American period challenging due to overlapping conflicts and competing narratives, while the Civil War and Reconstruction era requires understanding complex causation across political, economic, and social dimensions. The 20th century—particularly the Cold War, civil rights movements, and rapid social change—presents difficulty because it demands synthesis across multiple themes rather than memorization. Many students also struggle with the thematic framework itself, especially connecting specific events to broader concepts like American identity, power dynamics, and reform movements, which the AP exam heavily emphasizes.

The DBQ requires more than just analyzing documents—you need a strong thesis that directly addresses the prompt, contextual evidence beyond the documents, and clear reasoning showing how each document supports your argument. Many students lose points by treating documents as isolated pieces rather than synthesizing them to build a cohesive narrative. Tutors can help you develop a systematic approach: spending 2-3 minutes planning your thesis and document groupings before writing, using specific historical terminology and names, and practicing the skill of "sourcing" documents (considering authorship, purpose, and audience) to strengthen your analysis.

The LEQ requires 40 minutes to write a well-developed essay, which means you need a pre-planned structure to avoid rambling or running out of time. Students often spend too long on their introduction or get caught up in details that don't directly support their thesis. A tutor can help you master a rapid planning technique: identify your argument in 2 minutes, organize your evidence into 3-4 body paragraphs in 1 minute, then write efficiently with clear topic sentences and historical examples. Practicing timed LEQs under exam conditions is crucial—you'll learn to write more concisely while maintaining the analytical depth the rubric demands.

You have 55 minutes for 55 questions, which leaves only one minute per question—but not all questions require equal time. Strong test-takers quickly identify straightforward factual questions and spend those saved seconds on more complex questions requiring synthesis or interpretation of primary source excerpts. A common mistake is getting stuck on difficult questions early; instead, mark them and move forward. Tutors recommend practicing full-length practice tests to calibrate your pacing and identify which question types consistently slow you down, whether that's source-based questions, questions requiring chronological reasoning, or those testing thematic connections across multiple time periods.

The thematic framework is essential—the exam tests seven themes (American and National Identity, Work, Exchange, and Technology, Politics and Power, America in the World, American and Regional Culture, Personal and Family Life, and Interaction and Exchange) across all question types. Rather than memorizing themes, you need to recognize how historical events illustrate these concepts and explain causation through them. For example, understanding westward expansion through the lens of "American Identity" (Manifest Destiny ideology) and "Politics and Power" (federal policy, Native American displacement) is more valuable than just knowing dates and facts. A tutor can help you practice identifying which themes apply to different topics and explaining historical change using thematic language, which directly improves both DBQ and LEQ scores.

Effective source analysis means quickly identifying the author's perspective, purpose, and intended audience—not just summarizing what the document says. Students often waste time reading sources word-for-word instead of scanning for key phrases and main ideas. The skill of "sourcing" requires asking: Who created this and why? When was it created, and what was happening historically? What perspective or bias might the author have? In the multiple-choice section, this helps you eliminate answers; in the DBQ, it strengthens your analysis by explaining how the source's origin affects its reliability or usefulness. Practicing with actual AP exam documents and timing yourself helps you develop the pattern recognition needed to source documents in under a minute.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level. Students who are scoring 2s or 3s often see the biggest gains (1-2 points) because they're typically missing fundamental skills like thesis development, document sourcing, or understanding the thematic framework—all areas where targeted instruction creates rapid improvement. Students aiming for a 4 or 5 need more refined skills: distinguishing between good and excellent analysis, managing complex synthesis across time periods, and eliminating careless errors under pressure. Most students need 4-8 weeks of consistent practice and tutoring to solidify improvements, particularly if they're working on multiple-choice accuracy and timed essay writing simultaneously.

Start by taking a full-length practice test under timed conditions and analyzing your results by question type (multiple-choice, DBQ, LEQ) and by time period or theme. Many students discover they perform well on factual recall but struggle with analytical questions, or vice versa. A tutor can help you dig deeper: reviewing your DBQ and LEQ essays for common issues like weak thesis statements, insufficient evidence, or unclear reasoning; analyzing your multiple-choice errors to see if you're missing specific content areas (like Reconstruction or the 1960s) or struggling with question types that require source interpretation. Once you identify patterns—whether it's a content gap, a writing skill deficit, or a test-taking strategy issue—tutoring can be precisely targeted to address those weaknesses rather than generic review.

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