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Award-Winning OAT Reading Comprehension Tutors

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Abrahim
Reading comprehension on the OAT isn't casual reading — it demands extracting specific claims from dense scientific and humanities passages under strict time constraints. Abrahim approaches each passage type with a different annotation strategy, teaching students to identify the author's argument an...
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Medical College of Wisconsin
Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Rithi
A neuroscience and biotechnology background means Rithi already reads the kind of dense, jargon-heavy scientific prose that fills OAT Reading Comprehension passages — research papers, clinical reviews, grant abstracts — so she can zero in on teaching the actual test skill: pulling an author's argume...
Johns Hopkins University
Masters, Biotechnology
Duke University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
Kevin
Between a human biology degree at UCSD and medical school at UCF, Kevin has spent years digesting the exact kind of dense scientific prose that fills OAT Reading Comprehension passages — research abstracts, clinical reviews, and textbook chapters packed with terminology. He teaches students to stop ...
University of California-San Diego
Bachelor of Science, Human Biology/Education Studies

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Arianna
Arianna's neuroscience training at Dartmouth means she's spent years pulling apart the same kind of dense, terminology-laden research writing that fills OAT Reading Comprehension passages — so the content never slows her down. She zeroes in on the test mechanics instead: teaching students to tag eac...
Dartmouth College
Bachelor of Science

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Carsen
I'm a 2016 graduate of Pepperdine University with my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. Currently I'm preparing to apply to optometry school; I hope to be accepted for the 2018-19 academic year. During my time in college, I was involved as a teaching assistant for General Chemistry I and II laboratory, ...
Pepperdine University
Bachelor in Arts, Chemistry

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Alexandra
A creative writing and Spanish double major, Alexandra has trained herself to read closely across genres and languages — a skill that transfers directly to breaking apart the dense, jargon-heavy passages on the OAT Reading Comprehension section. She teaches students to treat each passage like a piec...
University of North Texas
Bachelor in Arts, Creative Writing

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Sam
The OAT Reading Comprehension section throws dense scientific and humanities passages at students under tight time pressure. Sam has spent years parsing complex research papers in biochemistry and molecular biology, and he teaches the same active-reading strategies he uses daily — skimming for passa...
Messiah College
Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology
Drexel University
Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Richard
Richard's ACT prep experience — particularly coaching students through the Reading and English sections — built a transferable toolkit for timed passage analysis that applies directly to OAT Reading Comprehension. He teaches students to convert each paragraph into a one-line purpose note during thei...
The University of Texas at Arlington
Bachelor in Arts, Business Administration and Management

Certified Tutor
2+ years
Regina George
LSAT prep builds a very particular muscle — the ability to tear apart an argument's logical structure under pressure and identify exactly which piece of evidence supports which conclusion. Regina brings that same dissection skill to OAT Reading Comprehension passages, teaching students to map how cl...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
Kate
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Top 20 Graduate Test Prep Subjects
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Jai
Calculus Tutor • +23 Subjects
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'm looking forward to helping you improve your scores towards improving your chances at getting in to your dream school.
Jessica
College Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writing requirement at the University prior to matriculating, I was the first freshman tutor to be accepted into this selective program. The tutoring program involved a preliminary peer-tutor training course prior to beginning tutoring, in order to certify that I had the appropriate background to provide professional feedback to fellow students on their literary works and projects. After graduation, I worked for a full-service learning center where I created and implemented high school lesson plans for home-schooled students, provided academic support for students ranging in ages from 8 to 20 years old, and taught group and individual standardized testing preparation classes. I have also assisted students with application essays for various undergraduate and graduate programs.
Jeffrey
Pre-Calculus Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and coming members of such a great field. I have experience tutoring both Calculus and Physics at Notre Dame, as well as experience as a Student Assistant for Differential Equations and Mechanics. I believe the key to learning is much deeper than learning to solve problems and that seeking knowledge is one of the best means for personal improvement.
Erika
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!
Rhea
AP Statistics Tutor • +49 Subjects
I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various subjects as well as tutoring private clients in Standardized Test preparation. Given that I graduated high school recently, I have taken several Standardized Tests and high school subjects myself, so I have a comprehensive understanding of not only how to tutor these subjects and exams, but also what it is like to take them. While I have a wide range of interests and am able to tutor various subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring in Standardized Test preparation (including ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams), Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Spanish. I truly believe that students should have the opportunity to learn in the way that works best for them, and I love being able to help them succeed by creating a comfortable tutoring environment in which we can best assess their particular needs and use strategies specific to them. My passion for learning drives everything that I do, and tutoring is the platform that I use to try to spread that passion to others. In my free time, you can find me playing badminton, listening to music, or baking something (hopefully) delicious.
Samuel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!
Zachary
Trigonometry Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies to excel in both general academics and standardized tests.
Samantha
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling
Quinn
Calculus Tutor • +17 Subjects
I am willing to address any issue with an open mind and I try to develop strategies that play to a student's strengths. I would like to think I am very approachable and personable, and I have had very positive experiences with many students in the past using this philosophy. Outside of academics, I love playing basketball and watching sports, as well as chilling with friends, listening to music, and keeping up with politics and current affairs.
Annie
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation, though the timeline depends on your starting point and study frequency. If you're struggling with foundational reading skills or test-taking strategies, you might need 8-12 weeks to build confidence and accuracy. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps identify your specific weaknesses—whether that's pace management, understanding complex scientific passages, or mastering question types—so you can focus your efforts where they matter most.
Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face, especially with dense scientific passages. The key is developing a strategic reading approach: skimming for structure first, then targeting specific details only when questions ask for them. A tutor can help you practice this technique with real OAT passages, teach you to recognize question patterns that let you predict what information matters, and build your speed through repeated, timed practice. Many students find that improving their question-answering strategy actually saves more time than trying to read faster.
OAT Reading Comprehension passages cover natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry), social sciences, and humanities topics. Science passages require you to understand experimental design, data interpretation, and terminology, while non-science passages test your ability to identify main ideas and author perspective. A personalized tutoring approach means focusing more on your weaker passage types—if you struggle with biology concepts, for example, a tutor can help you build content familiarity while teaching comprehension strategies specific to that subject matter.
The best way is through diagnostic practice testing, which reveals patterns in your mistakes: Are you missing main idea questions? Struggling with inference questions? Reading too slowly? Getting tripped up by scientific terminology? A tutor can help you take and review practice tests strategically, categorizing your errors by question type and passage subject, rather than just looking at your overall score. This targeted analysis is what allows you to spend study time on the gaps that will actually boost your score.
Absolutely. Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about your preparation or unfamiliarity with question formats. Working with a tutor builds genuine confidence through repeated, timed practice with real OAT-style passages and questions. You'll learn what to expect, develop reliable strategies you can trust under pressure, and get feedback on your actual performance rather than worrying about what might go wrong. Many students find that mastery—knowing exactly how to approach each question type—is the most powerful antidote to test day nerves.
The best tutors combine deep knowledge of the OAT's specific question formats and passage types with the ability to diagnose exactly where you're losing points. They should teach you strategy—not just how to read faster, but how to read strategically for the test's purposes. Look for someone who uses real OAT materials, provides timed practice with meaningful feedback, and adapts their approach based on your individual challenges, whether that's vocabulary, scientific concepts, or question-type mastery.
Most students benefit from taking a diagnostic practice test early to establish a baseline, then 2-3 full practice tests spread across their study period—enough to track improvement and build test-day stamina without burning out your resources. Between full tests, focus on targeted drills for specific question types and passages. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can guide your practice test schedule, help you review mistakes in depth, and adjust your strategy based on what the tests reveal about your progress.
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