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Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
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 com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.

Certified Tutor
Jacob
I am eager to help students thrive because I'm still very much a student myself, and will be for the foreseeable future. Though I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate student in Literature, and learned quite a bit during my time at Vanderbilt, there's still more work to be done. I am working towards ...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelors in Literature

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sherry
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics. Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University. In the past, I have worked as a teacher's aide in a public school classroom, a mento...
University of Chicago
Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics

Certified Tutor
I am a firm believer that clear, precise communication between student and tutor makes for a productive and fulfilling learning experience. When I work with students, I strive to listen carefully to find out exactly where they are struggling, and to impart corresponding strategies clearly and concis...
Boston University
PHD, American Studies
Harvard University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...
Harvard University
PHD, Education
Wesleyan University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology

Certified Tutor
I'm a scientist with experience working in Research and Development in lubricants, greases, paints and other specialty chemicals. I tutor math and science because I really enjoy helping people and sharing my knowledge. Some great teachers made a big difference in my education because they helped me ...
University of Chicago
PhD in Chemistry
Lafayette College
Bachelors, Chemistry/Phyics

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Victoria
I am a Physician's Assistant student at Rutgers University. I completed my first Master's degree in Human Nutrition at Columbia University. I have tutored all throughout high school and college in various subjects, including the SAT, the sciences, math, English, and the GRE. I am an advocate of maki...
Columbia University
Master's degree in Human Nutrition
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Human Nutrition
Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
Bachelor in Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences

Certified Tutor
Natasha
I'm a graduate student at MIT. I started tutoring from my first year of undergrad because I had such wonderful experiences when I was in high school learning with friends and upperclassmen. I am personally a social learner- I learn best when I'm talking and wrestling with concepts out loud and in a ...
Johns Hopkins
Bachelor of Science, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Certified Tutor
Lilian
I am a graduate from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Design.I believe in a firm but encouraging and confidence-building teaching style and my ability to motivate others and provide a support system for s...
Washington University in St. Louis
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Marketing, minor in Design
Top 20 Graduate Test Prep Subjects
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Michelle
Middle School Math Tutor • +41 Subjects
I am not tutoring, I enjoy baking, eating anything with chocolate, taking and editing pictures, reading, and singing.
Liz
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +41 Subjects
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received my Masters in Mild to Moderate Disabilities from Simmons College. I have worked extensively with students with a range of abilities, including students with specific learning disabilities, emotional impairments, dyslexia, and ADHD. My teaching experience has given me a deep understanding of the knowledge and habits essential to academic success and has given me the opportunity to hone a variety of strategies that ensure students at each level can achieve their academic goals. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, my favorite ones are Reading, Elementary/Middle School Math, History, and Test Prep. In my experience, tutoring is the most rewarding when a student has that "aha!" moment and achieves a new level of understanding and confidence in his/her abilities. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of education, and I see my role to be that of a facilitator and coach who is there to help the student reach his/her goals through individualized support and rigorous practice. In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, practicing my Spanish, and discovering new music. I am also an avid traveler and just got back from a 3 month trip to South America. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!
Samuel
Middle School Math Tutor • +30 Subjects
I am a current Master's Student studying Philosophy with a wide range of academic interests. I graduated with General Honors from the University of Chicago in 2018 with degrees in Statistics and East Asian Languages and Civilizations. I enjoy helping students achieve their full potential and primarily tutor standardized tests and college prep. Outside of tutoring I spend my time reading and playing board games.
Kirstie
Arithmetic Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am friendly, reliable, and most importantlycommitted to helping you learn! It is my top priority to create a positive learning experience that will help boost your test scores without boring you to tears. After all, shouldn't learning be fun? Hobbies: art, books, reading, music, writing
Jessica
Calculus Tutor • +13 Subjects
I am a board certified physical therapist, with a special interest in pediatric physical therapy. I completed my DPT at Northwestern University, and received my undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Vanderbilt University. During my time at Northwestern, I gained experience tutoring in coursework that required the highest level of academic rigor. I use my extensive science background to help students better understand the fundamentals of the physical therapy curriculum, and draw upon my clinical experience to frame that information in a more understandable and useful way. After experiencing the extensive prep-work that goes into preparing for the NPTE myself, I am eager to use my knowledge and experience to help any candidate feel more confident in taking this very important step in their career!
Ken
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +34 Subjects
I am a Wake Forest University graduate with a degree in Psychology, and I am currently pursuing a career as a physical therapist.
Justin
Calculus Tutor • +38 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue engaging in my passions for learning and teaching. While in school, I have spent countless hours coaching high school speech and debate both in person and working online with students across the country. My focus in coaching has been to emphasize philosophy and critical thought to prepare students to think through novel arguments on their own. I am passionate about teaching and tutoring because I love seeing students learn to be intellectually independent and think through problems on their own terms by developing their critical thinking skills. I have devoted my life to education because I am passionate about it, and I try to share some of my passion for learning with the students I work with. I tutor all sorts of Standardized Tests, and I particularly enjoy working on logic-based problems like analogies and math sections. When I am not tutoring or reading for school, I enjoy strategy games (both board games and video games), listening to music, hiking, playing basketball, and just relaxing with friends.
Courtney
Calculus Tutor • +38 Subjects
I'm not teaching biology to undergraduate majors at ASU, I research topics in aquatic ecology. Understanding the connectedness and patterns of environmental processes in aquatic ecosystems drives my passion to become an ecologist!
Todd
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +64 Subjects
I'm passionate about learning. I was fortunate to have great teachers at the University of Chicago in my graduate education, and at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in my undergraduate education.
Albert
Calculus Tutor • +42 Subjects
I am particularly good at coaching Maths, Verbal, and Writing skills. Within the past one year working with Varsity Tutors, I helped over 30 students achieve high GRE (160+ on each section) and GMAT (650+) scores. I'm currently studying at Columbia University. I have an MBA degree from UCLA and London Business School in England; My study concentration is Finance, Economics, and Investments. I own two undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Bachelor of Engineering in Digital Packaging Engineering, both from Wuhan University, Duke University's Chinese partner and a Top 10 university there. I wish my experience, knowledge, and expertise would assist you to achieve your academic goals! Hobbies: art, movies, books, reading, music, writing, painting
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Frequently Asked Questions
Score improvement depends on your starting point and study intensity, but most students see meaningful gains with focused preparation. If you're scoring in the 3.0-4.0 range, improvement to 4.5-5.0 is achievable with dedicated practice. Students starting lower (2.0-3.0) often see larger percentage improvements. The key is consistent practice with real GRE prompts, timed writing sessions, and detailed feedback on argument structure and evidence quality. Working with a tutor can accelerate improvement by identifying your specific weaknesses—whether that's thesis clarity, logical reasoning, or time management—and targeting those areas strategically.
Successful pacing typically breaks down as: 3-5 minutes planning your response, 20-22 minutes writing, and 2-3 minutes reviewing for errors. Many students rush into writing without outlining, which leads to disorganized arguments and lower scores. Spend time upfront identifying the prompt's core issue, planning your main points, and structuring your counter-examples. This planning phase prevents mid-essay pivots that waste time. Practice with a timer is essential—aim to complete at least 20-30 timed essays before test day so the pace feels natural. A tutor can help you calibrate your personal timing rhythm and recognize when you're spending too long on any one section.
The most frequent issues are: (1) weak or vague thesis statements that don't clearly take a position, (2) using generic examples instead of specific, relevant evidence, (3) poor organization that makes arguments hard to follow, and (4) failing to address counterarguments or nuance in your position. Students often write too much without structure, leaving scorers confused about their actual argument. Another common pitfall is treating the Analyze an Argument task as a writing exercise rather than a critical thinking task—focusing on grammar instead of identifying logical fallacies and weak reasoning. Time pressure also causes rushed conclusions or incomplete thoughts. Working through practice essays with detailed feedback helps you catch these patterns before test day.
Look for someone with direct GRE experience who can explain the scoring rubric clearly and provide specific, actionable feedback on your writing. A strong tutor will help you understand not just grammar rules, but how to construct compelling arguments, identify logical flaws, and structure essays for maximum clarity under time pressure. They should have you write multiple timed essays and give detailed feedback on thesis strength, evidence quality, and argument flow—not just surface-level corrections. Experience with different essay prompts and question types matters too, so you're prepared for the variety you'll see on test day. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have proven success helping students strengthen their analytical writing skills and boost their scores.
Most students benefit from completing 30-50 full, timed practice essays across their prep timeline. If you have 8-12 weeks to prepare, aim for 4-6 essays per week—this gives you enough volume to identify patterns in your writing while leaving time for feedback and revision. The official GRE provides about 80 different Analytical Writing prompts, and ETS has released many practice tests with authentic examples. Don't just write essays and move on; the real learning happens when you review them against the scoring rubric and understand why certain approaches score higher. A tutor can help you prioritize which prompts to tackle, track your progress, and adjust your strategy based on emerging patterns. Quality of practice—focused feedback and revision—matters more than sheer volume.
Both tasks carry equal weight in your Analytical Writing score (the average of your two essays), so it's important not to neglect either one. However, many students find one task easier than the other—some excel at identifying logical fallacies in arguments, while others prefer defending their own position on an issue. The good news is that the skills overlap significantly: clear thesis statements, strong evidence, logical organization, and precise writing help both tasks. The key difference is that Analyze an Argument requires critical thinking (spotting weak reasoning and assumptions), while Analyze an Issue requires persuasive reasoning (building a defensible position). A tutor can help you develop strength in whichever task feels weaker, ensuring your scores are balanced and competitive for your target schools.
Most students allocate 15-20% of their total GRE study time to Analytical Writing, with the remaining focus split between Verbal and Quantitative sections. If you're prepping for 12 weeks with 15 hours per week, that's roughly 2-3 hours weekly on writing. This breaks down to: learning the scoring rubric and structure (Week 1-2), practicing full timed essays with feedback (Weeks 3-10), and refining weak areas (Weeks 11-12). However, if Analytical Writing is a particular weakness for you, or if your target schools emphasize writing scores, you may need more time. The challenge is balancing writing practice with other sections while maintaining quality—better to complete 20 essays with detailed feedback than 50 rushed essays without review. A tutor helps you allocate time efficiently based on your starting point and goals.
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