Award-Winning PSAT Tutors
serving Columbia, SC
Award-Winning
PSAT
Tutors in Columbia
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley in pursuit of a degree in Data Science. Prior experience has taught me that the difference between a wish and a goal is consistency. This ethos has enabled me to excel in primary school and allows me to continuously enjoy watching others make progress toward their academic objectives under my guidance.

I've helped several hundred students in a wide variety of subjects, from executive functioning to computer science to standardized testing. I also help students with general support in math and English. Most of my students are around 9-17, but I work well with students who are older and a little younger as well. I also work very well with students who have specific obstacles or requirements, such as neurodiversity support or schedules that change a lot. Most of my background is in computer science, from my college major to my experience hands-on over the past 10 years. Regardless of the subject, I believe every student's needs are unique and every student is able to achieve great things with the right preparation and support. My number one goal is to provide that whenever I can, both to the student and to their parents. I communicate with parents outside of sessions a lot to establish their expectations, better understand students, and recommend ways they can directly support their children in their journey as well.
I am well familiar with all the techniques to achieve a higher score. I can also show a student how to study effectively so that they do well in school.
I am currently pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering and Spanish at Virginia Tech. I have a strong academic record in my fields. I enjoy sharing knowledge and helping others overcome learning challenges. Through previous tutoring, I have developed excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills. I am comfortable using online learning technologies and am committed to providing engaging, supportive lessons that help students reach their full potential.
I am currently learning how to do is to play the piano, and I can tell you first hand that practice and determination does make a difference! Outside of tutoring, I also love to dance, ski, and watch airplanes! Hope we can connect sometime soon. :)
John's English and Drama training sharpened the close-reading and rhetorical analysis skills that the PSAT's Evidence-Based Reading section rewards — identifying how authors structure arguments, use tone shifts, and deploy evidence across paired passages. His 36 ACT and experience teaching both SAT Math and SAT Reading mean he tackles the full exam, including the algebra-heavy no-calculator section where students often stumble on multi-step word problems. Rated 4.9 by students.
Anna's MD/MBA path through Northwestern's Feinberg and Kellogg programs means she's spent years toggling between dense scientific literature and business case analysis — the exact mix of reading speed and quantitative precision the PSAT demands across both its Evidence-Based Reading and math sections. Her 36 ACT and 1590 SAT confirm she's mastered standardized test architecture at the highest level, and she uses that experience to teach students how to spot the PSAT's recurring trap-answer patterns in command-of-evidence questions. Rated 5.0 by students.
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant at Columbia University in my department and also have tutored graduate students and undergraduates privately as well. My primary areas of tutoring are math and statistics coursework in addition to math sections on standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT. I am very passionate about helping students feel more confident and excited about math. In my spare time, I enjoy running, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family.
I am a second year law student at the University of Chicago who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area! I tutor the SAT, ESL, and Spanish. I was an AVID tutor in high school, and after college I taught an ESL class and tutored a high school student in Spanish. In law school, I am involved with the Lawyers in the Classroom program. My tutoring philosophy is based on listening to students work through problems and helping them to spot their confusions or incorrect assumptions. I believe students learn much better when they aren't simply told the right answer or right reasoning; they need to get there on their own.
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 subjects, I take a creative, inquiry-based and learner-centered approach, designing opportunities for each unique individual to meet their learning goals.
I am currently a resident physician at Northwestern Hospital.
Elliot's neuroscience PhD means he's spent years doing exactly what the PSAT's reading passages demand — digesting complex arguments quickly, weighing evidence, and identifying the claims that actually hold up. That scientific rigor carries into the math sections too, where his quantitative reasoning and statistics background makes the data-analysis and Heart of Algebra questions feel routine. He scored a 1540 SAT and holds a 5.0 rating.
Chemical engineering at Washington and Lee drilled the kind of systematic problem-solving that makes the PSAT's no-calculator math section click — setting up equations from word problems, manipulating expressions without reaching for a graphing calculator, and catching algebraic traps before they cost points. Alex pairs that quantitative strength with sharp reading and writing skills honed through an anthropology double major, which means the evidence-based passages and grammar-in-context questions get the same rigorous attention. His 1590 SAT and 36 ACT confirm he's mastered the full test architecture the PSAT is built from.
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medicine.
I'm eager to teach students how to make connections and understand any part of the world they need!
I am a junior studying Writing for Screen and Television at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. For the past two spring semesters I worked as a CollegeSpring Mentor, tutoring Green Dot Charter high school juniors for the SAT and teaching them predatory skills for college. In addition to my experience tutoring for the SAT, as a screenwriting major I most enjoy teaching my favorite subject, English. I love showing students the power language endows upon them to communicate their ideas and beliefs with others. I believe every student deserves the chance to succeed and to try to capitalize on their strengths while encouraging them to improve in areas they may traditionally find challenging. Endowing a student with confidence in themselves through patience and support is the best way not only to improve academic performance, but also transform them into lifelong learners. I try to share not only my passion for knowledge with students, but also my love of sports (football, baseball, and softball), action films, and global affairs. Seeing students not only improve academically but also show improved confidence and happiness is the most rewarding part of my job.
Emily's double major in biology and French at Yale means she's spent years toggling between scientific data analysis and close literary reading — the exact split the PSAT tests across its math and Evidence-Based Reading sections. Her perfect 36 ACT and 1550 SAT confirm she knows how standardized tests work at every level, and she uses that experience to teach the specific pacing and elimination strategies that keep students from running out of time on the Writing and Language section. Rated 5.0 by students.
Years of writing and peer-editing rigorous philosophy and religion papers at Pomona gave Miranda an instinct for the PSAT's Writing and Language section — she spots rhetorical weaknesses and grammar-in-context errors the way she'd mark up an undergraduate thesis draft. Her 1560 SAT confirms she handles the full test architecture the PSAT mirrors, including the math sections where her calculus and algebra background keeps things comfortable. Rated 5.0 by students.
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 mentor to middle school girls, an instructor and tutor at the literacy education organization 826, and a summer camp counselor. I tutor a diverse range of subjects, and I find that I especially enjoy tutoring language arts, reading, and writing at all levels, from elementary school all the way up to college/grad school test prep. As a tutor, I am committed to helping students reach their full potential as learners. Throughout my years as an educator, I have seen firsthand the remarkable academic growth that can occur when tutors provide students with the individualized support that they need. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, journaling, and learning about other languages and cultures.
I am a graduate of Columbia University with a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts. I taught math and essay writing to my peers in high school and college, and have tutored a close friend in her mathematics courses since junior year of high school. I am most comfortable and passionate about tutoring SAT prep, particularly the Math section and subject tests. I believe in supporting and encouraging my students and making material as accessible as possible, breaking down what may be difficult subject matter into terms and concepts that they already understand. I firmly believe in the potential of every student to grasp material that they may think is out of reach, and aim to reduce the stress factor of studying as much as possible. Outside of tutoring, I am a professional actor and playwright, and in my free time (a rare, mystical thing these days) I enjoy playing guitar and mandolin, practicing yoga, and my PS4.
I am a graduate from Georgetown University, where I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with a minor in Music. I'm currently pursuing a Master's of Science in Business Analytics at Carnegie Mellon University. I've been tutoring since I started high school, focusing on mathematics and writing. Throughout my college career I was employed both privately and by Georgetown University to tutor peers and high school students in the Washington, D.C. area. I worked with students taking classes in all levels of mathematics falling under Algebra, Calculus, Combinatorics, and Problem Solving.
I am available to tutor a range of middle school and high school subjects, but I am most excited about tutoring test prep. I remember how stressful preparing for college can be and I am eager to do my part in helping students fulfill their college goals. I believe that learning is a collaborative process and I am committed to being as actively involved in the student's learning as I can. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, going to the movies (I try to see each Oscar nominee before the ceremony every year.), and am a huge Michigan sports fan.
I am currently studying chemical engineering at the University of Michigan. I have always helped out my fellow students with schoolwork, and I have tutored in the National Honor Society for three years. My tutoring strengths include my abilities to stay calm, be patient, and offer different perspectives on the learning process. I do not just help my students learn the material, but I also teach them how to learn it. I tutor math and test prep courses. Outside of school and tutoring, I play the piano. I have played classical piano for 13 years and jazz piano for 7.
I am currently attending New York University where I am pursuing a degree in Finance and Statistics. I have previous experience tutoring individuals in math, a subject I have always excelled at academically. My knowledge and interest in mathematics, makes it easy for me to frame and deconstruct seemingly complicated concepts and theories in ways students will be able to understand and remember. Outside of academia I enjoy playing tennis, going to movies, and spending time with friends and family.
As a med student at Thomas Jefferson, Nishad reads dense scientific passages under time pressure every day — the same core skill the PSAT's Evidence-Based Reading section tests with unfamiliar social science and natural science passages. His 1580 SAT means he's already dominated the test the PSAT is built from, and his premed background keeps him sharp on the quantitative side, particularly the data-interpretation and Heart of Algebra questions that make up the bulk of the math sections.
I am a member of the Brown Class of 2018, pursuing a bachelors degree in mathematics. I graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 2014. (I am able to help anyone with the boarding school admissions process.) Outside of academia, I pursue my passions in dance, travel, volunteering, reading and art. My tutoring subjects are mathematics (from elementary school to college level) and standardized testing (SAT, SAT subject tests, PSAT, and SSAT). I have tutored mainly high school students in the New York State Regents exams and AP Calculus, although I also have experience with students in middle and elementary school. Since I have been through many school systems, including public, private, studying abroad, and boarding school, I have learned many different techniques and can attack a problem from various angles. Ultimately, my teaching style is full of tips and tricks to break down complicated topics into simple, more understandable ideas.
I'm a rising junior at Brown University studying biomedical engineering. I have lots of experience in middle school through college level instruction in STEM and SAT/ACT prep. My goal is to provide a fun and productive learning environment by only teaching subjects that I am passionate about.
I am an incoming medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I graduated from Rice University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Medical Humanities and Business.
I am a rising sophomore at Cornell University, studying Human Biology, Health and Society. I am on the premed track and am pursuing a minor in South Asian Studies. I was born in India and grew up in Singapore and Buffalo, NY, where I currently live. This past semester, I tutored middle and high school students in math, biology, and chemistry in Ithaca. I also particularly enjoy tutoring for standardized tests such as the ACT, as I feel it is where students are able to make a lot of progress quickly, and it also tends to be the most rewarding for both the students and for me! As someone who loves making organized and detailed plans, I believe having a clear set of goals for one's future is the key to success, and this can be applied to anything, from a single test to one's entire career. I would love to help my students with setting goals and making plans in their high school and/or college careers, in addition to tutoring a specific subject! In college, I am most involved with Cornell's Hindu Student Council and SPICMACAY, an Indian classical music and dance organization. Outside of academia, I sing South Indian classical music and play many different genres of the piano.
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
I am currently a fourth year medical student in Indianapolis. I completed my undergraduate education at Indiana University Bloomington, where I majored in Biology and Spanish. I also completed two minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. While at IU, I worked for the Department of Mathematics and Department of Spanish. I also worked as a Peer Tutor for the IU Athletics Department, tutoring in several subjects including statistics, chemistry, physics, and Spanish. I graduated from college with a 4.0, and I entered medical school shortly thereafter. Since coming to medical school, I have excelled in all of my pre-clinical coursework, and I currently rank in the Top 20% of my class. I feel very comfortable and confident tutoring other students in a variety of subjects from math and science to Spanish. I like to think that the same techniques I have used to excel in all phases of my education can be easily adapted to other students and help you achieve your academic goals, just as I have!
Neuroscience at Vanderbilt trains Eileen to digest complex research passages quickly and pull out exactly the data that matters — the same skill the PSAT's Evidence-Based Reading section tests on every form. Her 1550 SAT and 36 ACT mean she's mastered both major test architectures, and she uses that dual perspective to teach the specific pacing and elimination strategies that keep students from overthinking command-of-evidence questions.
Political science at Williams meant Keith spent four years constructing tight, evidence-backed arguments — the exact skill the PSAT's Writing and Language section tests when it asks students to evaluate sentence placement, strengthen claims, and choose the most effective phrasing in context. His 1560 SAT shows he can execute across all sections under pressure, and his additional strength in math means he covers the algebra-heavy no-calculator questions with the same confidence he brings to passage analysis.
I am 22 years old and just graduated from the University of Kentucky with a double degree in French and Biochemistry. I have been a tutor for over a year now at UK's tutoring center. I believe that anyone can learn anything with enough practice and encouragement, and I love helping students overcome challenges and gain more self-confidence!
I am a junior at Purdue University studying Aerospace Engineering and am part of the Air Force ROTC program. I have 6 years of tutoring experience at places including Kumon, Mathnasium, and Purdue University. I have worked with kids of all ages from kindergarten to sophomores in college, each with their own set of unique strengths, and tutored a variety of subjects, including calculus, trigonometry, geometry, thermodynamics, chemistry, and physics. Like many of my previous students, I struggled to understand concepts that I was being taught and was a terrible test taker. However, I found ways to overcome my obstacles and develop an better intuition for what I was learning. I believe that it is only this intuition and understanding that helps overcome these obstacles. My least favorite thing to see people be discouraged, so with a little bit of guidance and reassurance, I want to show people that they are capable of anything they put their mind to.
A perfect 1600 on the SAT means Cassandra already mastered every skill the PSAT tests — evidence-based reading, command of evidence questions, and the grammar conventions that drive the Writing and Language section. Her comparative literature background is especially useful for the reading passages, where she teaches students to quickly identify argument structure and author's purpose under tight time constraints.
I am a lifelong learner, teacher, and researcher in the field of physics. I received a PhD in Physics from the University of Michigan and a BS in Physics from Rice University. I have four years of physics teaching experience at the University of Michigan, primarily undergraduate laboratory courses with an emphasis on electromagnetism, circuits, waves, optics, and real-world applications of these and other physical phenomena. Many of these courses, including one I helped design, focused on helping non-STEM students master physics concepts that may be difficult to grasp in a standard classroom setting. I have tutored in a variety of subjects since high school, but most recently I have spent several years helping students understand concepts and succeed in coursework throughout a large variety of college-level physics topics, from basic mechanics to advanced electrodynamics and special relativity.
I am currently studying molecular biology and I hope to work at a pediatric hospital after graduating from medical school. As an undergraduate, I am involved in volunteering organizations, photography, dance companies, and Asian-American political organizations.
Scoring a 1550 on the SAT means Rhea already had the PSAT mastered before she sat for the real thing — the question types, the pacing traps, and the specific grammar and evidence-based reading skills that National Merit semifinalist cutoffs demand. As a UChicago biology student, she brings sharp analytical reading to the passages and a methodical approach to the math sections that breaks down no-calculator problems into manageable steps. Rated 4.8 by her students, she builds test-day strategies that go well beyond content review.
Testimonials
Because the right PSAT tutor makes all the difference.
Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
Practice PSAT
Free practice tests, flashcards, and AI tutoring for PSAT
Nearby PSAT Tutors
Other Columbia Tutors
Related Test Prep Tutors in Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
The PSAT is a standardized test that measures reading, writing, and math skills for students typically in grades 9-10. It serves as a practice test for the SAT and helps identify academic strengths and areas for improvement. For students in Columbia, taking the PSAT is an excellent way to get familiar with test formats, pacing, and question types before tackling the SAT, which plays a key role in college admissions.
Score improvement varies based on starting point and effort, but students who work with a tutor often see meaningful gains—typically 50-100+ points—by addressing specific weak areas and building test-taking confidence. The key is identifying which sections (reading, writing, or math) need the most work and developing targeted strategies. With consistent practice and personalized guidance, most students see noticeable progress within 4-8 weeks of tutoring.
Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your current strengths and weaknesses across reading, writing, and math sections. The tutor will discuss your goals, review your test-taking habits, and create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs. This foundation helps ensure all future sessions focus on the areas where you'll see the most improvement.
Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face, and it's highly learnable. A tutor can teach you strategies like skimming techniques for reading passages, identifying question types quickly, and knowing when to skip and return to difficult problems. Practice tests under timed conditions are essential—they help you develop a rhythm and build confidence so you're not rushing or second-guessing yourself on test day.
Reading and writing tend to be challenging for many students because they require both speed and comprehension, while the math section often trips up students who haven't practiced specific question formats or need to refresh foundational concepts. The good news is that each section responds well to targeted tutoring—a tutor can pinpoint whether you're struggling with content knowledge, test strategy, or time pressure, and address the root cause.
Most students benefit from taking 3-5 full-length practice tests under timed conditions during their prep period. The first practice test establishes your baseline and identifies weak areas, while subsequent tests help you track progress and refine your strategy. Between practice tests, focus on drilling specific question types and reviewing mistakes—this targeted work is often more valuable than taking test after test without analysis.
Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with the test format or uncertainty about your abilities. Working with a tutor builds confidence through repeated exposure to authentic questions, mastery of strategies, and consistent practice under realistic conditions. Tutors also teach breathing techniques and mental strategies to manage stress on test day, so you can approach the PSAT feeling prepared rather than panicked.
Look for tutors who have strong backgrounds in standardized test prep, understand the specific skills the PSAT measures, and can explain concepts clearly. Ideally, they've helped other students improve their scores and can provide examples of their approach. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in PSAT prep and understand how to tailor instruction to your learning style and goals.
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.