Award-Winning HSPT Tutors
serving Boston, MA
HSPT
Tutors in Boston
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 deeply passionate about the field of education. I look forward to tutoring and helping individuals who are dedicated to their future. I am happy to offer advice about college applications and career counseling as well. I can't wait to meet you!

I am a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany. I graduated Cum Laude in May, 2013.I received my Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Philosophy. Since graduation, I have been coaching wrestling at a nearby high school, as well as serving at a local restaurant. I have been tutoring students since I was in high school, in subjects ranging from simple arithmetic to advanced calculus to SAT preparation. I have even tutored middle school and high school Spanish! My clients have ranged from middle school students to college students. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about mathematics. I have found that there is no correct way to tutor students, for every student has vastly different needs; therefore, I try to always teach in a way that specifically caters to each individual's specific needs. I strongly believe that a good education is key to a happy and successful life. Oftentimes, students just need the right person with the right teaching style for that education to be a fun, easy process. In my free time, I enjoy reading, working out, word and number games, and spending time with my friends and family.
I am especially enjoy working with students on Math, English, and Writing. I always work on first ensuring that students understand the underlying fundamental concepts before tackling more complex problems. I love to use real-world, relevant examples to make concepts come to life, and I always try to instill a love and excitement for the subject by making my sessions as animated and exciting as possible. In my spare time, I love to read, do yoga, and go running in Prospect Park.
I am fortunate; I get to do the best job in the world. While teaching is my second career, it was always what I wanted to do. When I graduated from college, I was offered a position with my college's admissions and marketing office, where I had been working to put myself through school. It was a tremendous opportunity, and launched an eighteen-year career helping high school students make important decisions about their futures, and navigate an often complex admissions and financial aid system. I loved working with students, being around bright, engaging people, and doing work that made a difference. But each time I walked through a high school to present a workshop on writing college essays or preparing for college interviews, I was reminded of how deeply I still wanted to be in a classroom. So I took the plunge, and now spend my days teaching social studies to great students at a great school. I have taught world history, American history, sociology, psychology, economics, and even developed a high school course in teaching for students seeking a career in education. I am passionate about understanding how the past has shaped the present, and helping students recognize their critical role in protecting and preserving democracy. In addition to teaching course curricula, I work with students on writing skills, standardized test preparation, and college essays, because all of these skills will help them reach their academic goals. As a teacher, I believe that it is critical to help students develop the ability to regulate their own learning, and implement meta-cognitive strategies that will serve them in college and beyond. When I'm not teaching, I am a mom to a high school sophomore, a long-distance mom to two college students, a gardener who grows lots of organic vegetables, and an avid reader of anything historical. If I can help you in a specific subject area, or with essays, test preparation, or homework support, either face-to-face or on-line, let me know!
I am a recent graduate of Cornell University where I majored in Industrial and Labor Relations. Additionally, I minored in International Relations, Law and Society, Latin American Studies and Business. I first gained experience in tutoring working with younger children at a private tutoring company. It was exciting to see them improve and make great strides on a weekly basis. My personal favorite subjects as a student were history and english, but I find helping students who struggle with math equally as gratifying. I also enjoy tutoring for standardized exams such as the SAT because of how easy it is for students to improve once they are taught techniques and begin to practice them. As the son of a teacher I was always taught that education was vital and necessary to succeed. I passionately believe this and in tutoring try my best to give students the tools so that they could garner the most out of their education. My favorite hobbies include traveling, reading, and going to the gym.
I'm especially passionate about math and science and work in a research lab at Oregon Health and Sciences University. I love helping students do well on tests such as the ACT, SAT, SSAT and the HSPT especially. I am attending Johns Hopkins University and majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
I am currently running the head of math department and testing coordinator at my current school this school year. I have a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in educational leadership. I am a dedicated, resourceful and goal-driven professional educator with a solid commitment to the social and academic growth and development of every child to improve their learning process in the classroom. I am also Mathcounts and FTC robotics coach since 2015. I would like to better assist you to improve your math skills to be more successful in your education life.
Karin McKie, MFA, compiles curriculum and personalizes teaching for a broad spectrum of students. I know there is no better, nor more crucial, calling than helping learners communicate their voices and realize their educational dreams. I specialize in tutoring all standardized tests, including the LSAT, SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, HSPT, ISEE, Accuplacer, STAAR, TOEFL/IELTS, ASVAB, all AP/IB English and history classes, and more. I also created and published a simple reading annotation system and related strategies specifically to tackle timed tests, as well as teaching critical reading, comparative literature, public speaking, and theater. As a professional writer and editor, I coach students in persuasive writing for schoolwork, college application and supplemental essays, internship and job applications, and the like. For decades, I've taught and lectured at universities, schools, and with individuals in Chicagoland and the Bay Area, and to online students of all ages around the world. I customize study plans with learners and their advocates to utilize existing abilities and add new techniques to reach personal and scholastic goals. I have a BS in Communications and Theater, and an MFA in Creative Writing. I have completed Continuing Education courses at Stanford, Northwestern and DePaul Universities. I'm a professional features writer and culture critic. I've edited Perspective design journal and Reed literary magazine and have performed memoir essays I've written on Chicago Public Radio. I come from a family of teachers and was fortunate to grow up at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where my anthropologist mom was Education Director. Since early childhood, I've been immersed in multicultural and ELL education. I've devoted my personal and professional time to diversity and storytelling, starting at public TV station WETA in my hometown outside Washington, D.C., where I was certified as a trainer with Sesame Street's Preschool Education Project. I've also taught creativity and teambuilding through improvisation to all ages (as well as creating a kids summer camp), reading for the SAG Foundations BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) program, plus reading and writing skills to at-risk students through the Park District's Kraft Great Kids Program. I've assisted many of my arts marketing clients, including Barrel of Monkeys and Kidworks Touring Theatre, with youth literacy programs at schools and libraries throughout the Windy City.
I am always happy to help someone in any subject than I can. I enjoy working with students of all ages, and I want to see every one of them succeed!
I am a medical student committed to helping your student succeed. I have been a tutor for 5+ years, and have experience teaching Math, Science, Spanish and Test Prep to students of all ages and ability. I believe every child has the potential to learn with positive one on one attention and I am committing to helping you student learn how they study best, and become a more independent learner. I look forward to meeting you, and helping you achieve your goals!
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.
I am currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program at Nova Southeastern University, and I received my B.A. in English with a minor in Spanish from the University of Miami in 2016. I am a native speaker of English and Russian. Throughout the course of my education, I have helped my fellow students improve their analytical and writing skills through collaboration. I am able to tutor a broad range of subjects, including standardized test preparation, English literature up to the college level, essay and academic writing and grammar, Russian and Spanish language skills. Having scored in the top percentiles on the verbal and essay writing sections of standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE, I also possess the perspective and expertise to help others excel on these and similar exams. I am passionate about empowering students to achieve their full potential through education, and I strongly believe tutoring can be a valuable tool for any student's academic growth. In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafting, and journaling.
I am a Special Education English teacher in Philadelphia with a passion for education. I love working with students of all ages to find their learning style and to meet their personal goals. I also love to laugh and have fun while getting work done!
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Frequently Asked Questions
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized entrance exam used by many Catholic and independent schools in the Boston area to assess student readiness for high school. With 32 schools across 6 districts in Boston, the HSPT is a key factor in admission decisions for students seeking placement in selective high schools. Strong performance can open doors to schools with rigorous academics and competitive programs.
The HSPT includes five main sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language. Each section tests different competencies—from vocabulary and reasoning to problem-solving and grammar—that are essential for success in high school coursework. Understanding the format and content of each section helps students prepare strategically and identify areas needing extra focus.
Many students struggle with time management, as the HSPT requires quick thinking across multiple subjects without a calculator on the math section. Others find the Verbal Skills section challenging because it tests nuanced vocabulary and reasoning rather than straightforward knowledge. Personalized tutoring helps students identify their specific weak areas, build targeted strategies, and practice under timed conditions to build confidence and speed.
In a classroom setting, instruction is paced for the average student and covers broad topics. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to focus on your specific gaps, adapt pacing to your learning style, and create a customized study plan. This targeted approach means you spend less time on material you already know and more time mastering challenging concepts, leading to faster improvement and better test day performance.
Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though the ideal timeline depends on your starting point and target score. Students with strong foundational skills may need less time, while those addressing significant gaps benefit from longer, consistent practice. Personalized tutoring helps create a realistic timeline based on diagnostic testing and your specific needs, ensuring you're fully prepared by test day.
The first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your strengths and areas for improvement across all five HSPT sections. Your tutor will discuss your goals, learning style, and timeline, then create a customized study plan. This foundation ensures your tutoring is focused and efficient, with clear benchmarks to track progress toward your target score.
Varsity Tutors connects students with expert tutors who have deep knowledge of HSPT content, test-taking strategies, and the Boston high school landscape. Tutors are experienced educators who understand how to break down complex material, identify test-taking patterns, and help students build both content mastery and test confidence. You can review tutor credentials and find the right match for your learning style.
Score improvement varies based on starting point, effort, and consistency, but students typically see measurable gains within 4-6 weeks of focused tutoring. Some students improve by 50+ percentile points, while others focus on perfecting specific sections. Personalized instruction maximizes your potential by targeting exactly what you need to improve, combined with regular practice and feedback to track progress toward your goal score.
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