Award-Winning HSPT Tutors
serving Des Moines, IA
HSPT
Tutors in Des Moines
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 a passionate writer with a Bachelor's degree in English (Creative Writing) and Communications (Journalism) from the University of Washington. I have written professionally for nearly twenty years. I'm excited to work with middle school, high school, and adult students. My approach centers on building conversational relationships with students, allowing them to feel comfortable expressing their own ideas. I believe that writing is a collaborative journey; by engaging in open dialogue, I help students articulate their thoughts and craft their unique voices. I'm here to help students find their best ideas! My background as a Communications Manager for a large-scale company also allows me to help students with more structured writing assignments. Additionally, as an agented writer I am particularly excited to assist students with academic essays, personal statements for college applications and creative pieces. Crafting a story within set parameters is my specialty! I aim to empower students no matter their skill level. Writing is not just a skill, but a powerful means of self-expression. Every student is capable of writing success!

I love math and physics, particularly as it relates to geology. Ask me about rocks in my spare time! Also a casual American history and constitutional/political buff. APUSH Text: Henrietta Calculus Text: Stewart Physics Text: Knight
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 well aware of that, and as a tutor, I consider it my job to give my students the confidence to apply the knowledge they have gained. That confidence will serve them well not only now but in future endeavors as well.
I am about to begin graduate school as a PhD Student in Condensed Matter Physics. I am currently working at an experimental physics lab at the University of Maryland, College Park.
I have had the opportunity to teach and to tutor thousands of students over my 33 year teaching career. I believe that each student is unique, and that academic skills and weaknesses should be assessed and targeted for the best results. I also hope that it can be a FUN learning experience! I love it when students develop a passion for a subject like Biology, or develop an understanding and/or respect for Algebra, Geometry, etc. Most important to me is that the student ultimately feels successful, and sees improvement. Learning is a lifelong skill, and the desire to become better academically or to pass a class with a particular grade provides the motivation and opportunity to grow! I feel fortunate to be able to assist in those endeavors!
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 a graduate of Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Currently, I am working as an Assistant Director at a preparatory school managing and teaching students simultaneously. In the recent years at the school, I have been focusing more on the Reading portions of standardized tests but have at times assisted students in the math and science portions as well usually one-on-one. I strongly believe that every students has their own style of learning and must learn at their own pace. Although, sometimes giving them too much leeway may not always be the best solution, I am there to also provide encouragement and challenge to make the learning process enjoyable and beneficial. Apart from work, I do enjoy reading, jogging, exploring New York City, and playing the violin during my spare time.
I am a student at Wellesley College pursuing a double major in Chemistry and Computer Science. I have been tutoring both middle schoolers and high schoolers in math for four years now - I specialize in math tutoring and test prep at all levels. I am very goal oriented and I bring this into my sessions - my students and I are constantly setting and readjusting our performance and learning goals. I have worked with both groups and private clients through various different outlets and have experience with both in person and online tutoring - however, through Varsity Tutoring I will only be doing online tutoring sessions. If you have specific questions about my experience or would like to learn more about my tutoring methods please reach out - I would love to chat! interests/hobbies: I am a chemistry and computer science double major with a concentration in math. At Wellesley College, I am a member of the varsity tennis team and I hold positions on eboards for various student organizations such as the engineering society and UNICEF. I have a passion for mathematics and learning which I love to share with my students! I am looking to eventually go to graduate school and then work in drug development or another field of chemistry.
During sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to help high school students from underprivileged backgrounds study for the SAT. There were about 30 students in each room with just two teachers, and I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I wanted to make a difference in an important time in their lives as they studied the math and English skills needed to do well on the exam and get accepted to the colleges they desired. Every time I saw a score increase on a practice test, I knew I was making a difference, and that gave me deep satisfaction. On the elementary and middle school level, I've helped family friends who were having difficulty in their classes understand concepts through easy-to-learn tools that simplified what may have seemed complicated before. When they do well on an exam, I know I served them well. I look back on the quote I chose in my high school yearbook from Jackie Robinson, the first Major League Baseball player to cross the color barrier: "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." I hope I can make a positive impact on the lives of you and your child.
As a student, I know how it can be difficult to study on your own sometimes. You don't really know you what you don't know, so making progress could be hard! I focus on breaking down concepts to foster a deep understanding that allows you to apply it to any possible question. I aim to understand what ways you learn best and guide you to perform well in your studies.
I am a retired math teacher, who just has too much time on her hands!!!
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Frequently Asked Questions
The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized entrance exam used by Catholic and private schools to assess students' readiness for high school and determine appropriate class placement. For students in Des Moines considering admission to schools like Dowling Catholic, Urbandale High School, or other private institutions, scoring well on the HSPT is crucial for gaining acceptance and qualifying for merit-based scholarships.
The HSPT includes five main sections: Verbal Skills (synonyms, antonyms, analogies), Quantitative Skills (arithmetic and algebraic concepts), Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Language Arts. Each section tests different cognitive abilities and academic skills that predict success in high school coursework, with questions designed to be more challenging than typical middle school assessments.
Many students struggle with the HSPT's fast pace and the breadth of content spanning multiple subject areas, especially the Verbal Skills section which requires quick pattern recognition and vocabulary mastery. Additionally, the test's emphasis on reasoning and application rather than basic recall often surprises students who are used to traditional classroom tests, and managing test anxiety while working through 298 questions in under three hours is a significant challenge for middle schoolers.
Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify your specific weak areas—whether that's algebra fundamentals, reading speed, or test anxiety—and create a customized study plan rather than following a generic curriculum. This focused approach means you spend more time on concepts that challenge you and less time reviewing material you've already mastered, leading to more efficient preparation and better score improvement.
Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, though the ideal timeline depends on your current skill level and target score. Starting preparation in the fall for winter/spring testing allows adequate time to build foundational skills, practice full-length exams, and refine test-taking strategies without feeling rushed.
Score improvement varies based on starting point and effort, but students working with personalized instruction typically see gains of 5-15 percentile points over 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation. The most significant improvements come from targeted work on weak sections and developing efficient test-taking strategies, combined with practice testing to build familiarity and confidence with the exam format.
Your first session typically includes a diagnostic assessment to identify your current strengths and areas for improvement across all five HSPT sections, followed by a discussion about your goals, timeline, and learning style. Based on this information, your tutor will outline a personalized study plan that prioritizes the skills and concepts that will have the biggest impact on your score.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in HSPT preparation and understand the specific demands of the test. You can provide details about your goals and preferred schedule, and we'll match you with a tutor experienced in helping students achieve their target scores and gain admission to their preferred schools.
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