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Award-Winning GRE Tutors

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Thomas covers both the quantitative and verbal sides of the GRE, drawing on a math-heavy science background that spans calculus through statistics and a graduate education built on reading and writing analytically. For the Quantitative Reasoning section, he digs into probability, number properties, ...
Columbia University in the City of New York
AM
Dartmouth College
AM

Certified Tutor
11+ years
Elizabeth scored 730 Verbal and 770 Quantitative on the GRE and teaches exclusively from ETS materials, since those mirror test-day question styles more closely than third-party prep books. She built her approach over years of classroom instruction at American University and Princeton Review, creati...
Vanderbilt University
AM
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Ruth has taken the GRE from both sides — as a test-taker entering her PhD program in Criminology and as someone who now teaches all three sections. Her doctoral training sharpens the Analytical Writing component, while her math teaching background means she can break down Quantitative Reasoning prob...
University of Pennsylvania
PhD
Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary
PhD
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Preparing for the GRE as a whole means juggling Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing — three sections that reward very different skills but share a common thread of logical reasoning. Irina's science background covers the quantitative side, while her years of teaching English abroad and earn...
New York University
Undergraduate Degree
Certified Tutor
12+ years
I am a graduate of Grinnell College, a private liberal arts college located in Grinnell, Iowa. I have a Bachelor of the Arts in Computer Science from Grinnell's Department of Math and Computer Science. Since graduation I have tutored students of a wide variety of ages and background in a number of...
Grinnell College
AB
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Scoring 5s on both AP English exams and the AP Psychology exam, Destiny knows how to dissect reading passages under pressure and construct tight analytical arguments — two skills that drive GRE Verbal and Analytical Writing scores. Her psychology background at Howard University also built the quanti...
Howard University
BS
Certified Tutor
15+ years
Reviews from students: "I loved how you explained math. You were able to explain formulas so they made sense and it was engaging. Thank you for making math interesting." - Ferol Conklin "I have published over 20 articles, and no one has ever edited my articles as thoroughly or as helpfully as you...
University
Bachelor's
Certified Tutor
4+ years
Knowledge is powerful tool that can change your life and the lives of others. As a tutor my goal is to teach my students how to wield knowledge through embracing their mistakes and teaching them how to learn. I expect my students to approach sessions with an open mind and a willingness to learn. ...
University of Chicago
PhD
Purdue University-Main Campus
PhD
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Angelo
I love helping students in topics related to math, to finance (public and private equity) and to engineering. I believe that if I can't explain concept, then I don't understand it. By that same token, if a student can't explain a concept back to me, then they don't understand it even if they say ...
University of Chicago
Master's/Graduate
University of Pennsylvania
Master's/Graduate
Certified Tutor
4+ years
I am a driven, positive, affirming tutor who is happy to help students in any way he can. I graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2020, and I obtained my Master's in Political Science from the University of Toronto in 2022. In 2016, I received an SAT score of 1550. That year, I also r...
Dartmouth College
AM
Certified Tutor
I am a sophomore at Cornell University studying Biological Sciences and Spanish. I do molecular bio/genetics research with fruit flies, dance, and sing in the CU chorus. I was the student director of my high school's Academic Resource Center, tutoring in math, science, Spanish, and SAT/ACT for 3+ ye...
Cornell University
Bachelor
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Jean Bosco
My name is Bosco, I am currently a 4th year PhD student at UMass Amherst in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I am originally from Rwanda. I like teaching and have been a tutor and TA ever since my undergrad. My subjects of interest include various math subjects, programming in C, C++, and Pytho...
Carnegie Mellon University
Master's/Graduate
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Full-time tutor, former Chemistry graduate student at University of Pennsylvania, BS Chemistry with Math Minor from Rochester Institute of Technology. My philosophy is that students learn best when they can understand why they're learning the material. I aim to help students effectively utilize and ...
University of Pennsylvania
DSC
Rochester Institute of Technology
DSC
Certified Tutor
Hi! My name is Alexandra, and I am a Princeton University Neuroscience major with 5+ years of tutoring experience. I specialize in SAT/ACT/PSAT prep and have successfully taught topics ranging from computer science and basic sciences to elementary reading and writing and college essay writing. In hi...
Princeton University
AB
Certified Tutor
2+ years
Darnell
As a passionate educator with a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, Dr. Barnett brings 20 years of tutoring and classroom experience to his role. His specialties in Elementary School English, Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies enable him to create engaging, inter...
Liberty University
Doctorate (PhD)
Johns Hopkins University
Master's/Graduate
University of Maryland
Bachelor
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Top 20 Graduate Test Prep Subjects
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Sophia
High School Chemistry Tutor
I am a sophomore at Cornell University studying Biological Sciences and Spanish. I do molecular bio/genetics research with fruit flies, dance, and sing in the CU chorus. I was the student director of my high school's Academic Resource Center, tutoring in math, science, Spanish, and SAT/ACT for 3+ years. I have worked with Varsity Tutors for about 2 years.
Jean Bosco
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +20 Subjects
My name is Bosco, I am currently a 4th year PhD student at UMass Amherst in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I am originally from Rwanda. I like teaching and have been a tutor and TA ever since my undergrad. My subjects of interest include various math subjects, programming in C, C++, and Python. I can also tutor multiple other technical tools such as Matlab, Altium, Networking,etc. I enjoy teaching and have found myself talented in the field. I can easily relate to students, provide help from exactly what students know and grow from there. No subject is hard if explained properly.
Benjamin
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +3 Subjects
Full-time tutor, former Chemistry graduate student at University of Pennsylvania, BS Chemistry with Math Minor from Rochester Institute of Technology. My philosophy is that students learn best when they can understand why they're learning the material. I aim to help students effectively utilize and seek out tools for learning concepts while also practicing examples and building knowledge of the concepts themselves. I have a passion for mentoring students in chemistry and mathematics and giving them the knowledge and tools they need to comprehensively understand the foundations and applications of the material they're learning and to succeed in their education.
Alexandra
Elementary School Science Tutor • +2 Subjects
Hi! My name is Alexandra, and I am a Princeton University Neuroscience major with 5+ years of tutoring experience. I specialize in SAT/ACT/PSAT prep and have successfully taught topics ranging from computer science and basic sciences to elementary reading and writing and college essay writing. In high school, I scored a perfect 36 on the ACT on my first attempt, a perfect 1520 on the PSAT/NMSQT, won "finalist" status in the National Merit Scholarship competition, and was a medalist in the New York Science Olympiad. As an undergraduate at the top-ranked university, I focus specifically on standardized test preparation, including the SAT, ACT, and PSAT. I have an understanding of the structure and timing of the exams and the strategic approaches that are required to achieve top scores. I have successfully supported students in improving their performance through individualized study plans because I understand that not all students can use the same approaches to succeed. My approach emphasizes effective time management and a mastery of recurring question types. Outside of college test preparation, I have tutored students ages 5 to 17 in a variety of topics. A common teaching approach I use is to introduce new concepts with example problems that we work through together. I then explain each strategy and help the student through another problem, encouraging them to explain their thinking step by step. Finally, I let the student tackle a problem independently. Once a student can articulate why a method works, they are truly ready to apply it on their own. While this method suits many students, I understand that everyone learns differently and pride myself on being adaptable within and outside of lessons.
Darnell
Middle School Math Tutor • +2 Subjects
As a passionate educator with a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, Dr. Barnett brings 20 years of tutoring and classroom experience to his role. His specialties in Elementary School English, Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies enable him to create engaging, interactive lessons tailored to each student's unique needs. Dr. Barnett believes in fostering a supportive learning environment that empowers students to build confidence and achieve academic achievement. Through personalized tutoring plans, he offers effective online tutoring for grades 1-8, guiding students through their educational journeys. Dr. Barnett finds great joy in celebrating students' successes and inspiring a lifelong love for learning. Currently certified to teach in Maryland, he is dedicated to making a positive impact in students' lives.
Ashley
AP Biology Tutor • +2 Subjects
Teaching has been a lifelong passion of mine. What drives me is sharing knowledge while genuinely connecting with others. I discovered my love for tutoring in high school and have been dedicated to it ever since. At Stanford University, I earned a BS in Human Biology and Chemistry while continuing to tutor throughout, advancing to Lead Tutor. After graduation, I spent a year as a Teaching Associate, designing and delivering course content which significantly broadening my pedagogical approach. What sets me apart is my versatility. Having served as both tutor and instructor, I can adapt my teaching style to each student's unique needs, whether that be building up foundational skills or pursuing advanced mastery. I'm now pursuing graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, staying engaged with cutting-edge science while maintaining my commitment to education. I look forward to helping you achieve your academic goals!
Thomas
Middle School Writing Tutor • +4 Subjects
I love literature and reading and writing -- they've been central to my life since early childhood -- and I hope as a tutor not only to help students improve their skills in these areas but to instill in them a similar kind of lifelong affection for these pursuits. I believe that reading and writing are key not only to enjoying a broadly fulfilling and exciting life but also to performing effectively in virtually any kind of serious job. As a kid, my dream was to become a writer of fiction -- novels and stories -- and I majored in English and creative writing in college. But then it was literature that led my life to take a different, unexpected path. At Princeton, I had to write a senior thesis, and the topic I chose was native American prose literature -- novels, poems and other writings that hugely enhanced the love of nature and wilderness that I had already acquired through hiking and camping trips with my father. Instead of wanting to write fiction, I became an environmental advocate, and wanted to write about wilderness and environmental issues. So, I moved from the East Coast to Montana for graduate school, where I studied wilderness and wildlife management issues and earned a Master's degree in natural resource conservation. For decades ever since I have made my living primarily as a communicator, through writing as well as public speaking. Every job I've had depended on my ability to write well, from working as an editor of technical research papers for the US Forest Service; as communications director for an environmental protection group; as a press secretary in a Presidential campaign; as an international publicist for a PR firm in New York City; as an aide in the Montana Governor's Office; and as a self-employed lobbyist and campaign manager for numerous large corporations and small nonprofit groups. I also taught public and media relations at Carroll College in Montana and have done a fair amount of freelance writing along the way, with essays published in diverse outlets including Western Wildlands, the Journal of Soil & Water Conservation, Range magazine and Playboy. My love of reading and literature has never ceased. I am always reading at least one good book at a time, and I still write almost daily. On the side, I recently have edited two books for publication and have written several grant proposals. I look forward to sharing my passion for learning with students through the Varsity Tutors program.
Troy
Geometry Tutor • +5 Subjects
I am an Arizona native. Upon graduating from Desert Mountain High School, I attended Rice University and I received my Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology with a business focus. At Rice I was a student/athlete representing the Division I Owls in track and field. After several years experience voluntarily tutoring friends and family members I became a professional private tutor my junior year of college. My senior year, I took advantage of the opportunity to reach more students, creating a small private tutoring company in Houston in which I served as lead tutor and conducted all business operations. After graduating from college, I moved back to Arizona and am excited to have the opportunity to continue my passion of helping young men and women achieve academic excellence through tutoring. I have experience tutoring elementary through college-aged students in all academic disciplines. My primary areas of focus include: math, English, and standardized test prep. In my spare time I enjoy exercising, following sports, and spending time with friends and family.
Ainsley
Middle School Math Tutor • +2 Subjects
I am a graduate of Rice University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, and a minor in Neuroscience. My previous tutoring experiences have primarily focused on college level physics, math, and chemistry; AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry; the ACT and SAT college entrance exams; general mathematics at the high school level; and middle school level math and english for state standardized testing. Additionally, I have experience working with students with learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and ASD. As someone who loves learning, I am a firm believer in making our meetings enjoyable as well as educational. STEM subjects in particular have the reputation for being boring and complicated, but I love that as a tutor I can help students make sense of the topics and find the fun!
Sofia
High School Science Tutor
When I was young, I used to hate swimming at the beach. The idea of sharks moving around under the waves where I could not see them made me scared to go into the water. As I grew up, however, and began to learn about the different sharks that lived off the shores of my home in Massachusetts, USA, I became less and less scared and more and more fascinated with how and why sharks move around in this underwater world. I began to ask questions like, what do sharks do under the water when we cannot see them? and, where do sharks like to go and why? As a marine scientist now I try to answer these questions. Because sharks live and breathe under the water and can swim long distances and go deep into the ocean, further and deeper than I could follow by myself, to study how these animals move and behave underwater I have to use lots of different types of technology. Sometimes I use underwater robots that can follow the sharks down deeper than humans can go, and that can carry things like cameras so I can directly see what the sharks are doing. In my work now, I use special tags that send out signals every few seconds with a unique name that identifies individual sharks. When the shark swims close enough to receivers placed out in the ocean, these receivers are able to hear and record the tag name, telling where and when individual sharks are present in different areas of the ocean. One thing I love about being a shark scientist is that I can follow sharks all over the world. First, I followed the movement of sharks all the way over in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the USA. Then I moved to Tasmania, Australia, and I followed young sharks as they move around off the coast of New South Wales. Now I am back home in Massachusetts and working on publishing my research.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Pacing is one of the biggest challenges GRE test-takers face, especially on the Quantitative section where you have roughly 1.5 minutes per question. A tutor can help you identify which question types consistently slow you down—whether that's data interpretation, geometry, or complex word problems—and teach you strategic shortcuts specific to those formats. Practice with timed sections is essential; tutors often use full-length practice tests to pinpoint where you're losing time and help you develop realistic strategies for skipping difficult questions strategically rather than getting stuck.
GRE Reading Comprehension passages are dense and often feature unfamiliar academic topics, making it easy to get lost in details. Effective tutors teach active reading techniques like annotating for main idea, author's tone, and argument structure—skills that differ significantly from how you read for pleasure. They also help you practice the specific question types (inference, detail, main idea, author's purpose) so you recognize what each question is really asking, which is often the key to avoiding trap answers designed to catch careless readers.
Many test-takers struggle with algebra (especially manipulating equations and solving for variables), word problems (translating English into math), and data interpretation under time pressure. Geometry and coordinate geometry also trip up students who haven't seen these topics since high school. A tutor can assess which of these areas are holding back your score and focus on building conceptual understanding rather than just memorizing formulas—this approach helps you tackle unfamiliar variations of familiar topics, which is what the GRE tests.
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) is often neglected, but it's highly improvable with targeted practice. Most students can gain 1-2 points (on the 0-6 scale) by learning the specific structure GRE graders expect: a clear thesis, relevant examples, logical reasoning, and error-free writing. A tutor can provide feedback on your essays that goes beyond grammar—helping you develop stronger arguments, anticipate counterarguments, and manage the 30-minute time constraint. Since many programs weight the AWA less heavily than Quant and Verbal, tutors often help you decide whether to prioritize it based on your target schools.
Most students see measurable improvements within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring and practice, though the timeline depends on your starting point and target score. If you're aiming for a 10-15 point increase, you might achieve that in 6-10 sessions; larger jumps (20+ points) typically require longer commitment and more independent practice between sessions. The key is combining tutoring with regular full-length practice tests—tutors use these to track progress and adjust strategy, so you're not just studying harder but studying smarter based on what's actually holding your score back.
Test anxiety on the GRE often stems from unfamiliar question formats, time pressure, or past experiences with standardized tests. Tutors build confidence by demystifying the test structure, teaching you exactly what to expect in each section, and running timed practice drills so the format feels familiar on test day. They also help you develop a realistic pacing strategy and permission to skip hard questions—knowing you have a plan reduces panic. Many tutors discuss mindset and test-day logistics (sleep, timing, breaks) to help you approach the exam as a manageable challenge rather than a high-stakes threat.
Taking full-length, timed practice tests under realistic conditions is non-negotiable for GRE prep—they reveal your true score, not just your ability on untimed questions. A tutor helps you use practice tests strategically: taking one early to establish a baseline, then using subsequent tests to track progress and identify patterns in your mistakes (Are you missing inference questions? Running out of time on Quant?). The real value comes from thorough review afterward—tutors help you understand not just what you got wrong, but why the right answer is correct and how to recognize similar questions in the future.
While the GRE does test vocabulary, memorizing a 5,000-word list is an inefficient approach. Modern GRE questions often provide context clues, and the test focuses more on your ability to understand how words function in sentences and arguments. A tutor can teach you to use word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to decode unfamiliar words, and help you focus on high-frequency GRE vocabulary (words that actually appear repeatedly). They'll also help you practice reading comprehension and text completion in context, which is far more effective than flashcards alone for building the vocabulary skills the GRE actually tests.
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