Award-Winning PSAT Tutors
serving Manhattan, NY
Award-Winning
PSAT
Tutors in Manhattan
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?
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I'm an undergraduate at Columbia College. I love tutoring students in math, German, SHSAT, and SAT. I believe that I have good communication and pedagogical skills, and a firm understanding of the subject matter. Having come from Germany at the age of eleven, I know the frustration that can come with feeling overwhelmed by coursework. I performed well on standardized exams like the SHSAT and the SAT and can teach test-taking skills that will ultimately lead students to institutions like Stuyvesant H.S. and Columbia.

Sandy's finance background sharpens her approach to the PSAT's math sections, where percent-change, ratio, and data-interpretation questions reward the kind of quantitative fluency that business coursework demands daily. She also teaches the Writing and Language section by treating each passage as an editing exercise — spotting wordiness, fixing pronoun agreement, and tightening transitions in context. Her 1500 SAT and 4.9 rating from students back up the approach.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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'm a graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in History. I'm passionate about history and English, but I'm a competent math tutor as well. I have received outstanding scores on my SAT and AP tests, and am confident in my ability to pass on these skills to the next generation.
Dana's public policy background at Brown required constant close reading of dense legislative texts and data-heavy policy briefs — the same skills the PSAT's Evidence-Based Reading section tests when students face paired passages and command-of-evidence questions. Her perfect 36 ACT and 1450 SAT mean she's proven across both major standardized test formats, and she uses that cross-test fluency to teach the writing and language section as an exercise in argument structure rather than isolated grammar rules.
I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.
I am in the process of selecting a masters program in education that will begin this summer. I have 2 years experience doing 1 on 1 tutoring and it is very effective compared to classroom teaching because there is only one student to focus on. I look forward to working with you and helping you or your child get better. Always remember, even the best of us need help and support from others to be successful.
I'm not tutoring, I love walking through New York for design inspiration and taking carpentry, metalworking, and illustration classes.
I am a Penn State Graduate (B.S.) and am currently a student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University. My goal as a tutor is to help make the subjects I love approachable to other students, and to teach the study techniques that have served me well in school. I have tutored people in Biology, Physiology, general and Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Writing proficiency, and Physics. I also teach SHSAT prep to 7th graders. I am qualified to teach strategy and content for the SAT and MCAT, as well as high school Science, Writing, and Math classes. My greatest strength as a tutor is my ability to simplify abstract concepts using analogies and real-life comparisons so that anybody can learn them. Showing students how their studies relate to the rest of the world is the best way to create long term interest and understanding. My main focus is typically "teaching toward the test," as making sure my students get the grades they need is always the priority.
Vivian scored a 1530 on the SAT and a perfect 36 on the ACT, so she's navigated both test architectures the PSAT draws from — a rare double perspective that sharpens her ability to teach the underlying reasoning behind each question type. Her history degree built the close-reading and argumentation skills that the Evidence-Based Reading section rewards, while her extensive standardized test prep background means she can quickly diagnose where a student's timing or strategy falls apart on the Writing and Language section.
I am planning now to shift to a more educational career. Last year I worked at a small tutoring center, and I decided to branch out even more and work here.
Having spent a year as a course assistant in Harvard's math department while majoring in Government, Richard sits at an unusual crossroads — equally comfortable with the PSAT's no-calculator algebra questions and the evidence-based reading passages that demand careful argument tracking. His perfect 1600 SAT means he's already dismantled every question type the PSAT mirrors, and he uses that dual fluency to teach students how to shift gears between sections without losing momentum.
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'm thrilled every time one of my students begins to understand a grammar concept or reads alone, and that enthusiasm for both small victories and language and literature that is yet to be studied is contagious.
I am a recent medical school graduate excited to spend extra time teaching and tutoring other students.
I am now a playwriting MFA at NYU, one of the best programs in the country (the story of how I transitioned from physics to theater is pretty funny and I???m happy to share it). While my intensive study of advanced Math and Physics helps me tutor those subjects, I find my theater skills are just as valuable to effective teaching. As a playwright, I have learned to explain ideas efficiently, inspire excitement, and connect with an audience. Using these techniques, I hope to make my students not only better at individual subjects, but also help them fall in love with the beauty of new ideas.
I am currently a prospective Computer Science Major at New York University. I am aiming for a 5 year bachelor's/master's degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. With tutoring, I am very patient, and it is my goal to make sure my tutees absolutely understand the material they need help with. In general, I explain things in a lot of detail, which could be unnecessary at times, but I think that is better than not explaining enough. Because I'm majoring in Computer Science, that is one of my strongest subjects to tutor in, but I am able to tutor Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, and SAT Math. Outside of academics, I am an avid League of Legends player (and other games too), and I play piano every day.
I am a very patient tutor who tries to understand exactly where the student is struggling and how they can improve. Outside of the classroom, you can often find me baking or drawing!
Linguistics training at Penn sharpens a very specific skill the PSAT rewards — recognizing how small grammatical shifts change meaning in context, which is the core of the Writing and Language section's trickiest questions. Nicholas applies that same structural analysis to the Evidence-Based Reading passages, where understanding how authors connect claims to evidence matters more than reading speed. His 1570 SAT and 5.0 rating back up the approach.
I'm currently taking courses at Columbia University in mathematics and computer science because I feel that there is still (and always will be) more to learn.
I am a student at Columbia University in the City of New York studying biochemistry on the pre-medicine track. I also enjoy meeting new people, exploring world cultures, and developing my sense of self.
I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extremely flexible, and anywhere in New York City works for me. I look forward to working with you.
Benjamin's linguistics research at UIUC — analyzing how context shapes meaning and interpretation — maps surprisingly well onto the PSAT's Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections, where every question hinges on how words and arguments function within a specific passage. He teaches students to read the way a linguist does: tracking how authors signal shifts in tone, qualify claims, and structure evidence. His 1560 SAT confirms he can execute that approach under real test conditions.
I am a sophomore at Cornell University studying Computer Science.
I am currently attending Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics. I love helping students and I love the feeling I get knowing that I was able to use my knowledge to make someone else happier. My favorite subject to teach is math because there are so many ways to learn it and if one way does not help I can use another. I used to teach taekwondo and interacted with all kinds of students, and I'm excited to help out more!
Having written professionally in both English and French for the State Department and two publishing companies, Margaret knows exactly how grammar and rhetoric function under pressure — which is what the PSAT's Writing and Language section tests when it asks students to fix sentence structure, tighten arguments, and choose precise wording in context. Her 1590 SAT means she's operated at the top of the test the PSAT mirrors, and her bilingual background gives her an unusual ability to explain English grammar conventions from the ground up, especially for students who've never been taught the 'why' behind the rules. Rated 5.0 by students.
Robert scored a 36 ACT and 1550 SAT, which means he's navigated both major test formats the PSAT draws from — giving him a dual perspective on how questions are constructed and where points are easiest to recover. He leans into the math side, teaching students to work through Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math problems without a calculator by building algebraic intuition rather than relying on shortcuts. Rated 4.8 by students.
I'm a rising sophomore at UChicago studying economics. I've been helping out people study for exams and school for several years now. Last summer, I helped teach several SAT classes as a TA for Ivy Global. During my time at Stuyvesant High School, I spent two years editing opinions columns and tutoring underclassmen in math and English. I love helping out people seeing them have their "aha!" moment makes my day!
I am a senior physics major at Yale, and I have been tutoring non-stop since high school. I have three years of formal, test-prep tutoring experience with top companies in the New York City area. I absolutely love to help people out -- the most important thing I can do as a tutor is to find a new way of explaining something that just makes it click for you!
Stephen's dual math and computer science degree from RPI means he sees the PSAT's no-calculator section the way a programmer sees logic problems — as a system with predictable rules, not a guessing game. He teaches students to recognize which algebraic manipulations each question actually requires so they stop overcomplicating Heart of Algebra problems under time pressure. His 1550 SAT and 4.9 rating back up the approach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort level, but students typically see gains of 50-150 points when working with a tutor who helps them identify weak areas and develop targeted strategies. Many Manhattan students improve their Reading & Writing and Math sections at different rates—some find one section clicks faster than the other. A tutor can help you focus practice where it matters most and track progress through practice tests.
Your first session is about understanding where you stand. Varsity Tutors connects you with a tutor who will review your recent practice test results (or administer one if you haven't taken the PSAT yet), identify your strongest and weakest question types, and discuss your goals—whether that's improving your National Merit chances or preparing for the SAT. From there, your tutor creates a personalized study plan that fits your timeline and learning style.
Pacing is one of the most common challenges—the PSAT gives you about 1-1.5 minutes per question, which feels rushed if you're unsure of your approach. A tutor helps you develop section-specific strategies: skipping difficult questions strategically, recognizing question patterns you can solve quickly, and practicing timed drills to build speed without sacrificing accuracy. With consistent practice, pacing becomes automatic.
The Reading & Writing section tests comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary in context—and the key is understanding what each question type actually asks. Tutors help you develop a system: previewing the passage strategically, identifying the main idea quickly, and recognizing common grammar patterns (subject-verb agreement, pronoun clarity, etc.). Many students improve fastest when they focus on understanding *why* an answer is correct, not just memorizing rules.
The PSAT Math section covers algebra, advanced math, problem-solving, data analysis, geometry, and trigonometry—and most students struggle with 2-3 specific topics. Your tutor will analyze your practice test errors to spot patterns: Are you missing algebra questions? Struggling with word problems? Making careless mistakes under time pressure? Once you identify your weak spots, targeted practice on those topics usually yields the biggest score gains.
Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice tests spaced throughout their prep—ideally one every 2-3 weeks so you can identify patterns and adjust your strategy. Your tutor will help you use these tests strategically: the first reveals your baseline, middle tests track progress and target weak areas, and the final ones build test-day confidence. Quality matters more than quantity—reviewing mistakes thoroughly is what drives improvement.
Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty—not knowing what to expect, feeling unprepared, or second-guessing yourself under pressure. Working with a tutor builds confidence through familiarity: you practice the exact question formats you'll see, develop reliable strategies you trust, and take timed practice tests that simulate test-day conditions. By test day, the PSAT feels like something you've done many times before, which naturally reduces anxiety.
Yes—National Merit cutoffs vary by state, but for New York, you typically need a PSAT score around 215-220 to have a strong chance at recognition. A tutor can help you understand the specific score you need, focus your prep on high-impact improvements, and build the test-taking skills that maximize your performance. Even if you're close to the cutoff, targeted tutoring often makes the difference.
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