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Award-Winning Reading Comprehension Tutors

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Tiffany
I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor in Business Administration, Accounting
University of Chicago
Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Sharon
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classro...
Columbia University in the City of New York
Master of Science, Journalism
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
9+ years
I am excited to be working with Varsity Tutors because I enjoy teaching and getting to share some of my academic experience. I have done a little tutoring, but most of my teaching experience is in the university setting as a TA. I'm particularly excited about biology and psychology, where I have the...
University of Chicago
Associate in Science

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Esther
I'm currently a Junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a 2014 graduate of Phillips Academy. As a product of great tutoring myself, I focus on being patient, flexible, and kind with all of my students. Outside of my academics, I'm a member of the ...
University of Pennsylvania
Current Undergrad, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

Certified Tutor
Zach
I am a Yale University Berkeley College graduate of the Yale Class of 2012 with an Intensive B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Eager for tutoring opportunities, I welcome any of you who wishes to undergo SAT/PSAT or ACT Test Preparation that will get you the scores you need for...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Mimi
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 su...
Harvard University
Masters in Education, Education
Dartmouth College
B.A.

Certified Tutor
4+ years
Nathan
I am currently a student at Rice University studying both History and Neuroscience. Being the oldest of five kids, working with younger students has always been a part of my life. I can tutor a wide variety of subjects, but I specialize in writing, public speaking, and test taking. My goal for every...
Rice University
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
6+ years
Michael
I'm now a few years removed from academia, I still consider myself an intellect at heart. Stints at New York University's Stern School of Business and Northwestern University have given me extensive scholastic training, and running my own private tutoring service throughout college as a means of mak...
Northwestern University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Sherry
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 mento...
University of Chicago
Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics

Certified Tutor
5+ years
Jennifer
I am thrilled to be a part of this platform where we can work together to further our educational pursuits. Currently, I am a Teacher Resident at the NYU Accelerated MAT program in Secondary English Education. This means that come September, I will be an ELA teacher working at a NY Public School. My...
New York University
Master of Arts Teaching, Language Arts Teacher Education
Mcgill University
Bachelor in Arts, English
Top 20 English Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
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Mariana
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects
I am a sophomore at Cornell University. Hoping to pursue a career in government or law, I am studying to receive my Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations. I have tutored a wide range of subjects, but I am most passionate about English, History, and Math. I specialize in SAT tutoring and am currently assisting many students prepare for the August SAT. I have also helped students with college application essays.
Molly
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +41 Subjects
I am a Communications Major with a penchant for reading, writing, some math, and film! (I picked up a Cinema Studies Minor as well) I used to be an editor in a few newspapers, so I love working with others to improve their writing skills. I have tutored many areas in both high school and college and have coached softball to girls of many ages. I especially love helping students master their test-taking skills, because I understand what it was like having to navigate such a high pressure environment! Providing just a few tools can make a world of difference.
Anna
Calculus Tutor • +34 Subjects
I'm Anna! I'm currently a student in the MD/MBA program between Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management, and graduated from Northwestern University as part of the Honors Program in Medical Education. I attended the Bergen County Academies in New Jersey, a selective, application-based magnet school, for high school.
Cynthia
Middle School Math Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am a current sophomore at Vanderbilt University! I am double majoring in Public Policy and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Spanish. I first started tutoring in high school, when I started working at Kumon Learning Center and began teaching elementary and middle school students reading and mathematics. I also volunteered my tutoring services through my high school's National Merit Society, through which I helped my peers in advanced subjects such as AP testing, ACT, SAT, and PSAT prep.
Maya
Calculus Tutor • +37 Subjects
I am a Yale University graduate with over seven years of tutoring experience with children and adults of all ages, specializing in writing, reading, English, college prep, and working with differently-abled learners. As a writer and entrepreneur, I have tutored since high school because it is something I truly enjoy. I approach tutoring with patience, and with finding a motivation to learn and excel that is specific to each student. With young adults and older learners, I approach each skill with purpose in reaching their individual goals and dreams, and with younger learners it is all personalize-practice-reward, working with parents and mentors to understand their needs and facilitate their individual learning and success. I'd love to hear from you and discuss how we can make the most out of our time together!
Jessica
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +45 Subjects
I am currently enrolled in Vanderbilt University where I am studying Elementary Education as well as European History. I love working with students, and I intend to make a career out of it. I have experience working with students in different contexts, from the dance studio to the classroom and across age groups. I have worked in an academic setting with students age three through seventeen, and I have tutored as a volunteer and in a more formal position for a multitude of organizations.
Patrick
Calculus Tutor • +41 Subjects
I'm a graduate of Duke University where I received a JD and an MA in History. I received my undergraduate degree from Emory University also in History. My legal experience includes working as a summer law clerk for two appellate judges and as a summer associate at a large law firm in New York City. In college and in law school I tutored for a variety of subjects and enjoy working with students one-on-one to tackle and master difficult concepts. In my spare time, I enjoy taking in all that New York has to offer including biking in the park, cooking, and golfing.
Juliet
Middle School Math Tutor • +33 Subjects
I'm an upstate NY based tutor, Harvard prefrosh and Interlochen Alumnus. I'm here to make learning simple, engaging, and sometimes (shocking I know) even fun! In all seriousness I think that learning should always be fun, and I'm here to get you there. I am here help out with essays, applications, self presentation, and visual art/drawing. I have a deep love of language, be it comprehension, literature or reading. I also tutor high school Algebra 1 and Geometry. Hobbies: books, music, art, nature, reading, writing
Kevin
AP Statistics Tutor • +47 Subjects
I am currently a rising Junior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in Science, Technology, and Society. From early on, the intellectual development of others has been very important to me. In high school, I developed my school's first summer tutoring program to ensure that students retained information and were prepared for the upcoming year. I am most passionate about tutoring Political Science, History, and Math, with significant experience in helping students in each of these subject areas. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and playing the bass. Hobbies: art, reading, writing, books, music
Ariel
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +53 Subjects
I am a student at Brown University, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology. I employ a student-centered approach to tutoring, grounding the session in the student's knowledge of what topics it would be most beneficial to review. I typically begin a session by asking a student if there is any material they have learned since the previous session whose reasoning they would like for me to walk them through. I then help the student work through problems or questions that employ that understanding. My favorite subject to tutor is math; I love helping students understand the logic of a subject in which they may have been relying for years on memorization. I have been tutoring since 2016, and I have experience teaching math, science, language arts, history, French, and study skills to students in elementary, middle, and high school. I currently focus on math (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry), English, test prep, and essay writing.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Many students struggle with reading comprehension for different reasons. Some read too quickly and miss key details, while others get bogged down in difficult vocabulary or complex sentence structures. Others understand individual sentences but can't connect ideas to grasp the overall meaning, and some have trouble distinguishing between main ideas and supporting details. A tutor can identify exactly where a student is struggling and use targeted strategies to address those specific gaps.
Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows a tutor to focus on your unique reading patterns and problem areas—whether that's vocabulary retention, inference skills, or time management. Research on the effectiveness of individualized tutoring shows that students who receive personalized instruction make significantly faster progress than those in traditional classroom settings. Your tutor can also teach you test-specific strategies and help you practice with actual test passages, building both skills and confidence before test day.
Reading comprehension is about understanding what a text says—identifying main ideas, supporting details, author's purpose, and making inferences from the material. Literary analysis goes deeper by examining how an author creates meaning through techniques like symbolism, tone, character development, and narrative structure. Strong reading comprehension is the foundation for literary analysis. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can strengthen both skills, whether you're working on standardized test passages or analyzing novels for English class.
Losing focus is a common issue, especially with dense material or lengthy passages. Effective strategies include previewing the text before reading, asking yourself questions as you read, taking notes on key ideas, and breaking longer texts into manageable chunks. A reading comprehension tutor can teach you active reading techniques tailored to your learning style and help you practice them until they become automatic. Over time, these strategies make reading feel less overwhelming and help information stick better in your memory.
The best reading comprehension tutors combine subject expertise with the ability to diagnose exactly why a student is struggling. They should ask questions to understand your learning style, use a variety of instructional strategies, and provide specific, actionable feedback. Look for tutors who can explain concepts clearly without oversimplifying, who are patient with the reading process, and who celebrate progress. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, you get matched with someone who has the expertise and teaching approach that fits your needs.
Timeline varies depending on where a student is starting and what specific skills need work. Students often notice small improvements within a few sessions—like feeling more confident with certain types of texts or understanding main ideas more quickly. More significant improvements in test scores or overall reading level typically take several weeks to a few months of consistent practice. The key is identifying the root cause of comprehension struggles and addressing it with targeted instruction, which accelerates progress compared to general practice alone.
Strong reading comprehension skills benefit every subject. Whether you're tackling a history textbook, understanding science concepts, or analyzing a math word problem, the ability to extract meaning from text is essential. When you work with a reading comprehension tutor, you're not just improving your English skills—you're building foundational tools that transfer directly to other classes. Your tutor can even help you apply comprehension strategies to texts from other subjects, making you a stronger reader across the board.
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