Galen scored 1480 on the SAT and brings a methodical, logic-driven approach to the Math section — particularly the word problems and data analysis questions where careful reading matters as much as computation. His philosophy background trained him to break down complex prompts and avoid the reasoning traps the SAT loves to set.

I am here because I thoroughly enjoy working with students and watching them succeed in their academic studies. As a Mathematics major at the University of Arizona (currently a junior), I have extensive experience teaching and tutoring: I have been a teacher's assistant for a Calculus II section at my university and have spent a great deal of time assisting students with non-math related subjects as well such as English and essay-writing, time management and study skills techniques, and standardized test prep (SAT).

I am no longer eligible to be a tutor, I have been looking for a way to keep doing what I love!

Scoring 1490 on the SAT gave Michelle firsthand insight into the traps College Board builds into its math questions — especially on topics like quadratic modeling, systems of inequalities, and data analysis where the wrong answer often looks right at first glance. She walks through each problem type with an eye toward recognizing those traps before they cost points.

I am currently a student at the University of Arizona studying Spanish Translation and Interpretation and minoring in Creative Writing. My favorite subjects to tutor are geometry and writing, as well as the SAT. I like to tutor geometry because I understand that while it comes naturally to me but algebra took a while for me to fully grasp, many people are the exact opposite. I greatly enjoy helping people along the road to that understanding in geometry. My love for writing comes from a similar place, though from the opposite side. I was a terrible writer in middle school, but one writing skills class in high school changed me from a D level writer to a B+/A- level writer and the IB program only made me better. I love tutoring writing skills because I want to help others as much as that class helped me. The SAT is a stressful experience for a lot of kids, but it doesn't need to be. Knowing and practicing the material is important, but there are many other things students can do to prepare as well. In my spare time, I love to play volleyball with friends, read (especially a good fantasy novel) and play a wide variety of card games.

Engineering coursework at Washington and Lee gave Alex daily practice with the exact math the SAT tests at its hardest level: systems of equations, quadratic modeling, and interpreting complex data tables. He scored a 1590 composite and now teaches students to distinguish between problems that reward algebraic manipulation and those better solved by plugging in values or back-solving. That strategic flexibility is often what separates a 700 from a 780.

I am a graduate student at Arizona State University studying Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, and am passionate about the value of education at all levels. Previously I worked at the US Department of Energy on energy technology in Washington, DC. I have enjoyed setting up roots in Phoenix over the past few years, and am excited about sharing my knowledge and passion for learning with others in the area.I have a knack for explaining complicated ideas to people in simple terms, enjoy deepening people's understandings of issues, and value education highly. All of these characteristics make me an ideal tutor for Varsity Tutors, and I look forward to the opportunity to share my academic experiences and skills with tutees. In addition, I can give an expert's perspective on a wide range of topics including political science, public policy, various topics in science and technology, as well as an academic success-oriented mindset.

Engineering coursework means Alex solves math problems all day, but SAT Math has its own quirks — questions that look harder than they are and answer choices designed to punish rushing. He teaches students to identify those traps, especially on passport-to-advanced-math questions involving quadratics and exponential relationships. His 1560 SAT score backs up the approach.

Lindsay scored 1480 on the SAT and brings a math-heavy academic background — a biology degree plus a mathematics minor — to breaking down the SAT Math section. She zeroes in on the areas where students lose the most points, like translating word problems into equations and navigating the no-calculator section's emphasis on algebraic fluency.

Jake's 1580 SAT composite came partly from treating the math section like a language — learning the College Board's specific way of phrasing linear relationship questions, disguising percent problems, and burying geometry inside data tables. He now teaches students to decode that language, so the math itself becomes the easy part. Rated 4.9 by students.

Heart-of-Algebra and Passport-to-Advanced-Math questions make up the bulk of SAT Math scoring, and Amanda treats them as two distinct skill sets that need different preparation strategies. She earned a 1550 composite on the SAT and now teaches students to translate word problems into equations quickly and to recognize which calculator-permitted questions are actually faster by hand.