Varsity Tutors connects you with a tutor who reviews your draft and identifies areas for improvement—from thesis clarity and argument structure to transitions and word choice. Rather than simply marking errors, tutors ask questions and suggest strategies to help you revise effectively. You'll work through multiple drafts together, learning techniques you can apply to future writing assignments.

Students often struggle with organizing ideas into a coherent structure, developing a strong thesis statement, and supporting arguments with evidence. Writer's block, citation formatting (MLA, APA), and finding your authentic voice are also frequent challenges. Tutors help you work through each of these obstacles with strategies tailored to your specific writing style and assignment requirements.

Bring a draft of the essay you'd like to work on—even if it's rough or incomplete. It's also helpful to have the assignment prompt and any rubric or guidelines your teacher provided. If you've received feedback from your teacher or classmates, bring that too. Your tutor will use these materials to understand your goals and create a personalized editing plan.

Essay editing tutoring focuses specifically on refining and revising written work, while writing tutoring may also cover brainstorming, outlining, and drafting from scratch. That said, the best tutoring often combines both—helping you develop ideas and then polish them. When you connect with a tutor, you can discuss whether you need help generating ideas, organizing your draft, or perfecting your final version.

Yes. Tutors can guide you through MLA, APA, and other citation formats, helping you understand when and how to cite sources properly. Beyond just formatting, they'll help you integrate quotes and paraphrases smoothly into your writing so citations feel natural rather than awkward. This skill is essential for research papers and academic essays across all subjects.

Your writing voice—the unique way you express ideas—develops through practice and feedback. Tutors help by identifying patterns in your writing, suggesting ways to make your style more engaging or appropriate for your audience, and encouraging you to take risks with your word choices. Over time, working with a tutor helps you become more confident and authentic in your writing.

Absolutely. While essay structure and writing principles are universal, tutors can help you craft strong essays across any subject—whether it's a literary analysis, history research paper, or science lab report. Tutors understand discipline-specific expectations and can help you develop arguments and organize evidence in ways that work for your particular assignment.