Award-Winning Reading Comprehension Tutors

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Award-Winning Reading Comprehension Tutors

Sharon

Master of Science, Journalism
9+ years of tutoring

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 pla...

Education & Certificates

Columbia University in the City of New York

Master of Science, Journalism

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts

SAT Scores

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Tiffany

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies
5+ years of tutoring

I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.

Education & Certificates

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor in Business Administration, Accounting

University of Chicago

Juris Doctor, Legal Studies

ACT Scores

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Felix

Associate in Science
9+ years of tutoring

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...

Education & Certificates

University of Chicago

Associate in Science

SAT Scores

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Mimi

Masters in Education, Education
6+ years of tutoring

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 educ...

Education & Certificates

Harvard University

Masters in Education, Education

Dartmouth College

B.A.

SAT Scores

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Zach

Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
1+ years of tutoring

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 ...

Education & Certificates

Yale University

Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

SAT Scores

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Nathan

Bachelor in Arts, History
4+ years of tutoring

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 v...

Education & Certificates

Rice University

Bachelor in Arts, History

SAT Scores

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Esther

Current Undergrad, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
9+ years of tutoring

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 bein...

Education & Certificates

University of Pennsylvania

Current Undergrad, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

SAT Scores

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Michael

Bachelor in Arts
6+ years of tutoring

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 s...

Education & Certificates

Northwestern University

Bachelor in Arts

ACT Scores

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Sherry

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics
10+ years of tutoring

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, Colum...

Education & Certificates

University of Chicago

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics

SAT Scores

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Cynthia

Current Undergrad Student, Public Policy Analysis
8+ years of tutoring

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...

Education & Certificates

Vanderbilt University

Current Undergrad Student, Public Policy Analysis

ACT Scores

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Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

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.

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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.

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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

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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!

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Jennifer

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +31 Subjects

I'm currently studying Psychology and Business Economics at the University of Chicago. I mostly tutor students in math and standardized test prep, as well as edit essays. During my time at school, I have been tutoring two students long-term, as well as conducting online one-time session with students since online classes started. Beyond making sure my students understand the material covered during session, I want to help foster a love for learning.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Sugi

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +54 Subjects

I am currently a 4th year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine and previously graduated from Rice University, Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science and Biochemistry & Cell Biology. I have served on admissions interview committees for Rice and Baylor College of Medicine, have mentored and edited essays for numerous college and graduate school applicants, and served as a private tutor and classroom instructor for Advanced Biology and Chemistry courses for 3+ years.

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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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