Award-Winning Grammar Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

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Award-Winning Grammar Tutors serving Des Moines, IA

Joshua

Certified Tutor

7+ years

Joshua

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Joshua's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
College Essays
Literature

Programmers think about syntax all day — misplace a semicolon and nothing works. Joshua brings that same precision to English grammar, teaching students to identify how sentence structure, punctuation, and agreement rules function as a system rather than a list of arbitrary dos and don'ts.

Education

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1560
Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580
Jeffrey

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Jeffrey

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Jeffrey's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Calculus
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...

Education

University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Science

Rice University

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
34
Erika

Certified Tutor

Erika

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Erika's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
Annie

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Annie

Current Grad Student, MD
Annie's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.

Education

University of California Los Angeles

Bachelors, Physiological Sciences

Drexel University College of Medicine

Current Grad Student, MD

Test Scores
SAT
1540
MaryAnn

Certified Tutor

13+ years

MaryAnn

Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology
MaryAnn's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Reading
SAT Writing and Language

I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to t...

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Science, English, Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Charles

Certified Tutor

Charles

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Charles's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Trigonometry

I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best descr...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
SAT
1440
ACT
34

Frequently Asked Questions

Your first session is about understanding your specific needs and goals. A tutor will assess your current grammar skills, discuss areas where you struggle (like sentence structure, punctuation, or verb tenses), and learn about your writing assignments or standardized test prep. This personalized approach helps create a tutoring plan tailored to your learning style and timeline.

Grammar tutoring focuses on the mechanics of language—parts of speech, sentence construction, punctuation, and usage rules. Writing tutoring is broader and covers essay structure, thesis development, organization, and voice. Many students benefit from both: solid grammar skills form the foundation, while writing tutoring helps you express ideas clearly and persuasively. A tutor can help you understand which skills you need to strengthen.

Common struggles include comma usage, subject-verb agreement, pronoun clarity, and distinguishing between commonly confused words (like their/there/they're). Many students also struggle with sentence fragments and run-ons, especially when writing under pressure. Personalized tutoring addresses your specific weak spots rather than generic grammar lessons, helping you apply rules to your own writing.

Yes. Both the ACT and SAT include grammar and writing sections that test your understanding of sentence structure, punctuation, and word choice. Tutoring helps you recognize grammar patterns in test questions, avoid common traps, and apply rules quickly under time pressure. A tutor can also help you understand the difference between formal test grammar and everyday writing.

Tutors provide personalized feedback on your actual essays and assignments, identifying patterns in your errors rather than just marking mistakes. They teach you revision strategies like reading your work aloud, checking for specific issues one at a time, and understanding the 'why' behind grammar rules. This hands-on approach helps you become a more independent editor of your own work.

Des Moines schools maintain an average student-teacher ratio of about 14.7:1, which means teachers have limited time for individual feedback on grammar and writing. One-on-one tutoring lets a tutor focus entirely on your learning style, pace, and specific mistakes. This personalized attention helps you understand rules more deeply and apply them to your own writing faster than in a classroom setting.

Absolutely. Many students find citation formatting confusing, but it's an important part of academic writing. Tutors can teach you how to format in-text citations and works cited pages for MLA, as well as APA and Chicago styles. They'll help you understand why citations matter and show you how to integrate them smoothly into your essays.

Look for tutors with strong backgrounds in English, writing, or linguistics—and ideally experience teaching grammar to students at your level. The best tutors can explain rules clearly, provide constructive feedback on your writing, and adapt their teaching to your learning style. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Des Moines who have been vetted for their subject knowledge and teaching ability.

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