During an initial session, a tutor will assess your current understanding of foundational concepts, identify specific areas where you're struggling, and learn about your learning style and goals. This might include reviewing recent assignments, tests, or topics causing frustration. From there, the tutor creates a personalized plan focused on your priorities—whether that's catching up on missed concepts, building confidence before an exam, or developing stronger problem-solving strategies.

Word problems require translating real-world scenarios into mathematical expressions—a skill many students find intimidating. Expert tutors teach a structured approach: identifying what you know, defining variables clearly, and breaking the problem into smaller steps. Through guided practice and feedback on your reasoning, you'll develop confidence in recognizing patterns and applying the right strategies, rather than just memorizing formulas.

Showing work reveals your thinking process and helps identify exactly where errors occur—critical for both learning and earning partial credit on exams. Tutors teach you how to organize multi-step solutions clearly, explain your reasoning at each stage, and catch mistakes before they compound. This builds the communication and problem-solving skills that matter far beyond Algebra 2.

Graphing requires understanding how algebraic equations translate to visual representations—a connection many students miss. Tutors help you see patterns in how coefficients affect shape, position, and direction of graphs, and practice interpreting real-world data. With personalized instruction, you'll move from plotting points mechanically to truly understanding what a graph tells you about a function's behavior.

Yes. With 100 school districts across the Bronx, different schools use different textbooks and pacing guides. When you connect with a tutor through Varsity Tutors, they'll align with your specific curriculum, whether you're using Regents-focused materials, Common Core standards, or your school's particular approach. This ensures tutoring directly supports what you're learning in class.

Math anxiety often stems from feeling lost or frustrated—but one-on-one instruction in a judgment-free environment rebuilds confidence. Tutors work at your pace, celebrate progress, and help you see that mistakes are learning opportunities, not failures. As you understand concepts more deeply and solve problems successfully, anxiety naturally decreases and you develop a growth mindset about math.

Ideally, starting 4-6 weeks before a major exam gives you time to identify gaps, practice problem-solving strategies, and build confidence. However, even 2-3 weeks of focused tutoring can significantly boost performance by targeting your weakest areas and teaching test-taking strategies. If an exam is coming up soon, connect with a tutor immediately—personalized instruction is far more efficient than trying to cram on your own.