Award-Winning PRAXIS Social Studies Tutors

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Award-Winning PRAXIS Social Studies Tutors

Ariana

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Ariana

Master of Arts, Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language
Ariana's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Human Development
SAT Subject Test in French with Listening

Certified to teach History, Government, and Social Studies for grades 6–12, Ariana passed the PRAXIS Social Studies exam and knows where candidates tend to lose points — often on the economics and geography strands they studied least in college. She breaks the content into manageable review blocks c...

Education

Kansas State University

Master of Arts, Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language

Kansas State University

Bachelor in Arts, French

Test Scores
SAT
1410
ACT
32
William

Certified Tutor

2+ years

William

PhD
William's other Tutor Subjects
SAT Subject Test in World History
TOEFL
SAT Reading
ACT Reading

I have a lot of teaching experience in both high-school and college settings, in the United States and abroad. I cover subjects ranging from ESOL, German, literature, and essay writing to most of the humanities topics that arise in AP and IB courses.

Education

Yale University

PhD

Georgetown University

PhD

Ashley

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Ashley

MED
Ashley's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Algebra
Environmental Science
Earth Science

I am an educator of the sciences. I have taught Life Science, Biology, Physical and Earth Sciences for fourteen years in grades 7-12. I trained with the Keystone Science School of Denver, Colorado, the LSU Coastal Roots Program and have earned over six hundred hours in science literacy training in m...

Education

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

MED

Molly

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Molly

Bachelor's
Molly's other Tutor Subjects
TOEFL
ACT English
ACT Reading
English Grammar and Syntax

Hello! I enjoy working with students because it delights me to see them realize their true potential, and all that they are capable of! I have over 15 years of experience working with students at the middle school, high school, college, and graduate levels. I hold teaching certification in English, ...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Sabrina

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Sabrina

AM
Sabrina's other Tutor Subjects
ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills
ACCUPLACER
Essay Editing
Middle School Reading

I have over 9 years of experience tutoring students preparing for teacher certification exams and hold degrees in English and Education, as well as a technical writing certification. I enjoy helping students strengthen their reading comprehension so they can break down test questions and avoid commo...

Education

The University of Alabama

AM

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
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
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
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
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

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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

Jeffrey

Pre-Calculus Tutor • +29 Subjects

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 coming members of such a great field. I have experience tutoring both Calculus and Physics at Notre Dame, as well as experience as a Student Assistant for Differential Equations and Mechanics. I believe the key to learning is much deeper than learning to solve problems and that seeking knowledge is one of the best means for personal improvement.

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Sami

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +19 Subjects

I am a Duke University graduate in Economics and Computer Science. I am currently pursuing an MBA degree at the Yale School of Management. I have worked in the financial field, both at a management consulting firm and a fortune 500 company. My hobbies include playing and coaching soccer. Hobbies: reading, writing, art, books, music

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Charles

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects

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 describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing

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Earnest

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am comfortable with either setting. I'm confident that I can help you (or your student) achieve to the best of their ability, so please don't hesitate to get in touch!

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Matthew

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects

I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer in NYC and tackle even the most hard-science of problems with a top-down, big-picture, holistic approach. If you have a propensity to look at problems in a cross- or inter-disciplinary manner (or want to learn how to do so), I'm the tutor for you!

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Tony

Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects

I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, English, history, and Mandarin Chinese part-time with a DC-based tutoring company. At Yale, I worked as a freshman counselor to provide academic and career advice to incoming freshmen. I have taken both SAT and MCAT test prep classes and am familiar with both tests as well as the preparation necessary to score well. My personal career goals include attending medical school to pursue either immunology/infectious diseases or psych/neurology, teaching biology at the university level, and working in public/global health with either the CDC or the WHO.

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Annie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +28 Subjects

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.

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Samuel

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects

I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!

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Pinelopi

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects

I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)

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Zachary

Trigonometry Tutor • +35 Subjects

I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies to excel in both general academics and standardized tests.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The PRAXIS Social Studies exam (5086) tests broad knowledge across history, geography, civics, and economics, but many test-takers struggle with the breadth of content combined with limited study time. The exam requires not just memorization of facts, but the ability to analyze primary sources, understand cause-and-effect relationships across different time periods, and apply social studies concepts to real-world scenarios. Additionally, time management is critical—balancing detailed essay responses with multiple-choice questions often trips up unprepared test-takers. Personalized instruction helps identify your specific weak areas and builds targeted study strategies rather than trying to review everything equally.

When studying independently, it's easy to spend hours reviewing content you already understand while missing critical gaps in your knowledge. A tutor assesses your current understanding, identifies which historical periods, geographic concepts, or civics topics need the most focus, and creates a customized study plan. Tutors also provide expert feedback on practice essays and document analysis—skills that are difficult to self-evaluate. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, you get immediate clarification of confusing concepts, strategies for approaching different question types, and accountability that keeps your preparation on track.

The best PRAXIS Social Studies tutors combine strong content knowledge across multiple domains (U.S. history, world history, geography, civics, and economics) with experience helping test-takers succeed. Look for tutors who understand the exam's specific format and scoring rubric, can teach document analysis and primary source evaluation, and have a track record of helping students reach their target scores. Expert tutors also adapt their teaching style to how you learn best—whether that's through timelines, concept maps, case studies, or other methods. When you connect with Varsity Tutors, we match you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in PRAXIS preparation.

Most test-takers benefit from 4-8 weeks of focused preparation, though this depends on your starting point and target score. If you're strong in history but weaker in economics and geography, you might focus more intensively on those areas. Those balancing exam prep with work or other commitments often spread preparation over 8-12 weeks with 5-7 hours of study per week. A tutor helps you work efficiently—rather than spending weeks on familiar material, personalized instruction zeros in on what will most improve your score. Starting with a diagnostic assessment helps set realistic timelines and goals.

While the PRAXIS covers a wide range of content, U.S. history tends to have the heaviest weight, particularly the colonial period through modern times, key historical figures and events, and how major movements shaped American society. Geography questions focus on map skills, cultural regions, and human-environment interactions. Civics content includes the Constitution, branches of government, and civic rights and responsibilities. Economics covers fundamental concepts like supply and demand, economic systems, and consumer practices. A skilled tutor helps you understand the connections between these topics—how geography influenced settlement patterns, how economic policies shaped political movements—rather than treating them as isolated facts to memorize.

The constructed-response (essay) section requires you to analyze a historical scenario or social studies question and provide a well-organized, evidence-based answer. Many test-takers lose points by not directly addressing the prompt, failing to provide specific examples, or organizing their thoughts poorly under time pressure. A tutor teaches you a framework for tackling these prompts—how to quickly identify what the question is asking, brainstorm relevant examples and evidence, and structure your response for clarity. With guided practice on multiple prompts and detailed feedback on your drafts, you'll build confidence and speed. Personalized instruction also helps you avoid common mistakes like focusing on tangential details or providing unsupported generalizations.

The passing score for the PRAXIS Social Studies exam (5086) is 160 out of a possible 200 points. However, different states and school districts may have their own score requirements, and some may prefer higher scores for competitive job markets. The exam uses a scale where the national average typically falls around 155-160, so aiming for 165+ gives you a strong margin above the minimum passing score. A tutor helps you set a personalized target score based on your specific state's requirements and your teaching goals, then creates a study plan to reach that benchmark rather than just aiming to pass.

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