Akron has 86 schools across 21 districts, and many advanced students benefit from personalized instruction to accelerate their learning and build confidence in a rigorous course. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps students master foundational programming concepts, understand algorithm design, and develop debugging skills at their own pace—critical for success in AP-level coursework while still in middle school.

The course covers computational thinking, algorithms, programming (usually in a block-based or text-based language), data representation, cybersecurity basics, and the societal impacts of computing. For 7th graders, tutors focus on building conceptual understanding of these topics alongside hands-on coding practice, ensuring students grasp both the "why" and the "how" before tackling more complex projects.

The biggest hurdles are logical thinking and debugging—students often struggle to trace through code, identify errors, and think systematically about problem-solving. Time management is another challenge, as projects and performance tasks require sustained effort. Personalized tutoring helps students develop debugging strategies, break problems into manageable steps, and build the persistence needed for independent coding work.

In the first session, tutors assess your current coding experience, identify specific topics that feel challenging (like loops, conditionals, or functions), and discuss your goals for the course. From there, tutors create a personalized learning plan that might include concept review, guided coding practice, or strategies for tackling performance tasks—all tailored to help you build confidence and mastery.

Tutors help you understand the exam format, practice with released AP questions, and develop time-management strategies for the multiple-choice and free-response sections. They also guide you through performance task practice, which accounts for a significant portion of your score, ensuring you can explain your code and computational thinking clearly when it matters most.

Varsity Tutors connects students with tutors who have strong backgrounds in computer science, programming experience, and a track record of helping students succeed in AP courses. Tutors understand both the technical content and the best ways to teach it to 7th graders, balancing rigor with age-appropriate explanations and encouragement.

Simply tell us about your current level, specific topics you need help with, and your goals for the course. Varsity Tutors will connect you with an expert tutor who fits your needs and schedule. You can start with a single session to see if it's a good fit, then continue building your skills with ongoing personalized instruction.