Award-Winning HSPT Tutors serving Philadelphia, PA

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Julie
Certified HSPT Tutor
Julie
MS University of Pennsylvania • BA Fordham University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a Special Education English teacher in Philadelphia with a passion for education. I love working with students of all ages to find their learning style and to meet their personal goals. I also love to laugh and have fun while getting work done!

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Melinda
Certified HSPT Tutor
Melinda
PhD University of Pennsylvania
2+ Years Tutoring

I love to help students to do well on the SAT and ACT Verbal, Reading, and English sections. I have tutored these areas of standardized tests for more than 3 years. My approach is not "standardized" because I enjoy working one-on-one with clients to tailor learning experiences that address each person's unique needs. As a former professor of communication, I also have the skills to help professionals and graduate students with their research and writing. I am currently helping a doctoral student with her dissertation.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Anatole
BA CUNY Hunter College
3+ Years Tutoring

During sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to help high school students from underprivileged backgrounds study for the SAT. There were about 30 students in each room with just two teachers, and I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I wanted to make a difference in an important time in their lives as they studied the math and English skills needed to do well on the exam and get accepted to the colleges they desired. Every time I saw a score increase on a practice test, I knew I was making a difference, and that gave me deep satisfaction. On the elementary and middle school level, I've helped family friends who were having difficulty in their classes understand concepts through easy-to-learn tools that simplified what may have seemed complicated before. When they do well on an exam, I know I served them well. I look back on the quote I chose in my high school yearbook from Jackie Robinson, the first Major League Baseball player to cross the color barrier: "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." I hope I can make a positive impact on the lives of you and your child.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Nathaniel
MS University of Missouri-Columbia • BA University of Missouri-Columbia
5+ Years Tutoring

I am a writer who works extensively with historical documents and researcher who embraces learning for life. I love making a subject engaging, interesting and ultimately seeing others succeed in their endeavors.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Mia
BA Pace University

Hi, I'm Mia and I am passionate about helping students excel academically! My teaching philosophy focuses on giving students the tools they need to succeed in their courses, rather than simply having them memorize the material. I have experience tutoring high school students, notably in SAT Reading and Writing. I was Valedictorian of my high school class and have extensive experience in the college admissions process, earning admission to prestigious schools like Northwestern University and Cornell University. I'm currently a student of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies at Pace University, and I hope to become a children's and adolescent counselor. When I'm not tutoring, I love songwriting and producing my own tracks!

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Jing
BA The university of York
9+ Years Tutoring

I am working as a Cross-border consultant and consult for businesses who want to get into the Chinese market and do business with Chinese companies. Language and culture is a big part of my life both professionally and personally. My articles in mandarin have been published in multiple newspapers and magazines when I was studying in China. Chinese literature and history have always been my greatest passion. I want to help everyone really understand the Chinese culture and learn to use this beautiful language to express themselves whenever they are traveling, studying, doing business with Chinese. I am really good at other subjects too, I passed the GMAT exam with 99% math/quantitative section. Math has always been one of strongest academic subject too. Tutoring is a great responsibility, further to me it can also be one of life's most rewarding experiences. I am naturally attracted to different cultures and love to share mine with everyone. I was also a Junior Olympian (swimmer) for 8 years and love to go outdoors as I love nature.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Ellyn
BA Washington University in St. Louis • Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin
8+ Years Tutoring

I am a mathematics instructor at Tarrant County College and I am interested in helping math and engineering students achieve success!

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Ashwin
BBA Indiana University-Bloomington
6+ Years Tutoring

Tutoring is about a lot more than studying, tests, and knowledge. I believe the interpersonal relationship involved with teaching greatly benefits both parties. Learning is fundamental to life- and turning otherwise cumbersome and difficult tasks like passing a hard class into a lightbulb moment is where I find my satisfaction. Turning such a familiar struggle into newfound realization and understanding is what I aim for.

ACT Scores
Composite33
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Certified HSPT Tutor
Owen
BA Columbia University

Hi! I'm passionate about helping students break down complicated tests into manageable pieces. I'm a sophomore at Columbia studying Applied Math, and I scored a 34 on the ACT and 1540 on the SAT. I took AP Precalculus, Calc AB, Lang, Lit, US History, and Art History. I'll walk you through how I think about each problem, and no question is too small. We'll go at whatever pace works for you. Whether you're starting from scratch or trying to push your score up, I'll meet you where you are.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Taylor
BA University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate of the University of Rochester in upstate New York, with degrees in English Literature and French. I have experience tutoring students of all ages, from those who have just finished kindergarten all the way up to college students. I tutor in English (including reading for both younger and older students, essay prep including college essays, and editing), French of all levels, and test prep including SAT, PSAT, and AP tests in English and French. I believe that individualized teaching is most effective, and work to find methods that work best for each individual student. Some of my most rewarding teaching experiences have been young students learning to read, but also love to see a student who goes from struggling to success on their standardized tests. I believe that an education is one of the most influential things a person can possess, and am passionate about helping students succeed academically and helping them overcome frustration they may feel to begin to enjoy their education, too. Beyond academics, I passionately love to read, cook, and do yoga, which takes up much of my free time.

SAT Scores
Composite1530
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Certified HSPT Tutor
Anyscia
BA The University of Texas at Austin • AS Houston Community College

Hello! I'm a junior International Relations and Global Studies major at the University of Texas at Austin. I have over 4 years of experience in tutoring/teaching in both virtual and in-person settings through peer mentorship and volunteering programs. My teaching style is very adaptive; some students require a visual, while others require a step-by-step explanation. Either way, I am looking forward to helping you build your confidence in your subject of choice!

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Taylor
BA Boise State University
1+ Years Tutoring

For over two years, I've supported students and professional writers alike as a tutor and consultant, and for five years, I've worked on novels as a developmental editor. I graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public and Professional Writing, and I specialize in ACT English, college English, technical writing, and creative writing. I tailor my strategies to each student's needs, using a collaborative, student-centered style based on research, including research I conducted and presented at the 2024 National Conference for Peer Tutoring in Writing. My passion for writing and communication motivates me to guide students in finding their voices and achieving their academic goals. I aim to help students grow beyond my tutoring and gain experience that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

ACT Scores
Composite30
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Certified HSPT Tutor
Hudson
BA New York University

Hey I'm Hudson! I self-studied for every exam I took in high school, including the SAT, ACT, and 10+ AP Courses, so I have a very thorough understanding of standardized tests. I just graduated high school earlier this year, so I still remember exactly what it was like to be in your shoes. Because of this, I believe I'll be able to help you boost your scores in very niche and underrated ways. Test prep shouldn't be stressful, you should feel confident and prepared when the time comes. SAT prep is my specialty.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Denise
BA University of Washington
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a passionate writer with a Bachelor's degree in English (Creative Writing) and Communications (Journalism) from the University of Washington. I have written professionally for nearly twenty years. I'm excited to work with middle school, high school, and adult students. My approach centers on building conversational relationships with students, allowing them to feel comfortable expressing their own ideas. I believe that writing is a collaborative journey; by engaging in open dialogue, I help students articulate their thoughts and craft their unique voices. I'm here to help students find their best ideas! My background as a Communications Manager for a large-scale company also allows me to help students with more structured writing assignments. Additionally, as an agented writer I am particularly excited to assist students with academic essays, personal statements for college applications and creative pieces. Crafting a story within set parameters is my specialty! I aim to empower students no matter their skill level. Writing is not just a skill, but a powerful means of self-expression. Every student is capable of writing success!

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Elena
MS University of Edinburgh • BA Mcgill University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.

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Certified HSPT Tutor
Helen
BA Johns Hopkins University
8+ Years Tutoring

I'm especially passionate about math and science and work in a research lab at Oregon Health and Sciences University. I love helping students do well on tests such as the ACT, SAT, SSAT and the HSPT especially. I am attending Johns Hopkins University and majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

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Testimonials

Because the right HSPT tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings

Worked with a HSPT Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

JA
Julio Aranovich
Worked with a HSPT Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

AH
Angela Hussein
Worked with a HSPT Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

TR
Tara R
Worked with a HSPT Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with a HSPT Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with a HSPT Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

RW
Rebecca Williams

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Frequently Asked Questions

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) is a standardized entrance exam used by many Catholic and private schools in the Philadelphia area to evaluate students' readiness for high school. It assesses verbal skills, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and math—helping schools make admissions decisions and determine course placement. Performing well on the HSPT can open doors to selective high schools across Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

The HSPT consists of five sections: Verbal Skills, Quantitative Skills, Reading, Mathematics, and Language. Each section is scored on a scale, and schools receive a composite score that reflects overall performance. The test is typically administered in the fall for students applying to 9th grade, and most Philadelphia-area Catholic schools use HSPT scores as a primary admissions criterion.

Many students struggle with the HSPT's fast pace and the breadth of content it covers—particularly the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections that require quick problem-solving. Time management is another major hurdle, as students must work through multiple questions in limited time. Personalized tutoring helps address these specific weak areas and builds test-taking strategies tailored to each student's learning style.

Most students benefit from 2-4 months of consistent preparation, though this varies based on starting level and target schools. Students typically meet with tutors 1-2 times per week to build foundational skills, practice test sections, and refine strategies. Starting preparation in the spring or early summer before the fall test date gives students plenty of time to master content without feeling rushed.

Personalized tutoring focuses exclusively on your student's specific strengths and weaknesses, whereas classroom prep moves at a fixed pace for the whole group. A tutor can spend extra time on challenging sections like quantitative reasoning or verbal skills, teach test-specific strategies that match your student's learning style, and adjust pacing based on progress. This targeted approach typically leads to faster improvement and more confident test day performance.

During the first session, a tutor will assess your student's current skills through diagnostic questions or a practice test section, discuss goals and target schools, and identify specific areas needing improvement. This baseline helps create a customized study plan focused on the most impactful areas. The tutor will also explain test format, timing strategies, and what to expect in upcoming sessions.

Look for tutors with strong backgrounds in standardized test preparation, familiarity with the HSPT format and scoring, and experience working with middle school students. Ideally, tutors should have scored well on similar tests themselves and understand both the content and test-taking strategies. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have proven success helping students improve their HSPT scores and gain admission to competitive Philadelphia-area schools.

Score improvement varies by starting point and effort, but students working consistently with a tutor typically see meaningful gains within 2-3 months. Many students improve by 50-100+ points on composite scores through focused practice, error analysis, and strategy refinement. The key is identifying weak areas early and building both content knowledge and test-taking confidence before test day.

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