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Award-Winning AP US History Tutors

Kayley

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Kayley

BS
Kayley's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

Kayley's biology degree might seem like an odd fit for APUSH, but her coursework at New Mexico State included AP-level history and government, and she approaches the subject the way a scientist approaches data — by teaching students to weigh evidence before drawing conclusions. That analytical habit...

Education

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

BS

Kaitlyn

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Kaitlyn

Undergraduate Degree
Kaitlyn's other Tutor Subjects
10th Grade math
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Linear Algebra

I'm currently a student at the University of Alabama, working towards an undergraduate degree in math/statistics. Im also a part of the honors college at the University, the honors society Phi Eta Sigma, am participating in the new STEM program that allows me to work towards a MBA while completing m...

Education

The University of Alabama

Undergraduate Degree

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Ashley

Master's/Graduate
Ashley's other Tutor Subjects
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry

Most AP US History struggles come down to one skill: turning a pile of historical evidence into a coherent argument under time pressure. Ashley earned a Master's in History, which means she's spent years constructing and defending thesis-driven analyses — exactly the skill the DBQ and LEQ demand. Sh...

Education

Mcgill University

Master's/Graduate

Northeastern University

Bachelor's

Certified Tutor

Jessica

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

Before medical school, Jessica earned her history degree at Penn — meaning she studied American political and constitutional development at a university where those debates literally happened, steps from Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center. That immersion in primary-source-rich co...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540

Certified Tutor

Erika

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

A Master of Public Policy degree means Erika spent graduate school analyzing how American institutions evolved and why specific policy decisions — from the New Deal to the Great Society — reshaped the country. That lens gives her a natural edge when teaching APUSH's thematic threads around governmen...

Education

Harvard University

Master of Public Policy, Public Policy

Test Scores
ACT
32

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Dalton

Bachelor in Arts, Mass Communications
Dalton's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Trigonometry

The IB program's emphasis on extended essays and Theory of Knowledge — where students defend interpretive claims with structured evidence — builds the exact muscles APUSH's DBQ and LEQ require. Dalton completed the full IB diploma and now draws on that training to teach how to frame a historical arg...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor in Arts, Mass Communications

Test Scores
ACT
35

Certified Tutor

Emerson

Bachelor of Science, Biology and Psychology
Emerson's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Statistics

APUSH's document-based questions reward students who can do more than recall facts — they need to contextualize sources, identify bias, and build an argument under time pressure. Emerson, a University of Chicago student who completed both AP and IB history coursework, teaches the analytical writing ...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology and Psychology

Test Scores
SAT
1560

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Margaret

Current Undergrad Student, Political Science and Government
Margaret's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra

Studying political science at Stanford means Margaret spends her coursework inside the same institutional frameworks — constitutional design, federalism, party realignment — that APUSH tests most heavily across every period. That gives her a structural vocabulary for explaining why events like the N...

Education

Stanford University

Current Undergrad Student, Political Science and Government

Test Scores
SAT
1550

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Jonah

Bachelors
Jonah's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

Jonah holds a history degree and has taught both high school and college-level American history, so the content backbone of APUSH — from colonial mercantilism through post-Cold War policy — is material he knows cold rather than relearns alongside students. That depth lets him spend tutoring time whe...

Education

Yale University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1590

Certified Tutor

Ryan

Bachelor in Arts, American Studies
Ryan's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Subject Test in United States History
SAT Subject Test in Spanish with Listening

The APUSH exam rewards students who can do more than recall events — they need to construct document-based arguments under time pressure and connect themes across periods. Ryan studied American Studies at the college level, which means he approaches U.S. history through the intersections of politics...

Education

Yale University

Bachelor in Arts, American Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1500

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Ethan

AP Statistics Tutor • +66 Subjects

I am not teaching or grading papers, I can usually be found playing some brass instrument or another, umpiring baseball, trying out a new recipe in the kitchen, or spending far too much time on Netflix.

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Paula

8th Grade math Tutor • +123 Subjects

I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests and have been privileged enough to pursue knowledge in those areas. I even enjoy tucking away "useless facts"...in fact, those very tidbits got me past the Jeopardy! Online Test and into the Contestant Audition!

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Meghan

Calculus Tutor • +32 Subjects

I am a 2015 graduate of Northwestern University, with an undergraduate journalism major/Spanish minor and a graduate degree in journalism. During my time at NU, I spent a semester at Madrid's top-ranked university, taking upper-level history and literature courses with Spanish students. I now work at a trade magazine in Midtown covering real estate.

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Kirstie

Arithmetic Tutor • +35 Subjects

I am friendly, reliable, and most importantlycommitted to helping you learn! It is my top priority to create a positive learning experience that will help boost your test scores without boring you to tears. After all, shouldn't learning be fun? Hobbies: art, books, reading, music, writing

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Jon

Geometry Tutor • +31 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Asian American Studies with a pre-med track. I am currently a grad student at the Yale School of Public Health. Hobbies: reading, music, art, travel, books, writing, hiking, yoga

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Molly

8th Grade math Tutor • +86 Subjects

I am an Illinois certified Teacher in grades K-9. I attended Northwestern University and received a Master's of Science in Education. I have ample classroom experience and expertise in elementary Math and Reading intervention. I have several tools and resources from various curricula to work with and would love to help your students in any elementary or middle school subject area. For the past three years, I have been working as a classroom Teacher in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms, teaching students with a variety of needs. I can also tutor students through high school and college in History and Spanish as I hold degrees in both subjects from Columbia University. I am highly qualified to tutor Writing at all levels - from elementary to adult professional writing - as I have written two distinguished theses as part of my academic training.

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Charlie

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +30 Subjects

I am a current student at Cornell University with a 4.0 GPA. In High School, I was a National AP Scholar and a National Merit Finalist. I am passionate about helping students succeed, and I am patient and enjoy walking through multiple methods to help a student find what works best for them. I enjoy helping students reach their potential. While I tutor a range of subjects, I am most interested in and best equipped to tutor students in SAT prep (math, English, and test-taking strategies), history, economics, and statistics. In my spare time, I am likely watching baseball, playing basketball, or watching The Office.

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Asta

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +74 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.

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Nathan

Pre-Calculus Tutor • +57 Subjects

I am currently a student at Rice University studying both History and Neuroscience. Being the oldest of five kids, working with younger students has always been a part of my life. I can tutor a wide variety of subjects, but I specialize in writing, public speaking, and test taking. My goal for every tutoring session is to give students large-scale takeaways that they can apply in their academic future, maximizing the efficiency of every session.

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Tom

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +41 Subjects

I am a firm believer that clear, precise communication between student and tutor makes for a productive and fulfilling learning experience. When I work with students, I strive to listen carefully to find out exactly where they are struggling, and to impart corresponding strategies clearly and concisely. I work with them step by step until we zero in on exactly where the problem is occurring, and tailor solutions from there. These collegial and yet very focused discussions go a long way toward helping me to discern where the student needs help and helping the student to master the content he or she must learn, besides ensuring a pleasant and interesting learning experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Students typically find the period from 1890-1945 most challenging, particularly the complexities of US foreign policy, the causes and consequences of World War I, and the nuances of the Great Depression and New Deal. The Civil War and Reconstruction era also trips up many students because it requires understanding both political and social dimensions simultaneously. Additionally, students often struggle with thematic connections across time periods—like how different groups experienced American democracy differently—rather than just memorizing isolated events.

The exam has three distinct sections requiring different skills: the multiple-choice section (55 questions in 80 minutes) rewards quick pattern recognition and elimination strategies; the short-answer questions (3 questions in 40 minutes) require you to support claims with specific evidence; and the essays (DBQ and long essay) demand strong thesis statements and document analysis. Many students underestimate the short-answer section because they focus heavily on essay prep—but these questions test your ability to explain historical causation concisely, which is a distinct skill from writing longer arguments.

Strong document analysis goes beyond identifying what a source says—you need to consider the author's perspective, purpose, audience, and historical context. Many students lose points by treating documents as simple evidence rather than asking critical questions: Why did this person create this document? Who was it meant to persuade? What was happening in 1863 that shaped this perspective? A tutor can help you develop a systematic approach to quickly categorize documents (supporting your argument, complicating it, representing a particular viewpoint) so you use your 55-minute DBQ time efficiently.

Rather than memorizing dates, focus on understanding the key tensions and transformations that define each era—for example, the early republic's struggle between federal and state power, or the Progressive Era's competing visions of reform. Students who excel recognize that themes like American identity, conflict, and change repeat across periods in different forms. A tutor can help you build concept maps that connect events within and across periods, so you see how westward expansion, industrialization, and immigration are all part of the same story of American transformation, not separate topics.

Your thesis needs to make a specific, arguable claim about causation or change—not just summarize what happened. For example, "The New Deal was important" is too vague, but "The New Deal fundamentally shifted American expectations about government's role in economic security, though it faced significant opposition from those who feared federal overreach" takes a real position. Many students write theses that are either too obvious (restating the prompt) or too broad (covering too many ideas). Tutors can help you practice narrowing your argument and ensuring every paragraph supports your specific claim with relevant evidence.

The 55 multiple-choice questions should take roughly 80 minutes (about 90 seconds per question), but strong test-takers spend 60 minutes on these to leave buffer time. The short-answer section requires about 13 minutes per question to read, think, and write a solid response. For the essays, plan to spend 15 minutes reading and analyzing documents for the DBQ, then 40 minutes writing; the long essay gets 40 minutes total. Many students rush through multiple-choice to save time for essays, but this backfires because careless errors compound. A tutor can help you take practice tests under timed conditions and identify where you're losing time.

Most students who work with a tutor see a 2-4 point improvement on the AP scale (which ranges from 1-5), with larger gains possible if you're starting below a 3. The improvement depends heavily on where you're starting and how much you practice between sessions. If you're scoring 2s on practice tests, focused tutoring on document analysis and thesis-building can push you to 3s or 4s. If you're already at a 4, reaching a 5 requires mastering the most challenging synthesis questions and eliminating careless errors—work that's very doable with targeted feedback on your practice essays.

Beyond deep knowledge of American history, strong AP US History tutors understand the specific demands of the exam format—they can teach document analysis strategies, help you build efficient study plans, and provide detailed feedback on your essays that mirrors how AP graders evaluate them. They should be able to identify whether your struggles are conceptual (not understanding Reconstruction), strategic (poor time management), or technical (weak thesis statements), because each requires different solutions. Look for tutors who use practice tests diagnostically to pinpoint your weak areas rather than just reviewing material broadly.

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