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Award-Winning HSPT Tutors

Nicole

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Nicole

Bachelor in Arts, English
Nicole's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Human Development
PSAT Writing Skills

I am currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program at Nova Southeastern University, and I received my B.A. in English with a minor in Spanish from the University of Miami in 2016. I am a native speaker of English and Russian. Throughout the course of my educa...

Education

University of Miami

Bachelor in Arts, English

Test Scores
SAT
1450
Karin

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Karin

MFA
Karin's other Tutor Subjects
TOEFL
SAT Reading and Writing
ISEE- Upper Level
ISEE- Lower Level

Karin McKie, MFA, compiles curriculum and personalizes teaching for a broad spectrum of students. I know there is no better, nor more crucial, calling than helping learners communicate their voices and realize their educational dreams. I specialize in tutoring all standardized tests, including t...

Education

San Jose State University

MFA

James Madison University

MFA

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Elisa

Bachelors
Elisa's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math

I am constantly looking for opportunities to learn new things. Additionally, in my spare time I enjoy reading, board games, and rock climbing. I am excited to work as a tutor once again in order to give students a chance to learn one-on-one to get a deeper and more clear understanding of their study...

Education

Duke University

Bachelors

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Ashwin

BBA
Ashwin's other Tutor Subjects
SSAT- Middle Level
SHSAT
ACT English
ACT Math

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 ...

Education

Indiana University-Bloomington

BBA

Test Scores
ACT
33

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Karen

MED
Karen's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
ACT Math
SAT Math
SAT

I have had the opportunity to teach and to tutor thousands of students over my 33 year teaching career. I believe that each student is unique, and that academic skills and weaknesses should be assessed and targeted for the best results. I also hope that it can be a FUN learning experience! I love i...

Education

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

MED

Misericordia University

MED

Certified Tutor

Tim

Current Grad Student, Philosophy
Tim's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Subject Test in Literature
SAT Reading and Writing

I'm well acquainted with many of the schools in the area. I attended Skidmore College as an undergraduate, where I studied the intersections of philosophy, government, religion, and history. Skidmore was also where I began to gain formal experience working with young students, specifically by workin...

Education

Skidmore College

Bachelors, Philosophy

The New School for Social Research

Current Grad Student, Philosophy

Test Scores
SAT
1540

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Shira

Current Undergrad Student, Biochemistry
Shira's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Neuroscience

I am a professional life science researcher and graduate of Brandeis University, where I earned both my masters and bachelors in biochemistry. I'm passionate about science, discovery, and teaching, which is why I am pursuing both research and tutoring. I am also an avid reader, writer, and learner.

Education

Brandeis University

Current Undergrad Student, Biochemistry

Test Scores
SAT
1550

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Helen

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Helen's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus

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.

Education

Johns Hopkins University

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Errin

Undergraduate Degree
Errin's other Tutor Subjects
SSAT- Elementary Level
ISEE- Middle Level
Regents
MAP

I have always loved school and have always had a passion for helping others. From a very young age, I especially loved to read, not only for myself but to others. I look forward to working with students and helping them to reach their goals, whatever they may be.

Education

Converse College

Undergraduate Degree

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Susan

Undergraduate Degree
Susan's other Tutor Subjects
SAT
HSPT
Middle School Reading
High School English

I am fortunate; I get to do the best job in the world. While teaching is my second career, it was always what I wanted to do. When I graduated from college, I was offered a position with my college's admissions and marketing office, where I had been working to put myself through school. It was a ...

Education

University of Central Florida

Undergraduate Degree

Florida Institute of Technology

Undergraduate Degree

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Angelika

BS
Angelika's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Algebra
Elementary School Math
Middle School Science

Hello! My name is Angelika. I am a senior at Fordham University majoring in Biology and minoring is Disability Studies. I expect to graduate Spring 2023. I have tutored since the 7th grade and I love to help people understand concepts that they previously struggled with. I tutor in a variety of subj...

Education

Fordham University

BS

Certified Tutor

Elena

Masters, Biblical Studies
Elena's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SSAT- Upper Level
SSAT- Middle Level

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 ...

Education

University of Edinburgh

Masters, Biblical Studies

Mcgill University

Bachelor in Arts, Religious Studies

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Nikhil

Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Nikhil's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
ACT Writing
ACT English

I am a patient, intellectual, and calm college student at the University of Michigan passionate about tutoring others to improve their proficiency in a wide variety of subjects. I teach students by creating individualized plans that cater to the strengths and weaknesses of the student. I work hard a...

Education

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1540
ACT
36

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Melinda

PhD
Melinda's other Tutor Subjects
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading and Writing
ACT Reading
SAT

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 pe...

Education

University of Pennsylvania

PhD

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Ellyn

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Ellyn's other Tutor Subjects
Applied Mathematics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

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

Education

Washington University in St. Louis

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering

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Angelika

Middle School Math Tutor • +10 Subjects

Hello! My name is Angelika. I am a senior at Fordham University majoring in Biology and minoring is Disability Studies. I expect to graduate Spring 2023. I have tutored since the 7th grade and I love to help people understand concepts that they previously struggled with. I tutor in a variety of subjects but I am most passionate about Algebra, the SAT Grammar section, and the SAT Math Section. I believe that curating a unique approach for each individual is important in their advancement. Everybody is different and therefore their way of learning will be different too! This has helped many of my students raise their grades and confidence when it comes to their studies. In my free time, I enjoy watching cooking videos on YouTube and going to the gym!

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Elena

Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects

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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Nikhil

Calculus Tutor • +22 Subjects

I am a patient, intellectual, and calm college student at the University of Michigan passionate about tutoring others to improve their proficiency in a wide variety of subjects. I teach students by creating individualized plans that cater to the strengths and weaknesses of the student. I work hard and as long as it takes to ensure that the student derives maximum benefit. I love teaching a wide variety of subjects, and have a speciality in standardized tests. Hobbies: reading, music, swimming, writing, art, sports, books, dancing, photography

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Melinda

PSAT Writing Skills Tutor • +23 Subjects

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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Ellyn

Applied Mathematics Tutor • +77 Subjects

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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Byron

AP Statistics Tutor • +9 Subjects

I like helping students. I am very patient. I have experience teaching Calculus classes at the University of Miami. I have done private tutoring for all levels of math up to Calculus, as well as Statistics, Business Math, and Math Finance. I have worked in the actuarial field. I have an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Michigan State University and a Master's degree in mathematics from the University of Miami. I worked for The Princeton Review as a tutor for the SAT. I did very well on both the SAT and ACT, and like teaching students how to do better on those. I like history, too, and always find it fun to tutor history.

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Stephen

College Algebra Tutor • +5 Subjects

I love math and physics, particularly as it relates to geology. Ask me about rocks in my spare time! Also a casual American history and constitutional/political buff. APUSH Text: Henrietta Calculus Text: Stewart Physics Text: Knight

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Yvan

AP Statistics Tutor • +55 Subjects

I'm patient, personable, and have an incredible gift for explaining things in a way that makes sense. I majored in Math Education (with a minor in Computer Science), and I have more than eight years of experience teaching math and other STEM subjects.

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Denise

SHSAT Tutor • +4 Subjects

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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Justin

Calculus Tutor • +38 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue engaging in my passions for learning and teaching. While in school, I have spent countless hours coaching high school speech and debate both in person and working online with students across the country. My focus in coaching has been to emphasize philosophy and critical thought to prepare students to think through novel arguments on their own. I am passionate about teaching and tutoring because I love seeing students learn to be intellectually independent and think through problems on their own terms by developing their critical thinking skills. I have devoted my life to education because I am passionate about it, and I try to share some of my passion for learning with the students I work with. I tutor all sorts of Standardized Tests, and I particularly enjoy working on logic-based problems like analogies and math sections. When I am not tutoring or reading for school, I enjoy strategy games (both board games and video games), listening to music, hiking, playing basketball, and just relaxing with friends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges on the HSPT since you have limited time per question across all five sections. Tutors work with students to develop section-specific strategies—for example, in Verbal Skills, learning to quickly identify synonyms and analogies without overthinking, while in Math, recognizing which problems to tackle first and which to skip strategically. Practice with timed drills helps build automaticity so you're not spending precious seconds on easier questions, and working through full practice tests under real test conditions reveals exactly where you're losing time.

Reading Comprehension trips up many students because the HSPT's passages are dense and time is tight—you need to extract key information quickly without getting lost in details. Quantitative Skills also challenges students who haven't solidified foundational concepts like ratios, percentages, and word problem setup. Verbal Skills, while testing vocabulary and logic, can feel unfamiliar since it emphasizes synonym and analogy patterns that don't always appear in regular schoolwork. A tutor can identify which section is dragging your score and create targeted practice to address the underlying skill gaps.

The HSPT's Verbal Skills section uses synonym and analogy questions in a format you might not see in regular classes, requiring you to think about word relationships rather than just definitions. Reading Comprehension questions ask for main ideas, inferences, and detail recall under time pressure—different from classroom reading where you can reread. Quantitative questions mix basic arithmetic, algebra, and geometry in ways that test problem-solving speed, not just computation. Tutors break down each format, show you the patterns and tricks to recognize, and have you practice until these question types feel natural rather than surprising.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you practice. Students who work with a tutor for 4-8 weeks with regular practice typically see 50-100 point gains, though this varies based on your baseline and the areas you're targeting. The biggest improvements come when you identify specific weak sections—say, Reading Comprehension or Quantitative Skills—and focus there rather than trying to improve everything at once. Consistent practice with timed drills and full-length tests, combined with targeted instruction on question formats and strategy, creates the conditions for meaningful gains.

Test anxiety often stems from unfamiliarity with question formats or uncertainty about timing strategy—both things tutoring directly addresses. When you've practiced the exact types of questions you'll see, worked through pacing strategies under timed conditions, and built confidence in your ability to recognize patterns, anxiety naturally decreases. Tutors also help you develop a realistic sense of which questions to prioritize, when to move on, and how to manage your mental energy across all five sections, so you feel in control rather than overwhelmed on test day.

Practice tests are essential because they reveal your actual pacing, timing, and weak areas under conditions that mirror the real exam. Rather than taking a practice test once and moving on, use them diagnostically: take one untimed to identify content gaps, then take several under timed conditions to work on speed and strategy. Between practice tests, focus on drilling the specific sections where you stumbled—for instance, if Reading Comprehension dragged you down, do targeted passages and timing work. Your tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint patterns, like whether you're running out of time or making careless errors, and adjust your study plan accordingly.

A strong HSPT tutor understands the test's unique structure—the five sections, their different question formats, and the specific timing constraints—and can teach you strategies tailored to each. They should be able to diagnose exactly where you're losing points, whether it's vocabulary knowledge in Verbal Skills, conceptual gaps in Quantitative, or reading speed in Comprehension. Beyond content, they should be skilled at teaching you to recognize question patterns, manage time strategically, and build the confidence that comes from practicing under realistic test conditions. Look for someone who uses actual HSPT materials, tracks your progress across sections, and adjusts the approach based on what's actually holding back your score.

Most students benefit from 4-8 weeks of focused HSPT prep, though this depends on your starting point and target score. A typical weekly schedule might include 2-3 tutoring sessions focused on strategy and weak areas, plus 3-4 hours of independent practice with drills and timed sections between sessions. Starting with diagnostic practice to identify weak areas, moving into targeted skill-building, and finishing with full-length timed practice tests creates a logical progression. Your tutor can customize the timeline and intensity—if you're starting further behind or aiming for a very competitive score, you might need more time; if you're already strong in most areas, you might focus heavily on one or two sections.

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