Award-Winning GRE Verbal Tutors serving Bakersfield, CA

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Award-Winning GRE Verbal Tutors serving Bakersfield, CA

Jacob

Certified Tutor

Jacob

Bachelors in Literature
Jacob's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Quantitative Reasoning
PSAT Writing Skills

I am eager to help students thrive because I'm still very much a student myself, and will be for the foreseeable future. Though I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate student in Literature, and learned quite a bit during my time at Vanderbilt, there's still more work to be done. I am working towards ...

Education

Vanderbilt University

Bachelors in Literature

Test Scores
ACT
35
Aaron

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Aaron

Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering
Aaron's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus 2
Calculus
Algebra

I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old e...

Education

The University of Texas at Dallas

Bachelors, Mechanical Engineering

Duke University

Current Grad Student, Mechanical Engineering

Test Scores
SAT
1530
Asta

Certified Tutor

Asta

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science
Asta's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Arithmetic
Middle School Math

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 th...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor in Arts in Political Science

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
35
Sherry

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Sherry

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics
Sherry's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics. Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University. In the past, I have worked as a teacher's aide in a public school classroom, a mento...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600
Ethan

Certified Tutor

Ethan

Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Science and Public Policy
Ethan's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra

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.

Education

Harvard University

Bachelor in Arts, Environmental Science and Public Policy

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1510
ACT
36
Catherine

Certified Tutor

Catherine

PHD, History
Catherine's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Arithmetic
Middle School Math
Elementary Math

I am a graduate student in the humanities who is lucky enough to teach, read, and write for a living. I am passionately committed to educational access and helping young people reach their full potential. It has been my privilege to work with dozens of bright and talented students over the years, ra...

Education

Stanford University

PHD, History

Princeton University

Bachelor in Arts

Test Scores
SAT
1590
Nina

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Nina

Masters in biostatistics
Nina's other Tutor Subjects
Statistics Graduate Level
Statistics
Calculus
Algebra

I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant ...

Education

Columbia University

Masters in biostatistics

Northwestern University

Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences (focus in neurobiology)

Columbia University in the City of New York

Current Grad Student, Biostatistics

Test Scores
SAT
1550
Michelle

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Michelle

Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering
Michelle's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

I'm a recent PhD graduate in Bioengineering in the Boston area. My thesis involved nanoparticles and bacterial infections, but as a biomedical engineer I've had training in circuits, mechanics, some programming, chemistry and biology. Tutoring for me is a collaborative effort, following a problem-ba...

Education

University of Iowa

Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering

Northeastern University

Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering

Test Scores
ACT
32
Tom

Certified Tutor

Tom

PHD, American Studies
Tom's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Geometry
Calculus

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 concis...

Education

Boston University

PHD, American Studies

Harvard University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Reid

Certified Tutor

Reid

PHD, Education
Reid's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra

I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults...

Education

Harvard University

PHD, Education

Wesleyan University

Bachelor in Arts, Sociology

Test Scores
ACT
32

Practice GRE Verbal

Free practice tests, flashcards, and AI tutoring for GRE Verbal

GRE Verbal Practice Hub
Practice tests, flashcards, AI tutor & more

Frequently Asked Questions

Score improvement depends on your starting point and study effort, but most students see meaningful gains within 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. Personalized tutoring helps you identify weak areas—whether that's reading comprehension, text completion, or sentence equivalence—and target them strategically. Many students improve by 5-10 points on the 130-170 scale, though your specific improvement will depend on your baseline and goals.

The biggest hurdles are typically time management (balancing speed with accuracy), building advanced vocabulary in context, and understanding the logic behind complex reading passages. Many students also struggle with the nuanced differences between similar answer choices in text completion questions. A tutor can help you develop strategies for each question type and build confidence in your decision-making process.

Your first session typically starts with a diagnostic assessment to understand your current strengths, weaknesses, and target score. You'll discuss your timeline, graduate program goals, and any specific concerns—like anxiety around timed tests or vocabulary gaps. From there, your tutor will outline a personalized study plan and begin working on the areas that will have the biggest impact on your score.

Most students benefit from 1-2 sessions per week over 8-12 weeks, though this varies based on your timeline and starting score. Consistent, focused preparation is more effective than cramming, so regular sessions help you build skills progressively and stay accountable. Your tutor can adjust the frequency based on how you're progressing and how much time you have before test day.

Reading Comprehension requires both speed and deep understanding—you need to grasp main ideas, author tone, and logical structure while working under time pressure. Tutors teach active reading strategies, question prediction techniques, and how to eliminate wrong answers efficiently. Practice with real GRE passages and targeted feedback on your approach helps you build the skills to tackle complex academic texts confidently.

While you'll encounter challenging words, the GRE tests vocabulary in context rather than pure memorization. Understanding how words function in sentences and recognizing common word roots and patterns is more useful than flashcard drilling. A tutor helps you build vocabulary strategically, focusing on words that appear frequently on the GRE and teaching you how to infer meaning from context when you encounter unfamiliar terms.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the test format, build stamina for the full exam, and identify patterns in the questions you're getting wrong. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions also reveals pacing issues and helps reduce test anxiety. Your tutor will use practice test results to guide your study plan and ensure you're improving on the skills that matter most.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in GRE Verbal and understand the test's unique challenges. When you get matched with a tutor, you'll have access to someone with proven test expertise and the ability to teach strategies tailored to your learning style. The matching process ensures you work with a tutor who fits your goals and schedule.

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