Award-Winning PCAT Reading Comprehension Tutors

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Award-Winning PCAT Reading Comprehension Tutors

Arianna

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Arianna

Bachelor of Science
Arianna's other Tutor Subjects
8th-12th Grade math
9th-12th Grade Writing
Pre-Algebra
Calculus

I am a Dartmouth graduate. I am currently working on my med and business endeavors. I have not only an interest, but a motivation to help others. I have helped students get into Ivy League schools as well as other top universities across the country with top scholarships. I tutor in all subjects fro...

Education

Dartmouth College

Bachelor of Science

Valerie

Certified Tutor

Valerie

Masters, Pharmacology
Valerie's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry

I am a doctoral student at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. I completed my undergraduate study at The Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and minor in General Business. I have tutored friends, classmates, and coworkers all...

Education

The Ohio State University

Masters, Pharmacology

The Ohio State University

Bachelor of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Test Scores
ACT
32
Isabel

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Isabel

Bachelor in Arts, Biochemistry
Isabel's other Tutor Subjects
Geometry
Calculus
Algebra
Microbiology

I'm 23 years old, and I'm originally from Danville, Indiana. I got my bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Vassar College in Spring 2018. I'm currently in graduate school to become a pharmacist - I'm in my first year of the PharmD program at Northeastern University.

Education

Vassar College

Bachelor in Arts, Biochemistry

Test Scores
SAT
1470
Xhesika

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Xhesika

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Xhesika's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
AP Chemistry
Nutrition

I am an alumna of The Williams School in New London, CT. I attended undergrad at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT as a Molecular Biology & Biochemistry major. I am currently completing a dual Ph.D/Pharm.D. program at the University of Connecticut. My graduate work focuses on medicinal chemistry ...

Education

Middlebury College

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Gaurav

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Gaurav

Bachelors, Biology and Political Science
Gaurav's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Competition Math
Trigonometry

I am a law student, but I took an unusual route to get there. I used to attend medical school but had a change of heart in my career path. Part of this was due to my political science major (double major with biology) in college as well as a number of Spanish and other courses that I took. Tutoring ...

Education

University of Miami

Bachelors, Biology and Political Science

Test Scores
SAT
1570
Emily

Certified Tutor

Emily

Bachelor in Arts, English
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills
SAT Reading

I'm a third year student in pharmacy school at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. I have a bachelors degree in English from the University of Texas and English is my area of specialty. I have been in the academic world for a very long time and at this point in my life I'd like to help ot...

Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor in Arts, English

Michelle

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Michelle

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Michelle's other Tutor Subjects
Applied Mathematics
Statistics Graduate Level
Pre-Algebra
Statistics
Education

Centenary College of Louisiana

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1510
Kristen

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Kristen

Bachelors, Psychology
Kristen's other Tutor Subjects
ACT English
ACT Math
Advanced Placement Prep
Algebra

I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and have lived in the area my whole life. Currently, I'm studying Psychology on the Pre-Med track at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In high school, I was a big nerd and competed on Math Team and Scholastic Bowl, and graduated on the Honor Roll. I...

Education

University of Illinois at Chicago

Bachelors, Psychology

Test Scores
ACT
33
Kendra

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Kendra

Masters in Education, Special Education
Kendra's other Tutor Subjects
Government
High School Government
High School World History
History

Hello! My name is Kendra Beckman. I graduated from Wright State University with my BA in AYA Social Science Education, and am currently in graduate school at Grand Canyon University working towards my master's of Education in Special Education. My goal is to have students play an active role in the ...

Education

Grand Canyon University

Masters in Education, Special Education

Wright State University-Main Campus

Bachelor in Arts, Social Science Teacher Education

Domini

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Domini

Bachelor in Arts, Social Work
Domini's other Tutor Subjects
Admissions
Business
College Application Essays
Elementary School Reading

I am a life learner passionate about teaching people to grow. Grow their minds, skills, food and plants. My mission is life is to see people, place and things be better than I found them. I believe that it is my duty to contribute my skill and ability to the next generation.I am skilled Social Worke...

Education

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

Bachelor in Arts, Social Work

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Marlina

Elementary School Tutor • +18 Subjects

My mission is to provide an opportunity for every student I encounter to improve their academic performance with the assistance of my services. I find ways to take curriculum and present it in a meaningful manner that is captivating to the student.

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Marcus

Animation Tutor • +11 Subjects

I am a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. I received my Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts with a focus on Visual Design and Digital Media. Since high school, I've always been passionate about helping those around me to better understand the material being taught in class. Whether that was better using a tool such as photoshop or Unity in college, or teaching younger students at summer camps about color and drawing techniques. Since graduation, I have delved into the art and science of making video games, which I find to be as sophisticated and potent of an art form for storytelling as any novel, movie, or play. The best way to learn something is by doing it, but after that comes understanding why we do the things we do. With comprehension of our decision making, it allows us to confidently explore our options and experiment to great and sometimes even surprising success.

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Jadd

College English Tutor • +18 Subjects

I am a graduate of the writing program at Eckerd College under Sterling Watson, where I received an extensive education on everything from the nuts and bolts of word choices and sentence structure to the underlying philosophy behind good writing. In the years since, I have put my knowledge of writing to use in both a journalistic and marketing capacity, writing everything from news blurbs to product copy to editorials. I am an avid reader and have spent the better part of two decades absorbing new ideas about the craft of writing and refining my understanding of it. I also love sharing what I've gleaned to help others elevate their own abilities and writing development. At present, I work as the Digital Marketing Director for a youth education and personal empowerment company (for whom I either write or edit 99% of all company language and messaging), and I contribute to two online music sites as a creative outlet for my continued interest in music journalism.

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Ryan

Academic Coaching Tutor • +24 Subjects

Hello! I'm Ryan, and I'm dedicated to empowering you and your words as much as possible. I even got an English degree from Davidson College to back it up. I've also worked as a College Advisor, so I have experience filling out hundreds of FAFSAs and college applications, editing quite a bit of last-minute essays, and assisting students in the best strategies for the ACT/SAT. I hope to help you present and uncover all your truths!

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Sherman

Adult Literacy Tutor • +30 Subjects

I have been a teacher, tutor, and mentor most of my adult life. I have developed young people as a public and private school instructor, as an HRM corporate trainer, as a US Army Commander and command historian, as a performing arts studio owner, as a sports fitness trainer and as a special needs mentor and life coach. I am a parent and know the complexities of family life. My hobbies are many but currently I am grooming young musicians in how to function in jazz and rock bands as well as teaching them to play their instruments. I'm also learning how to grow grapes (with limited success).

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Sam

10th Grade Math Tutor • +86 Subjects

I am a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany. I graduated Cum Laude in May, 2013.I received my Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Philosophy. Since graduation, I have been coaching wrestling at a nearby high school, as well as serving at a local restaurant. I have been tutoring students since I was in high school, in subjects ranging from simple arithmetic to advanced calculus to SAT preparation. I have even tutored middle school and high school Spanish! My clients have ranged from middle school students to college students. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about mathematics. I have found that there is no correct way to tutor students, for every student has vastly different needs; therefore, I try to always teach in a way that specifically caters to each individual's specific needs. I strongly believe that a good education is key to a happy and successful life. Oftentimes, students just need the right person with the right teaching style for that education to be a fun, easy process. In my free time, I enjoy reading, working out, word and number games, and spending time with my friends and family.

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Claire

ACT Prep Tutor • +27 Subjects

A student at the University of North Texas dedicated to giving the best tutoring experience, coupled with high quality and fun learning! I am working towards a degree in biochemistry, and I have a passion for science and math! My tutoring style is to meet students where they are at, which means each tutoring session can vary based off of material, age, pace, learning style, or level of understanding. It is my promise to give each student a personalized, fun tutoring experience. In my free time, I love to read, play violin, and indulge in board and trivia games.

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Luke

Algebra Tutor • +16 Subjects

I believe one of the most important qualities a person can have is a continuing thirst for knowledge. This thirst isn't measured by grades on a test or how much trivia one can regurgitate or by IQ, but by the ability to think critically about the world - which begins with solid foundations in math, science, and language. Increasingly, as society continues exponentially towards automation and the global exchange of superfluous information, our roles will shift from simple workers to stewards of this growing library. In order to innovate for the future - to deconstruct arguments, reach rational conclusions and develop new ideas - students today will need the fundamental understanding that the giants before them developed.I'm grateful for all of the opportunities I had to enrich my own understanding and cement my passion for learning: patient, creative teachers, a welcoming environment, and people to challenge me. I hope to bring that very passion to every student I tutor, and to help them find ways to achieve whatever they set their minds to.

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Anna

ACT English Tutor • +20 Subjects

As a 2011 graduate of the Vanguard University education program, I have been teaching and tutoring experience in reading, writing, english, social sciences, and test prep.My favorite subjects to tutor are History and Writing. I get so excited about discovering the great stories of past events and people, and then passing that passion to my students. Whenever I teach essay-writing or creative writing, I can't wait to read all the creative ideas that my students surprise me with. There are so many simple tricks to writing amazing essays an stories that I love to share!Whenever I'm not teaching or planning fun activities and lessons, I can be found hiking, camping, watching one of my many favorite TV shows, practicing martial arts, attending comic conventions, traveling overseas, or reading comic books and novels.I believe every student can succeed. I love learning, and helping students to love it too. As a tutor I patiently use questioning strategies, while creating a safe learning learning environment for my students to take academic risks.

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Calista

Admissions Tutor • +23 Subjects

I believe that every student has the ability to learn at a high level. I believe that students just need to be lead in the direction to learn in the way that is best for them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of focused preparation, though the timeline depends on your starting point and study intensity. If you're struggling with foundational reading skills, you might need 8-12 weeks to build a strong base. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, tutors can identify your specific weak areas—whether that's vocabulary, inference questions, or time management—and target those directly, often accelerating improvement compared to self-study alone.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face on PCAT Reading. The section requires you to read complex passages quickly while retaining key details—a skill that improves with strategic practice. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who teach time-management techniques like previewing questions before reading, identifying main ideas efficiently, and knowing which question types typically take longer. They'll have you practice with timed drills and full passages to build speed without sacrificing accuracy.

PCAT Reading Comprehension passages cover diverse topics including sciences (biology, chemistry, health sciences), humanities, and social sciences. Each passage is 600-700 words, and you'll encounter 40 questions across multiple passages. The challenge isn't understanding the content—it's extracting relevant information quickly and answering questions that test comprehension, inference, and critical thinking. Tutors prepare you by teaching strategies specific to scientific vs. non-scientific passages, helping you recognize question patterns, and building familiarity with the test's unique question formats.

The best way to pinpoint weaknesses is through diagnostic practice tests and targeted question analysis. After completing practice passages, review not just wrong answers but also your reasoning—did you misread the question, make an incorrect inference, get distracted by timing, or struggle with specific vocabulary? Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who use this diagnostic approach to categorize your errors and create a focused study plan. They'll help you distinguish between careless mistakes and conceptual gaps, then address each differently.

An effective PCAT Reading tutor combines deep knowledge of the test format with strong teaching skills. They should understand common traps in PCAT questions, be able to teach inference and critical reasoning strategies, and—critically—help you manage test anxiety and build confidence. Look for someone who uses practice materials aligned with the actual PCAT, provides detailed feedback on your errors, and adapts their approach based on whether you need help with reading speed, comprehension, or question interpretation. They should also model strategic thinking, not just give you answers.

Most test prep experts recommend completing 20-30 full practice passages before test day, spread across your study timeline using spaced practice (reviewing material over time rather than cramming). This gives you enough repetition to recognize patterns, internalize strategies, and build endurance for the full section. Working with a tutor helps you use practice time efficiently—they'll identify which passages match your skill level, ensure you're reviewing mistakes, and adjust your practice focus as you improve rather than grinding through random questions.

Yes. Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure of your strategy, and personalized 1-on-1 instruction directly addresses both. When you practice with a tutor, you build confidence through repeated success, receive real-time feedback that reinforces your growing skills, and develop a reliable test-taking strategy you trust. Tutors also help you distinguish between productive nervousness (which keeps you focused) and counterproductive anxiety, teaching techniques like managed breathing, self-talk strategies, and ways to recover quickly if you get stuck on a difficult passage.

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