Award-Winning SSAT- Upper Level Tutors

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Award-Winning SSAT- Upper Level Tutors

Arthur

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Arthur

Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Arthur's other Tutor Subjects
Statistics
Middle School Math
Geometry
Calculus

I am available to tutor in a broad range of subjects, though I am most passionate about Economics, History, and Civics. Please feel free to contact me and I would be happy to arrange a session.

Education

Middlebury College

Bachelor in Arts, Economics

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1490
ACT
36
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36
Julia

Certified Tutor

Julia

Bachelors, English & Linguistics
Julia's other Tutor Subjects
10th-11th Grade math
10th-11th Grade Writing
10th-11th Grade Reading
Pre-Algebra

I am a recent college graduate currently pursuing a career in publishing in New York City. My interest in tutoring and the publishing industry stem from the same source: I want to help instill in others the same love of learning I have felt throughout my life. Whether it's getting lost in a good boo...

Education

The College of William & Mary

Bachelors, English & Linguistics

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600
John

Certified Tutor

16+ years

John

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
John's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Middle School Math
Geometry

I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.

Education

University of St Thomas

Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Associates, Acting

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1420
ACT
36
Emily

Certified Tutor

8+ years

Emily

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Emily's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
AP Biology

I am currently a fourth year medical student in Indianapolis. I completed my undergraduate education at Indiana University Bloomington, where I majored in Biology and Spanish. I also completed two minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. While at IU, I worked for the Department of Mathematics and Depart...

Education

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis

Doctor of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine

Test Scores
SAT
1480
ACT
35
Max

Certified Tutor

Max

Bachelors, Biology, General
Max's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am in the process now of applying for PhD programs in Computational Biology. I have done research in the field of freshwater ecology and am anticipating the publication of a paper I co-authored in the next several months.

Education

Ball State University

Bachelors, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1580
ACT
36
Vansh

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Vansh

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering
Vansh's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

I am currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am also a graduate of the high school International Baccalaureate Program. I have informal experience tutoring high school physics, but am most passionate about tutoring students for the...

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1520
ACT
36
Conor

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Conor

Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Conor's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
SAT Reading
SAT Writing and Language

I am currently a medical student in Philadelphia, and have a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University. I have several years of experience tutoring SAT students, but thanks to my mixed background I have proficiency in a wide range of subjects including mathematics, biological scie...

Education

Stony Brook University

Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering

Drexel University

Doctor of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences

Test Scores
SAT
1560
Samantha

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Samantha

Current Grad Student, MD
Samantha's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra
Algebra 3/4
Geometry

I'm a first-year medical student and recent graduate from Duke University, where I studied Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions. From running a piano program at a nonprofit children's theatre to private tutoring in math, science, and standardized test prep, I enjoy helping my stu...

Education

Duke University

Bachelors in Global Health Determinants, Behaviors, and Interventions

Harvard Medical School

Current Grad Student, MD

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1600
ACT
36
Anya

Certified Tutor

Anya

Master of Arts, Fashion Studies
Anya's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
PSAT Writing Skills

I am a graduate of the MA Fashion Studies program at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, having previously studied linguistics and foreign languages (concentrating in Russian and French) at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and at McGill University in Montreal. I currently serve...

Education

The New School

Master of Arts, Fashion Studies

Test Scores
SAT
1560

Meet Our Expert Tutors

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

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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Elena

Calculus Tutor • +23 Subjects

I am a second year law student at the University of Chicago who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area! I tutor the SAT, ESL, and Spanish. I was an AVID tutor in high school, and after college I taught an ESL class and tutored a high school student in Spanish. In law school, I am involved with the Lawyers in the Classroom program. My tutoring philosophy is based on listening to students work through problems and helping them to spot their confusions or incorrect assumptions. I believe students learn much better when they aren't simply told the right answer or right reasoning; they need to get there on their own.

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Min

AP Calculus BC Tutor • +24 Subjects

I'm a motivated and enthusiastic engineer with a drive to always continue learning, share knowledge with others and inspire. Hobbies: writing, reading, cooking, music, art, books

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Alex

AP Calculus BC Tutor • +31 Subjects

I'm a junior in chemical engineering at ASU Barrett and I specialize in math and physics tutoring. If you need help with any of your math subjects or have trouble with physics and chemistry I'm the one to call. I love working with students and each and everybody's success is my top priority.

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Ken

Pre-Algebra Tutor • +34 Subjects

I am a Wake Forest University graduate with a degree in Psychology, and I am currently pursuing a career as a physical therapist.

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Kate

AP Calculus BC Tutor • +53 Subjects

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When I'm not working or studying, I love playing volleyball (indoors or on the beach!) and spending time outside, canoeing or hiking with my dog. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

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Chelain

Calculus Tutor • +14 Subjects

I am currently a resident physician at Northwestern Hospital.

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Suzanne

Calculus Tutor • +24 Subjects

I am currently working on a Master of Arts in Philosophy at Georgia State University, where I serve as a teaching assistant and writing consultant. I currently tutor in the areas of test preparation, government, philosophy, and religious studies. My passion for education stems from the joy I find in helping students achieve their goals. My teaching style involves asking lots of strategic questions to help students discover answers for themselves, a process which my students typically find quite empowering. Still, I recognize that each student has unique needs, questions, and learning styles, so I strive to listen first and then craft individualized plans to meet each student's particular objectives. In my spare time I like to get outside hiking, playing soccer, or volunteering at my church's community garden. I also enjoy reading, watching football, and cooking.

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Anna

Calculus Tutor • +34 Subjects

I'm Anna! I'm currently a student in the MD/MBA program between Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management, and graduated from Northwestern University as part of the Honors Program in Medical Education. I attended the Bergen County Academies in New Jersey, a selective, application-based magnet school, for high school.

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Satvik

AP Statistics Tutor • +68 Subjects

I am an incoming college sophomoore studying Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I was one of the top scholars at Carmel High School in Indiana and have various experiences teaching and tutoring through leading the Carmel High School Science Olympiad team to Nationals for two years in a row. Many of my friends consistently come to me for help with various subjects because of my willingness to help and teach in a way that makes sense to everyone. My specialities are physics, chemistry, math, and economics but I am comfortable tutoring any STEM subject, the SAT, and the ACT. Some of my accomplishments include a perfect 36 ACT score, 800 on the Physics, Math Level 2, and Chemistry SAT subject tests, and a 5 on all the physics, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Macroeconomics, Computer Science, etc. AP exams. When teaching, I focus on making sure that not only do students understand different concepts, but also that students understand why and practical applications of the different concepts. As a recent high school graduate, I have a deep understanding of how high-schoolers think, what is covered in various courses now, and can connect with my students a lot more. Additionally, as an undergraduate teaching assistant at the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, I taught weekly recitation sections of 30 students and held weekly office hours. Therefore, I have lots of experience teaching and working with students.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Score improvement depends on your starting point and commitment level, but most students see meaningful gains within 8-12 weeks of consistent practice and personalized instruction. Students typically improve by 100-200+ percentile points, though the exact amount varies based on your baseline score and target schools.

The key is identifying which sections are holding you back—whether that's reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, or verbal skills—and developing targeted strategies to address those weaknesses rather than studying everything equally.

Pacing is one of the biggest challenges students face on the SSAT Upper Level, especially in the quantitative section where complex problems can eat up valuable time. The strategy isn't to rush—it's to recognize which questions are within your skill level and solve those first, then attempt harder problems if time allows.

A tutor can help you practice timed sections systematically, teaching you how to quickly identify question difficulty, skip strategically, and allocate your 25-30 minutes per section effectively. With practice tests as part of your preparation, you'll develop an intuitive sense of your pace.

Many students make the mistake of trying to memorize every detail in the passage. Instead, effective SSAT reading requires active reading where you identify the main idea, author's purpose, and tone while skimming for specific details. Questions often test inference and understanding of structure rather than fact recall.

A personalized approach involves learning which question types appear most frequently on your test, practicing active annotation techniques, and working through passages under timed conditions. Your tutor can show you how to spot common question patterns and avoid the answer traps the test makers set for students who read too quickly or miss nuance.

The quantitative section tests a mix of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems, and most students have uneven mastery across these topics. Rather than spending equal time on everything, you need to pinpoint exactly where your gaps are—whether it's algebraic reasoning, geometry concepts, or translating word problems into equations.

Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who use diagnostic practice tests to map your specific weaknesses, then focus instruction on those areas while maintaining your strengths. This targeted approach is far more efficient than generic test prep and leads to faster score improvement.

The essay section isn't about writing a perfect composition—it's about demonstrating clear thinking, organization, and voice under pressure. Graders focus on whether you understood the prompt, developed your ideas logically, and wrote with clarity and grammar appropriate for your grade level.

The best preparation involves writing multiple timed essays (usually 25 minutes), learning to brainstorm quickly, and getting feedback on your structure and argumentation. A tutor can help you develop a reliable essay template that works for different prompts, manage your time so you have time to proofread, and build confidence in expressing ideas clearly.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about strategies. The best antidote is confidence built through practice—working through dozens of real SSAT questions and full practice tests before test day so nothing surprises you.

Beyond preparation, you can develop specific coping strategies like pacing yourself deliberately, reminding yourself that it's okay to skip difficult questions, and practicing deep breathing during your prep. Many tutors work with students on the mental side of test-taking, helping you shift from perfectionism (every question matters) to strategic thinking (getting questions right that you can get right).

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation, though this varies based on your starting level and target schools. Students aiming for top independent schools (90th percentile+) typically need more intensive work than those aiming for solid performance.

Rather than counting hours, what matters more is consistent, focused practice 3-4 times per week with a mix of concept review, targeted question practice, and full practice tests. Your tutor can help you create a personalized study plan based on your baseline score, timeline, and specific weak areas, ensuring you're making efficient use of your preparation time.

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