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Award-Winning Puzzles and Brainteasers Tutors
Certified Tutor
4+ years
Hassan
I am a medical school student of the Class of 2028 at New Jersey Medical School through being accepted
Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
3+ years
Emma
I am above all passionate about Computer Science, Mathematics, English, and the Arts.
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Jai
I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...
Stanford University
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Certified Tutor
Kate
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 ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Masters, Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...
Nova Southeastern University
PHD, Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, History
University of Pennsylvania
undergraduate
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rhea
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...
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
Erika
I am available to tutor middle and high school math, history and test prep. I have tutored math and history in the past and I previously taught a test prep course at a school in Hanoi, Vietnam. I have a lot of experience teaching all the need-to-know tricks to doing great on the SATS/ACTS! When I am...
Harvard University
Master of Public Policy, Public Policy
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Jeffrey
I am enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering PhD program at Rice University which will begin Fall 2020, and I am hoping to return to academia as a professor after earning my PhD. In the meantime, I am looking to share my passion for gaining knowledge, specifically in STEM, by educating the up and com...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science
Rice University
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering
Certified Tutor
Tony
I am a recent graduate of Yale University and incoming first year medical student at Columbia University. Originally from the DC area, I have always had a passion for science and medicine and pursued a degree in Biology while at Yale. During the 2008-2009 academic year, I tutored science, math, Engl...
Yale University
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Annie
I am currently a second year medical student. I was a Physiological Sciences major at UCLA (class of 2015), and pursued research during my gap year between undergrad and medical school.
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelors, Physiological Sciences
Drexel University College of Medicine
Current Grad Student, MD
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Samantha
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
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 students become confident and self-sufficient learners! Hobbies: photography, travel, reading, music, writing, running, art, books, traveling
MaryAnn
Calculus Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am a published author who has enjoyed “coaching” our daughter, as she navigated through high school, college and graduate school. I mentor college juniors who are seeking careers in financial services, and I serve as a peer resource to professionals who are transitioning from private industry to the nonprofit sector. Hobbies: reading, cooking, writing, books, music, art, travel
Samuel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a freshman at Caltech majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. My favorite subject to tutor is math because I find it very rewarding to simplify complex topics to aid in understanding. I have lots of tutoring experience. In high school, I ran and taught an SAT prep class and was vice president of my school's NHS chapter where I ran our tutoring program, and I, myself, tutored. I also was a teaching assistant in the summer of 2020 for a class in discrete mathematics through a program called PACT (Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking). I love learning and hope to make the process enjoyable for you!
Earnest
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +26 Subjects
I am comfortable with either setting. I'm confident that I can help you (or your student) achieve to the best of their ability, so please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Matthew
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +39 Subjects
I'm a highly creative person who works best with visual thinkers. Very recently graduated from Stanford University, I majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell Science. Technical though my background may be, I am currently gigging as a singer/songwriter/composer in NYC and tackle even the most hard-science of problems with a top-down, big-picture, holistic approach. If you have a propensity to look at problems in a cross- or inter-disciplinary manner (or want to learn how to do so), I'm the tutor for you!
Charles
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals! Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Sharon
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +29 Subjects
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, and I will be starting a graduate program at Columbia in August. I am about to complete a year of service with City Year, an education non-profit that places young adults into under-served schools. As a City Year member, I worked full-time in the classroom with middle-school students who were in approximately the 10th percentile for math (meaning they score lower than 90% of students). One-fourth of those students were able to grow around 15 percentile points by the end of the year! Hobbies: reading, cooking, gardening, music, art, nature, books, writing
Pinelopi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +25 Subjects
I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)
Tiffany
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +56 Subjects
I am available to tutor a broad range of subjects, I am passionate about test preparation, Accountancy, and Algebra.
Zachary
Trigonometry Tutor • +35 Subjects
I am passionate about teaching and tutoring and I thoroughly enjoy helping students gain an understanding and a drive for their studies. I have a long history of working with students of all grade levels and abilities (elementary school through college), and I have a good understanding of strategies to excel in both general academics and standardized tests.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Regular engagement with puzzles and brainteasers strengthens critical thinking, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning—skills that directly support performance in mathematics, science, and problem-solving across disciplines. Working through challenging puzzles also builds persistence and develops metacognitive awareness (the ability to reflect on your own thinking process), which research shows enhances overall academic performance. Students who develop strong puzzle-solving skills often show improved confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems, not just in puzzles but across their academic work.
In a classroom setting, puzzle instruction typically moves at a fixed pace that may not match individual learning speeds. With personalized tutoring, tutors can identify exactly where a student gets stuck—whether it's visualizing spatial relationships, breaking down multi-step logic puzzles, or recognizing patterns—and target instruction accordingly. Tutors can also tailor puzzle difficulty to maintain an optimal challenge level, which research shows is key to sustained engagement and deeper learning. This individualized approach means students spend less time on concepts they've mastered and more time building skills where they actually need support.
Many students struggle with patience and systematic approaches—jumping to conclusions rather than working through puzzles methodically. Others have difficulty visualizing spatial relationships or rotating objects mentally, which is essential for geometry-based puzzles. Some students also get discouraged by initial failure and give up before developing the resilience that puzzle-solving requires. Additionally, students often don't recognize underlying patterns or principles that connect different puzzle types, so they approach each puzzle as a completely new problem rather than building a toolkit of strategies.
Elementary students typically start with concrete puzzles like simple jigsaw puzzles, pattern completion, and logic grids that develop foundational spatial and deductive reasoning. Middle school students progress to Sudoku, more complex spatial reasoning puzzles, and introductory logic problems. High school students work with advanced brainteasers, cryptarithmetic puzzles, mathematical logic problems, and competition-style puzzles that require multi-step reasoning. The progression follows natural cognitive development—moving from visual and concrete thinking toward abstract reasoning. Tutors ensure students work at their appropriate level while building toward increasingly sophisticated problem-solving strategies.
Yes. Tutors help students develop the specific strategies and pattern recognition skills needed for competitions like MATHCOUNTS, Science Olympiad, or local puzzle competitions. Beyond learning puzzle types, tutors teach time-management strategies, how to eliminate wrong answers efficiently, and how to recognize which approach will work fastest for different puzzle categories. They also help students build confidence and reduce test anxiety, which significantly impacts competition performance. With targeted practice on competition-style puzzles and feedback on strategy, students typically show measurable improvement in both speed and accuracy.
Progress can be tracked through multiple metrics: solving time (completing similar puzzles faster), accuracy (fewer mistakes on specific puzzle types), consistency (successfully solving harder variations), and strategy sophistication (using more efficient approaches). Many tutors use benchmark puzzles at the start and periodically throughout tutoring to show concrete improvement. Students often notice personal outcomes too—increased confidence tackling unfamiliar problems, greater willingness to attempt challenging puzzles, and the ability to explain their reasoning. Competition results, if applicable, provide another clear measure of progress.
Expert tutors in this area combine strong problem-solving skills with the ability to break down their thinking process so students can learn the underlying strategies. They understand different puzzle categories deeply and can recognize which approaches work best for different problem types. Great tutors are also patient and curious—they ask probing questions to understand why a student chose a particular approach, rather than just correcting answers. They create a supportive environment where struggling with a puzzle is seen as valuable learning, not failure. Finally, they continuously introduce new puzzle types and challenge levels to keep students engaged while building their problem-solving toolkit.
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