Award-Winning ACT Residual
Tutors
Award-Winning
ACT Residual
Tutors
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

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

I am a recent grad from Georgia Tech, majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering (an intersection of math, computer science, and business) and minoring in Business and Technology. I am originally from Columbus, OH, but chose to come down to Atlanta after getting a full-ride scholarship from Georgia Tech. In my spare time, I love playing/watching sports and travelling around the world (when possible!).
I am currently a resident physician at Northwestern Hospital.
I'm a current medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine with undergraduate degrees from Washington and Lee in chemical engineering and anthropology. I have extensive experience in tutoring and teaching since 2010, and am ready to help you with your learning needs! I focus on standardized testing (SAT/ACT) and also tutor in a wide range of math, English, and Spanish classes. In my free time, I like to run, do CrossFit, volunteer, and watch TV!
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.
I am currently a 4th year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine and previously graduated from Rice University, Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science and Biochemistry & Cell Biology. I have served on admissions interview committees for Rice and Baylor College of Medicine, have mentored and edited essays for numerous college and graduate school applicants, and served as a private tutor and classroom instructor for Advanced Biology and Chemistry courses for 3+ years.
I am happy to accommodate and work with learners on the spectrum.
I am a Neuroscience and Behavior major at Columbia University. Although my major is centered in the STEM field, I am also passionate about human rights work, global engagement, and local outreach. While my future plans are subject to change, I see myself continuing in academia, going to medical school, and becoming a physician.
I'm eager to teach students how to make connections and understand any part of the world they need!
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tutor for both Math and Spanish programs in high school and enjoyed the strides I made with students. I am willing to tutor any subject I have a background in, but am strong in mathematics, the sciences, Spanish, history, writing, and ACT prep. I enjoy teaching mathematics most due to the joy I can see in children once they master a topic and can answer even pointed questions meant to stump them, and maybe even put their knowledge to real world use. As a tutor, I like to give a strong foundation to orient my student, and then gradually grant them more freedom and independence until they can feel themselves grasp the concept, pointing out pitfalls or common errors along the way; teachers who used these methods on me always left the most lasting impressions. Outside of my studies, I really enjoy listening to music, both old favorites and new interests, reading classics, and gaming/playing basketball with my friends.
I am available to tutor a range of middle school and high school subjects, but I am most excited about tutoring test prep. I remember how stressful preparing for college can be and I am eager to do my part in helping students fulfill their college goals. I believe that learning is a collaborative process and I am committed to being as actively involved in the student's learning as I can. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, going to the movies (I try to see each Oscar nominee before the ceremony every year.), and am a huge Michigan sports fan.
I am a Yale graduate with over 8 years experience tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds. I recently graduated from the Yale School of Public Health with a MPH concentrating in Epidemiology and Global Health. I also received my B.S. from Yale with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and French. I have experience both leading group classes and working with students one on one. I will respond to a student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning style in order to help them succeed and make the most of our time together. I earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, 2280 on the SAT, and qualified as a National Merit Scholar on the PSAT. I look forward to working with you!
I am currently studying chemical engineering at the University of Michigan. I have always helped out my fellow students with schoolwork, and I have tutored in the National Honor Society for three years. My tutoring strengths include my abilities to stay calm, be patient, and offer different perspectives on the learning process. I do not just help my students learn the material, but I also teach them how to learn it. I tutor math and test prep courses. Outside of school and tutoring, I play the piano. I have played classical piano for 13 years and jazz piano for 7.
I'm a rising junior at Columbia University studying English literature and computer science. I'm excited to begin my first summer working with Varsity Tutors! My strongest tutoring areas include ACT test prep, algebra and calculus I, computer science (Java and C) and building reading and writing skills (including essay assignments). I have experience tutoring and mentoring middle school and high school students. My tutoring style is relaxed but efficient; I always try to keep the material interesting and focus on the big picture over minutiae. When I'm not tutoring, I occupy my time by reading, swimming, playing tennis, eating Chipotle, and finding new music.
I am a math enthusiast who is passionate about helping students gain confidence and achieve. I began tutoring other students in middle school and continued throughout high school. I believe all students have the potential to understand math, but they can be intimated or have trouble finding the learning method that works for them. With my extensive experience tutoring students of various age groups through different mediums, I have seen how my emphasis on building a strong foundation and understanding how concepts/formulas work, patience, and encouragement helped students see math in an approachable manner. I participated and scored well in various math competitions throughout high school. Additionally, I am experienced in high school standardized test preparation. I am also a native Mandarin speaker.
I am a current first-year honors student at Northeastern University pursuing a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in History, Culture, and Law. I am a youth activist and have experience working for campaigns and elected officials and am particularly passionate about mental health, climate change prevention, and LGBTQ+ rights. I have done private tutoring for the past three years with students in Elementary, Middle, and High School in a variety of school subjects including but not limited to Math, History, and Writing/Grammar. I am passionate about education and want to use my skillset and knowledge to help other students achieve their best selves. I'm from Denver, Colorado, and currently live in Boston and love to read, watch sitcoms and, of course, tutor my students.
I'm experienced in and passionate about (especially computer skills, Python, and math) with others. I try to convey the principles and thought process that are the basis of my own understanding of the subject, not just rules to follow or things to memorize. Being able to explain your answer is even more important than simply getting it right! My tutoring style is personalized, with plenty of examples and frequent knowledge checks to ensure I and my student(s) are in sync. In my spare time I enjoy cycling, skiing, woodworking, reading, and vacationing to Lake Superior.
I am a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor's of Science in mathematics and computer science, and a current graduate student at the University of Illinois in mathematics. I am most passionate about mathematics, and I love helping others learn and master the subject. In the past, I have tutored Calculus 1 and 2 and helped prepare students for the ACT. However, I am available to tutor any math subject as well as computer science. In my free time, I enjoy reading philosophy, going on bike rides, and discussion.
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received my Masters in Mild to Moderate Disabilities from Simmons College. I have worked extensively with students with a range of abilities, including students with specific learning disabilities, emotional impairments, dyslexia, and ADHD. My teaching experience has given me a deep understanding of the knowledge and habits essential to academic success and has given me the opportunity to hone a variety of strategies that ensure students at each level can achieve their academic goals. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, my favorite ones are Reading, Elementary/Middle School Math, History, and Test Prep. In my experience, tutoring is the most rewarding when a student has that "aha!" moment and achieves a new level of understanding and confidence in his/her abilities. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of education, and I see my role to be that of a facilitator and coach who is there to help the student reach his/her goals through individualized support and rigorous practice. In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, practicing my Spanish, and discovering new music. I am also an avid traveler and just got back from a 3 month trip to South America. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!
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 Department of Spanish. I also worked as a Peer Tutor for the IU Athletics Department, tutoring in several subjects including statistics, chemistry, physics, and Spanish. I graduated from college with a 4.0, and I entered medical school shortly thereafter. Since coming to medical school, I have excelled in all of my pre-clinical coursework, and I currently rank in the Top 20% of my class. I feel very comfortable and confident tutoring other students in a variety of subjects from math and science to Spanish. I like to think that the same techniques I have used to excel in all phases of my education can be easily adapted to other students and help you achieve your academic goals, just as I have!
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 subjects as well as tutoring private clients in Standardized Test preparation. Given that I graduated high school recently, I have taken several Standardized Tests and high school subjects myself, so I have a comprehensive understanding of not only how to tutor these subjects and exams, but also what it is like to take them. While I have a wide range of interests and am able to tutor various subjects, I am most passionate about tutoring in Standardized Test preparation (including ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams), Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Spanish. I truly believe that students should have the opportunity to learn in the way that works best for them, and I love being able to help them succeed by creating a comfortable tutoring environment in which we can best assess their particular needs and use strategies specific to them. My passion for learning drives everything that I do, and tutoring is the platform that I use to try to spread that passion to others. In my free time, you can find me playing badminton, listening to music, or baking something (hopefully) delicious.
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 ACT standardized test, having had extensive experience preparing for standardized tests throughout high school. I am eager to aid students in boosting their scores before their upcoming college applications, an important milestone in many students' lives. In my free time, I also enjoy playing tennis.
I am a 2019 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where I received a dual degree BFA in Vocal Performance and BA in Creative Writing. I also achieved a GPA of 3.92, 3 semesters on the Dean's List, induction into Phi Beta Kappa as well as Sigma Tau Delta (the English honors society) and Pi Kappa Lambda (the Music honors society), Carnegie Mellon University Honors, and Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors. I graduated Bloomfield Hills High School with a 3.96 GPA in 2015, and was a National Merit Finalist as well as a Presidential Scholarship candidate, thanks to my top test scores.
I am a rising sophomore at Cornell University, studying Human Biology, Health and Society. I am on the premed track and am pursuing a minor in South Asian Studies. I was born in India and grew up in Singapore and Buffalo, NY, where I currently live. This past semester, I tutored middle and high school students in math, biology, and chemistry in Ithaca. I also particularly enjoy tutoring for standardized tests such as the ACT, as I feel it is where students are able to make a lot of progress quickly, and it also tends to be the most rewarding for both the students and for me! As someone who loves making organized and detailed plans, I believe having a clear set of goals for one's future is the key to success, and this can be applied to anything, from a single test to one's entire career. I would love to help my students with setting goals and making plans in their high school and/or college careers, in addition to tutoring a specific subject! In college, I am most involved with Cornell's Hindu Student Council and SPICMACAY, an Indian classical music and dance organization. Outside of academia, I sing South Indian classical music and play many different genres of the piano.
I am a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology and am working towards a major in Computer Engineering. I have been tutoring students of all ages and backgrounds in various math topics ranging from elementary school math to AP Calculus throughout high school. I love teaching math and always find it amazing to watch my students grow and improve in their mathematical abilities. While helping students with standardized testing, we go through several tricks and tactics that have helped my students succeed and have fun in the process. I am also well versed in Physics and have spent 3 years taking the highest levels of physics courses. I love playing all sports (especially soccer) and enjoy playing the guitar in my free time as well.
I am excited to help anyone who might need it!
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 them for college in the United States.
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.
I am an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis majoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology on the Premed track. I have two years worth of experience peer tutoring. I feel the most confident tutoring ACT preparation. During my time as a high school student, I worked from an ACT score of 25 to a 36 and developed many effective strategies that I will tailor to the students I tutor and understand the ins and outs of the test. In addition to working with high school peers, I have also enjoyed teaching private piano and violin lessons for elementary students. Helping people knock down their roadblocks is a passion of mine. Standardized tests and basic education may feel removed from our passions, but developing those foundations are essential for opening up opportunities and becoming capable of taking on our pursuits.
I am a 2023 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Finance/Economics major and a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I am a passionate student in the math and business realms, as I enjoy the intuitiveness of the former and the real-world potential of the latter. During classes in middle and high school, I developed a reputation of being a good source of help within my classes in a non-tutor capacity, and grew that into a peer tutor role a couple times a week during lunch my senior year of high school. What I hope to accomplish with my tutoring is ensure that you not only achieve your desired grade/score, but see how the different concepts relate to each other in the bigger picture. The more important part is to critically think about the subject matter in other, more unfamiliar contexts. Also, in my math subjects, I seek to provide personal secrets in realms including quicker computation strategies, unique acronyms for certain rules, and other intuitive shortcuts.
I am a student at Cornell University pursuing a double major in Biological Sciences, concentrating in computational biology, and Computer Science. I have tutored math, biology, physics, and French to middle school and high school students. I have also facilitated group discussion sessions for English language learners. I love learning new things and helping others understand these concepts as well.
I am no longer needed.
I'm a sophomore at Vanderbilt University studying computer science, currently focusing on iOS and game development. I like growing as a person, but I find it much more interesting and rewarding to grow other people. Seeing a student change, not in intellect but in perspective, is fascinating. I like to focus more on concepts rather than memorization so that students will have the tools to excel in any facet of academia, beyond some random test that holds too much significance.
I'm Lizz, a middle school math teacher working in Chicago Public Schools. I love to see students go from describing themselves as "not a math person" to feeling like they meet exciting challenges in math and other parts of their lives. Even though I love working in the classroom, I feel like tutoring allows me to make more of an impact and connect with students.
I am a current sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I am majoring in Biology as part of the 7 Year Accelerated Medical Program. I am also minoring in Healthcare Economics and Policy. My favorite subjects in school are Chemistry, Biology, and Math, but I also enjoy the process of writing and editing thought provoking essays. During high school, I spent time tutoring for the National Honor Society. My approach to tutoring is to teach the concepts in a simplistic manner and reinforcing the concepts while adding difficulty through effective practice problems. In my free time, I have recently found myself reading, working out, drawing, and spending time with my siblings.
I'm a first-year med student at Pitt Med. I graduated from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts with a BS in Biology this past May. As much as I love medicine and the hard sciences, most of my tutoring experience is in general ACT prep, in addition to academic and creative writing, middle school math and reading, and high school and college math. Some of my favorite all-time classes were medical sociology in college and AP US Government and Politics in high school. Through Tufts, I taught English as a second language (3 semesters) and citizenship exam prep (1 semester) to Hispanic immigrants and refugees, which taught me a lot about how to gauge students' understanding, teach tough subjects, plan activities, provide flashcards and the best possible study materials, and make the most of the students' time. I love tutoring because I know how much a tutor's patience one-on-one can make the difference. I love sharing my study tips and test-taking strategies so they can study efficiently and make the best use of their time to get that desired result. I want students to feel heard and supported and help them find methods best suited to them. I want to help students enjoy learning and find more confidence in themselves through mastering tough subject matter.
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.
I'm a college student attending the University of Michigan and I'm majoring in chemistry and computer science. I have two years of extensive experience tutoring high schoolers in chemistry and all subjects of the SAT and ACT. I can also say that I understand completely how difficult the process of test prep and high school chemistry can be because I recently survived the whole process myself having taken IB chem and the ACT/SAT in the last 1-2 years and studying and prepping extensively for them. That being said, I'm always super eager not just to tutor students in those subjects, but also to offer the best advice and guidance I can in tackling those challenges as a high schooler and as someone planning for college. I believe it's super important as a tutor not just to spoon-feed answers but to teach how to problem-solve, so I take care to solidify our understanding of the methods to approach a problem. Most of all, I try to be as flexible and communicative as possible.
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ACT Residual refers to the gap between a student's predicted ACT score (based on their PSAT or prior test performance) and their actual ACT score. This residual—the difference between expected and actual results—often reveals specific skill gaps or test-taking inefficiencies that weren't apparent before. Students seek help with ACT Residual when they're underperforming relative to their abilities, which typically points to issues like pacing problems, misunderstanding question formats, or anxiety that impacts performance on test day.
The most frequent culprits are timing mismanagement (running out of time on Reading or Science sections), careless errors on easier questions due to rushing, and difficulty with specific question types that require different strategies than classroom learning. Many students also struggle with the Science section's unique format—which tests reasoning more than content knowledge—and the Reading section's dense passages and compressed time limits. Test anxiety and unfamiliarity with the exact phrasing of ACT questions can also cause capable students to score lower than expected.
Tutors start by analyzing your practice test results and comparing predicted vs. actual scores to pinpoint which sections and question types are causing the gap. They then use targeted practice with timed drills, teach section-specific strategies (like the "paired passages" technique for Reading or the "data representation" approach for Science), and help you practice under test-like conditions to build stamina and confidence. Regular feedback on your pacing, careless mistakes, and strategy execution helps close the gap between what you're capable of and what you're actually scoring.
Many students with negative residuals lose points simply by spending too long on difficult questions early in a section, leaving no time for easier questions later. Tutors teach strategic allocation—like spending less time on Science passages you can't understand and more on the data-based questions, or skipping the hardest Reading passages initially and returning to them. Practicing with strict time limits on individual question types helps you internalize a realistic pace, and learning which questions to attempt vs. skip strategically can often recover 2-4 points without improving your actual knowledge.
The Reading and Science sections are the biggest culprits because they require both speed and accuracy in unfamiliar formats. Reading's dense passages and rapid-fire questions trip up students who read too carefully or get lost in details, while Science's emphasis on data interpretation (rather than content recall) surprises students expecting a traditional science test. Math can also show a residual gap when students rush through easier problems or misread what's being asked. Tutors focus heavily on these sections because improving your approach to them often yields the largest score gains.
Closing a residual gap typically requires 4-8 weeks of focused, targeted practice rather than generic test prep. Most effective schedules include 2-3 tutoring sessions per week combined with 5-7 hours of independent practice, with heavy emphasis on timed section drills and full practice tests every 1-2 weeks to track progress. The key is practicing strategically—drilling your weak question types repeatedly, taking full tests under timed conditions to build stamina, and reviewing every single mistake to understand the pattern behind it. This focused approach usually yields 2-5 point improvements, which directly reflects the residual gap closing.
Test anxiety often manifests as a negative residual because anxiety causes rushed decisions, careless errors on questions you'd normally get right, and difficulty focusing during the timed sections—especially the grueling Science section. Tutors help by building confidence through repeated exposure to test conditions in low-stakes practice, teaching concrete strategies (like the "mark and move" technique) that reduce decision paralysis, and helping you distinguish between "I don't know this" and "I'm panicking." Many students find that mastering pacing and strategy reduces anxiety naturally, since much of test-day stress comes from feeling out of control.
If your residual is primarily due to timing, strategy, or careless errors rather than content gaps, you can typically improve 2-5 points by closing it—which translates to moving from underperforming relative to your ability back to performing as expected. Some students see larger gains (5-8 points) if their residual reveals multiple fixable issues across sections. However, if your residual is small (1-2 points), you're likely already performing close to your potential, and further improvement requires deeper content review. A tutor can assess your specific residual and give you realistic expectations based on its root causes.
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