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Award-Winning COMPASS Writing Skills Tutors

Certified Tutor
Molly
Two distinguished theses and years of classroom teaching across grades 2–4 gave Molly a deep familiarity with the mechanics of clear writing — comma usage, subject-verb agreement, sentence boundaries — which are exactly what the COMPASS Writing Skills section tests. She approaches each question type...
Northwestern University
Master of Science in Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, History

Certified Tutor
Christopher
Strong sentence structure and clear argumentation are what the COMPASS Writing Skills section really tests, and Christopher treats it that way — drilling punctuation rules, subject-verb agreement, and rhetorical organization until they become second nature. His own writing background, from college e...
Harvard College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Dylan
The COMPASS Writing Skills section tests grammar mechanics and sentence structure under time pressure, which means students need to spot errors in agreement, punctuation, and organization quickly. Dylan's background in policy writing — where clarity and precision are non-negotiable — translates dire...
Cornell University
Bachelors, Policy Analysis and Management

Certified Tutor
Danelle
A PhD in Cognitive Psychology might seem unrelated to a grammar-focused placement test, but Danelle's doctoral training involved years of precise academic writing and editing — skills that map directly onto the comma splices, subject-verb errors, and rhetorical organization questions the COMPASS Wri...
Ohio State University-Main Campus
PHD, Cognitive Psychology
Denison University
Bachelor in Arts, Psychology

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Jackie
Between serving as a TA at Michigan's Ross School of Business and editing application essays, cover letters, and research papers in both English and Spanish, Jackie has spent years catching the exact kinds of grammar and punctuation errors the COMPASS Writing Skills section targets. She teaches stud...
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Bachelor in Business Administration, Business, General

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Lucy
Three years at the Yale College Writing Center meant Lucy edited hundreds of papers across every discipline, sharpening her instinct for sentence-level clarity, logical organization, and grammatical precision — exactly what the COMPASS Writing Skills test measures. She breaks each question type down...
Yale College
Bachelors, English

Certified Tutor
9+ years
Samantha
Studying neuropsychology at Princeton means Samantha writes dense research papers where every sentence has to survive faculty scrutiny — sloppy comma placement or a dangling modifier gets flagged immediately. She channels that academic writing discipline into COMPASS Writing Skills prep, teaching te...
Princeton University
Current Undergrad Student, Psychology

Certified Tutor
8+ years
Mia
Between writing papers on theology and performing comedy, Mia spends a lot of time thinking about how language works — when a sentence lands, when punctuation changes meaning, and when structure falls apart. That instinct for clear, precise writing maps directly onto the COMPASS Writing Skills secti...
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts, Religious Studies

Certified Tutor
9+ years
The COMPASS Writing Skills section tests grammar and sentence structure in context, asking students to spot errors in punctuation, subject-verb agreement, and paragraph organization within full passages. Robin teaches these conventions as a set of clear, learnable rules rather than gut instinct, dra...
University of Queensland
Masters, Medicine
Brown University
Bachelors, Biology, General

Certified Tutor
10+ years
The COMPASS Writing Skills section tests whether students can spot errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and usage under time pressure. John's graduate-level training in linguistics gives him a deep understanding of English mechanics that goes well beyond memorized rules, and he breaks down eac...
Rice University
Masters, Linguistics
Texas A & M University-College Station
Bachelors, French
Top 20 Test Prep Subjects
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Clare
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +30 Subjects
I am excited to tailor each and every session to a particular student's needs and preferred method of learning.
Rithi
AP Statistics Tutor • +158 Subjects
I am now a medical student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Arianna
12th Grade math Tutor • +277 Subjects
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 from French to Essay Writing and Algebra to Chemistry! I want my students and tutees to see the value in themselves and know that they can accomplish anything with determination and hard work! Realizing you can do it is half the battle and working hard to bring that dream to fruition is the other half! Hobbies: reading, music, writing, painting, art, books, photography
Nicole
Calculus Tutor • +74 Subjects
I am currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program at Nova Southeastern University, and I received my B.A. in English with a minor in Spanish from the University of Miami in 2016. I am a native speaker of English and Russian. Throughout the course of my education, I have helped my fellow students improve their analytical and writing skills through collaboration. I am able to tutor a broad range of subjects, including standardized test preparation, English literature up to the college level, essay and academic writing and grammar, Russian and Spanish language skills. Having scored in the top percentiles on the verbal and essay writing sections of standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE, I also possess the perspective and expertise to help others excel on these and similar exams. I am passionate about empowering students to achieve their full potential through education, and I strongly believe tutoring can be a valuable tool for any student's academic growth. In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafting, and journaling.
Jennifer
Middle School Math Tutor • +93 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of the University of Alabama, where I got my Bachelor of Arts in Communications, and majored in public relations and English. I recently moved to the Atlanta area to begin an exciting job as a digital media specialist! I have six years of tutoring experience, especially in English, grammar, writing, general study skills, and essay planning.
Emily
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +55 Subjects
I am a graduate student at Columbia University, working towards Masters degrees in Public Health and Social Work. I am a graduate of Brandeis University with Bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Science. I have been teaching students ages 9 and up for approximately 8 years, and I would love to help you reach your academic potential! My favorite subjects to tutor are reading comprehension, environmental science, and essay-writing.
Naomi
9th Grade math Tutor • +141 Subjects
I am happy to tutor for Varsity Tutors. I study English literature and philosophy, so reading and writing are my strongest suits, but I am glad to help in any of my listed subjects. Please send me a message to let me know how I can be of assistance!
Alexandra
Middle School Math Tutor • +182 Subjects
I am a rising senior at The University of North Texas in Denton. I am working towards my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish as well as English with a concentration in Creative Writing. I was raised in an academically competitive environment in Fort Bend County and my rigorous secondary education prepared me for success in college. I am a fortunate member of the Terry Scholarship Foundation, which has provided me and hundreds of other Texans with a private, four-year, full-ride scholarship. As a Terry Scholar, I am well-versed in all subjects and have taken on the role of mentor to many of the incoming freshmen. I have spent most of my free time in college as a nanny and tutor to families around the DFW area. I have experience with all age groups and there is nothing that intimidates me! While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about English, Literature, History, Spanish, and Government/Social Studies. Through my experiences helping struggling students and peers, I have realized the value of adaptability. Most people reach out to a tutor because the traditional classroom method is not best suited for their learning needs. There is nothing more joyful than when a student finally understands the material in a way that makes sense to them. Many times, students need flexibility and patience in order to grasp a foreign concept. I am a firm believer in the power of education and I hope to share my love of learning with all of my students. After graduation I plan on returning to Houston to obtain my Master of Arts in Teaching from Rice University. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and writing anything from poetry to screenplays. I have also been involved in competitive dance for most of my adolescence, so I understand the balance of academics and extracurriculars. Hobbies: reading, music, writing, art, books, dancing, yoga
Breanna
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +69 Subjects
I'm a lifelong educator, former professor and counselor who believes in the importance of fostering and cultivating individual strengths and interests in order to address areas of need.
Chloe
Calculus Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am Chloe, and I am passionate about all things English! I have been teaching English at a South Korean kindergarten for the past several months, and I was TEFL certified as of October 2016. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May of 2016 with a BA in English Literature and a certificate in Global Cultures. I'd love to help with any ACT/AP English prep, as well as any other English-related teaching services required. I believe learning works best when the subject becomes relevant for the student, not just as something they "have" to learn, but as something that can help make life worthwhile. Learning should be a joy, not a chore!
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
The COMPASS Writing Skills test has two primary sections: Usage (grammar, mechanics, and sentence structure) and Rhetoric (organization, style, and effective writing). Most students struggle more with the Rhetoric section because it requires understanding broader writing principles and how ideas connect, rather than just identifying grammatical errors. A tutor can help you identify whether you need to strengthen foundational grammar skills or develop stronger critical reading abilities for the Rhetoric portion.
The Usage section tests specific grammar rules, punctuation, and sentence construction—areas where targeted practice makes a real difference. Effective strategies include learning the most commonly tested rules (subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, comma splices, and parallel structure), practicing with actual COMPASS questions to recognize patterns, and developing a systematic approach to eliminating answer choices. A tutor can help you prioritize which grammar concepts to focus on based on your weak areas, rather than studying everything equally.
The Rhetoric section asks you to evaluate passages for organization, tone, word choice, and logical flow—skills that improve through close reading and understanding the author's intent. Rather than memorizing rules, you need to practice identifying how sentences and paragraphs work together, recognizing when transitions are missing or unclear, and spotting ineffective word choices. Many students benefit from working through practice passages with a tutor who can explain the reasoning behind correct answers and help you develop a framework for analyzing writing quality.
COMPASS Writing Skills questions typically allow about 1-1.5 minutes per question, but many students spend too long debating between similar answer choices. The key is recognizing question types quickly and knowing when to move on—if you've narrowed it down to two choices and aren't certain, it's often better to make an educated guess and save time for harder questions. A tutor can help you practice under timed conditions, develop decision-making strategies for common question types, and build confidence so you're not second-guessing yourself during the actual test.
Taking a full practice test under timed conditions is the best first step—it shows you which grammar concepts trip you up and whether you struggle more with Usage or Rhetoric. After reviewing your results, look for patterns: Are you missing most questions about comma rules? Struggling with sentence combining? Confused by rhetorical questions about organization? A tutor can analyze your practice test results to pinpoint exactly which skills need work, then create a focused study plan so you're not wasting time on concepts you already understand.
Test anxiety often stems from uncertainty about what to expect or doubt in your preparation. Building confidence requires practicing with real COMPASS questions repeatedly so question formats become familiar, developing a consistent strategy for approaching each question type, and taking multiple timed practice tests to prove to yourself that you can handle the pace. Working with a tutor provides ongoing feedback and reassurance, helps you recognize improvement over time, and gives you strategies for staying calm when you encounter an unfamiliar question type during the actual test.
Score improvement depends on where you're starting and how much you practice, but students typically see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of focused work. If you're struggling with foundational grammar concepts, improvement can be substantial once those gaps are filled. If you're already scoring in the mid-range, gains come more gradually as you refine your approach to complex questions and build test-taking stamina. A tutor can give you a realistic timeline based on your initial practice test score and help you track progress through regular practice assessments.
An effective COMPASS Writing Skills tutor should understand the specific format and content of the test, be able to explain grammar concepts clearly (not just say an answer is wrong), and know how to teach you to recognize patterns in Rhetoric questions rather than memorizing rules. They should be comfortable teaching test-taking strategy and pacing, able to analyze your practice test results to identify trends, and skilled at breaking down complex writing concepts into manageable pieces. Look for someone who uses real COMPASS practice materials and can explain the reasoning behind answer choices, not just provide quick fixes.
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