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Asta
A University of Chicago political science degree means Asta spent four years immersed in the kind of rigorous argument-building and source analysis that APUSH essays demand — Chicago's core curriculum doesn't let you coast on surface-level claims. Her experience preparing international students in H...
University of Chicago
Bachelor in Arts in Political Science

Certified Tutor
Tom earned his PhD in American Studies, which means AP US History content — from colonial mercantilism through Reconstruction amendments to Cold War containment policy — is his scholarly home turf. He breaks down DBQ and LEQ writing by teaching students to build arguments from documents rather than ...
Boston University
PHD, American Studies
Harvard University
Bachelors
Certified Tutor
10+ years
Jeff
The AP US History exam rewards students who can do more than recall events — they need to analyze documents, identify historical causation, and write a convincing DBQ under time pressure. Jeff earned his MA in history from UC Berkeley, where he taught undergraduates how to build arguments from prima...
University of California-Berkeley
Masters, History
Princeton University
B.A. in philosophy
Certified Tutor
Meghan
A semester at Madrid's top-ranked university taking upper-level history courses alongside Spanish students gave Meghan something unusual for APUSH prep — the habit of examining American events through an outsider's lens, which is exactly the kind of contextualization and perspective-shifting the DBQ...
Northwestern University
Masters, Journalism
Northwestern University
Bachelors, Journalism
Northwestern University
Undergraduate degree in journalism (major) with a Spanish minor
Certified Tutor
Julie
A statistics and machine learning certificate at Princeton means Julie spends her coursework building arguments from data — the same evidentiary reasoning APUSH demands when students must synthesize unfamiliar documents into a coherent thesis under time pressure. Her philosophy training adds a layer...
Princeton University
Bachelor in Arts, Philosophy
Certified Tutor
Paula
A psychology and communication studies background gives Paula a dual lens that's particularly useful for APUSH's trickiest essay prompts — the ones asking students to analyze how rhetoric, propaganda, and public persuasion shaped movements from the Revolution through the Cold War. She teaches docume...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
Hannah
Document-Based Questions are where most AP US History students lose points — not because they lack knowledge, but because they don't know how to contextualize a source and weave it into an argument. Hannah holds a bachelor's degree in History and an MFA in Creative Writing, which means she tackles b...
Temple University
Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor in Arts
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Eileen
AP U.S. History isn't Eileen's core subject area, but the exam's document-based and long-essay questions are fundamentally writing challenges — constructing an argument, weighing evidence, and managing time under pressure. Her 36 ACT (including the writing section) and deep experience with essay str...
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Certified Tutor
Economics majors spend their time tracing how incentive structures, trade policy, and financial systems reshape societies — which means Ryan already thinks in the cause-and-effect chains that APUSH essays reward, especially for periods like the Market Revolution, Gilded Age industrialization, and Ne...
University of Chicago
Bachelors, Economics
Certified Tutor
4+ years
Abrahim
As a first-generation college student who graduated cum laude from UCLA with a biology degree and Asian Languages minor, Abrahim brings an outsider's analytical eye to American history — he learned to question assumptions rather than take narratives at face value. That mindset translates well to APU...
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Medical College of Wisconsin
Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine
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Samantha
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I am confident that any student can master whatever subject they set their mind to, and that this can be accomplished when tutors and students work together to determine how the student best learns. By being patient, observant and kind, I get to know my students both academically and as people. Outside of working, I love to have fun by taking dance classes, running, cooking, traveling or watching a funny movie.
Nima
12th Grade math Tutor • +98 Subjects
I am a rising college sophomore who will be attending Duke University on a full merit scholarship in the fall. I love to run cross country and play the viola, as well as tutoring students in a whole variety of subjects! Feel free to message me! Hobbies: writing, art, books, reading, music
Richard
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +70 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Harvard College pursuing an AB in Government. Academically, I have diverse interests, including history, language, math, physics, philosophy, music, and politics. In high school, I tutored elementary, middle, and high school students in music, math, ACT and SAT prep, and Spanish. At Harvard, I spent a year as a course assistant in the math department, helping to teach introductory undergraduate calculus. Currently, I volunteer with the Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC) as part of its Social Outreach Committee. This work involves teaching a weekly course called "Fundamentals of Leadership" to a class of middle school students. Overall, I have found my experiences tutoring math to be the most rewarding.
Rachel
Middle School Math Tutor • +44 Subjects
I am comfortable tutoring in a variety of subjects, particularly at the elementary and middle school level. I am most excited about US history, English, writing, and public speaking. I am deeply passionate about educational equity, and firmly believe that every child has a right to an excellent education. As a tutor and teacher, I work to ensure that my students demonstrate growth in a subject area, in general academic skills, and in character.
Erika
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
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 not in school myself, I love rowing, equestrian and exploring my new city of Boston! I look forward to meeting and working with you soon!
Jessica
College Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
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 writing requirement at the University prior to matriculating, I was the first freshman tutor to be accepted into this selective program. The tutoring program involved a preliminary peer-tutor training course prior to beginning tutoring, in order to certify that I had the appropriate background to provide professional feedback to fellow students on their literary works and projects. After graduation, I worked for a full-service learning center where I created and implemented high school lesson plans for home-schooled students, provided academic support for students ranging in ages from 8 to 20 years old, and taught group and individual standardized testing preparation classes. I have also assisted students with application essays for various undergraduate and graduate programs.
Maggie
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +42 Subjects
I am working toward an MD at Stanford University. I am happy to help with MCAT, SAT, SAT subject, AP test prep, and general academic subjects. Throughout my 8 years of experiencing tutoring middle school and high school students, I aim to help students raise their test scores through targeting points of weakness and developing the tools to conquer those areas. Outside of tutoring, I enjoy running, listening to music, traveling, and reading. Hobbies: outdoors, reading, music, writing, art, books, traveling, running, travel
Kristin
Calculus Tutor • +32 Subjects
I am a current Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing accelerated student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. I graduated from the University of Chicago in 2016 with a BA in Biological Sciences and minor in Philosophy. I have always had a deep and lifelong love of learning that I wish to impart to other students. My goal is to help students achieve their learning needs by utilizing a passionate, creative, and fun teaching approach. I have extensive experience in the subjects of Biology, Life Science, U.S. History, and the Social Sciences.
Amber
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +53 Subjects
I'm now living in New York City pursuing a career in casting and producing theater. Although I have found my passion in the arts, I find great fulfillment tutoring math and science, because I think it's important for students to know they can succeed in these challenging subjects. I seek to develop an individual learning plan for each student, discovering the tools that will best help them succeed. My previous private tutoring clients have gone on to graduate at the top of their class. In addition, I am also an experienced SAT and ACT prep tutor.
Allen
College Algebra Tutor • +38 Subjects
I am a recent graduate of Yale University as well as of a prestigious New York City Magnet High School. I graduated with a B.A. in an interdisciplinary major focused on economics and political science (3.9 GPA and magna cum laude). I am well equipped to tutor various standardized like the SAT, PSAT, SAT IIs, GMAT, and Regents because of both my familiarity with the exams as well as my success on the exams (2330 on the SAT, 760 on the GMAT)as well as in most subject areas. I have extensive prior experience tutoring in both group and private settings and am excited to make the experience as stress-free and rewarding for my students. Beyond tutoring, I have great familiarity with the college process and have even held a position as an on campus interviewer for students applying to Ivy-league schools. Outside of academics, I enjoy exploring (and eating) at New York city restaurants as well as ballroom dancing. Look forward to working with you!
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically find the period from 1890-1945 most challenging, particularly the complexities of US foreign policy, the causes and consequences of World War I, and the nuances of the Great Depression and New Deal. The Civil War and Reconstruction era also trips up many students because it requires understanding both political and social dimensions simultaneously. Additionally, students often struggle with thematic connections across time periods—like how different groups experienced American democracy differently—rather than just memorizing isolated events.
The exam has three distinct sections requiring different skills: the multiple-choice section (55 questions in 80 minutes) rewards quick pattern recognition and elimination strategies; the short-answer questions (3 questions in 40 minutes) require you to support claims with specific evidence; and the essays (DBQ and long essay) demand strong thesis statements and document analysis. Many students underestimate the short-answer section because they focus heavily on essay prep—but these questions test your ability to explain historical causation concisely, which is a distinct skill from writing longer arguments.
Strong document analysis goes beyond identifying what a source says—you need to consider the author's perspective, purpose, audience, and historical context. Many students lose points by treating documents as simple evidence rather than asking critical questions: Why did this person create this document? Who was it meant to persuade? What was happening in 1863 that shaped this perspective? A tutor can help you develop a systematic approach to quickly categorize documents (supporting your argument, complicating it, representing a particular viewpoint) so you use your 55-minute DBQ time efficiently.
Rather than memorizing dates, focus on understanding the key tensions and transformations that define each era—for example, the early republic's struggle between federal and state power, or the Progressive Era's competing visions of reform. Students who excel recognize that themes like American identity, conflict, and change repeat across periods in different forms. A tutor can help you build concept maps that connect events within and across periods, so you see how westward expansion, industrialization, and immigration are all part of the same story of American transformation, not separate topics.
Your thesis needs to make a specific, arguable claim about causation or change—not just summarize what happened. For example, "The New Deal was important" is too vague, but "The New Deal fundamentally shifted American expectations about government's role in economic security, though it faced significant opposition from those who feared federal overreach" takes a real position. Many students write theses that are either too obvious (restating the prompt) or too broad (covering too many ideas). Tutors can help you practice narrowing your argument and ensuring every paragraph supports your specific claim with relevant evidence.
The 55 multiple-choice questions should take roughly 80 minutes (about 90 seconds per question), but strong test-takers spend 60 minutes on these to leave buffer time. The short-answer section requires about 13 minutes per question to read, think, and write a solid response. For the essays, plan to spend 15 minutes reading and analyzing documents for the DBQ, then 40 minutes writing; the long essay gets 40 minutes total. Many students rush through multiple-choice to save time for essays, but this backfires because careless errors compound. A tutor can help you take practice tests under timed conditions and identify where you're losing time.
Most students who work with a tutor see a 2-4 point improvement on the AP scale (which ranges from 1-5), with larger gains possible if you're starting below a 3. The improvement depends heavily on where you're starting and how much you practice between sessions. If you're scoring 2s on practice tests, focused tutoring on document analysis and thesis-building can push you to 3s or 4s. If you're already at a 4, reaching a 5 requires mastering the most challenging synthesis questions and eliminating careless errors—work that's very doable with targeted feedback on your practice essays.
Beyond deep knowledge of American history, strong AP US History tutors understand the specific demands of the exam format—they can teach document analysis strategies, help you build efficient study plans, and provide detailed feedback on your essays that mirrors how AP graders evaluate them. They should be able to identify whether your struggles are conceptual (not understanding Reconstruction), strategic (poor time management), or technical (weak thesis statements), because each requires different solutions. Look for tutors who use practice tests diagnostically to pinpoint your weak areas rather than just reviewing material broadly.
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