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Certified Tutor
8+ years
Emily
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...
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
Doctor of Medicine, Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Benjamin
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 midd...
University of Notre Dame
Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics (minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Ishan
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 writ...
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Albany Medical College
Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine
Certified Tutor
Max
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.
Ball State University
Bachelors, Biology, General
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Rahul
I am a recent graduate of Cornell University, where I received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Over the past several years, I have worked with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences tutoring thermodynamics (my personal favorite), chemistry, and math. I have a...
Cornell University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
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
16+ years
John
I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.
University of St Thomas
Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Associates, Acting
Certified Tutor
5+ years
Arthur
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.
Middlebury College
Bachelor in Arts, Economics
Certified Tutor
6+ years
Ilesh
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 Geor...
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
Certified Tutor
9+ years
Vansh
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...
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering
Top 20 Test Prep Subjects
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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.
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
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.
Sugi
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +54 Subjects
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.
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.
Chelain
Calculus Tutor • +14 Subjects
I am currently a resident physician at Northwestern Hospital.
Daniel
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +21 Subjects
I am an Undergraduate Student at Vanderbilt University. With years of tutoring experience and a solid academic foundation, I am fully equipped to teach in various subjects at many different levels.
Edward
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +32 Subjects
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. Hobbies: reading, music, art, books, writing
Lena
Calculus Tutor • +28 Subjects
I am here to help with pre-med coursework, MCAT prep, and many other classes. I am frequently available for online tutoring. Hobbies: art, books, reading, music, writing
Jack
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +50 Subjects
I'm a recent grad from Northwestern (B.A. in Theatre and Economics) who loves teaching and learning. I love helping other people achieve their goals and helping students find ways to be their best selves. Excited to meet and work with Chicagoland's students!
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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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