Search
Neil L.'s Photo

Verbal tutoring: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Test Prep
Neil L.

4.9 (439 ratings)

2,632 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $75
Contact Neil
Response time: 1 hour
Neil L.'s Photo

Verbal tutoring: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Test Prep
Verbal tutoring: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Test Prep
Neil L.

4.9 (439 ratings)

2,632 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
4.9 (439 ratings)

2,632 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

About Neil

Bio

Hello! As a tutor of all things verbal, I bring a wide range of experience and training. I hold an MA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I did two years of additional graduate work in Comparative Literature at Kent State and I studied English and American Literature with a concentration in Modern Literature at the University of Kentucky. I have published poetry in a number of literary magazines and am the author of a chapbook of poems. I spent ten...

Hello! As a tutor of all things verbal, I bring a wide range of experience and training. I hold an MA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. I did two years of additional graduate work in Comparative Literature at Kent State and I studied English and American Literature with a concentration in Modern Literature at the University of Kentucky. I have published poetry in a number of literary magazines and am the author of a chapbook of poems. I spent ten years as a free-lance writer and editor. I have taught the following college courses: Freshman English, Remedial English, Advanced Composition, Advanced Composition for Non-English Majors, Introduction to Literature I & II, Special Studies in Poetry: Stylistics, Creative Writing: Poetry. On the high school level, I have taught sophomore and senior English.

Because I have always been a great test-taker and because there always seems to be a great demand, I have been tutoring test prep recently and can offer the following: ACT English, Reading, and Science; GRE verbal (97th percentile); GRE Advanced Test in Literature (92% percentile); LSAT (99th percentile). I actually think the logic games on the LSAT are fun! I also prepare students for the GMAT by teaching them all the relevant grammatical issues needed for the sentence correction, as well as the logic and RC. (The rates for LSAT and GMAT preparation are substantially higher than the rates for other tests; please e-mail for prices)

If you are one of those who can’t quite get the special types of thinking that literature demands, or if you need assistance in your own essay writing or your own poetry, I can help you with any genre of literary studies or any type of writing task.

I especially enjoy the one-to-one relationship of tutoring, within which I can quickly diagnose a student’s weaknesses and work with him or her on precisely those issues that need addressing. With my direction and your hard work, we can help you find the success that eludes you in the clas

Read more

Education

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
English
University of Illinois at Chicago
Masters
University of Kentucky
Other

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $75
  • Rate details: LSAT and GMAT rates will be higher than the published rate. Please inquire.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 1/16/2013

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

Business

GMAT,

GMAT

My grammar credentials go back to 1974 when I first started teaching freshman English. My logic and reading credentials can be summed up in my 99th percentile on the LSAT. In addition, I have been actively teaching GMAT prep (as well as LSAT prep) for 10 years now and have developed a highly efficient program that goes well beyond anything the big name test prep companies have to offer. Wharton, Harvard, Kellogg, Booth are just a few of the higher tiered schools that my students have been able to attend.
GRE

GRE

I scored in the 97th percentile on the verbal portion of the GRE and in the 92nd percentile of the special test on Literature. Actually, on taking the literature practice test on the GRE a few years ago, I scored in the 99th percentile, so I must have learned something in graduate school. For close to 10 years now, I have been successfully showing students how to substantially improve their performance on the verbal sections of test. I do not teach the quantitative section.

Corporate Training

GMAT,

GMAT

My grammar credentials go back to 1974 when I first started teaching freshman English. My logic and reading credentials can be summed up in my 99th percentile on the LSAT. In addition, I have been actively teaching GMAT prep (as well as LSAT prep) for 10 years now and have developed a highly efficient program that goes well beyond anything the big name test prep companies have to offer. Wharton, Harvard, Kellogg, Booth are just a few of the higher tiered schools that my students have been able to attend.
Grammar,

Grammar

My educational background in English, my teaching experience in both basic and advanced composition courses, and my years as a writer and editor have made a correct and precise knowledge of grammar and usage a unique specialty of mine. I combine a knowledge of traditional prescriptive grammatical approaches with a linguistics-based descriptive approach. This allows me, at times, to provide explanations of grammatical conventions that are more logical and simpler to comprehend. The result, when I've done ACT prep, is that students' English test scores jump after one session. It
Proofreading

Proofreading

I spent ten years as a free-lance editor/writer. I can both proofread for spelling and grammar and for usage. I am aware of the absolute rules that govern reasoned, formal discourse, and I am well-versed in the changing trends that are up for debate in current usage.

Elementary Education

Grammar,

Grammar

My educational background in English, my teaching experience in both basic and advanced composition courses, and my years as a writer and editor have made a correct and precise knowledge of grammar and usage a unique specialty of mine. I combine a knowledge of traditional prescriptive grammatical approaches with a linguistics-based descriptive approach. This allows me, at times, to provide explanations of grammatical conventions that are more logical and simpler to comprehend. The result, when I've done ACT prep, is that students' English test scores jump after one session. It
Reading, Vocabulary

English

ACT English,

ACT English

I have been successfully helping students widen their college choices by showing them how to substantially improve their ACT English scores. I bring a varied experience to this task, having specifically studied both grammar and linguistics, having taught composition classes at the college level (UIC, U of Kentucky, Kent State, Northeastern), and having worked as a free-lance writer for most of my adult life.
Grammar,

Grammar

My educational background in English, my teaching experience in both basic and advanced composition courses, and my years as a writer and editor have made a correct and precise knowledge of grammar and usage a unique specialty of mine. I combine a knowledge of traditional prescriptive grammatical approaches with a linguistics-based descriptive approach. This allows me, at times, to provide explanations of grammatical conventions that are more logical and simpler to comprehend. The result, when I've done ACT prep, is that students' English test scores jump after one session. It
Proofreading,

Proofreading

I spent ten years as a free-lance editor/writer. I can both proofread for spelling and grammar and for usage. I am aware of the absolute rules that govern reasoned, formal discourse, and I am well-versed in the changing trends that are up for debate in current usage.
ACT Reading, English, Literature, Reading, SAT Reading, Vocabulary, Writing

Homeschool

English, Reading, SAT Reading, Writing

Most Popular

English, Reading, Writing

Science

ACT Science

Summer

Reading, Writing

Test Preparation

ACT English,

ACT English

I have been successfully helping students widen their college choices by showing them how to substantially improve their ACT English scores. I bring a varied experience to this task, having specifically studied both grammar and linguistics, having taught composition classes at the college level (UIC, U of Kentucky, Kent State, Northeastern), and having worked as a free-lance writer for most of my adult life.
GMAT,

GMAT

My grammar credentials go back to 1974 when I first started teaching freshman English. My logic and reading credentials can be summed up in my 99th percentile on the LSAT. In addition, I have been actively teaching GMAT prep (as well as LSAT prep) for 10 years now and have developed a highly efficient program that goes well beyond anything the big name test prep companies have to offer. Wharton, Harvard, Kellogg, Booth are just a few of the higher tiered schools that my students have been able to attend.
GRE,

GRE

I scored in the 97th percentile on the verbal portion of the GRE and in the 92nd percentile of the special test on Literature. Actually, on taking the literature practice test on the GRE a few years ago, I scored in the 99th percentile, so I must have learned something in graduate school. For close to 10 years now, I have been successfully showing students how to substantially improve their performance on the verbal sections of test. I do not teach the quantitative section.
LSAT,

LSAT

I have taken the LSAT and scored a 171 (99% percentile). Confirmation is available on request. I have already devised an LSAT lesson plan that includes both diagnostics and remedies. The test is only a disciplined application of a skill, logic, that everyone already possesses. That application, on this test, can be accomplished by the use of a fairly small set of logic principles and tools -- all are teachable. I know what to teach; I am able to teach it; therefore, we will have happy, successful students.
ACT Reading, ACT Science, SAT Reading

Examples of Expertise

Neil has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 2 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Neil ’s answers ›

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

4.9 (439 ratings)
5 star
(420)
4 star
(15)
3 star
(3)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(1)

Reviews

Attentive and invested in your success!

Neil provides his students with everything they need to succeed on the test. I never lacked material to practice with, and was always able to reach out in between sessions for help via email. He even spent time outside of our sessions analyzing my work, defining my trouble areas, and figuring out how to help. This way, I always got the most out of the time we had face to face. Neil distills the information you need to know to do well in a way that you can't find in any LSAT prep book. He teaches you how to approach the test by building a solid foundation in logic. Not only that, but he was always willing to be accommodating for any schedule changes, so it's always possible to sneak a meeting in. Neil is so great that I was even willing to make an hour long round trip for our sessions!

Ashley, 15 lessons with Neil

Very Efficient and made sure I understood before he moved on to the next lesson!!!

Neil was great he explained topics, that I didn't understand in the Argument section that gave me insight to where I had been going wrong! This made things very clear for me to understand from a perspective that was clear to me! He was excellent and very, very, thorough!!!

Sheron, 3 lessons with Neil

First Session

My first session with Neil went really well. Neil made good use of every minute of our session, and some of the strategies he used to teach the concepts made them exceptionally easy to understand. I look forward to working with Neil as I prepare for the February 2024 LSAT.

Cheryl, 7 lessons with Neil

A Verbal Genius, Brilliant Teacher and Lovely Human Being!

Just WOW!!! Neil took me from a V28 to a V38 on the GMAT in just 5 sessions and would have taken me to a perfect verbal score if I had more time; I am confident of that. If you are looking to master the complicated verbal section for which you only find complex and absolutely inconsistent explanations online, you would be foolish not to hire Neil. On top of being a masterful teacher, he is very kind and extremely funny! Do not look any further in your hunt for the ideal verbal coach.

Abhishek, 5 lessons with Neil

GMAT Verbal God

Imagine a world where GMAT Verbal actually makes sense. If you're using the so-called 'top' verbal programs or resources, you’ll just want to tear your hair out. Between arbitrary style rules and contradictory explanations, you will drive yourself crazy trying to navigate the bizarre world of GMAT verbal. Enter the one true verbal god, Neil. Rather than confusing you with random rules, Neil offers a singular, unifying theory (linguistic rather than grammarian) that makes everything in Verbal Land click. No more scratching your head at abstruse OG explanations. Hire Neil, and you'll learn so much you'll beg him to charge you more. Under his guidance, my score went from a 41 to a 47.

Arron, 16 lessons with Neil

Invaluable Guidance and Support

Neil, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable guidance and support throughout my GMAT journey, particularly in the Verbal section. Your expertise and dedication have played a pivotal role in helping me achieve a score of 730, with an impressive 41 on the Verbal. Reflecting on my progress, I can't help but be amazed at the transformation from my initial score of 590 in December, with a mere 30 on the Verbal section. Your commitment to providing detailed explanations and your flexibility in tailoring the tutoring sessions to my needs have been instrumental in this remarkable improvement. Breaking the 700 barrier seemed like a daunting task, but your guidance made it not only achievable but a reality. Once again, thank you for your support, patience, and expertise. I am truly grateful for your contribution to my success on the GMAT. I look forward to applying the skills I've acquired not only in my academic pursuits but also in the challenges that lie ahead.

Quentin, 4 lessons with Neil

Knowledgeable

Had a great lesson for preparation for the LSAT’s. He takes his time and ensures that what he explains is understood. Stops in between to make sure I understood everything in detail. Look forward to future lessons.

Jennifer, 2 lessons with Neil

Very informative and helpful

Enjoyed my first lesson with Neil. We worked on formal logic concepts, and applied them to logic games. I look forward to future lessons!

Jason, 6 lessons with Neil

GMAT Verbal guru

After spending months studying for GMAT verbal, the highest score I was able to get was a V35. However, I knew that I could get a higher Verbal score, and I just needed some expert guidance and coaching to do so. With Neil's help, he broke down Sentence Correction to me in such a way that it went from my most prominent weakness to my greatest strength in GMAT verbal. He also helped me develop a strategy in order to spend less time on Critical Reasoning which was really helpful in the exam. After all, in less than two weeks with Neil, my score went from a V35 to a v41 (94th percentile). He's a great teacher, and you can tell he's very experienced and knows this stuff inside out. His homework was practical and helped me develop quickly. Thank you so much, Neil!

Taher, 5 lessons with Neil

GREAT Tutor.

Neil has the ability to explain things in a way that make the questions look so easy. He was always able to answer any question I had and usually identified where i went wrong right away. I would 100% recommend Neil as your tutor! I did LSAT study with him and I struggled with logical reasoning but now I actually enjoy reading the arguments and have found to find the answer fairly quickly. He has great tips to help you reduce the time you take on each question as well.

Hannah, 14 lessons with Neil
Hourly Rate: $75
Response time: 1 hour
Contact Neil