Award-Winning TOEFL Tutors

America's #1 Tutoring Platform

Who needs tutoring?

FOXNBCCBSUS NewsTIMEUSA Today

TUTORS FROM

  • YaleUniversity
  • PrincetonUniversity
  • StanfordUniversity
  • CornellUniversity

Award-Winning TOEFL Tutors

Claire

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Claire

Bachelors, Classics, Political Science & History
Claire's other Tutor Subjects
College English
College Essays
College World History
English

I am a Columbia University graduate who majored in Political Science, Classics and History. I have also spent the last year as an English teacher in Connecticut.I am available to tutor in New York City and the Stamford, CT area or online.

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelors, Classics, Political Science & History

Test Scores
SAT
1520
Brian

Certified Tutor

5+ years

Brian

Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Brian's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Business
Earth Science
Elementary School Math

I have a been a working as a teacher for 4 years now in early childcare, middle, and high school. I enjoy working with children of all ages, especially in a "one-on-one" setting. My goal, with any child, is to help faciliate the interpretation of a subject so that they can recall information easily ...

Education

Florida Atlantic University

Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management

Florida Atlantic University

Bachelor in Arts, Marketing

Kylie

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Kylie

Bachelor of Science, Marketing
Kylie's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Business
Business Writing
Elementary School

There are many reasons to pursue a career in tutoring. Many people embark on tutoring in order to make extra money on the side. Others may excel in a specific content area, and want to help others learn the content, too. I, however, want to tutor because tutoring (or teaching) is my passion. I am cu...

Education

Oregon State University

Bachelor of Science, Marketing

Craig

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Craig

Masters in Education, Education Curriculum and Instruction
Craig's other Tutor Subjects
College English
College Essays
College Geography
College Level American History

I am currently a graduate student at the University of San Diego where I am earning my teaching credential in Social Science and my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. I hold a B.S. in Sport Leadership and Sport Humanities with a minor in General Business from The Ohio State University. I chose to ...

Education

University of San Diego

Masters in Education, Education Curriculum and Instruction

The Ohio State University

Bachelor of Science, Sport Leadership & Sport Humanities

Noah

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Noah

Bachelor in Arts, Mass Communications
Noah's other Tutor Subjects
Adult ESL/ELL
Algebra
Basic Computer Literacy
College Application Essays

Hi there! My name's Noah and I'm a recent grad from UCLA. My whole life I have worked in education and with kids ranging from kindergarten to high school. From summer camp to youth group to tutoring, I have plenty of experience in this field in various subjects and would be happy to share my experti...

Education

University of California-Los Angeles

Bachelor in Arts, Mass Communications

Test Scores
SAT
1480
Tonia

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Tonia

Master of Fine Arts, Illustration
Tonia's other Tutor Subjects
Art
Creative Writing
Digital Media
Drawing

I've always loved art and am passionate about creating things in different mediums. After taking every art class offered in grade school and winning several contests/awards, I earned an Associate in Specialized Business with high honors (Alpha Society, President's Award, Dean's List) from Douglas Ed...

Education

Academy of Art University

Master of Fine Arts, Illustration

Academy of Art University

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration

Donna

Certified Tutor

Donna

Master of Arts Teaching, Urban Education and Leadership
Donna's other Tutor Subjects
A Beginner's Guide: Excel
Animation
Art
Basics of Python for Beginners

I am passionate about music and technology and have focused my entire career on both. I earned an Associates in Arts with a concentration on piano and organ, a Bachelor's in Applied Liberal Studies, and a Master's in Human Resource Development.My career as a parish organist/pianist began while in co...

Education

Western Michigan University

Master of Arts Teaching, Urban Education and Leadership

Western Michigan University

Bachelor in Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Melissa

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Melissa

Bachelors, Atmospheric Science
Melissa's other Tutor Subjects
Algebra
Algebra 2
College Algebra
Elementary School Reading

My objective during our sessions begins with assessing your strengths and weaknesses academically to accommodate to your learning style. We will eventually develop a study habit to set your priority level for success. Also, we can find available resources online or at the library. The more you learn...

Education

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Bachelors, Atmospheric Science

Concordia University-Portland - Masters, Curriculum and Instructions: K

14 Math

Alison

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Alison

Current Undergrad, Double-Major in Mathematics and Business with a French Language and Literature Concentration
Alison's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade Math
ACT Prep
ACT English
ACT Reading

I am a student at the University of Dallas studying towards a double major in Business and Mathematics with a French Language and Literature Concentration. I achieved near-perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT, and I am passionate about helping students score well on these exams to pursue their hig...

Education

University of Dallas

Current Undergrad, Double-Major in Mathematics and Business with a French Language and Literature Concentration

Test Scores
SAT
1530
ACT
35
Elizabeth

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Elizabeth

Master of Science, Food Science
Elizabeth's other Tutor Subjects
PMP
Professional Certifications
Project Management/PMP
Six Sigma

I have been tutoring numerous subjects for over 10 years. I completed my bachelors in Chemistry at Syracuse University, my masters in Business Administration from University at Buffalo, and my masters in Food Science from Kansas State University. I currently work as a project manager and have mainta...

Education

Kansas State University

Master of Science, Food Science

University at Buffalo

Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management

Syracuse University

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

Practice TOEFL

Free practice tests, flashcards, and AI tutoring for TOEFL

TOEFL Practice Hub
Practice tests, flashcards, AI tutor & more

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Mathilde

ACT English Tutor • +34 Subjects

Being a recent graduate of Rice University, my working knowledge of both the Houston area and academics is strong. I am passionate about helping others achieve their goals, as demonstrated by my experience leading a student-run business, mentoring employees and peers, and managing the HR department of a restaurant group.The importance of active listening and clear communication while tutoring is paramount to my teaching philosophy. My goal is to help your student realize their strengths. As a Linguistics major, much of my academic career focused on studying and understanding the nuances of English and French in both reading and writing, though I also have a strong foundation in mathematics, ranging from Algebra to AP Calculus AB. Additionally, my ACT score was 33 (99th percentile); I completed ACT tutoring courses as a high school student and am familiar with the strategies used to maximize scores. I will use Varsity's methods to enhance your student's experience with Varsity Tutors while taking their individuals needs and learning style into consideration.

View Profile

Elizabeth

College English Tutor • +16 Subjects

I am currently in my first year of the Graduate Writing Program at Sarah Lawrence College. An integral component of the Writing Program at Sarah Lawrence, and one of the reasons I chose this program, is its emphasis on developing one's skills as an educator.In conjunction with my Teaching Writing class, I am working as a writing instructor for high school students at a school located in Queens. This position requires me to develop the year's curriculum for the After School Writing Program. For this program, I have developed a curriculum that includes critical examination of writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, David Mitchell and Junot Diaz. The writing component of the curriculum includes exercises aimed at developing the student's fundamental writing skills, including character and setting, structure and developing narrative voice. Writing assignments include both traditional prompts as well as the incorporation of technology and the influence of other media, such as music and fine art.Upon the completion of my MFA in the Spring of 2014, I hope to pursue a career in education.

View Profile

Farzana

Algebra Tutor • +10 Subjects

I am a graduate of St. John’s University. I received my bachelors in science with a major in Biology. Since graduation, I worked with a tutoring center providing one-on-one tutoring and on site classroom tutoring to students ranging from 1st grade to high school. The lessons were customized for each student to enhance their understanding of the material from their existing knowledge and also to track their progress. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about anatomy and biological sciences. Due to my interest in these subjects and patient care, I am pursuing a Physician Assistant degree.As a first generation student, my parents instilled in me the value of being educated. Education is the foundation that builds a person and shapes their quality of life. Tutoring is a rewarding experience for me, in which I can provide the knowledge I have gained from my educational background and help students enhance their understanding of the material so that they may excel. In my spare time, I enjoy exercising, bicycling, cooking, playing badminton and volleyball.

View Profile

Heather

American Literature Tutor • +18 Subjects

I'm a doctoral student studying rhetoric and composition with a focus on digital composition and cultural rhetorics. I have a strong interest in teaching reading and writing as well as several years of experience teaching them.

View Profile

Ashanti

American Literature Tutor • +22 Subjects

Hard working, dedicated graduate who's ready and willing to share her knowledge. I earned a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science from Columbus State University. Since then, and before then, I have worked with students from the age of newborns to pre-k. I have been a substitute teacher for the past year helping out when I can and I use to volunteer as a tutor at one of the local elementary schools in my hometown. My favorite subjects to tutor are writing, reading, and math because I can be creative in developing new ways for my students to learn and engage. My style of teaching is fun but knowledgeable. I will make sure that the child has fun while learning and offer incentives for good work to motivate them to learn, stay active, and on task. Outside of teaching, and tutoring, I love to play sports. I have played softball, ran track, done gymnastics, cheered, Tae Kwon Do, and flag football in college. I also love to dance and draw to bring out my creative side.

View Profile

Becky

ACT English Tutor • +19 Subjects

Im a recent graduate of Amherst College, in Massachusetts. Im originally from Colorado, but now Ive found myself starting my life in Chicago. I double-majored in Biology and Russian (strange combination, I realize), and I also took a significant number of classes in our schools Theatre and Dance department. I love sitting down with a good book, sci-fi in particular, or just re-reading my well-worn copies of The Hunger Games or the Inheritance Cycle.My first introduction to tutoring started as volunteer work back in 2009, when I assisted my old math teacher in facilitating middle school math club. One year later, I was hired by a local Kumon center, where I worked as an education assistant for both math and reading. At the Kumon center, I worked with a variety of ages, from 3-16, on subjects ranging from basic addition and subtraction through beginning calculus, and from basic sounding out of words to interpretation of Shakespeare and beyond. I also worked as an assistant teacher at my aerial dance studio, working with the performance program for 8-13 year-olds. Once in college, I wound up working as a teaching assistant for the introductory biology lab in my sophomore year, and I worked as a peer tutor for our colleges Russian department as well. I also worked with a non-profit called Reader to Reader that paired grade-school students with a college-age reading buddy to read and discuss books.When Im not working, I enjoy doing ballet and training as a circus artist. Ive been training trapeze and aerial fabric for 7 years, and Ive been performing for 6. I also really enjoy spending time with cats, sewing, and exploring unknown cities, and not necessarily in that order.

View Profile

Brian

ACT English Tutor • +26 Subjects

I am a college sophomore at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. I'm studying Communications, am heavily involved in Greek Life here at the U, and am in Air Force ROTC pursing a commission as an Air Force pilot once I graduate!In my free time I enjoy playing soccer, flying airplanes (I got my pilot's license at 16), and socializing with my friends at college.

View Profile

Michael

American Literature Tutor • +26 Subjects

Hello. My goal is to find out what style and method works best for those I tutor, and utilize that knowledge to develop the skills necessary for those I tutor to demonstrate a major improvement in the subject area.

View Profile

Dana

ACT Prep Tutor • +51 Subjects

I recently graduated from Brown University with a degree in Public Policy, but I my fields of study ranged from biology to organic chemistry to British literature. I'm a hardworking, compassionate, and patient individual who has been tutoring since high school and helping my little sister with her homework long before. I'll work with every new student individually to recognize his or her strengths and weaknesses to make sure that material is actually being learned, not just memorized.

View Profile

James

Algebra Tutor • +12 Subjects

Mechatronics Major at Utah Valley University. I've tutored college students on Math at the University of Wisconsin Rock County, where I was pursuing a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. I enjoy helping people succeed and believe that people should not be discouraged in seeking help if they are not understanding or have difficulties with school subjects. While I helped my peers with understand math, I have grown to enjoy this subject because I see it as a puzzle needing to be solved. I also enjoy math because there is always a right answer. I enjoy science for it helps us understand the world in which we live in.

View Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you work with a tutor. Students typically see 10-20 point improvements over 8-12 weeks of focused study, though some see larger gains if they're addressing fundamental gaps in English proficiency. The key is identifying which sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, or Writing) need the most work and developing targeted strategies for those areas.

A tutor can help you move beyond simply taking more practice tests—they'll diagnose exactly where you're losing points and create a customized study plan that addresses your specific weaknesses.

The Reading section is where most students struggle with pacing. You have 54-72 minutes to read 3-4 passages and answer 12-14 questions per passage—that's roughly 10-12 minutes per passage if you account for question-answering time. Many students spend too long on difficult questions and rush through easier ones, losing points unnecessarily.

A tutor can teach you strategic skimming techniques, help you identify which questions to tackle first, and show you how to quickly locate evidence in the text rather than re-reading entire passages. With practice and the right approach, you can cut your reading time significantly while maintaining accuracy.

Speaking anxiety is common because you're recorded and can't revise your answers—but it's highly manageable with preparation. The Speaking section rewards clear organization and fluency more than perfect grammar, so knowing what to expect reduces panic significantly.

A tutor can help you build confidence by having you practice speaking out loud repeatedly (not just in your head), teaching you templates for structuring responses, and simulating the actual test conditions so the day itself feels familiar. Recording yourself and reviewing mistakes also normalizes the process. With consistent practice, most students move from anxious to confident within 4-6 weeks.

It depends on your timeline and starting score, but generally you should prioritize your weakest sections while maintaining your strong ones. If you're weak in Reading and Writing but strong in Listening and Speaking, spending 70% of tutoring time on those two sections makes sense. Your tutor can help you allocate time efficiently based on your goals.

That said, don't completely ignore your strong sections—students often plateau when they only focus downward. Your tutor will ensure you're using an 80/20 approach: deep work on weakness areas, maintenance on strength areas, and some time on test-taking strategy that applies across all sections.

Integrated tasks require you to combine information from reading, listening, and speaking or writing—they test your ability to synthesize multiple sources. Independent tasks ask you to draw from your own knowledge and experiences. Most students find Integrated tasks harder because they require managing information from multiple sources while also producing language under time pressure.

The good news? Integrated tasks are also the most learnable with practice. A tutor can break down the note-taking strategies, help you organize information effectively, and give you templates for structuring integrated responses. Once you understand the predictable format and practice 15-20 integrated tasks, they become significantly easier.

The answer depends on your stage of preparation. Early on (weeks 1-4), take one full practice test to establish a baseline, then focus on targeted section practice and skill-building. In the middle phase (weeks 5-8), take full tests every 1-2 weeks to apply what you're learning. In the final 2-3 weeks, take a full test every 4-5 days to build endurance and identify last-minute gaps.

Taking practice tests too frequently without review wastes time; taking them too rarely means you won't catch patterns in your mistakes. Your tutor can help you find the right frequency and, more importantly, help you review and learn from each test so you're not just going through the motions.

Look for someone with specific TOEFL expertise—not just general English proficiency. Your tutor should understand the exact format of each section, know common student mistakes, and be able to diagnose weaknesses quickly. They should also be able to teach test-specific strategies (like skimming techniques for Reading or note-taking for Integrated tasks) rather than just assigning practice tests.

Equally important is someone who understands that TOEFL preparation isn't just about language skills—it's about managing anxiety, pacing, and test strategy. The best tutors combine deep content knowledge with the ability to build your confidence so you can perform your best on test day.

Connect with TOEFL Tutors

Get matched with expert tutors in your subject