A tutor will typically assess your current English level, review your target score and university requirements, and identify your strongest and weakest areas across reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This diagnostic helps create a personalized study plan focused on the skills that need the most work, ensuring your preparation time is spent efficiently on areas where you'll see the biggest score improvements.

Students often struggle most with the speaking section due to limited practice opportunities and anxiety about real-time responses, as well as the reading section's dense academic passages and time pressure. The writing section requires specific formatting and argument structure that differs from casual English, and listening comprehension demands focus on fast-paced lectures. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to target your specific weak points rather than covering material in a classroom pace.

Most students see meaningful improvement within 4-8 weeks of consistent tutoring, though the timeline depends on your starting level and target score. Students aiming for a 20-30 point increase often benefit from 2-3 sessions per week, while those targeting higher scores may need longer preparation. Regular practice combined with expert feedback accelerates progress more than self-study alone, as tutors identify and correct specific errors that standardized practice tests might miss.

The speaking section requires you to respond to prompts within 45-60 seconds with clear pronunciation, natural pacing, and organized thoughts—all under time pressure. Many students lack regular opportunities to practice speaking English with feedback, leading to nervousness and unclear delivery. Working with a tutor gives you a judgment-free environment to practice speaking repeatedly, receive real-time corrections on pronunciation and grammar, and build the confidence needed to perform well on test day.

Look for tutors with proven TOEFL teaching experience, familiarity with all four test sections, and ideally a background in English as a Second Language (ESL) or linguistics. Many expert tutors have achieved high TOEFL scores themselves and understand the test format inside and out. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have demonstrated expertise in TOEFL preparation and a track record of helping students reach their target scores.

Classroom TOEFL prep moves at a fixed pace regardless of where you stand, while personalized 1-on-1 instruction adapts to your specific needs in real time. A tutor can spend extra time on your weakest section, provide immediate feedback on your speaking and writing, and adjust strategies based on how you learn best. This targeted approach typically produces faster score improvements than group classes, especially for students with significant skill gaps or tight test deadlines.

TOEFL score requirements vary widely by institution and program—most universities require 80-100 on the iBT exam, while competitive schools may expect 100-110 or higher. Graduate programs and professional certifications often have their own specific minimums. A tutor can help you research your target school's requirements and create a study plan to reach that specific score, ensuring your preparation is focused on a realistic and relevant goal.