Award-Winning TOEFL Tutors
serving Sacramento, CA
Award-Winning
TOEFL
Tutors in Sacramento
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.

I am an English language coach with 30 years of experience teaching ESL/EFL in schools, universities, and private settings. Since May 2022, I have tutored for Varsity Tutors, consistently earning high ratings. I hold a BA in English (Film and Communication) from McGill University and a diploma in Community Services from Centennial College. I help students improve English for academic, business, and social purposes, including exam prep and college essays. My diverse interests, multicultural background, and positive approach make lessons engaging and adaptable to individual learning styles.

Karin McKie, MFA, compiles curriculum and personalizes teaching for a broad spectrum of students. I know there is no better, nor more crucial, calling than helping learners communicate their voices and realize their educational dreams. I specialize in tutoring all standardized tests, including the LSAT, SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, HSPT, ISEE, Accuplacer, STAAR, TOEFL/IELTS, ASVAB, all AP/IB English and history classes, and more. I also created and published a simple reading annotation system and related strategies specifically to tackle timed tests, as well as teaching critical reading, comparative literature, public speaking, and theater. As a professional writer and editor, I coach students in persuasive writing for schoolwork, college application and supplemental essays, internship and job applications, and the like. For decades, I've taught and lectured at universities, schools, and with individuals in Chicagoland and the Bay Area, and to online students of all ages around the world. I customize study plans with learners and their advocates to utilize existing abilities and add new techniques to reach personal and scholastic goals. I have a BS in Communications and Theater, and an MFA in Creative Writing. I have completed Continuing Education courses at Stanford, Northwestern and DePaul Universities. I'm a professional features writer and culture critic. I've edited Perspective design journal and Reed literary magazine and have performed memoir essays I've written on Chicago Public Radio. I come from a family of teachers and was fortunate to grow up at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where my anthropologist mom was Education Director. Since early childhood, I've been immersed in multicultural and ELL education. I've devoted my personal and professional time to diversity and storytelling, starting at public TV station WETA in my hometown outside Washington, D.C., where I was certified as a trainer with Sesame Street's Preschool Education Project. I've also taught creativity and teambuilding through improvisation to all ages (as well as creating a kids summer camp), reading for the SAG Foundations BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) program, plus reading and writing skills to at-risk students through the Park District's Kraft Great Kids Program. I've assisted many of my arts marketing clients, including Barrel of Monkeys and Kidworks Touring Theatre, with youth literacy programs at schools and libraries throughout the Windy City.
I'm not tutoring or buried in my textbooks, you will either find me rock climbing at the Triangle Rock Club, playing Ultimate Frisbee, working on my car, or enjoying the great outdoors (beaches, mountains, forests--you name it, I love it). On rainy weekends I enjoy tinkering with computers and old electronics, playing Pokemon, or picking at my guitar.
I am an interdisciplinary educator with an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. My background is primarily in integrated arts learning and museum education and I specialize in visual arts, history and art history, and object-based learning. In all subjects, I take a creative, inquiry-based and learner-centered approach, designing opportunities for each unique individual to meet their learning goals.
I am a recent graduate from a masters program in biostatistics at Columbia University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences, with a focus in neurobiology at Northwestern University. In August, I will be starting a doctoral program in biostatistics at NYU. I was a teaching assistant at Columbia University in my department and also have tutored graduate students and undergraduates privately as well. My primary areas of tutoring are math and statistics coursework in addition to math sections on standardized tests such as the GRE and GMAT. I am very passionate about helping students feel more confident and excited about math. In my spare time, I enjoy running, playing piano, and spending time with friends and family.
I am a graduate of Wesleyan University, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with High Honors. With eight years of experience working in education, I've tutored students in math, science, history, and English, as well as helped students prepare for standardized tests. I've guided adults towards passing the US Citizenship Exam and taught English in India, where I lived for six months. Whenever I work with a student I personalize the lessons to fit their particular learning style, since I know every student is unique and having the right fit can make all the difference in making learning fun and effective. My strengths are tutoring the social sciences and humanities, as well as making math and standardized tests approachable to students that normally don't like those subjects. In my spare time I like traveling, spending time in the outdoors (climbing & backpacking), meditation, and playing soccer. Next fall I will be beginning my PhD in Education at Harvard University.
I am a junior Mechanical Engineering major at Yale, and I hope to become a Naval Aviator after college. I am also a varsity sailor, and enjoy playing music with friends when I can get some free time. I have been tutoring my fellow students throughout my entire academic career, and I would best describe my tutoring style as one that adapts to each students' needs. For example, I have always tried to frame questions in a different way so that the student can better understand the question. Some students need visual representations of numbers and systems to understand them, and others benefit more by understanding the concepts behind each formula. I prefer to tutor in math and physics, and especially with real world application problems. I hope to help students improve their standardized test scores and their understanding of the math and sciences so that they can achieve their academic goals!
I am a graduate of Washington University in St Louis, where I received my Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Humanities and Anthropology. Since graduation, I have worked as a tutor, teacher, and director of tutors at a charter public middle school in Boston. During this time I also received my Masters in Mild to Moderate Disabilities from Simmons College. I have worked extensively with students with a range of abilities, including students with specific learning disabilities, emotional impairments, dyslexia, and ADHD. My teaching experience has given me a deep understanding of the knowledge and habits essential to academic success and has given me the opportunity to hone a variety of strategies that ensure students at each level can achieve their academic goals. While I tutor a broad range of subjects, my favorite ones are Reading, Elementary/Middle School Math, History, and Test Prep. In my experience, tutoring is the most rewarding when a student has that "aha!" moment and achieves a new level of understanding and confidence in his/her abilities. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of education, and I see my role to be that of a facilitator and coach who is there to help the student reach his/her goals through individualized support and rigorous practice. In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, practicing my Spanish, and discovering new music. I am also an avid traveler and just got back from a 3 month trip to South America. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard College and am about to declare as a Mechanical Engineering concentrator, working towards a Bachelor of Science degree. I've always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with my peers and those around me and have done so in both formal and informal settings. I've been a tutor for both Math and Spanish programs in high school and enjoyed the strides I made with students. I am willing to tutor any subject I have a background in, but am strong in mathematics, the sciences, Spanish, history, writing, and ACT prep. I enjoy teaching mathematics most due to the joy I can see in children once they master a topic and can answer even pointed questions meant to stump them, and maybe even put their knowledge to real world use. As a tutor, I like to give a strong foundation to orient my student, and then gradually grant them more freedom and independence until they can feel themselves grasp the concept, pointing out pitfalls or common errors along the way; teachers who used these methods on me always left the most lasting impressions. Outside of my studies, I really enjoy listening to music, both old favorites and new interests, reading classics, and gaming/playing basketball with my friends.
I am proud to be a part of Varsity Tutors! I am originally from San Antonio, TX; I completed my undergraduate education at Rice University in Houston where I received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Currently, I am in my second year of medical school at Baylor College of Medicine.
I'm Solange - a recent graduate from Harvard where I studied Sociology & Women's Studies. I've been tutoring for eight years now, and have worked with a wide range of ages and in a wide range of subjects. Some of my specialties are college prep/test taking II worked in the admissions office on campus); social sciences; and literature/writing.
I am an aspiring applied mathematician, with particular interest in image processing and climate science. I graduated in May 2017 from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor's in physics and mathematics, and am beginning a PhD program in September 2017 at the University of Chicago in Computational and Applied Mathematics. I've tutored introductory physics students for three years and enjoyed it thoroughly, as a chance to help other students while revisiting fundamental concepts to enhance my own knowledge. I'm eager to continue reaching out and helping students of math and physics to succeed and, furthermore, to appreciate the beauty and power of these subjects.
I am a graduate of McGill University (BA First Class Honors) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc First Class Honors with Distinction) with over eight years of tutoring experience. I am currently a curriculum developer for a company which creates relatable and culturally-literate courses for middle and high-schools, and am particularly adept at communicating and explaining concepts in a quirky, engaging, and intelligent manner. I was named Scotland International Young Thinker of the Year 2014 for exactly that sort of work. Much of my tutoring background is in test-prep and essay coaching, which I enjoy because it allows the tutor and student to think strategically together, and work as a team to achieve concrete results. I have worked with students ranging in age from 6-32, and believe that, in an educational context, a few jokes never hurt anybody. I love reading and learning, and my educational approach is centered around making the material just as engaging to students as it is to me. I think J.K. Rowlings, the writer of Harry Potter, is just as brilliant as Stephen Hawking, and in my free time, I manage my (terrible) fantasy baseball team, write songs for my comedy band, and crack jokes about terrible science-fiction movies with my friends.
I am currently a senior at Harvard College where I study chemistry, and I'll be attending Columbia Medical School next year. I have years of experience tutoring college students in math (mostly calculus) and chemistry including both general and organic chemistry. In addition, I am very familiar with all sections of the SAT and ACT having prepared several high school students for these tests. I believe that every student is capable of boosting his or her baseline score on these tests, so long as he or she works hard to get to know the format of the tests and the most popular types of questions. I tutor because I love seeing students develop a genuine passion for the subjects they once disliked (such as math and science), once they understand the power of these subjects and their applications to the real world.
I am exploring my creativity by pursuing a double major in Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus in Korean, studying abroad in South Korea as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, leading workshops that teach 3D printing and CAD for undergraduate students as the president of 3D4E, advocating for the first-generation and low-income student community as the Outreach Chair of the Quest+ Scholars Network, and getting involved with the Society of Women Engineers' outreach committee. I currently hold a work-study position as an administrative clerical aide in the Institute of Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern and was an undergraduate researcher in the John Rogers Lab. As I look forward with aspirations of applying to graduate school, areas of research in biomedical engineering and biotechnology that I am particularly interested in include biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery systems. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy learning on my own and sharing my experience and knowledge with my peers and other students. I hope to make use of my experiences with academics and learning in high school and so far in my undergraduate career in order to effectively tutor students who may be experiencing the same struggles in learning that I also experienced.
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Currently, I am in the master's program at the University of New Mexico where I am continuing my education in philosophy. Ultimately, I hope to go on to earn a PhD in Philosophy so that I can continue engaging in my passions for learning and teaching. While in school, I have spent countless hours coaching high school speech and debate both in person and working online with students across the country. My focus in coaching has been to emphasize philosophy and critical thought to prepare students to think through novel arguments on their own. I am passionate about teaching and tutoring because I love seeing students learn to be intellectually independent and think through problems on their own terms by developing their critical thinking skills. I have devoted my life to education because I am passionate about it, and I try to share some of my passion for learning with the students I work with. I tutor all sorts of Standardized Tests, and I particularly enjoy working on logic-based problems like analogies and math sections. When I am not tutoring or reading for school, I enjoy strategy games (both board games and video games), listening to music, hiking, playing basketball, and just relaxing with friends.
I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago where I received my undergraduate degree in political science. Right after graduation, I worked as an academic and test prep tutor as well as admissions consultant in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I worked with a number of students to help prepare them for college in the United States.
I am currently attending Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics. I love helping students and I love the feeling I get knowing that I was able to use my knowledge to make someone else happier. My favorite subject to teach is math because there are so many ways to learn it and if one way does not help I can use another. I used to teach taekwondo and interacted with all kinds of students, and I'm excited to help out more!
I am comfortable tutoring math subjects up to multivariable calculus and differential equations, as well as college physics.
I am excited to be home and help fellow straphangers on their educational paths! My largest wealth of tutoring experience is in foreign languages--particularly French--but I also feel very comfortable editing essays of any kind and working through standardized test concepts. My availability is extremely flexible, and anywhere in New York City works for me. I look forward to working with you.
I am a graduate of MIT. I received my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with minors in Management Science and Ancient and Medieval Studies. Since graduation, I have started my PhD at Georgia Tech in Operations Research. Throughout my career I have TA'd several math and computer science courses at the college level. I have also taught at summer programs for gifted middle school and high school students. I am passionate about tutoring kids in math and science because I think that a strong foundation in STEM at an early age can set the tone for their future. In my spare time I like to engage in athletics, and was a Division 1 rower in college.
I'm glad you've come to my page. I'm here as an experienced tutor and mentor who likes to listen to your specific needs and create an environment and plan ideal for your learning level and experience. Whether it's immediate assistance with an exam or long-term goals and improvement, I'm here to help!
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. I have been tutoring for over 6 years now, and I have found it to be an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. I specialize in mathematics, particularly at the high school level, and I also have experience tutoring other subjects. I also have done SAT prep for the mathematics section of the New SAT and am very familiar with the recent changes to the exam. My belief is that everyone is capable of learning with enough time, explanation, and practice, and I hope to pass this on to all the students I work with. For this reason, I believe in teaching students how to think and problem solve, rather than just having them memorize patterns or facts.
I am a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in psychology and linguistics. Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University. In the past, I have worked as a teacher's aide in a public school classroom, a mentor to middle school girls, an instructor and tutor at the literacy education organization 826, and a summer camp counselor. I tutor a diverse range of subjects, and I find that I especially enjoy tutoring language arts, reading, and writing at all levels, from elementary school all the way up to college/grad school test prep. As a tutor, I am committed to helping students reach their full potential as learners. Throughout my years as an educator, I have seen firsthand the remarkable academic growth that can occur when tutors provide students with the individualized support that they need. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, journaling, and learning about other languages and cultures.
I am a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University. My job requires excellent mathematics, analytic, and writing skills, which are also my favorite subjects to teach. I have experience teaching kids in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as college-aged students. My particular expertise is in managing attention and assisting with executive functioning (e.g., time management and planning).
I am passionate about education, learning, teaching, and specifically literatures and languages. I have experience as an ESL teacher for young children and teens, as well as experience working as a Writing Consultant at my undergraduate institution. I also spent all four years of my undergraduate career volunteering as an SAT tutor for local high schoolers. Beyond this, I have experience both as a private and public Spanish tutor. I love to help students reach their educational and personal goals in any way that I can.
I'm a graduate of Princeton University (2009), with a degree in Comparative Literature. I'll be receiving my masters degree in English from Grand Valley State University this fall and I'm looking forward to working with students like you! I've been teaching and tutoring students since 2008 and I specialize in English, Reading, Writing, Essays, and College Entrance Test Prep.
I am a Yale graduate with over 8 years experience tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds. I recently graduated from the Yale School of Public Health with a MPH concentrating in Epidemiology and Global Health. I also received my B.S. from Yale with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and French. I have experience both leading group classes and working with students one on one. I will respond to a student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning style in order to help them succeed and make the most of our time together. I earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, 2280 on the SAT, and qualified as a National Merit Scholar on the PSAT. I look forward to working with you!
I am specializing in the ACT. My tutoring approach, while covering test-taking techniques, will also emphasize the wisdom and skills needed to understand the root of the test questions. I hope that I can come alongside you to help and encourage you in your life pursuits.
I'm a pre-health student at the University of Pennsylvania, and have an extensive background in the sciences. I can also rock the SATs and MCAT, so I've got that going for me. I love learning with students and trying to make the tedious work of learning as fun as possible. I think and teach in examples and make abstract concepts easily understandable. I also love sports, adventures, travelling!
I am flexible and adaptive to different learning styles. I welcome students and/or parents to set their own goals/expectations, and I tailor the curriculum to suit those goals.
I am a recent graduate of Williams College, where I studied political science with sidelines in history and English. Next fall, I am headed to Ithaca to study at Cornell Law School. I have experience tutoring in all subjects for high school standardized tests and in writing and history at higher levels, and am excited to pass on the benefits of my study as a tutor for the LSAT. I look forward to working with you!
I am a very motivated individual that will ensure all my students succeed in their studies. I have a great teaching style that is unique to each student that I work with, and I work hard to make sure my students not only master the material they need to learn, but also understand how to study and prepare on their own.
I am a graduate of Stanford University, where I received a BS in Cognitive Science and an MS in Computer Science. After graduation, I spent a summer in Palestine, where I taught web development, app development, and entrepreneurship to a cohort of overenthusiastic high school students; now, I've moved halfway across the country from the Bay Area to the Twin Cities. From volunteering with organizations like Twin Cities Rise and The Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute to checking out art institutions like the Walker and Mia, it's been such a wonderful time settling into this new place that I call home.
I am a rising fourth-year medical student at Perelman SOM at the University of Pennsylvania currently taking time off from school. I am a Yale 2014 graduate (B.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry). I spent my gap year doing wet lab research in a biochemistry lab at the main NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, My parents are both university math professors with a natural gift for teaching that I believe they passed on to me. I hope to apply for residency in Internal Medicine or Psychiatry and down the line in my career to teach medical students while practicing in and academic or private-practice setting. I specialize in MCAT testing but am hoping to tutor for the SAT as well, and possibly AP exams. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, running, working out, playing video games, and dabbling in random hobbies (most recently crochet!).
I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When I'm not working or studying, I love playing volleyball (indoors or on the beach!) and spending time outside, canoeing or hiking with my dog. I look forward to meeting and working with you!
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.
I am currently a first-year Master's student at the Yale School of Public Health. I received my Bachelor's in biology at UCLA. As a Californian, I enjoy sunny weather and eating avocados.
I am a recent Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, where my studies revolved around applying life science research to health and social studies. I have served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for several courses, and specializes in 1-on-1 tutoring for introductory biochemistry. Biochemistry is my favorite because of how many other disciplines it synthesizes. After achieving a 38 on the MCAT (99.1%), I began mentoring students on test preparation strategies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) measures English proficiency for non-native speakers applying to colleges, universities, and professional programs. Most international students and some visa applicants need a TOEFL score to demonstrate they can succeed in English-language academic environments. The exam tests reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through the iBT (internet-based) format.
TOEFL scores range from 0-120, with most universities requiring scores between 70-100 depending on the program. Top-tier institutions typically want 100+, while many regional schools accept 70-85. Sacramento-area schools like Sacramento State and UC Davis have specific score requirements that vary by program, so it's important to research your target institution's minimum before preparing.
International students commonly struggle with the speaking section, where they must respond to prompts with natural pronunciation and grammar under time pressure. The listening section is also challenging because it features academic lectures with unfamiliar accents and complex vocabulary. Many students also find the integrated writing task—combining reading, listening, and writing skills—requires significant practice to master the specific format and timing.
Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify your specific weak areas—whether that's grammar, pronunciation, or test strategy—and create a customized study plan. In a classroom setting with 20-30 students (Sacramento's average student-teacher ratio is 22.5:1), you get generic preparation. With personalized tutoring, you get targeted practice on the sections where you need improvement most, real-time feedback on your speaking and writing, and flexible scheduling that fits your timeline.
Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation, though this varies based on your current English level and target score. If you're starting from an intermediate level and aiming for a 90+, expect to invest 3-4 months with regular study. Personalized tutoring accelerates progress by focusing practice on your specific gaps rather than generic review, helping you reach your goal score more efficiently.
Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in TOEFL preparation and understand the nuances of each section. When selecting a tutor, look for someone with proven experience helping students reach their target scores, familiarity with current iBT format, and the ability to provide detailed feedback on speaking and writing. Tutors should also be able to adapt their teaching style to your learning preferences and timeline.
Your first session typically includes an assessment of your current English level across all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) to identify your strengths and weaknesses. The tutor will discuss your target score, timeline, and any specific concerns—like anxiety around the speaking section. From there, they'll create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the areas where you'll gain the most points.
Most students see 10-20 point improvements within 8-12 weeks of consistent personalized tutoring, though results depend on your starting level and effort. Students who begin at 60-70 often reach 85-95, while those starting at 80+ may gain 5-15 points as they refine advanced skills. The key is focused, targeted practice on your specific weaknesses rather than reviewing material you already know well.
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