Hire a Private English Tutor Online, Matched to Your Goals
Hire a matched private English tutor from North American Tutors. Every tutor graduated from a top university and coaches reading, writing, literature, or test-prep English for the SAT, ACT, and AP. Sessions are one-on-one and online. A person on our team matches you to the right tutor, and you can change tutors at any time if the fit is wrong.
Find the perfect tutor for you based on your requirements!
English Language/Literature
Owen Emmons teaches Chemistry, Environmental Science, Math, Physics, Biology, College Application work, and SATs to those of any academic background or level. While studying at Duke University towards a degree in Chemistry with a concentration in…
Fifi teaches Mathematics, English, French, Psychology, and other subjects at all stages of understanding. She is currently studying Economics and Sustainable Development at Columbia University as…
Rachel teaches Math and English topics found on the SAT, with associated tips and strategies in preparation for the exam. Her experience in tutoring students has allowed her to form an engaging and personalized approach ...
Brian teaches the SAT, college admissions mentoring, Economics, Maths, and French. He is a Columbia University graduate with a BA in Economics and French Language and Literature, earning Summa Cum Laude…
Kurtis is currently pursuing an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he works as a graduate research. Kurtis earned scores of 36 on the ACT and a 1570 on the SAT…
Tabassum Sami is a dedicated medical student and accomplished tutor, specializing in SAT prep and medical school admissions. Currently pursuing her MD at the CUNY School of Medicine through the highly competitive 7-year BS/MD program, ...
Maya has a BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, and with departmental honors. Her research thesis, for which she received the Christina L. Williams ...
Jamie graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology and a minor in Evolutionary Medicine. She maintained an impressive 3.99 GPA as an Alumni Scholar and honors student while actively ...
Zach is a student at Princeton University studying Operations Research and Financial Engineering. Currently on a gap year, Zach is working at Old Dominion University's Center for Secure and Intelligent Systems as a Student Researcher...
Lia is a student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire currently pursuing a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies. She was the valedictorian of her highschool and a National Merit Scholarship winner …
Frances teaches mathematics, standardized test prep (SAT, ACT & AP), reading comprehension, and academic writing at various academic levels. While attaining her B.A. in English–Frances gained experience as a peer writing instructor. After graduating …
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Tell us about your student
In a short call we ask about your current level, what you are working on, whether that is SAT or ACT English, AP English, essays, literature, or conversation, and what a good outcome looks like. This takes about 15 minutes and is free.
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We select two or three tutors
We choose one tutor from the roster whose specialty and teaching style fit your goal and pace, and we explain why that tutor is the right choice.
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First session for $50
You and the tutor meet online, work through a sample of your material, and both sides get a real sense of the fit.
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Adjust if the match is wrong
If the match is wrong after the first session, we introduce you to another tutor at no extra cost. No penalty, no long-term contract.
What Happens During an Online English Session
Sessions are one-on-one and online, on Zoom or a platform you prefer, and usually run 60 or 90 minutes at a time that suits you and your tutor.
A session starts with a focus: a specific essay draft, a reading passage, an AP prompt, an SAT Reading and Writing set, or a literature concept. That focus is what one-on-one work does better than a large class. Your tutor then coaches using real texts, practice passages, or your own writing. On an essay, the tutor reads it, asks questions, and gives feedback on argument, structure, and style. On test prep, the tutor models close reading and shows strategy specific to that test.
Before the session ends, the tutor assigns short homework, usually one to three passages, questions, or writing tasks, due before the next session, and stays reachable by email for quick questions. You get a short written summary after each session so progress is easy to track.
How to Choose an English Tutor: What Actually Matters
Look past price to the criteria that decide whether tutoring works:
Does the tutor match your specific goal? SAT English, AP Literature, essay coaching, and ESL are different jobs. A specialist in your goal beats a generalist.
Are the credentials real for your goal? For test prep, a high SAT or ACT verbal score signals mastery under time pressure. For writing, ask how many essays the tutor has coached. For literature, ask about their teaching background.
Can the tutor diagnose before teaching? The best tutors spend the first session finding the exact skill costing you points, not delivering a generic lesson.
Does the tutor adapt to how you learn? Some students need drills and structure, others need discussion and exploration. Ask how the tutor knows a method is working.
Is the tutor available at the frequency you need? Two sessions a week before a test only helps if the tutor can schedule them.
Can you change tutors if the fit is wrong? Trust is what makes one-on-one work. We let you switch without penalty; some services lock you in.
Test-prep English (SAT, ACT, AP). Much of this page's search demand is test prep. If you are targeting the SAT Reading and Writing modules, our SAT tutor roster covers exactly that, and our SAT prep hub explains the digital format in depth. For ACT English, our ACT tutor roster and our ACT prep hub break down the grammar and rhetoric questions and the tight timing. For AP English Language and Literature, our AP prep hub covers the exam structure and the free-response sections. Many of these tutors scored in the top band on their own tests.
Writing, literature, and essays. If you are working on essays or literary analysis, our tutors studied English at universities including Columbia, Dartmouth, UCLA, and Cornell, and several coach college application essays as well; students focused on admissions writing can work with our dedicated college application essay tutors.
ESL, conversation, and business English. If you want conversation practice, pronunciation, or professional communication, ask for it in the consultation and we will match a tutor with that background; students focused primarily on a new language can also see our second-language tutors.
Private Tutoring vs. Other Ways to Learn English
If you are close to your goal and only need polish, official free materials and steady practice may be enough; if a specific barrier is costing you points or a deadline is near, one-on-one tutoring is where it earns its cost.
Is Private English Tutoring Right for You?
Right for:
Students prepping for SAT or ACT English or AP English with a specific weak area
Writers who want real feedback on essays, arguments, and style
Adults and professionals who want stronger business or conversational English
Literature students working through difficult texts and analytical writing
Anyone on a tight timeline who has plateaued with self-study
Not right for:
Someone who only needs a one-time grammar check (a free tool or peer editor is enough)
A learner who cannot commit to practice between sessions
A family who is comfortable self-studying with free materials and does not have a specific barrier
FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does English tutoring cost?
Rates range from $60 to $150 per hour depending on tutor experience and the package you choose. A typical package for test prep runs $400–$1,200 for an eight-week intensive (four sessions per week). You can also do ongoing tutoring at one to two sessions per week. See our full pricing page for package details and what's included in each level.
How soon should I start English tutoring?
It depends on your goal. If you're prepping for a test, start one to three months before. If you're working on essays or writing skills, start as soon as you have a deadline or goal. Earlier starts allow a slower pace; closer deadlines mean more intensity. Talk to your tutor about timing.
How often do I need tutoring?
Most learners improve fastest with one to two sessions per week. A single weekly session over a longer period (say, 12 weeks) works if you're not on a tight timeline. Twice-weekly sessions are useful for a compressed push (eight weeks). Talk to your tutor about what your goal requires.
What if I don't click with my tutor?
You can change tutors at any time without penalty. The first session is free, so you and the tutor can test the fit. If after one or two paid sessions the match isn't right, just let us know, and we'll introduce you to another tutor. No contracts. No fees.
Is English tutoring online or in person?
All sessions are online, conducted on Zoom or another video platform of your choice. This means you can work with any tutor in our roster no matter where you live, and you can attend from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere with internet.
What about homework and practice between sessions?
Your tutor assigns one to three practice items (writing exercises, reading passages, or practice questions) after each session, due before the next one. Homework usually takes 30–60 minutes. The tutor reviews your work at the start of the next session, identifies patterns, and adjusts the plan based on what you're struggling with.
Do I need to have taken the SAT/AP/ACT already to start tutoring?
No. You can start tutoring before taking any test. In the first session, your tutor will give you a diagnostic (a practice passage or essay) to identify weak areas and build a plan. However, if you've already taken the test, bring your score report or results to the first session; your tutor will use it to diagnose weak spots faster and target prep more efficiently.
How is private tutoring different from a large test-prep course or marketplace tutor?
Large courses teach the same material to everyone. Marketplace tutors vary widely in quality and vetting. Private tutoring here is different: your tutor knows you, adapts to your learning style, and focuses 100% on your weak points, not the parts you've already mastered. This personalized, adaptive approach saves time and produces faster improvement.