Research
Exam Tutors Worldwide: Who Teaches IGCSE, A Levels, IB, AP, SAT, ACT, IELTS and TOEFL (TutorTime 2026)
Published 31 October 2026
52% of TutorTime tutors teach IGCSE, A Levels, IB, AP, SAT, ACT, IELTS or TOEFL. Where 123 exam tutors in 21 countries live, what they teach and charge.
Half of TutorTime's tutors prepare students for at least one international exam. We mapped 236 tutors in 33 countries: which exams they cover, where they live, what else they teach, and what they charge compared with other tutors in their country.
TutorTime Research · Data snapshot: 26 October 2026, 00:02 UTC · Next update: April 2027
International curricula and admissions tests have never been bigger. IB programmes are taught in more than 6,200 schools in over 160 countries (IB, Aug 2026). Cambridge IGCSE is offered by over 7,000 schools in 147 countries, and Cambridge International AS & A Levels by almost 5,000 schools in 138 countries (Cambridge International). Just over 2 million students in the US class of 2025 took the SAT (College Board), and more than 4 million IELTS tests were taken in 2023 (IELTS).
Many of those students look for a tutor, and more and more of them look online and across borders. This report shows who is on the other side of that search. It covers every public tutor listing on TutorTime, a free listing board where tutors set their own rate and keep all of it.
Read this first: these figures describe tutors listed on TutorTime, not all tutors in the world or in any country. Exams and curricula are self-reported by tutors. Prices are advertised asking rates, not what families paid. See Methodology and limitations.
Key findings
- 52% of TutorTime tutors (123 of 236) list at least one international exam or curriculum. 39% list a curriculum (IGCSE, A Levels, IB or AP) and 30% a test (SAT, ACT, IELTS or TOEFL).
- IGCSE and A Levels are the most common, and they come as a pair. 65 tutors list IGCSE and 63 list A Levels; 77% of IGCSE tutors also teach A Levels. 82% of IB tutors also list IGCSE or A Levels.
- US exams are mostly taught from outside the US. Nigeria is home to the largest group of TutorTime's SAT tutors (24%), more than twice the US share (11%). 85% of AP tutors are based outside the United States, most often in India (25%).
- Exam tutors ask about a third more (+33%) than tutors in the same country who list no exam. They charge more in 6 of the 8 largest markets, from roughly double in India, Pakistan and the UK to no gap at all in Nigeria and the Philippines.
- IB tutors carry the biggest premium (+25% vs their own country's median). SAT (+18%) and IGCSE (+15%) follow; A Levels sits close to the median (+3%) and TOEFL tutors price below it (−13%).
- Exam tutors are more experienced. They have taught for a median of 8 years, against 6 for other tutors, and only 15% are in their first 2 years (28% of other tutors).
- Almost all of it happens online. 100% of IGCSE, A Levels, IB and AP tutors teach online, and 98% of SAT tutors do. Only 17–29% also offer in-person lessons (ACT: 40%).
Which exams TutorTime tutors cover
| Exam / curriculum | Tutors | Share of all listings | Tutor home countries | Teach online | Also in person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE | 65 | 28% | 16 | 100% | 18% |
| A Levels | 63 | 27% | 16 | 100% | 17% |
| IB | 45 | 19% | 14 | 100% | 24% |
| SAT | 45 | 19% | 15 | 98% | 29% |
| AP | 40 | 17% | 14 | 100% | 22% |
| IELTS | 30 | 13% | 15 | 100% | 23% |
| TOEFL | 24 | 10% | 13 | 100% | 21% |
| ACT | 15 | 6% | 8 | 100% | 40% |
Exam tutors rarely specialise in just one exam. On average they list 2.7 of the eight, 45% list three or more, and a third (33%) cover both a school curriculum and an admissions or English test.
The pairings follow how students actually move through school systems:
- Cambridge pathway: 77% of IGCSE tutors also list A Levels, and 79% of A Levels tutors also list IGCSE. 50 tutors list both.
- IB alongside Cambridge: 82% of IB tutors also list IGCSE or A Levels. That suits international-school families who move between systems, or whose school teaches IGCSE before the IB Diploma.
- US admissions: only 35% of AP tutors also list the SAT. AP tutors are mostly subject specialists (Maths, Physics, Chemistry), while SAT tutors lean towards Maths and English (see below). All 15 ACT tutors also list the SAT.
- English tests: 16 tutors list both IELTS and TOEFL.
Taiwan example (secondary): AP and IELTS are the most-listed exams among TutorTime's 25 Taiwan-based tutors (5 each), and 48% of Taiwan tutors list at least one exam. See Mathematics tutors in Taiwan.
Where exam tutors live
Exam tutoring on TutorTime is spread across many countries. Each curriculum's tutors come from 14 to 16 countries, and 20 of the 123 exam tutors live outside the eight largest markets.
| Exam | Largest home countries (share of that exam's tutors, countries with 5+ tutors only) |
|---|---|
| IGCSE (65) | India 17%, United Kingdom 17%, Pakistan 15%, Nigeria 15% |
| A Levels (63) | India 19%, Pakistan 17%, United Kingdom 17%, Nigeria 10% |
| IB (45) | India 27%, Pakistan 13%, United Kingdom 11% |
| AP (40) | India 25%, United States 15%, Taiwan 12% |
| SAT (45) | Nigeria 24%, India 11%, Philippines 11%, United States 11% |
| IELTS (30) | Taiwan 17%; no other country has 5+ |
| TOEFL (24), ACT (15) | no single country has 5+ tutors (13 and 8 countries) |
Two patterns stand out:
- Curriculum and country don't line up. The UK is the home of A Levels, but only 17% of TutorTime's A Levels tutors live there. India supplies more IB tutors (27%) than any other country, and only 15% of AP tutors and 11% of SAT tutors are US-based.
- Nigeria is an SAT hub. 11 of TutorTime's 45 SAT tutors are in Nigeria. Browse SAT tutors in Nigeria or SAT tutors in the United States.
Share of each country's tutors who teach an exam
| Tutor country | Listings | Any exam | Curriculum | Test | Most-listed exams (5+ tutors) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 22 | 73% | 64% | 14% | A Levels, IGCSE, IB |
| Nigeria | 31 | 58% | 32% | 42% | SAT, IGCSE, A Levels |
| India | 29 | 55% | 52% | 21% | A Levels, IB, IGCSE |
| South Africa | 19 | 53% | 32% | 47% | – |
| Philippines | 20 | 50% | 20% | 50% | SAT |
| Pakistan | 25 | 48% | 44% | 16% | A Levels, IGCSE, IB |
| Taiwan | 25 | 48% | 32% | 32% | AP, IELTS |
| United States | 24 | 38% | 29% | 25% | AP, SAT |
Countries with fewer than 14 listings aren't shown individually but are counted in every global figure.
What else exam tutors teach
% of each exam's tutors who also teach each subject
| Exam (tutors) | Mathematics | Physics | Chemistry | Biology | English | Economics/Business | Computer Science/IT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IGCSE (n=65) | 46% | 34% | 29% | 28% | 38% | 15% | 15% |
| A Levels (n=63) | 48% | 37% | 30% | 29% | 40% | 17% | 17% |
| IB (n=45) | 49% | 33% | 33% | 27% | 42% | 13% | 13% |
| AP (n=40) | 50% | 40% | 40% | 32% | 32% | 8% | 12% |
| SAT (n=45) | 73% | 22% | 11% | 11% | 58% | 11% | 18% |
| ACT (n=15) | 60% | 20% | 7% | 0% | 67% | 7% | 13% |
| IELTS (n=30) | 20% | 3% | 10% | 13% | 90% | 17% | 3% |
| TOEFL (n=24) | 4% | 0% | 4% | 8% | 92% | 17% | 0% |
Mathematics is the most common subject among curriculum tutors: about half of IGCSE (46%), A Levels (48%), IB (49%) and AP (50%) tutors list it. Physics and Chemistry are especially common among AP tutors (40% each).
Test-prep tutors split by test. SAT tutors are mostly Maths (73%) and English (58%) teachers, matching the test's two sections. IELTS (90%) and TOEFL (92%) tutors almost all list English, and few teach science.
Economics, Business and Computing are thinner: only 8–17% of curriculum tutors list them. Families looking for IB Economics or A Level Computer Science have fewer options than for Maths. See Economics tutors and Computer Science tutors.
What exam tutors charge
Prices vary five-fold between countries (see our Tutor Rates Report), so a raw global median would mostly measure where tutors live. We therefore compare each tutor with the median of their own country (8 markets with 14+ listings).
- Tutors who list any of the eight exams ask 8% above their country's median. Tutors who list none ask 19% below. Put together, exam tutors ask about 33% more than same-country peers.
- IB (+25%), SAT (+18%) and IGCSE (+15%) carry the largest premiums. A Levels tutors sit close to their local median (+3%). TOEFL tutors ask less than their local median (−13%).
| Tutor country | Median, lists an exam | Median, lists none | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | US$50.6 (n=16) | US$25.3 (n=6) | about 2× |
| Pakistan | US$19.5 (n=12) | US$8.0 (n=13) | about 2.4× |
| India | US$20.0 (n=16) | US$10.0 (n=13) | 2× |
| Taiwan | US$28.9 (n=12) | US$18.8 (n=13) | +54% |
| South Africa | US$19.5 (n=10) | US$14.1 (n=9) | +38% |
| United States | US$50.0 (n=8) | US$40.0 (n=15) | +25% |
| Nigeria | US$12.7 (n=18) | US$12.7 (n=13) | none |
| Philippines | US$9.0 (n=10) | US$9.5 (n=10) | none |
Medians of advertised hourly rates, converted to US$ by TutorTime at listing time. In local currency, Taiwan's medians are NT$925 (lists an exam) vs NT$600 (lists none), and the UK's £40 vs £20. The UK and US comparisons rest on small groups (6 and 8 tutors), so treat them as indicative.
What this means for families: an exam specialist usually costs more, but not everywhere. In Nigeria and the Philippines, SAT and IGCSE tutors ask the same as other local tutors, and they teach online, so a student anywhere can book them.
Experience
| Group | Tutors | Median years teaching | 10+ years | 0–2 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lists IGCSE, A Levels, IB or AP | 93 | 8 | 38% | 16% |
| Lists SAT, ACT, IELTS or TOEFL | 71 | 7 | 37% | 15% |
| Lists any of the eight | 123 | 8 | 38% | 15% |
| Lists none of the eight | 113 | 6 | 30% | 28% |
Years of teaching are self-reported ("teaching since" year). SAT tutors have the longest median at 9 years, and 44% of them have taught for 10+ years.
Is the share changing?
TutorTime grew from 162 public listings on 8 October to 236 on 26 October 2026. The share of tutors listing at least one exam has stayed close to half: 55% (8 Oct), 51% (19 Oct) and 52% (26 Oct). New tutors are joining in roughly the same mix as existing ones.
Advice
For students and parents
- Ask which exam board and syllabus. "IGCSE" can mean Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel, and A Levels differ by board. Ask the tutor which papers they've taught.
- Look beyond your own country. Every IGCSE, A Levels, IB and AP tutor on TutorTime teaches online. The tutor who fits your syllabus and time zone may live on another continent. Start with online tutors.
- Budget for a premium, but compare. Exam specialists ask about a third more than other tutors in their country on average. In some markets there's no premium at all.
- For SAT, ACT and AP, check the time zone. Most of these tutors are outside the US. Agree on lesson times in UTC (or both local times) before you book.
For tutors
- List the exact exams you teach. Half of TutorTime tutors list at least one, and exam tutors ask more than other local tutors in 6 of 8 markets.
- Fill the gaps. Economics, Business and Computing are listed by only 8–17% of curriculum tutors, and ACT by only 15 tutors in total. Create a free listing.
FAQ
How many tutors on TutorTime teach IGCSE, A Levels or IB? On 26 October 2026, 65 TutorTime tutors listed IGCSE, 63 listed A Levels and 45 listed IB, from 14–16 countries each. 52% of all 236 tutors list at least one of eight international exams or curricula.
Do IB and IGCSE tutors cost more? Usually. Compared with other tutors in their own country, IB tutors ask about 25% more than the local median and IGCSE tutors about 15% more. Across all eight exams, exam tutors ask about a third more than same-country tutors who list none. There's no gap in Nigeria or the Philippines.
Where are most SAT tutors based? On TutorTime, Nigeria is home to the largest group of SAT tutors (24% of 45), followed by India, the Philippines and the United States (11% each). Almost all SAT tutors (98%) teach online.
Can I find an AP tutor outside the United States? Yes. 85% of TutorTime's 40 AP tutors live outside the US, most often in India (25%) and Taiwan (12%). All of them teach online.
Do IB tutors also teach IGCSE and A Levels? Mostly, yes. 82% of TutorTime's IB tutors also list IGCSE or A Levels, and 77% of IGCSE tutors also teach A Levels.
Are exam tutors more experienced? On TutorTime, yes. Exam tutors have taught for a median of 8 years, against 6 for other tutors, and only 15% are in their first two years of teaching (28% of other tutors).
Can I use this data? Yes, under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "TutorTime Exam Tutors Report, Oct 2026" with a link to this page.
Methodology and limitations
- Data. Every public tutor listing on tutortime.study at 00:02 UTC on 26 October 2026 (236 listings, 33 countries, 235 priced). Data was read from the public homepage listing data. No private data, messages or contact details were used.
- Exams and curricula. "Curriculum" = the IGCSE, A Levels, IB and AP options in TutorTime's curriculum field. "Test" = SAT, ACT, IELTS and TOEFL in the subject field. Tutors pick these themselves, and TutorTime doesn't verify them. "IGCSE" may include Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE, and "A Levels" may include UK and international boards. The listing form doesn't record which.
- Countries. Tutor country is self-reported. Countries are named only where at least 5 tutors list that exam. The eight markets with 14+ listings are shown individually; all countries count in global figures.
- Prices. Advertised hourly asking rates in US$, using TutorTime's own conversion at listing time. Same-country comparisons divide each tutor's US$ rate by their country's median (8 markets, 194 priced listings). Group figures are geometric means of those ratios. The "+33%" figure is the ratio of the two groups' geometric means (1.08 ÷ 0.81). Small groups (under 10) are flagged as indicative.
- Experience. Snapshot year (2026) minus the year the tutor says they started teaching.
- Privacy. Aggregates only. Every published figure rests on at least 5 listings. No tutor is named, and no minimum or maximum prices are shown.
- Sample. TutorTime is a young, growing platform. These figures describe its tutors, not the global tutoring market, and may shift as listings grow.
- Reproducibility. Every figure is in the downloadable data appendix (CSV, CC BY 4.0) and can be rebuilt with our analysis script from the saved snapshot.
Sources
- International Baccalaureate, Facts and figures (updated 19 Aug 2026): over 6,200 schools, over 160 countries, more than 1.95 million students.
- International Baccalaureate, 2025 Annual Impact Report: 327,438 candidates registered for IB exams in 2025.
- Cambridge International Education, Facts and figures: IGCSE in over 7,000 schools in 147 countries; AS & A Levels in almost 5,000 schools in 138 countries.
- College Board, SAT participation in the class of 2025: more than 2 million SAT takers.
- College Board, AP Program Results: Class of 2025: over 1.3 million US public school graduates took more than 4.8 million AP Exams.
- IELTS, IELTS trusted by millions in 2023: more than 4 million tests taken in 2023.
Cite this report
Source: TutorTime Exam Tutors Report, Oct 2026, tutortime.study/research/exam-prep-tutors-2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Related TutorTime research: Tutor Rates 2026 · Tutor Availability 2026 (UTC) · Tutoring Languages 2026
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