Choosing a tutor

It is great to see the demand for tutoring rising so much. It really shows that students and their parents are committed to investing in their education in an increasingly competitive market. But with this increased demand has come a wealth of people trying to cash in on it. So how do you go about selecting the right tutor for you or your child?

This article is going to break down some of the things to look out for which can make or break the experience with tutoring, and ultimately the outcomes when you get to results day in August.

Price

Many people focus on the price of lessons when choosing a tutor and this is understandable. Employing a tutor can be a long-term commitment and the financial implications of that must be borne in mind. The cost of a tutor will vary depending on the level (primary, GCSE, A-level), the experience of the tutor, the subject and the location. Prices range from £20 to over £100 per hour. Employing a tutor once a week for three subjects over two years, this amounts to a significant difference in overall cost.

Experience

Theoretically, anybody can act as a tutor for a student. This means that a first-year law undergraduate can offer tutoring services in chemistry up to A-level. I have seen this happen. By contrast, many tutors are experienced teachers in the subject they are offering. They may be more expensive than the undergraduate, but they have seen multiple exam papers and know which questions occur year-on-year and where students make mistakes. They have the skills to tailor sessions to your circumstances. Good results are not achieved on the subject knowledge of the tutor, they come from the ability to explain that subject knowledge and translate it into assessment answers which actually gain marks.

Online or in-person

This comes down to a matter of personal preference. Some tutors offer only one or the other. Others offer both. There are pros and cons to each.

Personality

This is a difficult one to assess. Some people naturally get on better with certain individuals than others. If you find you don't get on with a particular tutor, you have to go through the entire process of finding a new one or stick with somebody you don't work well with. Some tutors offer a free session prior to tutoring which they may call an assessment or consultation. If you can find somebody offering these, they are worth investigating. It gives you that opportunity to discuss what you want to gain from the sessions, where you are currently, how often and decide payment details before committing to anything.

In the end, tutoring is an investment in your education. Choosing the right tutor can make or break your academic success, not only in your current exams, but in subsequent exams and university applications. It is not a decision to be taken lightly.

If you would like to discuss your options with us, then get in touch via the contact page and we would be happy to arrange a free 30-minute consultation.