To find a good tutor, define exactly what your child needs, shortlist tutors with proven experience of that syllabus, test them with specific questions and a trial lesson, and review progress after a month. Most disappointing tutoring starts with a rushed choice: the first available tutor, or the cheapest. This guide is a complete, step-by-step approach for parents choosing a tutor for primary, Cambridge or Edexcel IGCSE, IB, A Level or Singapore exams.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company. The advice applies whichever tutor or service you choose.

Key takeaways

• Start with the goal and the exact syllabus, not with a tutor.
• Syllabus experience matters more than general qualifications.
• Ask specific questions; vague answers are a warning sign.
• A trial lesson on a weak topic is the best single test.
• Agree goals and review after four to six weeks.

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What makes a good tutor?

A good tutor knows your child’s exact syllabus, finds the real cause of mistakes quickly, keeps the student actively working, and communicates progress clearly. Qualifications and personality matter, but those four abilities decide results.

Quality	What it looks like	How to check
Syllabus knowledge	Knows the papers, command words and mark scheme	Ask about the exam structure
Diagnosis	Finds why a mistake happens, not just that it does	Watch the trial lesson
Active teaching	Student solves problems; tutor guides	Watch who talks most
Communication	Clear updates on progress	Ask how they report
Reliability	On time, prepared, consistent	Reviews and the first weeks

Step 1: Define what your child needs

Write down the goal, the deadline and the exact syllabus before you search. For example: “Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620, Extended tier, move from a C to a B by the May exams, mainly losing marks on calculations and Paper 6.”

1. Exam board and syllabus code, such as Cambridge 0580, Edexcel 4MA1, IB Chemistry HL or AQA A Level Biology 7402.
2. Current level and target, from the latest report or mock.
3. Where marks are lost, from recent tests.
4. Deadline, such as mocks, final exams or a university application.
5. Practical needs, such as time zone, budget and preferred format.

If you’re not sure tutoring is needed at all, our guide to whether your child needs tuition helps you decide.

Step 2: Decide on the format

Choose between one-to-one and group, and online and in person, based on your child’s needs.

Format	Best for
One-to-one online	Specific gaps, exam technique, wide choice of specialists
One-to-one in person	Younger children who need close supervision
Small group or centre	Students on track who want structure and peers
Self-paced course	Motivated students missing content only

Our comparisons of tutoring near me vs online and maths tuition centres vs private tutors go into more detail.

Step 3: Where to look for a tutor

The best places to look depend on how specialised your child’s syllabus is.

• School recommendations: teachers sometimes know good tutors.
• Other parents: useful, but check the tutor knows your child’s syllabus.
• Tuition centres: good for structure; check the syllabus taught.
• Tutoring agencies: will suggest a tutor; ask how they vet.
• Online tutoring platforms: widest choice of syllabus specialists, with reviews.

For international curricula such as IGCSE, IB and A Level, online platforms often give access to specialists who aren’t available locally.

Step 4: Shortlist and compare tutor profiles

Shortlist two or three tutors whose experience matches your child’s exact syllabus. Look for:

• experience with the specific board and level;
• recent, detailed reviews from families with similar goals;
• clear information about teaching approach;
• a rate you can sustain for several months.

Our guide to comparing tutor profiles before booking has a full checklist. You can browse specialists by subject, such as Cambridge IGCSE maths tutors, IB DP tutors or A Level tutors.

Step 5: Ask the right questions

Specific questions separate specialists from generalists. A good tutor answers confidently and in detail.

1. Which papers make up my child’s exam, and how are they weighted?
2. What do students usually lose marks on in this subject?
3. How will you find out what my child gets wrong?
4. How do you use past papers and mark schemes?
5. How will you report progress to me?
6. What happens if we need to reschedule?

For coursework subjects, also ask how the tutor supports work such as the IB internal assessment within the exam board’s rules.

Step 6: Book a trial lesson and judge it

A trial lesson on a topic your child finds hard is the best single test of a tutor. Watch for:

• whether the tutor asks questions to find the gap;
• how much your child talks and works;
• whether explanations are clear and use exam-style questions;
• whether your child leaves understanding something new.

Our guides on what happens in a free trial lesson and questions to ask after a trial lesson help you judge it.

Step 7: Agree goals and review progress

Agree two or three goals in the first lessons and review them after four to six weeks. Look at homework, test marks and your child’s confidence. If progress stalls, discuss changes with the tutor; if it continues, it’s fine to switch tutors.

How much does a good tutor cost?

Rates vary by country, level, subject and experience, and specialist exam-level tutors usually cost more. Rather than looking for the cheapest, look for the best experience with your child’s syllabus at a rate you can sustain. Our guide to one-to-one tuition rates explains what drives the price.

Does tutoring actually work?

On average, yes. The UK’s Education Endowment Foundation summarises research on one-to-one tuition and finds positive average effects on attainment, particularly when tutoring is targeted at specific needs and linked to classroom learning. That is why steps 1 and 5 above matter: a tutor working on the right problem is more effective.

How Tutopiya tutoring works

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online tutoring for primary, secondary, Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSE, IB, A Level and Singapore curriculum students.

• Profiles show subjects, qualifications, ratings, reviews and each tutor’s rate, so you can compare before booking.
• A free first trial lesson, with no card needed.
• Flexible monthly plans from 4 hours a month per subject.
• AI lesson analysis summarises each lesson with flashcards and quiz questions.

See our online tuition page for details.

Common mistakes

• Choosing the first available tutor → shortlist two or three.
• Choosing on price alone → compare syllabus experience.
• Skipping specific questions → test syllabus knowledge.
• Judging after one lesson → review after four to six weeks.
• Not telling the tutor the goal → agree goals at the start.

Talk to us

If you would like a recommendation, contact our team with your child’s subject, syllabus and goal.

Summary: define the goal and syllabus first, shortlist specialists, test them with specific questions and a trial lesson, and review progress after a month; that is how to find a tutor who actually helps.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a good tutor for my child? +

Start by defining the goal and the exact syllabus, then shortlist tutors with experience of that syllabus and good recent reviews. Ask specific questions about the exam, book a trial lesson on a weak topic, and review progress after four to six weeks.

What makes a good tutor? +

A good tutor knows your child's exact syllabus and mark scheme, finds the real cause of mistakes quickly, gets the student working rather than listening, communicates progress clearly, and is reliable.

Where can I find a tutor? +

Common routes are school recommendations, other parents, local tuition centres, tutoring agencies and online tutoring platforms. Online platforms give the widest choice of syllabus specialists, which matters for IGCSE, IB and A Level.

How much should a good tutor cost? +

Rates vary by country, level, subject and experience. Specialist exam-level tutors usually cost more than general tutors. Compare a tutor's rate against their experience with your child's exact syllabus.

How does Tutopiya help me find a tutor? +

Tutopiya profiles show each tutor's subjects, qualifications, ratings, reviews and rate. You can filter by curriculum and subject, and the first trial lesson is free with no card required.

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