New online tutor tips are easy to find. A clear plan for your first month is harder. The first 30 days after approval set your trajectory: the habits you form, the reviews you collect, and whether your first trials become regular students. This guide gives a week-by-week plan for your first month on Tutopiya. It covers availability, trials, feedback, parent updates and profile improvements, so you reach day 30 with a growing schedule.

Key takeaways

• Week 1: open plenty of peak slots and prepare your trial plan.
• Week 2: run excellent trials and submit feedback promptly.
• Week 3: build routines with your first regular students.
• Week 4: review your numbers and improve your profile.
• Professionalism (punctual, camera on, prompt feedback) matters as much as teaching.

The week-by-week plan

Week	Focus	Key actions
1	Get visible	Peak slots; “Available for Trials” status; trial plan ready; explore resources
2	Win trials	Structured trials; clear end-of-trial plan; prompt feedback
3	Build routines	Lesson plans for regular students; consistent slots; short progress notes
4	Review and improve	Track conversion; refresh photo, bio or video; adjust slots

Week 1: get visible

1. Open several peak slots on the days you teach. Tutors with at least five peak slots a day tend to get the most bookings, according to the Become a Tutor page.
2. Set your status to “Available for Trials”.
3. Turn on notifications. Bookings arrive by WhatsApp and email in your own time zone.
4. Prepare a trial plan. Read our trial lesson plan template.
5. Explore Tutopiya’s resources: past papers, materials and AI tools.

Week 2: win trials

• Join on time, camera on, in a quiet, well-lit room.
• Diagnose quickly and fix one visible gap.
• End with a specific plan for the next four lessons.
• Submit lesson feedback after every class. It’s required, trials included.

Week 3: build routines

• Plan each regular student’s next four lessons.
• Keep the same weekly slots, so families can rely on them.
• Use your feedback notes to track progress.
• Keep all communication on the platform. Don’t share personal contact details.

Week 4: review and improve

Measure	What it tells you	If it’s low
Trials booked	Profile visibility	More peak slots; better photo and video
Trial conversion	Trial quality	Tighten diagnosis and the end-of-trial plan
Regular lessons a week	Income base	Keep slots consistent; follow up well
Reschedules and cancellations	Schedule stability	Check notifications; keep availability accurate

Rules to keep in mind from day one

From the Tutor Marketplace Terms:

• Camera on in every class.
• Feedback after every class.
• Trials are one hour. Wait 15 minutes if a student doesn’t join.
• Regular classes: wait 30 minutes for an absent student. You’re eligible for up to one hour’s compensation.
• Student reschedules and cancellations aren’t compensated.
• No sharing personal contact details with students or parents.

Browse subjects on the Cambridge IGCSE tutor jobs hub.

A daily routine for your first month

When	What
Morning	Check WhatsApp and email for new bookings, reschedules and cancellations
Before each lesson	Five-minute preparation: board, questions, setup test
After each lesson	Submit feedback (required); note next steps
End of day	Update availability for the coming days
End of week	Review trials, conversions and slots

This routine takes little time, but it’s what makes new tutors reliable, and reliability is what families remember.

How tutoring with Tutopiya works

Tutopiya is a 1-on-1 online tutoring marketplace for Cambridge IGCSE, Edexcel IGCSE, IB and International A Level students. You set your starting hourly rate when you create your profile and keep all of it, because Tutopiya’s 40–50% commission is added on top and paid by the student. Later rate changes are requested through Tutopiya, which approves them at its discretion. You’re paid on the 15th of each month for the previous month’s lessons. Every plan (SGD 10/month, SGD 20 for 3 months or SGD 90/year) includes Microsoft Teams, past papers, learning resources, AI tools and free teacher training. Full details are on the Tutopiya Become a Tutor page.

Common first-month mistakes

• Too few slots.
• Unstructured trials.
• Late feedback.
• Missing notifications.
• Not reviewing numbers.

Talk to us

For a broader guide, read how to get students as a new online tutor. For keeping students long-term, see how online tutors keep students long-term. Questions? Contact the Tutopiya team.

Frequently asked questions

What should a new tutor focus on in the first month? +

Three things: wide peak availability, excellent trial lessons, and reliable professionalism (punctual, camera on, prompt feedback after every class). These build the regular students and reviews that make later months easier.

What if I don't get bookings in my first weeks? +

Check the basics: is your profile complete, with a clear photo and video? Do you have enough peak slots? Is your starting rate competitive? Tutopiya's terms link visibility to a clear photo, a professional video, more free slots and affordable pricing. Improve one thing at a time.

How do I handle reschedules and cancellations? +

Students may reschedule or cancel at any time without penalty, and tutors aren't compensated for student reschedules or cancellations. Watch your WhatsApp and email notifications, update your availability, and keep slots you can genuinely teach.

Ready to Become a Tutor?

Teach IGCSE, IB, and A-Level students worldwide from home. Tutopiya connects specialist tutors with families around the world — keep 100% of your hourly rate, use AI-powered resources, and apply in minutes.

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