How much does a GCSE tutor cost in the UK?
TutorAura guide · Updated
GCSE tutoring in the UK typically costs about £30 to £45 an hour. The tutoring marketplace Tutorful reports an average of £34.23 an hour for GCSE Maths, and across all levels an average of about £35 online and £42 in person, with London in-person tutoring higher at about £46.
At one hour a week, that's roughly £150 a month during term. Here's what affects the price and how to get good value.
Key takeaways
- Typical GCSE tutoring: about £30 to £45 an hour.
- Online lessons are usually cheaper than in-person ones.
- One hour a week costs roughly £150 a month.
- Tutoring works best when it targets specific gaps and links to schoolwork.
Typical rates
| Level | Average per hour (Tutorful) |
|---|---|
| Primary | about £28 |
| GCSE Maths | about £34 |
| A level Maths | about £42 |
| University level | about £53 |
| Format | Average per hour (Tutorful) |
|---|---|
| Online (all levels) | about £35 |
| In person (all levels) | about £42 |
| In person in London | about £46 |
These are averages from one marketplace; individual tutors charge more or less depending on experience and subject.
What a term or year costs
At £35 an hour: one hour a week is about £150 a month and about £1,820 over a year of weekly sessions. Many families tutor only in the run-up to exams, for example from January to May of year 11. Use our tutoring cost calculator for your own numbers.
Does tutoring work?
Evidence reviewed by the Education Endowment Foundation finds that one-to-one and small-group tuition can have a positive impact on attainment, particularly when it's targeted at specific needs and linked to what's taught in class. In other words, the value comes from focus: a tutor who works on your weakest topics with exam-style practice.
Getting good value
- Start with a diagnosis: a past paper or the teacher's view of weak topics.
- Agree goals: for example, secure grade 5 topics, or improve exam technique on 6-mark questions.
- Practise between sessions: that's where the improvement happens.
- Combine options: an AI tutor for everyday homework and revision quizzes, a human tutor less often. Try the free GCSE Maths mock papers to find your weak topics first.
Questions to ask a tutor
Experience with your exam board, DBS check for in-person tutoring, how they plan lessons and track progress, and their cancellation policy. See questions to ask a tutor and how to choose a tutor.
Example budgets
| Plan | Sessions | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January to May of year 11, weekly | 20 | £34 | £680 |
| Full school year, fortnightly | 19 | £34 | £646 |
| Full school year, weekly | 38 | £34 | £1,292 |
Prices use Tutorful's GCSE Maths average of about £34 an hour. Shorter sessions (45 minutes) or fortnightly sessions with practice in between reduce the cost.
Ways to spend less
- Start with free resources: past papers and mark schemes from your exam board, and free GCSE Maths mock papers.
- Ask the school about catch-up groups or revision sessions.
- Go fortnightly once there's a clear plan, with practice set in between.
- Use an AI tutor for everyday questions and practice, and a human tutor for exam technique or motivation.
- Book only the subjects that need it, usually maths or English.
Frequently asked questions
Is A level tutoring more expensive than GCSE?
Usually, yes. Tutorful reports an average of about £42 an hour for A level Maths, compared with about £34 for GCSE Maths.
When should GCSE tutoring start?
Earlier is usually better for building foundations, such as in year 10. Many families start in the autumn or winter of year 11, which leaves time to act on mock results.
How many hours of GCSE tutoring are needed?
It depends on the gap and the goal. Many families book an hour a week for one or two terms before the exams. A specific gap, such as one topic, may need only a few sessions.
Sources
- How Much Does a Maths Tutor Cost in the UK?. Tutorful.
- One to one tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
- Small group tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
Keep reading
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An AI tutor for GCSE revision and homework
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Free GCSE Maths mock papers
Timed non-calculator and calculator papers with marks and worked answers, free with no sign-up.