Questions to ask a tutor before you hire them
TutorAura guide · Updated
A short conversation before booking tells you most of what you need to know about a tutor. Use these questions to check their experience, approach, how they'll measure progress and the practical details. Good tutors are happy to answer them, and the answers help you compare tutors fairly.
Key takeaways
- Ask about relevant experience and safety checks first.
- Ask how they'll find gaps and plan sessions.
- Ask how they'll measure and report progress.
- Agree practical details, including cancellations, up front.
Experience and safety
- What experience do you have with this subject, age group and exam board or test?
- Have you helped students with a similar goal, and how did it go?
- (UK, in person) Do you have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check?
- Can you share references from other families?
How they teach
- How will you find out what my child already knows and where the gaps are?
- What does a typical session look like? How much time does my child spend working problems versus listening?
- How do you check understanding before moving on?
- What do you do when an explanation doesn't land?
Look for answers about diagnosing, practising and checking, rather than only explaining. Evidence suggests targeted tuition linked to classroom learning works best (Education Endowment Foundation).
Progress and communication
- How will you measure progress, and how often will you update me?
- Will you set practice between sessions? How much?
- Will you work with what's being taught at school, and talk to the teacher if useful?
Practical details
- What's your rate, and are there package discounts?
- What's your cancellation policy?
- Online or in person? What does my child need for online sessions?
- How long are sessions, and how often do you recommend them?
Use our tutoring cost calculator to compare monthly costs.
After the first sessions
Ask your child: did you do most of the thinking? Do you understand something you didn't before? Then review after about six weeks. See how to choose a tutor and is a tutor worth it?
Questions for online tutoring
- Which platform do you use, and does it have a shared whiteboard?
- Do you record sessions, and can I see them?
- What equipment does my child need?
- How do you keep online sessions interactive?
- What happens if the connection drops?
Questions for exam preparation
- Which exam board or test version do you work with? (For the SAT, check they teach the current Digital SAT.)
- How will you use past papers and mark schemes?
- How do you teach exam technique, such as timing and showing working?
- How will we know if my child is on track for their target grade?
Answers to listen for
Strong answers mention finding gaps first, active practice in sessions, regular checks of progress, and working with the school. Weaker answers stay vague ("we'll just go through it") or promise outcomes no one can guarantee. Compare two or three tutors on the same questions before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask about cancellations?
Ask how much notice is needed to cancel or rearrange, whether missed sessions are charged, and what happens if the tutor cancels. Agreeing this up front avoids disputes later.
How do I compare tutors fairly?
Ask each one the same questions, ideally in a short call, and note their answers. Compare experience, approach and how they track progress, not just price, then book a trial with your top choice.
What safety checks should a tutor have?
In the UK, ask whether in-person tutors have an up-to-date enhanced DBS check. Elsewhere, ask about background checks. For online sessions, keep them in a shared space.
Should I ask a tutor for a trial lesson?
Yes. A trial shows how the tutor explains things and whether your child engages. Many tutors offer a reduced-price or short free first session.
What should I ask a tutor on the first call?
Start with their experience in the subject and age group, how they would find your child's gaps, what a typical session looks like, how they track progress, and their price and cancellation policy.
Sources
- One to one tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
- Small group tuition (Teaching and Learning Toolkit). Education Endowment Foundation.
Keep reading
How to choose a tutor for your child
A practical checklist: goals, experience, safety, teaching approach, a trial and a review.
Is a tutor worth it? When tutoring helps, and when it doesn't
What the evidence says, when tutoring is most likely to help, and how to judge if it's working.
How much does a tutor cost?
Typical hourly and monthly tutoring prices in the US and UK, what drives the price, and ways to spend less.
Tutoring cost calculator: what will tutoring cost per month?
What tutoring costs per month and per year at your hourly rate, compared with an AI tutor.