Hiring a tutor to help you child with GCSE exams is getting more and more common. My daughter will be sitting her GCSE exams in a month, and there’s only so much that the school can cover. She moved schools mid-way through year 10, which we knew would risk leaving gaps in her knowledge come exam time.
We’re not the only ones considering a tutor this late in the day. I’ve spoken to other parents whose kids are sitting GCSEs this summer and they’re going for a last-ditch attempt to give their kids one last boost.
Local tutors who come over to your house are all well and good, but you’re unlikely to find any with availability so close to exam season.
That’s what got me researching online tutors. It turns out an online tutor can do anything a local one can – maybe even more. As with anything online – tutors have a lot more flexibility for appointments (and there’s far less pressure to run round with the vacuum 5 minutes before it starts).
My research brought me to the Tutorful website and if you use this link, you’ll get £25 credit to spend on online tutoring too.
How Can Online Tutors Help With GCSE Exams?
After a bit of digging and asking around about online tutors, I feel like I’ve learnt enough to share what I found. Speaking as someone who has a 16-year-old who isn’t afraid of a little bit of independent study (and is stressing about her GCSEs), you sometimes just need to see what someone else in your position thinks.
What Does an Online Tutor Do?
This was the biggest question for me, because people seem really secretive when they’re paying for their child to be tutored and no one really talks about it. As it turn out, an online tutor can do whatever an in-person tutor can do, but they may also be available to do more unsociable hours like 8 in the morning, or after 7 at night.
They can talk you through what you’re stuck with, show you how they work through problems in maths etc. and see how you’re getting on with what they’re covering with you. It’s just like they’re right there in the room with you apart from the fact there’s a screen separating you.
Is It Worth Getting a Tutor for Last Minute GCSE Prep?
In an ideal world, it’s best to start tutoring as early as you can so that your child feels fully prepped. Obviously that ship has sailed when it’s already April and you’re wondering if it’ll help.
From what I gather, any tutoring is better than no tutoring. So yes I agree, a full year of tutoring will yield better results than 6 weeks of tutoring, but 6 months of tutoring is definitely going to be better than zero tutoring, right?
There’s only so much that can be covered in a shorter timeframe, but if all you need is for your child to have a refresher or a little nudge to get them into the next grade boundary, it really is doable. It’s also up to you how many sessions you book. If you’re after an intensive boost, or even just revision guidance, you might want to book tutoring for a few times a week.
If it’s a confidence boost you’re after, you might be fine with just a few sessions in the run up to exams.
Personally I think whatever you can make work will still make a difference to how your child feels and performs on exam day.
How Much is an Online Tutor?
Prices for online tutors tend to vary. When I was searching on the Tutorful site for a maths tutor they had some really reasonably priced ones around the £16 per hour mark. There is different criteria you can narrow your search down to, for example if you specifically want a qualified teacher for the tutoring session then you can search through just the tutors with QTS.
It’s important to note you don’t need to be a qualified teacher in order to work as a tutor and where I was looking (on the Tutorful) site, they only take on people who have been working as a tutor for over 2 years. They all seem to have background checks too, which I think is very important when you’re giving someone access to your child.
What Are the Benefits of Getting a GCSE Tutor?
If you’re still not sure whether a tutor is the right plan for you and your child, it’s worth weighing up the benefits.
I think first and foremost, having a tutor help with GCSE prep (even if it’s last minute) will give you child a big chunk of confidence for when they sit their exams. Personally, I think that’s priceless. The exams bring enough stress to your child’s life, so if they can walk into the exam room feeling ready for it and as relaxed as possible (I know no one taking exams is ever truly relaxed), then you’re onto a winner.
If there’s something your child is struggling with in a subject and it’s likely to be quite prominent on the tests (such as algebra), it’s worth paying someone to help your child fully understand it. This sort of thing can move the score up to a higher grade bracket and can be the difference between your child getting on the college course they’d like.
If you’re like me and have a child sitting their GCSEs very soon and still aren’t certain, it’s worth just signing up to the Tutorful website and having a look around. This link gives you a £25 credit which will get you a free or partially paid session with one of their tutors. There’s no contracts or commitments, so you can at least say you’ve given it a go. I think it’s worth it.