How to choose an online tutor

Key points

• Define the goal first: a grade, an entrance exam, an offer or a professional qualification.
• Look for knowledge of the specific exam board, test or course, not just the subject.
• Ask how the tutor plans lessons and measures progress.
• For under-18s, ask about safeguarding and background checks.
• Judge the first few lessons on understanding and confidence, not on how much material was covered.

Start with the goal, not the tutor

Before comparing tutors, write down what success looks like and by when. "Move from a grade 5 to a grade 7 in GCSE Maths by June" leads to a very different choice from "build confidence in Year 8 science". A clear goal tells you which experience matters most and lets you check later whether the tutoring is working.

Note the practical details too: the exam board, the date of the exam or deadline, the student's time zone and the times they are free each week.

What makes a strong online tutor

• Specific experience. A tutor who knows the AQA, Edexcel, OCR or Cambridge specification, or the exact admissions test, can focus on what examiners reward.
• Subject depth. A good degree in the subject, or professional experience for courses like the SQE or ACCA, means the tutor can answer the "why" questions as well as the "how".
• Clear explanations. The best tutors explain one idea several ways and check understanding before moving on.
• Structure. Ask for a rough plan for the weeks ahead, with regular practice under timed conditions closer to the exam.
• Comfort online. Confident use of a shared whiteboard, document sharing and recorded notes makes online lessons as effective as in-person ones.

Questions to ask before you book

1. Which exam boards or tests have you taught in the last two years?
2. How would you structure the first four lessons?
3. How will you measure progress, and how will you report it to us?
4. What happens between lessons: homework, practice papers, feedback?
5. For students under 18: what safeguarding and background checks are in place?
6. What is the policy for rescheduling or cancelling a lesson?

Warning signs

• Promises of guaranteed grades or offers. No honest tutor can guarantee an outcome.
• Offers to write coursework, essays or dissertations for the student. This is academic misconduct and can lead to disqualification.
• No plan beyond "we'll see how it goes" after the first few lessons.
• Vague answers about experience with the exact exam.

Marketplace or matched service?

On a marketplace you search profiles and choose yourself, which suits people who know exactly what they need. A matched service, like ours, has a consultant learn the goal and recommend a tutor, which saves time and helps when the right fit is less obvious, such as for admissions, a niche university module or a professional exam.

How to judge the first lessons

After two or three lessons, ask the student: do you understand something now that you did not before? Do you know what to practise next? A good tutor leaves the student clearer and more confident, with a short list of next steps. If that is not happening, say so early. A good service will adjust the plan or suggest a different tutor.

This guide gives general information and was correct when last reviewed. Exams, deadlines and rules change, so always check the official website of the exam board, school, university or regulator.