15 questions to ask before hiring a tutor
6 min read ยท updated 2026-08-31
Most parents interview tutors with three questions: how much, when can they start, and how good are they. The third question gets a sales answer. Here are fifteen questions that produce real information, grouped so you can run the whole call in ten minutes.
Qualifications and matching (who exactly teaches?)
- โ What is the tutor's degree, and in which subject?
- โ How many years have they taught this exact exam board or test?
- โ Will the same tutor teach every session? If they leave, what happens?
- โ How do you match a tutor to my child specifically?
Method and reporting (how will I know it is working?)
- โ What happens in a typical session: teaching, questions, or both?
- โ Do you set and mark homework between sessions?
- โ What written feedback do parents receive, and how often?
- โ How do you measure progress: mock scores, school grades, or something else?
Commercials and policy (what if it does not work out?)
- โ Is there a free trial class before any payment?
- โ What is the monthly cost, and what exactly does it include?
- โ What is your policy if we are unhappy after the first sessions?
- โ How do you handle safeguarding and tutor vetting?
- โ Can we change tutors if the fit is wrong?
How to read the answers
Strong companies answer these instantly and in writing, because they have nothing to hide. Vague answers about 'experienced tutors', refusal to name qualifications upfront, or pressure to buy a large package before a trial are signals to walk away. Keep the list by the phone, and score each answer 1-5; the right choice is usually obvious by question ten.
FAQs
What is the single most important question?๏ผ
'Will the same tutor teach every session?' Consistency predicts results more than any other factor, and companies that rotate tutors usually dodge this answer.
Should I ask for a trial?๏ผ
Always, and a good company offers two. Any tutor or company that refuses a free trial is telling you something important.
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