Does tutoring improve grades?
Have you ever considered tutoring for your child? If you have, you're likely thinking, "Is it worth the investment of time and money?" The answer is yes, tutoring can improve your child's grades, but success depends on several key factors.
Tutoring itself isn't a magic fix. Simply hiring someone to work with your child for an hour each week won't automatically transform their results. The effectiveness depends on finding the right tutor, ensuring the approach matches your child's learning style, and your child's role in working with the tutor.
The good news is that research consistently shows that one-to-one tutoring can accelerate learning by up to five months' progress over the course of a school year. Students who receive regular, quality tutoring often see improvements not just in their grades, but in their confidence, study skills, and overall attitude toward learning.
The evidence: How much does tutoring improve grades?
A comprehensive study has found:
3 in 4 students increased their performance by up to three grades with personalised tutoring.
90% of students who improved their grades also reported increased confidence.
Maths performance improved significantly, with 80% increasing their grades by up to 3 levels after 12 months of consistent tutoring.
The study analysed data from 2,616 parents and students throughout Europe. Students ranged in age from six to eighteen years old and primarily received tutoring in Mathematics, Sciences, English, and Foreign Languages.
The study provides strong evidence for the power of sustained, one-to-one, personalised support and also found that tutoring was more successful when sustained over time - with the more lessons taken, the more likely students were to increase their grades by 2 or 3+ points.
Factors that determine tutoring success
A good tutor alone, however, won't lead to higher grades. For tutoring to be effective, both your child's input and the frequency and consistency of sessions are crucial.
1. Students who attend regular, scheduled tutoring sessions and work beyond their tutoring sessions consistently outperform those who only seek help when exams approach.
2. Additionally, your child's level of engagement and motivation significantly impacts results; even the most qualified tutor will struggle to help a student who isn't ready to participate in their own learning journey.
3. The quality of the tutors themselves is important. A qualified tutor with relevant experience and subject expertise makes a substantial difference in outcomes compared to informal homework help.
4. Early intervention is equally essential—addressing academic challenges as soon as they emerge prevents small gaps in understanding from snowballing into larger problems that are harder to fix later.
Finally, the most effective tutoring occurs when there's a clear understanding of the particular educational goals and challenges to be addressed.
The hidden benefits of tutoring
As the study above shows, one of the hidden benefits for students is increased confidence. Student confidence plays a significant role in academic performance and higher grades, with the research showing that 9 out of 10 students who experienced greater confidence saw their academic performance improve.
Researchers believe this is because students with higher confidence levels demonstrate:
1. Greater willingness to participate in class.
2. Ask questions in class and after when needed.
3. Approach difficult material with less fear about making mistakes.
5. Have lower homework, test and revision anxiety
6. Approach tutoring with a positive attitude.
Is tutoring always the solution?
However, there are significant limitations to tutoring that should be acknowledged before investing time and money. While tutoring can be highly effective, it's not a universal fix for every challenge your child might face.
Challenges, such as underlying learning differences like dyslexia or dyscalculia, attention difficulties or significant gaps in foundational knowledge, may require more specialised tutoring and help at school.
Additionally, if your child is struggling due to anxiety, exam fears and organisational and time management issues. More general, all-around tutoring may prove more beneficial than jumping straight into subject-specific tutoring.
Tutoring also cannot fix all academic problems. Poor organisational skills or time management may need extra help at home. Issues with the school environment, teachers, or peer relationships also require other solutions.
Sometimes, curriculum difficulty or a mismatch in teaching style is the real problem. This is why it can help to work with teachers and schools to determine what extra help your child may need before you choose a tutor.
When choosing a tutor, be sure to:
1. Check qualifications and relevant experience - not just academically, but working with different learning styles, needs and personalities.
2. Read reviews of the tutor and see how past students worked with them.
2. Ask about teaching methodology, homework and feedback.
3. Request a trial session to see how your child and tutor get on.
4. Decide what's best for your child—online or in person. Each has its benefits, and one style may work better for your child and your timing.
5. Set clear goals with your child, and track progress weekly with the tutor.
6. Think about budget considerations. If costs look too high, consider the tutoring options: group tutoring and peer tutoring can be more affordable.
Research shows that students who receive regular tutoring see measurable academic gains. However, it's also important to approach tutoring with realistic expectations. The effectiveness always depends on your child's willingness to engage. So if you're considering tutoring, focus on what your child says they need, finding the right match, and maintaining open communication about progress.
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