A Level Tutors

[BerylThePeril44]

Thinking about having one to help child with a level revision this year. Any experience/tips welcome. Thanks in advance xxx

I'm an English tutor. What kind of thing do you want to know?

General Etiquette and expectations really...and is it a good experience...suppose it depends on the tutor! Do you tutor students this close to a level and is it beneficial?

We've just started using a tutor for ds's chemistry AS once every couple of weeks just to go over stuff. DS says he's finding it useful.

A tip I'd suggest based on our search, find one who is currently teaching that particular exam board's syllabus as it's been really useful for ds to go over exactly what points are awarded for what type of answer. Lots of the 'tutors' who advertise on sites aren't actually qualified teachers, eg. post grad students earning a crust etc, and as much as they may know their subject, they don't have the inside knowledge of the syllabus that helps with exam prep.

This time of year is when I'm busiest and when most A level tutees start. There's definitely time for it to make a significant difference.

I'm on several sites and the best one in my opinion is First Tutors. Do watch out for people who aren't actually teachers; if they're not qualified then at the very least they need a lot of experience with teaching the different exam courses. Each course is different with accordingly different mark schemes etc. Personally speaking I would always go with someone who's a qualified and experienced teacher.

Arrange the details up front-where will the lessons happen, what is DC responsible for bringing each week (paper, pens, texts etc), do you want them to set prep or not, what happens if DC is ill, is there a cancellation period, how will you make payment etc etc.

My tutees and I sign a contract agreeing to various things. I also have insurance, offer references, evidence of qualifications, CRB etc.

We used a physics graduate (from Imperial) who tutors full time, to give both our DS 1-2-1 support in physics, maths and further maths. He came to our house for 90 mins pw, and with his help the boys got A/A*s in their A level exams.
A good tutor is definitely worth the expense, and we are hoping to use him again when dd is a bit older to help her get a reasonable pass in whatever the idiot Gove has decreed should replace GCSEs