How do I choose an online tutor? 7 questions to ask before the first class

The short answer

Choose a tutor by asking seven questions before the first class: who will teach your child, how they will find out where your child is, what a class looks like, what you will hear afterward, who can enter the class and whether you can read every message, what it costs and when you pay, and how you can leave if it isn't a fit. A good tutor answers all seven plainly.

Start with what your child needs

Before you compare tutors, write down why you want help. A child who is stuck needs someone who will go back and find the gap. A child who is ahead needs someone who can stretch them. A nervous child needs patience more than speed. Note your child's age, the subject and the times that suit your family. Then ask your child's teacher what they see in class. They can often tell you where the trouble starts.

If you suspect something bigger than one subject, such as trouble with attention, reading or anxiety, talk to your child's teacher, school or doctor. A tutor is not the right person to judge that. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, how much to share is your choice. Telling the tutor which supports help at school, such as extra time or short breaks, can help them teach in a way that suits your child.

Questions 1 and 2: The teacher, and where they start

1. Who exactly will teach my child? Ask for a name, a real photo, their qualifications, and how long they have taught children your child's age. Ask whether you choose the teacher or one is assigned, and whether the same person stays every week. A new face every few weeks can mean your child keeps starting over.

If there are reviews, ask who can write them. Reviews mean more when only verified students and parents can post one, not anyone who finds the page.

2. How will you find out what my child already knows? A good tutor doesn't start every child at page one. They ask about schoolwork, try a few problems together and listen to how your child thinks. Ask what they plan to do in the first class.

Questions 3 and 4: The class, and what you hear after

3. What does a class actually look like? Ask whether classes are 1-on-1 or in a group, and how long each one lasts. Ask how the tutor will see your child's work, such as a shared whiteboard on screen or paper held up to the camera. Your child should be solving and explaining, not just watching.

Check the practical side too: the device your child needs, anything to install, and which time zone class times are given in. Confirm the time on your own clock before you book. Ask whether there's practice between classes, and whether it builds on what was taught.

4. What will I hear after each class? Ask whether the tutor will tell you what was taught, what was hard and what to try at home, and how quickly they answer a message. A tutor who names weak spots honestly is more useful than one who calls every class a great job.

Question 5: Safety in an online class

5. Who can enter the class, and can I read every message? This is the safety question, and you deserve a direct answer. Ask who else can join a class, and whether the class link is private to your child. Ask whether you can read every message between the tutor and your child, and whether a parent has to say yes before a child joins. Ask how you report a worry, and who reads it. A good tutor is glad you asked.

A few house rules help with any online tutor:

• If you can, your child joins from a shared room rather than a closed bedroom.
• All contact goes through you or the platform, never a private phone number or a social media account.
• Your child knows they can tell you if anything felt odd, and won't be in trouble for it.

Question 6: The cost, and when you pay

6. What does it cost, and when do I pay? Compare the price per hour, not per class, because class lengths differ. Before the first paid class, ask for four answers in writing. What is the all-in price with every fee? Do you pay before or after each class? Must you buy a package? What happens to a missed class?

Question 7: If it isn't a good fit, and when to walk away

7. What if it isn't a good fit? Even a good tutor may not suit your child. Ask whether there is a contract, how you stop, and whether you can switch teachers. An easy way out means the tutor has to keep earning your trust.

Then use the first class to check the fit. One class cannot show whether your child will improve, but it can show whether your child understood the teacher. Afterward, ask your child, "Did it make sense?" and "Would you like to go back?" Then ask yourself three things. Did the tutor talk with your child, or at them? Did your child get to try, get things wrong and try again? Did you hear what was covered and what comes next?

Some signs mean it's time to look elsewhere, however the first class went. Walk away if a tutor:

• Contacts your child privately, by phone, text or social media.
• Wants your child alone in a closed room, wants your child's camera off, or asks them to keep a secret.
• Pushes you to prepay for a big package before the first class.
• Promises a certain score on a test or report card.
• Can't say how they will decide what to teach, or how you will hear about it.
• Won't tell you how to stop, or won't put the price and fees in writing.

What GlowGrades says about these questions

Every class is live, 1-on-1, with the teacher you pick. Our team reviews every teacher before families can see them.

• The teacher: Your child keeps the same teacher. Only verified students and parents can review a teacher.
• Safety: Every class runs in a private room. Only your child and their teacher get a key. Your child can't join a class until a parent has given consent. Notes, practice results and every message with the teacher sit in your family account.
• What you hear: Notes after each class, a weekly digest, and a direct line to the teacher.
• Cost: Each teacher sets a price on their profile. Most classes are $10 to $15. You pay from a family wallet after each class, and a 5% top-up fee is the only fee we add. Prices are in US dollars.
• When you pay: You add money to your wallet first. Only a price you approved can be charged, and only after the class happens.
• Packages and missed classes: No packages, ever. Nobody pays for a class that didn't happen, and there's no penalty.
• If it isn't a fit: There's no contract and no lock-in. Choose another teacher and book with them.

Questions parents ask

Want to see if a teacher clicks with your child?

Every class is live, 1-on-1, with the teacher you pick. The first class is free, so you can judge the fit yourself.

Sources

• GreatSchools: Hiring a tutor? 10 questions you must ask
• Reading Rockets: How to Choose a Tutor (Or Other Education Service Provider)