How to choose a good tutor at home?

Introduction to tuition in Singapore

Today, tuition in Singapore is a must. A Straits Time article published in February 2009 indicates that around 97% of Singapore’s student population today has some form of tuition.

Does tuition really help?

More than 80% of these parents saw a 1-3 grade improvement in their child’s schoolwork, usually within 3-6 months. Getting a private tutor has the following advantages:

• A tutor can impart knowledge and clever exam techniques that may not be taught in enough detail in school.
• A tutor can tailor their teaching to the specific weak areas of each individual student that a school teacher cannot do due to student-teacher ratios.

What category of home tutors to get?

Currently there are mainly these four types of tutors in the Singapore market:

• Student Tutor – These are students who are still continuing their education and are the ones who can best relate to the academic stress and conditions your child is facing now, as these tutors have likely just been through what your child is going through.
• Part-time tutor – Part-time tutors have full-time jobs, often in different disciplines and fields. Part-time workers are generally only available for evening and weekend tuition.
• Full-Time Tutor – Full-time tutors tutor as the main job, therefore full-time tutors keep a close eye on time as they may need to move to other teaching assignments. Experienced full-time tutors often have the ability to quickly identify the area of ​​weakness most children face and are very familiar with the syllabus.
• Tutor Professor: The professors who give classes are the most valued after the tutors, with the highest rates. As they are intimately familiar with the changing trends in education in Singapore, some good current teachers can even spot possible questions that are very likely to come up in this year’s exams. The right type of tutor for her son really depends on the budget she can afford and the particular needs of her son.

How to find a good tutor?

Word of mouth is still the best way to find the right tutor. Ask your colleagues or friends who may have had a good experience with a particular tutor.

Seeking help from tuition agencies is another way to find a good tutor. Typically, the commission for matching the tutor is taken from the tutor’s first month’s tuition fees, so help from tuition agencies in finding the right tutor comes at virtually no cost to parents.