Wondering whether your child needs a tutor? Umming and ahhing about whether the cost of tutoring is well and truly worth it?
Then there’s probably one question at the forefront of your mind: does tutoring improve grades?
Yes, yes and yes again! While there’s no magic formula to improve grades, tutoring can give your child the confidence, skills and one-to-one attention they need to reach their full potential.
Here’s the lowdown.
Does tutoring improve grades? The stats
Improving your child’s grades is a key reason why many families choose to start their tutoring journey.
In fact, more than 85% of Tutorful families chose tutoring in order to achieve a grade or pass an exam.
Luckily, tutoring has proven time and time again that it can significantly improve grades!
And this is supported by a recent independent study of more than 2,616 parents and students cited in FE News.
The study, focused on online tutoring, found that:
- 3 in 4 students increase their performance by up to three grades with personalised tutoring
- 79% of students who take at least 36 lessons report grade increases
- 80% of maths students increase grades by up to three levels after 12 months of consistent tutoring
- The more lessons taken, the more likely students are to increase their grades by 2 and 3+ points
Tutorful students are even more successful, with 90% of our students improving by at least one grade. In fact, a whopping 98% of our students said their tutors positively impacted their exam results!
How many grades can my child improve by with tutoring?
Tutoring has been known to help students improve by as much as three or four grades.
However, it’s most common for students to improve by one or two.
In a survey of Tutorful’s 2024 students, we found that:
- 30% improved by 1 grade
- 30% improved by 2 grades
- 15.7% improved by 3 grades
- 14.3% improved by 4+ grades
- 10% had no improvement
To give your child the maximum chance of improving as much as possible, it’s best to start tutoring early, and to invest in regular sessions.
This way, your child can soak up all that one-on-one attention and your tutor can help them to turn all those weaknesses into strengths in time for exam season!
“With the help of Tutorful tutors, Edward achieved grades 6/7 in science, 6 in maths, 6 in geography and an 8 in history.
“This was an improvement on all his predicted grades but especially in maths where he was predicted a 4 at best.
“Additionally, in history, he was predicted a 6 but smashed it with an 8!”
“I have no doubt this was directly down to the hard work and positive relationships built by the tutors.”
– Annette K, GCSE Parent
How does tutoring help students to improve grades?
So, now you know that tutoring can make a huge difference to your child’s grades.
But how exactly does it achieve this?
Here are some of the key areas where tutoring can help. Be sure to read our guide to the benefits of tutoring for more!
Individual attention
In school, your child will often be competing with 30 other students for their teacher’s attention.
On the other hand, tutoring will give your child one-on-one attention with an expert.
That means lessons will go at your child’s pace.
Your child’s tutor won’t move on until your child is ready. And they’ll be able to go back to basics if there are gaps in your child’s knowledge.
In this way, tutoring is a fantastic way to accelerate your child’s learning and understanding – improving their performance both in the classroom and the exam room!
“Both her science and maths tutor provided more than just academic tutoring, they were extremely supportive”
“She was given tips on how to approach GCSE exams and lots of practice exam questions.”
“I have been using Tutorful for over three years and it has been extremely effective in improving my daughter’s grades and her self-esteem”
– Mehek Rizvi, GCSE Parent
Tailored lesson plans
A tutor will create lesson plans that are tailored to your child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style.
This means they can focus on the areas where your child needs it most – making the biggest impact in the smallest amount of time.
It also means your child’s tutor can plan lessons that they know will hold your child’s attention.
They can explain tricky concepts in a way that they know will click for your child, and plan learning activities that your child will find engaging.
Boost confidence
According to FE News, 82% of UK parents believe that a child’s emotional well-being is closely tied to their academic performance.
In fact, after achieving a grade, boosting confidence is the second most common reason that Tutorful families decide to find a tutor.
Tutoring is a fantastic way to improve your child’s confidence, as it gives them a safe space where they can make mistakes away from the eyes of their peers.
Our tutors are also experts in bringing your child out of their shell.
Each session is designed not just to further your child’s learning, but to give them courage in their own abilities – helping them to walk into the classroom and exam hall more confidently.
“Our tutor has transformed Faith’s confidence and she enjoys her weekly maths lesson, this has shown in her test scores and enthusiasm in the classroom.”
– Adam F, Parent
Increase motivation
The right tutor can be the perfect cross between a teacher and a mentor.
They’re there to support your child through every step of the exam preparation process, which can look different for every pupil.
Sometimes, it’s hard for students to motivate themselves to get the job done, and procrastination can rule – whether it’s homework or revision.
A tutor can help to hold them accountable and encourage them.
In fact, they can be like your child’s own personal cheerleader, keeping them engaged right to the finish line!
Offer direction
Sometimes, your child might know that they need to improve their grades. But that doesn’t mean that they know where to start.
A tutor will be able to assess where your child is currently at in their learning, and identify areas where there’s the most room for improvement – for instance, by going over your child’s mock exam results or setting practice tests.
In this way, they can pinpoint what your child needs to work on, and create a plan for how your child can reach their goals in the time available.
They can also offer their professional opinion on where your child should be aiming, and give them guidance and advice on the next steps in their learning journey.
Find a tutor to unlock your child’s full potential
As you can see, a tutor can play a huge role in improving your child’s grades and helping them to reach their full potential.
At Tutorful, our tutors are all carefully handpicked and have at least two years of experience. So you know you can trust them with your child’s learning journey.
In fact, we’re so confident in the quality of our tutors that we even offer a first lesson guarantee – if you’re not happy with your first lesson, just let us know and we’ll pay for your next lesson with a new tutor.
So, what are you waiting for?
Find a tutor your child clicks with to bring each subject to life and get them the grades they deserve!
FAQs
How does tutoring affect academic performance?
Tutoring can significantly improve your child’s academic performance by giving your child one-on-one attention and tailoring lesson plans to their individual needs.
Does tutoring actually help?
Yes! Research consistently shows that tutoring can improve your child’s grades. It’s also a great way to boost your child’s confidence, improve their motivation and enhance their enjoyment of learning.
Is a tutor worth it for A Level?
Absolutely! An A Level tutor can help your child to improve their A Level grades – which can open up doors in their future studies and career.
Our guide to A Level tutor prices goes into more detail about why A Level tutoring is worth the money.
Is a tutor worth it for your child?
If you’re asking the question, the answer is probably yes! A tutor can be a great way to improve your child’s:
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Enjoyment of learning
- Academic performance
“Our tutor has been amazingly helpful, flexible and Holly has become so much more comfortable with maths, so much so she is now regarded as one of the strongest in her year.
“1 hour session is in my opinion equivalent to what they learn in an entire week of normal school.
“It’s the best money I’ve ever spent, seeing my daughter start to enjoy maths is worth every penny.”
– Adam W, Parent
