The main differences
| Home tutor | Tuition center | |
|---|---|---|
| Attention | One-to-one, built around your child | Shared with a group |
| Pace | Set by your child | Set by the class |
| Travel | None for your child | A daily trip each way |
| Timing | Agreed with the tutor | Fixed by the center |
| Cost | Usually more per student | Usually less per student |
| Peers | Works alone | Learns and competes with others |
A home tutor suits your child if they
- have fallen behind and need to go back over earlier chapters;
- are shy about asking questions in front of others;
- are easily distracted in a group;
- need help with one particular subject;
- have a busy timetable, or a long journey to any center.
A tuition center may suit your child if they
- are keeping up, and mostly want extra practice;
- are motivated by studying alongside others;
- want a fixed routine outside the home;
- need several subjects taught by different specialists.
What about cost?
A group class usually costs less per student, but a center’s fee is not the whole cost: count travel and time as well. If your child only needs help with one subject, a few focused sessions a week with a tutor may be better value than a full center timetable.
Try before you commit
Whichever you choose, try it for a few weeks and ask your child what is working. Many families use a center for general practice and bring in a home tutor for the one subject causing the most trouble.
Thinking about a tutor? Read how to choose a home tutor, then see how Tuitionly works.