Questions to ask a tutor before the first session

Most parents never ask a tutor a single question before the first lesson—they just book and hope. That silence is where expensive mistakes happen. A tutor's answer to the right question before day one tells you far more than their qualifications alone.

How do you typically structure your lessons?

You need to hear exactly how a tutor spends 60 minutes with your child. A vague answer—"I assess them first and go from there"—signals they have no method. A good answer names the parts: "I usually spend the first 10 minutes reviewing what we covered last time, then 30 minutes on new content with examples, then 15 minutes on practice problems your child does while I watch, and five minutes setting homework and explaining why it matters."

Why this matters: structure shows whether the tutor is intentional or just winging it. You want someone who knows exactly how long explanation takes, when to switch to practice, and when to recap. Ask also whether they adjust this if a topic is harder than expected, or whether the structure is fixed. A flexible structure built on a foundation beats rigid one-size-fits-all.

What will you do in the first session?

If the tutor says "I'll teach them topic X" or "We'll start Chapter 3", stop there. They're not thinking about your child as a person. A tutor worth their fee should say something like: "I'll spend the first session asking questions about what they already know, what's confusing them, and how they learn best. I might do a little teaching, but mostly I'm listening. Then I'll tell you what I think is the real gap and how I plan to fill it."

This opening matters because it determines whether the tutor is solving a problem or just delivering content. A diagnostic first session often feels slow, but it's the difference between helping and wasting time. If the tutor promises to "get started on proper work next time", that's fine—but it means the second session matters as much as the first.

How will you know if my child is actually improving?

Listen for specifics. "We'll see marks go up" is too vague. Better: "I'll track whether they can do similar problems without help. I'll give you notes after each session about what we covered and one thing to notice at home. I'll also ask you to show me their recent tests so I can see what's still tricky."

The tutors who measure improvement have benchmarks. They might say "In two weeks I expect your child to solve this type of equation without a calculator" or "By month two, I want to see them attempt the harder questions on the test, not skip them."

What you're testing here is whether the tutor confuses "putting in hours" with "making progress". A poor answer leaves you guessing. A strong answer gives you permission to check the claim yourself—and the tutor knows you will.

What happens if we disagree about what your child needs?

This reveals whether the tutor sees parents as partners or obstacles. A defensive answer—"I've been doing this 15 years, I know what works"—means they won't listen. A collaborative one sounds like: "I'd want to understand what you're seeing at home. Sometimes parents spot gaps I miss. And if I think we need to shift direction, I'll explain the reasoning and ask if you agree. If we can't agree, I'll say so clearly."

You're really asking: will this person hear you if your child is struggling, or is the tutor too proud to admit the approach isn't working? The best tutors know that a tutor-student fit matters as much as subject knowledge. If the tutor gets defensive or dismissive about parental input, they've already failed the test.

Write down the answers. After the first session, ask your child the same questions and compare. If the tutor said one thing and did another, or if your child says "they just worked through questions and didn't explain", you have data to act on. A tutor should sound like themselves in week one as they sound in week six. Strove's verified tutors let you read what other parents asked and learned before you book—that's half the vetting done.