Questions to ask before hiring a tertiary-level tutor
Learn what to ask a university-level tutor before hiring. Smart questions reveal whether they can genuinely help your learning or just collect fees.
You've found a tutor with the right qualifications and good reviews, but before you commit to sessions and spend money, you need to know if they'll actually work for you. The questions you ask in that first conversation—and how they answer—tell you whether you're hiring someone who can help or someone who'll waste your time. This isn't about being rude; it's about being thorough. A good tutor will expect these questions and answer them clearly.
What are you actually offering to teach me?
This sounds obvious, but tutors often pitch their services broadly and you only discover mid-session that they work differently than you expected. A vague answer like "I help with university subjects" is a red flag. Press for detail: *Are you here to help me understand the concepts, or to walk me through past papers? Do you set homework between sessions, or work through what my lecturer gave me? If I'm struggling with essays, do you teach writing structure or just check my grammar?*
A strong tutor will describe their method. They might say something like "I usually start by working through a past exam question with you so I can see where you're losing marks, then we build a checklist for that topic so you know what to focus on." They might mention they ask you to draft something between sessions and review it, or that they prefer working from your lecture notes rather than their own materials.
Why this matters: tutoring at tertiary level isn't one-size-fits-all. Someone excellent at explaining theory may be poor at exam technique, or vice versa. You need to know which service you're buying, and whether it matches what you actually need right now.
How will you know if I'm making progress?
A tutor who says "you'll feel more confident" isn't giving you much to hold onto. Better answers include concrete markers: *Are you tracking my marks on practice questions? Will we revisit topics I struggled with to test if I've retained it? How often do you reassess, and how will we adjust if something isn't working?*
If they can't articulate how they measure improvement, they're unlikely to catch when their approach needs to change. A tutor worth the investment will say something like "After your next assignment comes back, we'll review where you lost marks and I'll set you similar practice questions to ensure you can handle that type of problem now."
Why this matters: You're paying them to move your understanding or your grades forward, not just to sit with you. Vague reassurances won't help you if you still bomb the exam.
How long have you tutored at this level, and have you worked in this specific subject recently?
Experience matters, but recency matters more. Someone who tutored engineering five years ago might not know the current curriculum, new software packages, or how this year's lecturer structures their assessment. Ask: *Have you tutored this subject in the last two years? Have you sat or marked this paper yourself? Are you still studying or working in this field, or did you leave it behind?*
A solid answer: "I tutored this course last year, and I mark first-year papers for the university, so I see what examiners are looking for." A concerning one: "I studied it at university ages ago but I've picked it up again."
What happens if we're not a good fit?
This reveals whether they're committed to your learning or just collecting fees. A candid tutor might say: "If after two sessions you feel it's not working, we can stop—I'd rather you find someone better suited to your style." Someone defensive or evasive ("Everyone improves with me, it just takes time") is riskier.
Why this matters: Bad tutor-student matches aren't always obvious on paper. You want someone confident enough to acknowledge that fit matters, not someone who'll guilt you into staying.
What's your rate and how do you structure sessions?
Get specifics: hourly rate, whether they charge for cancellations, minimum booking, payment method. Ask too: *Can we do one session to trial it, or is there a minimum commitment?* Straightforward terms mean fewer surprises.
When you're ready to book, Strove's tutors come pre-verified with clear profiles and ratings from other students, so you can compare both their answers and what others have already experienced working with them.
Common questions
- What should I do if a tutor gives vague answers to these questions?
- That's a sign they haven't thought through their approach or aren't used to working with committed students. A good tutor should be able to explain their method clearly. If they deflect or brush off your questions, keep looking—there are tutors who communicate better.
- Is it okay to ask these questions over email or WhatsApp before booking a session?
- Absolutely. In fact, it's a good filter. How they respond in writing—quickly, clearly, or slowly and vaguely—tells you something about how organised they are. Some may prefer to discuss by phone; that's fine too, just ask.
- What if a tutor says they can guarantee I'll improve my mark by a certain amount?
- Be skeptical. A tutor can't guarantee grades—your own effort, your other revision, and how you perform under exam pressure all play a role. A realistic tutor will say they can help you understand the material and show you exam strategies, but the outcome depends partly on you.
- Should I ask for references or proof of qualifications?
- Yes. Ask if they're happy to provide the contact of a recent student (who's agreed to be a reference), and ask them to confirm their own qualifications or registration with relevant bodies if relevant to the subject. Most honest tutors will provide this willingly.
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