To succeed in your exams there is no doubt that you need study skills, exam technique, and a variety of coping strategies to manage your time, nerves and ability to think. However, beyond the support you’d find with The Exam Coach, you also need to have a foundation of comprehensive knowledge and understanding for each of your subjects. It’s in this area of your studies that a private tutor can prove a huge advantage.

Crowded classrooms, a lack of resources and teachers, and a general dissatisfaction with the schooling system has led to a surge in the popularity of private tuition in recent years. More students than ever before are seeking additional help when it comes to their studies, with parents in the UK spending over £6 billion a year on private tuition for their children.

Investing in private tuition can have a huge impact on both a student’s academic career and their personal development. Whether a student is struggling to get the grades that they need in their A-Levels, is at the very first stages of their academic journey and is finding it a challenge to grasp basic concepts or needs help writing a killer personal statement to help them secure a university place - private tuition could be the answer to all your academic woes.

1. Individual learning experience

One of the biggest benefits of private tuition, and what sets it apart from traditional lessons in a school setting, is that students receive a learning experience that is completely tailored to their individual needs. Due to the one-to-one nature of private tuition sessions, tutors are able to create bespoke learning programmes that target any areas students are struggling with, ensuring they have all the right material and are being taught in a way that best compliments their unique learning style. Moreover, private tutors will provide both students and parents with extensive and extremely personalised feedback, ensuring they are making progress and are on track to meet their goals.

2. Improved academic performance

Perhaps the most obvious reason for hiring a private tutor is to help students to reach their full academic potential. Many tutors are not only experts in their subject(s), but also have extensive experience teaching in schools or tutoring, and are able to help students improve their knowledge, understanding and skill set. 

Tutors will also help students to improve their work and study habits, ranging from being more organised with revision to nailing their essay or exam technique. These vital skills will not only help students to enter the next stage of their academic journey feeling confident, but will also ensure they are ready to excel in life outside of the classroom.

3. Personal development

Alongside academic development, private tutors are also able to help students develop personally, ensuring they are expanding their interpersonal skill set as well as their academic abilities. This is especially in terms of their confidence and communication, as through improving academically students will generally automatically develop newfound confidence, making them better equipped to tackle any challenges they may come across in the future. 

Over time, students will develop their independent study skills and establish self-paced and self-directed learning. Through receiving consistent support, students will also learn how to become better communicators, be able to form better relationships with their teachers and peers and take this skill on into later life.

4. Flexible & convenient

Life at every stage of the academic journey can be stressful and busy, and it is easy for students to wind up feeling like they’re being pulled in every direction without a minute to breathe. 

Another great benefit to getting private tuition also work to an incredibly flexible schedule, meaning students can access vital tuition at a time and a place that suits them. Your private tutor will be able to work with you to organise sessions that work for you, without interrupting your routine or asking you to compromise on other commitments. Whether you want to have tutoring on the weekends, in the evenings, or even early before school, once or twice a week or every day - even students with the busiest of timetables are able to receive important tuition at a time that suits them. 

5. Create an environment that promotes learning

Schools and classrooms can be distracting, noisy and, at times, unproductive environments. Private tuition, in contrast, takes place in a consistent and quiet environment free from distractions, disruptive classmates or limited resources. One-to-one tuition allows students to receive the undivided attention of their tutor, ensuring they feel comfortable and have the freedom to ask any questions that they may have.

6. Help with homework & exam practice

Homework is a vital part of the learning process, but can also be one of the most daunting elements of school, requiring students to demonstrate high levels of motivation, dedication and initiative. Due to these reasons alone, it is not uncommon for students to bypass their homework, fail to really engage with the subject they’re studying or complete the tasks to a lower standard than they are capable, which can not only result in them falling behind but can also create a real disconnect between the student and their studies. 

Private tutors can help students to work through their homework methodically, providing just the right amount of support and guidance to ensure they are really engaging with the subject and getting the maximum out of the homework process. 

Tutors can help students to build their self-discipline, and knowledge and skill so that they become comfortable completing their homework independently. This will not assist them in terms of their immediate academic progress, but will also help them to develop vital skills that will prove invaluable as they progress through life.

Tutors are also able to help students to revise effectively for important exams, assisting them in creating revision plans, ensuring they have mastered their essay writing technique and know exactly which hoops to jump through so that they don’t lose important marks down to poor exam technique.