Top Reasons Why Private Tuition is Best For You

Today, it is not surprising that Singapore has one of the most competitive education landscapes. Education in Singapore is heavily focused on academic success and academic excellence. This emphasis ensures a highly skilled workforce to maintain Singapore’s position in the global market, it is a challenging task and affects a student’s life.

The fast-paced and competitive education system has led many parents and students to view tuition as a necessity rather than an option. To excel academically, supplementary classes that schools provide are not enough. Oftentimes, school teachers are unable to give each student the same attention. This results in many students finding it hard to grasp a concept in a classroom setting, leaving those who are slower in learning to fall behind their peers. Each child’s learning is different and the increasing difficulty of school subjects and the high expectations set for the students have also contributed to the growth of going to a tuition class.

As tuition provides extra help for students to fill in the learning gaps the school did not fully cover, its demand has made it more accessible to everyone. Tuition now comes in various forms – group tuition, home tutoring, and in online form. However, with these choices, parents and students tend to choose private home tuition over group classes in tuition centres. Let’s look at some benefits of private tuition.

What is Private Tuition?

Private tutoring is a one-on-one session between a tutor and you. This can take place at home or the tuition centers. Although private tutoring sessions are usually focused on helping students understand harder concepts or prepare for exams, they are also beneficial for gaining additional knowledge.

Let’s explore some key benefits of one-on-one tuition.

Benefits of Private Tuition

Undivided attention

One of the main benefits of private home tuition service is that each lesson is tailored to your needs and preferences. For example, if you learn best visually, your tutor will include more pictures and reading materials in the lesson. A suitable tutor also identifies your areas of weakness and creates targeted tuition assignments to help you master the concepts. If you are slower in grasping a concept, home tutors will also explain it thoroughly until you understand it before moving to another chapter. This personalised approach increases learning engagement and mastery of the subjects.

In-Depth Learning

Unlike classrooms, a private tuition teacher focuses on giving you a detailed explanation of a complex subject so you are encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussion with your tutor. Your tutor will also provide more support in an area that you find difficult to understand before moving on to other subjects.

Flexible scheduling

Private tutors not only adapt to your learning pace but also your schedule. You have the flexibility to plan your tuition at a time that fits your schedule. When you have a change in priorities such as supplementary classes or extracurricular activities in school, you can reschedule with your tutor without any additional charges.

Constant feedback and progress monitoring

This is what differentiates private tutoring from regular classroom teaching. A home tutor provides regular feedback and closely monitors your goal progress. For instance, your tutor will review your exam papers and work with you on the questions you got wrong. In contrast, in the classroom, your teacher may not always follow your progress as closely. When reviewing exam papers, they will typically focus only on the questions most students got wrong.

Improve your performance in the classroom

Besides boosting academic performance, one-on-one tutoring promotes a safe learning space where you can try new solving methods, make mistakes, and ask questions without the fear of social embarrassment. The more you learn in this conducive environment, the more confident you will become in carrying these skills to the classroom.

Tips for Choosing a Suitable Private Tutor

Choosing the right tutor can be an overwhelming decision. But fear not, here are some tips to help you choose the best private tutor for your learning needs.

Define your needs

Everyone has a unique learning style as well as strengths and weaknesses. Before searching for a tuition agency in Singapore, it is best if you know what exactly you need help with in advance.

• What subjects or topics do you need help with? (Mathematics, Physics, English)
• What do you want to see improving? (trigonometry, reading, solving skills)
• What is your current level in the subject you need help with?
• How do you learn the best? (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, detailed explanation, practice questions, or discussion?)
• What is your preferred environment? (online or face-to-face)

Budget and availability

A tuition rate vary depending on your academic level and your tutor’s experience. There are affordable tuition rates but the higher your tutor experience and your academic level, the higher the cost. Also, take into account how home tuition fits into your schedule.

• How much tuition budget have you set aside?
• What type of tutor are you looking for? (Part-time or Full-time)
• What is the tutor’s availability hour and scheduling? Does it fit your schedule?
• What is the payment policy?
• What is the cancellation policy?
• Are there any tuition agency fees to consider?

Private tutoring ranges from SGD$35 to SGD$50 per hour for primary school/secondary school and SGD$60 to SGD$80 per hour for junior college. Know the payment details and find reasonable rates for you.

Private Tutors’ qualifications

It is important to make sure that your ideal tutor has the necessary academic qualifications and teaching credentials before working with them. Experienced tutors can better explain in-depth concepts, assess weaknesses, and provide relevant feedback. Check the tutor profiles with the following questions:

• What is the tutor’s educational background?
• What is the tutor’s teaching experience?
• How does the tutor adjust to different learning styles?
• What level of commitment is required for the tuition assignment?

Reviews and Recommendations

Private qualified tutors with credentials, like a MOE teacher or ex MOE teacher, are often more trustworthy. Reviews from other students or parents may give you some ideas about the tutor’s experience and teaching method. You can also request parents’ testimonials from the tuition agency to gauge such tutors in their efficacy.

Private tuition is an excellent way to boost your learning, especially if you feel you are falling behind your peers in school. A good tutor will not only assist you with improving your academic results but also help you develop good study habits, time management skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Ultimately, the choice is yours! Consider setting up a free consultation and then a trial lessons with a home tutor to see how it can benefit you. That way, you may also find the perfect tutor for you even from the first lesson.