How to Prepare for the First Tuition Lesson

A little preparation helps a new tutor understand your child faster and makes the first lesson more useful.

Prepare recent school materials

• recent test or examination papers;
• school worksheets and homework;
• textbook or school notes;
• teacher feedback;
• a list of topics the child finds difficult.

Tell the tutor the main goal

Keep it specific: rebuilding fractions, improving composition planning, preparing for PSLE Science open-ended questions or catching up after missing school.

Set up the learning environment

For home tuition, provide a quiet table and minimise interruptions. For online tuition, check the camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand.

Let the child speak too

The tutor should hear directly from the student, not only from the parent.

Do not expect the first lesson to solve everything

The tutor may spend part of the first session assessing your child. This is useful.

After the lesson

• Did you understand the explanations?
• Were you comfortable asking questions?
• Was the work too easy, too hard or about right?
• Would you be comfortable learning with this tutor again?