Everything Parents Ask Before Hiring a Tutor — Answered.
The thirty most common questions we receive from parents, organised into five categories. Every answer is candid, every claim is specific, and every Q&A is marked up with FAQPage schema for rich-result eligibility on Google.
Hiring a tutor is a decision parents do not take lightly — and the questions parents ask before signing up are more revealing than the marketing copy we could write. Below are the thirty questions we hear most often, organised into five categories. Every answer is written for clarity, every claim is specific, and every question is marked up with FAQPage schema so it becomes eligible for Google's expandable rich results — meaning Eminent Studies can surface in the search results before competitors even appear on the page.
Book a demo and ask your questions
If your question is not answered below — or you want a real conversation rather than a written one — book a free demo. The first thirty minutes is yours.
GETTING STARTED
How online tutoring with Eminent Studies works
How does online one-to-one tutoring actually work?+
Sessions run via Zoom or Google Meet, with a shared interactive whiteboard that both tutor and student can write on simultaneously. The tutor leads the session, your child engages live, and a written summary plus practice tasks are emailed within twenty-four hours.
What technology do we need?+
A laptop or tablet, a webcam, a stable internet connection of ten megabits per second or more, and a quiet space. Headphones help. We will help you set up if needed.
How long is each session?+
Standard sessions are sixty minutes. We also offer ninety-minute sessions, often used for SAT preparation or final-exam intensives.
How is Eminent Studies different from group tuition or AI tutoring?+
Group tuition gives your child roughly twelve percent of a tutor's attention; one-to-one gives them fifty to sixty percent — three to five times more individual learning per hour. AI tools cannot read body language, adjust to specific misconceptions or motivate at exam pressure points. Real teaching requires a human.
Where are your tutors based?+
Our ninety-plus tutors live across the UK, USA, Singapore, Australia, and several other countries. We always match the tutor to your time zone — no overnight sessions for your child.
How long has Eminent Studies been operating?+
Since 2018. We have served more than 2,800 students across fourteen countries, with our largest active markets being the United States, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom.
PRICING & PLANS
What it costs and how billing works
How much does tutoring cost?+
Rates vary by exam, country and package. Starting from $95 per hour in the USA, $110 SGD per hour in Singapore, $120 AUD per hour in Australia, or £55 per hour in the UK. Package savings of ten to eighteen percent on twelve and twenty-four session commitments.
Do you offer packages or pay-as-you-go?+
Both. Pay-as-you-go for families who want flexibility; twelve and twenty-four session packages for families committed to a longer engagement, with corresponding savings.
What is included in the price?+
The session, all preparation, written session notes, fortnightly parent reports, mock-exam marking, and access to our digital resource library. No additional surcharges or platform fees.
Are there refunds?+
Refunds are available for unused sessions in any package.
Do you offer payment plans?+
Yes — payment plans of three, six or twelve monthly instalments are available.
What are the cancellation rules?+
Cancel up to twenty-four hours in advance with no charge; within twenty-four hours the session forfeits, but every family receives one no-questions-asked same-day cancellation per month.
TUTORS & SESSIONS
Who teaches your child and how often
How are tutors matched to my child?+
Through a diagnostic call with our admissions team, who shortlist two or three tutors on subject, exam, time zone and learning style. You meet the recommended tutor in the demo.
Can we change tutors if it is not the right fit?+
Yes — at any time, no questions asked, no fee. New tutor matched within forty-eight hours with full progress handover.
Are tutors background-checked?+
Yes — every tutor passes an enhanced DBS check or jurisdictional equivalent, plus annual safeguarding training.
How experienced are your tutors?+
Our tutors average five-plus years of tutoring experience. The minimum is two years, served during our probationary period for new tutors.
What qualifications do they hold?+
A degree from a Russell Group, Ivy League or equivalent institution as a minimum. Many hold MAs, MEds, MScs or PhDs in their specialism.
How often should sessions run?+
Most students do one to two sessions per week. Closer to exams, families add a third session or extend to ninety minutes.
RESULTS & TRACKING
How we measure and report progress
How do you measure progress?+
Topic-by-topic mastery scores, mock-exam results, and grade-trajectory tracking against the diagnostic baseline. Every student has a written target; every fortnight measures against it. Parents receive a fortnightly written report plus access to all session notes via the parent dashboard.
How long until we see grade improvement?+
Most students show meaningful gains within six to ten weeks. Significant grade jumps such as C to A typically take twelve to twenty weeks of consistent weekly tutoring.
What if there is no improvement?+
For twenty-four-week packages we offer a written outcome agreement — if the agreed target is not met, we extend free of charge or refund the unused balance.
Can we pause tutoring during school exams?+
Yes — pause for up to four weeks at any point with no fee. Your tutor and study plan resume exactly where they left off.
Will we get parent updates?+
Yes — fortnightly written progress reports plus session-by-session notes in your parent dashboard, and a real account manager you can message any time.
Do you set targets?+
Always. Every engagement begins with a specific, written target grade or score, and every fortnightly report measures your child against it.
TRUST & SAFETY
Keeping your child and your data safe
How is my child kept safe online?+
Every tutor passes enhanced safeguarding checks plus annual child safeguarding training. Sessions are recorded and retained securely; parents can request session recordings on demand.
Are sessions recorded?+
Yes — for safeguarding and quality. Recordings are encrypted, retained for ninety days, and accessible to parents on request.
Who has access to session data?+
Only the assigned tutor, our pedagogy team for quality reviews, and you the parent. We do not share data with third parties for marketing or any other purpose.
Is my data GDPR compliant?+
Yes. We are GDPR compliant in the UK and EU, and follow equivalent data-protection standards in the USA, Singapore and Australia. Full privacy policy at /privacy.
Are tutors child-safety certified?+
Yes. Every tutor completes annual safeguarding and child-protection training in addition to their enhanced background check, and we keep current certification on file for each one.
How long are recordings retained?+
Recordings are retained for ninety days for safeguarding and quality, then securely deleted. You can request earlier deletion of any recording in writing.
Still have questions? Book a free demo and ask our team.
Book My Free DemoOr explore how 1-on-1 works · meet our tutors.