Do I Really Need a Tutor?

It’s crunch time. You get back some SACs and you’re not overly happy with how you’ve gone. Maybe you’re struggling understanding a particular concept in the course. Or, on the flip side, maybe you’re happy with how you’re going in class but want to try and extend yourself. You can definitely try asking your teacher, but a lot of the time their focus is on the whole class – too much so to provide the truly individual assistance you might need. This is where tutors come in.

Tutors can be great to help explain concepts, or give you some extra work to refine your skills, but there are definitely a few things you need to weigh up before deciding if one’s right for you.

Their Purpose:

Many people think a tutor is there to help them with their homework. While that's definitely one of the services they can provide – you can ask them questions if there’s something you don’t quite get – make sure you don’t misinterpret the actual role of your tutor. It’s not really in your interest to have someone do your homework for you – that stops you from actually learning content. Instead, your tutor should be there to help guide you through or beyond the work you’ve been set, so that they can improve your overall understanding of the subject. Make sure your priorities here are clear and that you have a tutor to assist you holistically – not just with your homework – or else they won’t actually help you improve.  

They cost money:

*Cries* Yes, it’s a sad truth, but tutors do indeed cost money. Sometimes upwards of $100 an hour. Now, obviously this depends on the individual tutor and their qualifications, but it’s worth keeping in mind. If you’re planning to see this tutor every week – let alone other tutors for different VCE® Exam subjects during the same week – the cost quickly adds up. While there’s no doubt your parents want the best for you, and want to give you as many opportunities as they can, tutors can become a very costly exercise for them – or even for you if you have to foot the bill on your own. To relieve this headache, make sure to shop around to see how cost-effective your tutors can be.

There’s a time commitment:

Obviously Year 12 is a time-poor year, and this means that you want to be spending your hours as best you can. Tutors essentially provide another class, for generally at least an hour (per tutor). Much like money, this too adds up – especially if you factor in the time spent getting to a library if you’re not meeting your tutor at home. So, if you’re planning to be tutored, make sure you’re not giving up too much of the time you need for personal study or even relaxation – don't forget that part, it’s can honestly be just as important. If you feel you’ve got enough time and that you’ll be helped with some extra resources then definitely go for it, but if you’re not so sure you’ve got time to spare, it might be worth reassessing how valuable that tutor really is.

Provided you understand the time and monetary cost of a tutor, as well as why you’re actually getting one, then tutors can be a great resource to help improve your understanding during VCE® Exam. But if you find yourself a tad unsure, don’t be alarmed. Have a look online for some VCE® Exam notes or quizzes. These can work just as well to help fill the gaps and can still be amazing resources if seeing a physical tutor isn’t quite right for you.