TutorFit Tutor shortlist Tutor Match · USD 29
Three tutors for GCSE maths, and a note about what the problem might be
Matched on how they teach rather than on how they score, because the issue you describe is not knowledge.
You wrote that she understands it in class and freezes in tests. That is a different problem from not knowing the material, and it changes what to look for in a tutor. All three below work on exam technique and pressure as well as content, which is why two very highly rated subject specialists are not on this list.
Closest match on age group, works specifically on timed practice and test anxiety, and has Thursday availability which is the evening you said works. Book a single trial session before committing to a term, and let Aoife have the deciding vote.
The brief
What to match on
| What you told us | What it means for the match |
|---|---|
| Understands it in class, freezes in tests | Needs timed practice and technique, not more teaching |
| Predicted grade 5, target grade 7 | Achievable in the time. Not a rebuild from scratch |
| Two sessions a week | Rules out tutors with one slot left |
| Thursday and Sunday work | Thursday is the harder one to find |
| She finds her teacher intimidating | Tone matters more than credentials here |
| Online is fine | Widens the pool considerably |
| Budget about USD 40 an hour | Mid-market. Comfortable at this level |
The row about her teacher is the one that shaped this shortlist most. Two of the highest rated maths tutors available were left off because their reviews consistently describe them as demanding, which is excellent for some students and the opposite of what you described.
Shortlist
Three, compared
| Rate | Age group | Exam technique | Thursday | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutor A | USD 34 / h | GCSE and A-level | Some | Yes | Structured, brisk |
| Tutor B | USD 38 / h | GCSE only | Core of how they work | Yes | Patient, question led |
| Tutor C | USD 45 / h | GCSE and A-level | Yes | Waiting list | Warm, slower paced |
Tutor C is the best match on style and is not available on a Thursday until January. Included so you know what you are choosing between rather than only what is available.
Tutor B, USD 38 an hour
Works only with GCSE students, builds every session around timed questions under exam conditions, and describes their approach as reducing panic before adding content. Thursday 17:00 and Sunday 10:00 both free from 23 October.
Tutor A, USD 34 an hour
USD 8 a week cheaper across two sessions. Stronger on content, lighter on technique, and a brisker manner which may or may not suit her.
Tutor C, USD 45 an hour
If January is acceptable and the budget stretches, the closest match on the thing you described. Ask to be put on the list now; it costs nothing.
The trial
What to watch in the first session
Book one session, not a term. Most tutors expect this and the ones who resist it are telling you something.
- Did the tutor ask Aoife what she finds hard, or start teaching?
- Did she talk during the session, or only listen?
- Was there any timed work at all?
- Did she come out of it less worried or more?
- Did the tutor explain what they would do over a term?
- Ask Aoife afterwards, privately, whether she wants to go back