National exam preparation: how to choose a tutor for your score
Start with a mock test
Before you look for a tutor, take a mock exam or a past paper. The result shows which topics are failing. If you tell a tutor your current score (say, 60%) and the one you want (say, 85%+), they can tell you straight away whether it is realistic and how long it will take.
Good preparation is not just “solving problems” but analysing mistakes: where exactly marks are lost, which topics to revise and which you can leave alone.
Which subjects to choose, and how many
The number of subjects and your choice depend on the course you are applying for. Check the admission requirements and the entrance subjects of the colleges you are interested in. That decides which subjects you need teachers for. Admission rules and the list of compulsory subjects can change, so check the current conditions on the official websites.
How to find a tutor through BlaBlaPrice
You write one request: subject, current level, target score, format and schedule. It is checked and you are told what is missing. Tutors reply in the chat: experience, students' results, price per lesson, free slots. They can see where their offer ranks among others, so they often improve their terms. Reviews are shown next to each one. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose a tutor. Read more on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Subject — maths, physics, chemistry, English, biology.
- Target score and the college, if you have decided.
- Current level — marks, result of a mock exam.
- Class — the final school year or a repeater from earlier years.
- Format — online or offline, one-to-one or a mini-group.
- How often — for example, 2 times a week for 90 minutes.
- Preparation period — from July to March or a few months.
- Requirements for the tutor — students' results, experience as an examiner or setter.
- City for in-person lessons and budget per lesson.
Example: “Woodlands. Final school year, I need maths, the mock exam gave 60% and my target is 85%+. Online, one-to-one, 2 times a week for 90 minutes, from July to March. Preferably a tutor whose students score 90%+. Budget up to $13 per lesson.”
How to compare offers
- Results. Ask about students' scores and in which years, but do not rely on numbers without proof. Reviews help.
- Plan. A good tutor builds a programme up to the exam date and runs regular mock tests.
- Materials. Whether they set homework and go through mistakes.
- Terms. Length of a lesson, payment, rescheduling, whether you can have a trial lesson.
Start early: the more time before the exam, the calmer the pace. The worst option is to look for a tutor a month before, when their timetables are already full.
For other subjects and the school syllabus look at tutors and foreign language teachers. All learning services are in the “Education and sports services” section.
