The online tutoring market has exploded in the last few years — which is great for families who need flexibility, but it also means quality varies enormously. Here’s what actually matters when choosing an online English tutor for your child.
1. They Know the Specific Exam Your Child Is Sitting
“Qualified English teacher” doesn’t automatically mean “knows IGCSE Cambridge Paper 2 inside out.” A great general teacher might not know the specific demands, mark schemes, and common pitfalls of your child’s particular exam. Ask: have they taught this exam before? Do they know the mark scheme? Have they seen the examiner reports?
This matters especially for IGCSE (Cambridge vs Edexcel are different), A-Level (AQA vs OCR vs Edexcel have different coursework requirements), and 11+ (GL vs CEM are significantly different).
2. They Have Examiner Experience (or Have Worked Closely With Examiners)
Tutors who have marked exam papers — or who have been trained directly by examiners — understand something that other tutors don’t: what a B answer looks like versus an A answer, and exactly why. This knowledge completely changes the quality of feedback a student receives. It’s the difference between “this is good, but it could be better” and “you need to develop your third point because you’re restating the evidence rather than analysing it.”
3. They Keep Groups Small — or Offer Genuinely Interactive One-to-One
Online group sessions with 15, 20, or more students are essentially lectures. The child watches. They may or may not listen. They almost certainly don’t receive personalised feedback or feel confident to ask questions. Look for group sizes of 6 or fewer — or, if it’s one-to-one, make sure sessions are genuinely interactive (not the tutor talking at a screen while the student silently takes notes).
4. They Provide Feedback on Written Work
English is a writing subject. Your child needs to practise writing — and they need detailed, specific feedback on what they’ve written. A tutor who only covers theory in sessions, without assigning and marking practice essays, is only doing half the job. Ask prospective tutors: how do you handle written work? How quickly do you turnaround feedback? Is it written feedback or verbal?
5. They Have a Clear Structure — Not Just “We’ll See How It Goes”
Good tutoring follows a plan. A structured curriculum — even if it’s adapted flexibly based on the student’s needs — means the student makes systematic progress rather than dipping in and out of topics randomly. Before committing to a tutor, ask: what will we cover? In what order? How will we know if my child is improving?
6. Your Child Feels Comfortable With Them
This one sounds obvious, but it’s genuinely the most important factor after subject expertise. A student who feels too intimidated to admit they don’t understand something, or who feels bored or talked down to, will not make progress — no matter how qualified the tutor is. A trial lesson is invaluable for this reason. Trust your child’s instinct about whether the relationship feels right.
A Word on Price
Tutoring rates for experienced, qualified teachers range widely. The cheapest option is rarely the best value — especially for high-stakes exams. That said, well-structured group tuition can offer excellent quality at a lower price point than one-to-one, provided the groups are genuinely small and interactive. It’s worth exploring both options.
Thorogood English is a small-group online English tuition service led by a qualified teacher and former examiner. Classes open in January 2027. Register your interest here.