When it comes to test preparation for major exams like the SAT and GRE, standard prep courses on their own often don’t cut it. Sometimesstudents hit a wall and can’t seem to make further progress, or they really need a boost to get an elite score.
Either way, hiring a private tutor can make a big difference in a number of respects. In this article, we explore five reasons why you may want to consider hiring a private tutor for your exam prep.
#1 | Personalized Attention
The clearest advantage of using a private tutor is the fact that you get more personalized attention and support. When you take a prep course or self-study with a book, it is more or less a “one size fits all” approach.Books and courses just aren’t designed to offer individualized guidance.
By contrast, private tutors, like those from Varsity Tutors, can customize lessons and teaching points based on a student's needs. They are good at identifying students’ unique strengths and weaknesses, and adjusting coursework based on these factors.
In short, you will almost always get more customized teaching when opting for a private tutor.
#2 | Analysis of Goals
Oftentimes, tutors will look beyond your target score at broader goals and aspirations to provide a more fulsome teaching experience. Tutors often have tons of experience in the education space and can provide insights that you wouldn’t otherwise receive from a self-study book.
For example, they might provide some context around target scores and be able to provide shortcuts to getting where you need to be. These side-tips and hacks are often worth their weight in gold.
#3 | StrongerConfidence Levels
A common byproduct of using a private tutor is increased confidence. Tutors have a great knack for making students more confident in their abilities and providing a positive mental boost.
With a self-paced course, students have a tendency to get discouraged when they receive a poor practice test score or don't understand a concept. In these cases, there is no human presence to reassure or comfort students.
Tutors, on the other hand, do just this. They are there to remind students of the bigger picture, provide support, and reassure them that a bad score might just be part of the process of improving. In turn, students tend to feel more confident in their abilities and skill level when using a tutor.
#4 | Fewer Distractions
If you opt for a live online prep course, there are bound to be distractions. Classes are often packed with students who ask silly questions, don’t pay attention, and cause distractions.
Private tutoring sessions remove this wasted time. There are no distractions, inefficiencies, or other issues arising from other students being present. It’s just you and the tutor.
#5 | Developing Better Study Habits
The final advantage worth noting is that students who utilize a private tutor often have better study habits than those who do not. When left to their own devices to study, many students lack routine and good habits.
They find it hard to build a schedule and stay motivated. Tutored students, however, develop good habits through rigorous instruction and expectations set by their paid tutor.
And given that repetition and practice make up so much of exam prep, having better habits can make a massive difference over the course of weeks or months of studying.
Conclusion
In sum, private tutoring may be expensive, but it also offers a lot of benefits. Between the improved confidence and study habits, personalized attention and goal development, and more efficient teaching, it is hard to beat the value of 1-on-1 private tutoring. If you can find a reasonable price for tutoring, it is absolutely worth it.
