12 Questions to Ask a GCSE Tutor Before You Book

Before the call

Send your child's current predicted grades, their exam board, and what you actually want (a specific grade jump, confidence, exam technique — whatever it is). A tutor who reads this before the call is already showing you how they'll operate. One who hasn't will improvise for 20 minutes.

The 12 questions

1. Do you offer a diagnostic assessment before we start? What does it cover?

Good answer: "Yes, a 45-60 minute assessment covering the specification. You'll get a written report."

2. Which exam boards do you specialise in? Which one does my child sit?

Good answer: A specific board named, with real detail on how it differs from the others.

3. What does a typical first term of tuition look like?

Good answer: Structured. Topic priorities, checkpoints, an end-of-term assessment.

4. How will I know if my child is making progress?

Good answer: Weekly written parent report. Not "I'll message you occasionally" or "grades will speak for themselves."

5. Are you DBS-checked? When was it last renewed?

Good answer: Yes, with a specific date.

6. What happens if my child is stuck at 9pm on homework?

Good answer: A specific between-session support channel — WhatsApp, email with a stated response time, or a shared document.

7. Can you show me a redacted example of a weekly parent report?

Good answer: Yes, immediately.

8. What's your track record — specifically, what grade jumps have your students achieved?

Good answer: Specific numbers with context. "Most Year 11 students I've worked with for 6+ months move up 1-2 grades." Not "many students have improved."

9. Can I speak to a parent you've tutored?

Good answer: Yes, with a real name and number provided within a day.

10. What subjects and levels do you not tutor?

Good answer: Specific. A tutor who says "I can teach anything" is a warning sign; a tutor who says "I don't tutor A-level Further Maths" is telling you where their expertise stops.

11. What's your cancellation and rescheduling policy?

Good answer: Clear, written, reasonable. Not "term contracts" or "8-week minimum commitments."

12. If we don't see measurable progress in 6 weeks, what's your recommendation?

Good answer: A confident, specific response — usually about revising the plan, considering a different tutor match, or an honest conversation. A tutor who hasn't thought about this hasn't been held to account before.

Read the tone as much as the answer

A tutor who welcomes these questions is confident in their systems. One who deflects, hedges, or gets defensive is telling you exactly what working with them will be like when things get hard.