Her ATAR was 97.8 - it still wasn't enough

One in seven Australian students now receives tutoring as families spend thousands seeking an academic edge.

I met someone recently at a party who told me that his daughter had scored an ATAR of 97.8 in Year 12.

I congratulated him and asked what she was studying.

He told me she didn't get into medicine, but was studying medical sciences, with the aim of transferring into medicine.

I could feel the high expectation and pressure on his daughter.

I understand how important it is for children to do well at school.

It will hopefully lead them to further study, to achieve a qualification that ensures they have interesting work and are financially secure.

It is normal for parents to be concerned about their school-age children's academic performance.

And this concern has spawned a billion-dollar tutoring industry, with one in seven Australian school students having tutoring, according to a report by University of Sydney academics Ben Zunica, Bronwyn Reid O'Connor and Katherin Cartwright.

They estimate there were as many as 80,000 private tutors working in 5000 tutoring businesses in Australia in 2024, as competition between students intensifies.

Certainly, tutoring can give kids an edge.

It can help them perform within tight timeframes, such as exams. The right tutor can help school children catch up if they have fallen behind, teach them valuable study skills or help them prepare for exams.

I remember finding out that one of my child's primary school friends was being tutored in most subjects.

I was surprised but started thinking that I should be doing the same for my children, but decided they were too young to spend time after school and on weekends being tutored in maths, science and English.

They were already dealing with plenty of homework.

In my mind, tutoring was more for secondary students in the lead-up to final high school exams, to deal with any gaps in their subjects, in particular maths.

Why tutoring is starting in primary school

It doesn't work that way anymore.

Primary students are under pressure to perform well academically in NAPLAN tests as early as Years 3 and 5, or to sit exams to be chosen for a selective school or a scholarship to a private school.

Parents are paying big money and they want results.

Some children have multiple weekly tutoring sessions for 18 months before the competitive selective schools test, according to Christina Ho, associate professor in social and political sciences at UTS.

Ho is following 38 families with upper primary children preparing for the selective schools exam.

Parents are spending thousands, but how do you know it's worth it?

Tutoring can be a bit of a free-for-all.

The nature and impact of tutoring can be hard for parents to assess.

"Parents seeking high-quality tutors are left to navigate a marketplace where anyone can advertise services, delivered online or in private homes, without demonstrating qualifications or accountability," says Zunica, lecturer in secondary maths education.

For me, it was word of mouth when I was looking for an English tutor for one of my children when she was studying for the HSC.

I came across a young university student whose credentials were a high mark in his final English exam.

But he wasn't a teacher and didn't work out.

Then I heard about an English teacher who took a small number of students.

She could identify what my child needed to work on and there weren't too many sessions needed.

The Australian Tutoring Association, a private tutoring organisation, recommends asking a prospective tutor about their qualifications and experience in the subject.

How long have they been tutoring or teaching this subject?

Also, find out if they have a university qualification in education.

You want to make sure they understand the requirements of the Board of Studies in your state or territory.

Look at case studies, testimonials and reviews on their website, too.

The cost of tutoring

How much tutors charge depends on their experience and qualifications. Teacher-trained tutors typically charge $55 to $180 per hour, according to the Australian Tutoring Association.

One-to-one sessions are more expensive than joining a tutoring class or signing up for online tutoring.

If it is a one-on-one arrangement, ask the tutor to assess your child and give you an idea about how long they will need tutoring and much you can expect to pay for tuition.

If it's group tuition, find out if there are discounts for attending a certain number of tuitions, say 10 sessions.

Not all children respond well to tutoring, so be clear about a refund policy if your child is unhappy or if they want to cancel the tutoring. How much notice do you have to give in order not to be charged for the session?

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