Whether it’s to improve grades and help with exams or to get a headstart and prepare for more advanced classes, parents and students are now realizing the importance of having a private tutor. Particularly, in math, science, and other STEM subjects that have always been more challenging for many students. However, not all tutoring services are created equal. With plenty of options available, it’s important to ensure that you’re working with someone who’s the right fit for you. Below, we listed some key factors to consider and important qualities to look for to help you in choosing a math and science tutor.

Things to Consider Before Looking for a Math and Science Tutor

Working with a private math and science tutor provides benefits that go beyond helping you with your Physics or AP Calculus homework. With the right tutor, students gain essential skills that can help them inside and outside the classroom. But with the vast number of tutoring services available and the different methods and approaches they use, knowing where and how to start can be overwhelming. So, before you begin your search, there are a few important things you’ll want to take note of to help narrow down your options.

1. Type of help needed

Identifying the areas you want to address can help point you in the right direction when choosing a math and science tutor. You can try a more general approach and seek overall help in a certain subject. Or make a list of specific topics you need help with, whether it’s finding common factors, balancing chemical equations, or AP test preparations. Doing so can guide you in your search for a tutor who specializes in these specific subjects or topics.

2. Your goals

Private tutors can provide overall help for any subject. But if you have a specific goal in mind, those can require different approaches or teaching methods. Some tutors specialize in helping students prepare for big tests, such as the AP exams, SATs, ACTS, and others. If you are looking for homework help, you’ll want a tutor who can be available to help whenever you do your assignments.

3. Costs

One of the important considerations when choosing a math and science tutor is your budget. Once you’ve determined the amount you can set aside to cover tutoring costs, you can start making a list of providers that offer packages and payment options within your budget. Always check and read the company’s tutoring policies and procedures to help you make a more informed decision.

4. Convenience

It’s important to ask yourself what type of delivery method you’d like your math and science tutor to provide. Some tutoring companies require all tutoring sessions to be conducted in their learning centers, while some private tutors have specific schedules that students can choose from. If convenience is a huge factor for you, then you’d want to choose a tutor who is flexible and can easily adapt to any unforeseen changes in your schedule. Online tutoring is a great option if you’d like to save time traveling from your home to your tutoring location, or if you want to be able to attend your tutoring sessions even when you are away.

What to Look for in Your Math and Science Tutor

The right tutor can make a huge difference in your academic performance, so choosing one is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are many qualities that make a tutor great, but there are a few things that should be at the top of your criteria.

1. Reputation, experience, and credentials

It goes without saying that you want your STEM tutor to be qualified to teach the subjects you need help with. The best math and science tutor is not only knowledgeable about your curriculum but is also experienced in teaching that content to different types of students.  Don’t be afraid to ask your prospective tutor about their areas of expertise or specializations, types of training they’ve undergone, and certifications. Particularly, if you’re looking for help in a specific area or have a certain goal you’d like to achieve. It’s especially crucial for a tutor to have the right training and credentials in teaching students who may be coping with a learning difference or difficulty.

Ask your teachers, guidance counselors, classmates, or other parents for recommendations, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. This can give you an idea of a tutor’s teaching style, experience, and learning strategies.

2. Great personal skills

Track record, subject expertise, training, and specializations are all crucial considerations when choosing a math and science tutor, but so is having great personal skills. No matter how great a tutor’s content mastery is, this won’t translate effectively unless they are able to build rapport with the student. A good math and science tutor should possess good communication skills, an evident passion for the subject, a positive and encouraging attitude, and the patience to allow students to learn at their own pace. Building a friendly and positive relationship with students, while maintaining professionalism and a great work ethic, is key to creating a comfortable and safe learning environment.

3. Teaching style

A good math and science tutor understands that students learn in different ways. In classrooms, teachers are often limited to using a one-size-fits-all approach. They often don’t have the time and resources to provide focused attention to each of their students. With private tutoring, it’s the complete opposite.

Your math and science tutor must be able to adapt to your learning style and use your interests to create more engaging learning activities. Your tutor must also identify topics and content that require a different way of learning and use techniques that can help students grasp the material according to their current skills or level.

To ensure that your tutor complements your learning style, ask yourself what your ideal tutoring session would be like. Do you prefer more hands-on activities or do you learn best with the use of images and videos? Are you looking for an upbeat tutor to keep you engaged or do you prefer someone calmer to help you focus?

4. Availability

One of the most important things we’ve learned in the last couple of years is the importance of flexibility. This also applies to math and science tutoring. When choosing a STEM tutor, you want to make sure you can access tutoring support without being restricted by your location, conflicting schedules, or your tutor’s limited availability.

Online Math and Science Tutoring with Stemly Tutoring

Stemly Tutoring offers comprehensive, personalized, one-on-one math and science tutoring for students of all ages and skill levels. Our online math and science tutoring services are designed to provide the best math and science support and the most effective and productive learning experience.

• Flexibility and convenience. All tutoring lessons are conducted online with your convenience in mind. Our tutors find a schedule that works best for our students, so you won’t have to worry about missing other activities or canceling appointments. Each tutoring session is also recorded, so you can easily access them if you need to review or take down notes.

• Highly trained math and science tutoring experts. Our math and science tutors are STEM experts with exemplary academic backgrounds and tutoring track records. Stemly’s team of friendly, professional, and highly trained tutors are Ph.D. holders or are currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs.

• Individualized instruction. We understand the importance of providing one-on-one attention to each of our students to provide comprehensive support. Our tutoring process begins with getting to know you and ensuring that we match you with the math and science tutor who is best equipped to address your needs, learning style, and interests.

• Subscription options. Our monthly subscription options offer students and parents more flexibility when signing up for our tutoring services. You may also check out our Tutoring Policy page to know more about procedures.

Stemly’s math and science tutoring services include Pre-Algebra tutoring, Algebra 1 tutoring, Algebra 2 tutoring, Geometry tutoring, Trigonometry tutoring, Pre-Calculus tutoring, Calculus 1 tutoring, Calculus 2 tutoring, Multivariable Calculus tutoring, Statistics tutoring, General Physics tutoring, Mechanics tutoring, Electricity & Magnetism tutoring, General Chemistry tutoring, Organic Chemistry tutoring, General Biology tutoring, and Biochemistry tutoring. We also offer AP math and science tutoring, including AP Calculus AB tutoring, AP Calculus BC tutoring, AP Physics 1 tutoring, AP Physics 2 tutoring, AP Physics C tutoring, AP Chemistry, and AP Biology tutoring.

Reach out to Stemly Tutoring today to find out more about how we can help!