Questions to ask a tutor before the first lesson

Before you ask anything: know your own answers

A tutor can only answer well if they know what you want. Spend five minutes on these three things first:

1. Your goal, in one sentence. For example: "Pass the IELTS Academic with 7.0 by June" or "Hold a basic conversation in Italian before my trip in May".
2. Your current level. A rough guess is fine. If you are learning a language, the CEFR levels (A1 to C2) give you a shared vocabulary with the tutor.
3. Your constraints. How many lessons a week you can manage, your time zone, and your budget per lesson.

If you are still deciding what a reasonable budget is, our guide to what a private tutor costs explains the main things that move a price up or down.

Questions about fit and experience

These tell you whether the tutor has helped people like you before.

• Have you taught adults with a goal like mine? What did that work look like?
• What levels do you usually teach? Where would you place me from what I have told you?
• Do you have experience with my exam, my industry or my situation (for example, moving abroad)?
• What do your students usually find hardest at my level, and how do you handle it?

What a good answer sounds like

Specific and a little modest. "I have worked with several engineers preparing for interviews in English. We usually start by recording mock answers and fixing the five or six phrases they use most" is a good answer. "I teach all levels and all goals" is not wrong, but it does not tell you anything.

Questions about how they teach

Two tutors with the same experience can run very different lessons. These questions help you picture one.

• What does a typical lesson with you look like, minute by minute?
• How much of the lesson will I spend speaking, or working problems myself?
• Do you use a course book, your own materials, or material I bring?
• How do you correct mistakes: during, at the end, or in written notes?
• Do you give homework? How much time should I expect to spend between lessons?

What a vague answer sounds like

"Every lesson is tailored to the student" is a common answer. It may be true, but ask the follow-up: "What would you do in our first two lessons?" A tutor with a real method can describe it in a few sentences.

Questions about logistics and money

These are the questions people feel awkward asking and then wish they had. Ask them before you book, not after.

• What is your rate, and how long is a lesson?
• Is the first lesson priced differently from regular lessons?
• How do you take payment? Do you ask for payment before or after each lesson?
• Do you offer packages, and can I pay lesson by lesson to start with?
• What is your cancellation policy, for both of us? What happens if you cancel?
• Which video platform do you use, and do I need anything installed?
• Which times do you usually have free in my time zone?

Be careful if a tutor pushes you to prepay many lessons before you have had one, or cannot give you a clear rate. Paying for a few lessons at a time once you know you like the tutor is a reasonable middle ground.

Questions about tracking progress

Adults tend to stop lessons when they cannot see progress, even when it is happening. Agreeing how you will measure it keeps you both honest.

• How will we know whether this is working after a month?
• Do you keep notes on my mistakes or vocabulary that I can see?
• Do you set goals for each block of lessons, and review them?
• If I am preparing for an exam, will we do timed practice under exam conditions?

A good tutor will be honest that progress is rarely a straight line, and will still give you something concrete to check: a mock test score, a recording from week one to compare with week eight, or a list of things you could not do before.

Be wary of anyone who promises a specific result, such as a guaranteed exam score or fluency in a fixed number of lessons. Nobody can honestly guarantee that.

A first message you can copy

You do not need to send every question above. Pick the three or four that matter most and put them in one short message. Tutors answer short, specific messages faster and better.

Hi [name], I am looking for a tutor for [subject]. My goal is [one sentence goal] by [date, if any]. I think my level is about [level], and my weakest area is [speaking, writing, a topic]. I can do [number] lessons a week, usually [days and times, with time zone]. A few questions: have you worked with learners with a similar goal, what would our first two lessons look like, and what is your rate and cancellation policy? Thanks, [your name]

Send a similar message to two or three tutors. Comparing their replies is often enough to make the choice. If you are looking for an English tutor specifically, our guide on how to find a good English tutor online covers how to read profiles and intro videos.

After the first lesson: decide on purpose

Right after the lesson, while it is fresh, write down quick answers to these:

1. Did the tutor do what they said they would in their messages?
2. Did I spend most of the time doing the work, or watching?
3. Did I leave with something specific to practise?
4. Was I comfortable enough to make mistakes in front of this person?
5. Does the price feel fair for what I got?

If the answers are mostly yes, book a small block of lessons and review after a month. If they are mixed, tell the tutor what you would change and see how they respond. If they are mostly no, thank them and try someone else. That is a normal part of finding a tutor, not a failure.

Questions people ask

Is it rude to ask a tutor about their rate before the first lesson?

No. Tutors expect it, and it saves time for both of you. Ask about the rate, lesson length, payment method and cancellation policy in your first message.

How many questions should I send in a first message?

Three or four is plenty. Lead with your goal and level, then ask the questions that would change your decision. You can ask the rest in the first lesson.

Should I ask for a trial lesson?

It is worth asking whether the first lesson is shorter or priced differently, but the most important thing is to treat the first lesson as a test either way and decide afterwards.

What if the tutor does not reply?

Tutors are often busy or teaching. Wait a couple of days, and message two or three tutors at once so one slow reply does not hold you up.

Can I ask a tutor to use my own materials?

Yes. Many adult learners bring work emails, presentations or exam papers. Ask whether the tutor is comfortable with that before you book.