The 5 Best Online Tutoring Services To Support Your Child’s Learning
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During the pandemic, U.S. students experienced significant drops in reading and math scores that they haven’t recovered from. Whether you want to make sure your child doesn't have any gaps in their education or you want to set them up to perform at the top of their class, tutoring can help. However, with school, jobs, homework, and extracurricular activities, in-person tutoring sessions might not be flexible enough for your schedules. Online tutoring is growing in popularity as an option for remedial or enrichment learning that you can easily fit into your already-full schedules.
Online tutoring also lets you connect your child with exceptional tutors or those with specialized expertise who may not be available locally. There’s no one best online tutoring service or website for online teaching. The best option will depend on your child’s needs, learning style, and the quality of individual tutors. Some things you should look for in a quality online tutoring platform include the experience and educational background of the tutors, the subjects covered, the pricing structure, and customer reviews. This article will cover some of the best online tutoring services, including what they offer and who they’re best for.
What Is Online Tutoring?
Online tutoring is similar to in-person tutoring in that your student meets one-on-one with a tutor. This is usually done over an online platform, either a proprietary one provided by the tutoring service or a publicly available option such as Zoom. Online tutoring is beneficial for students who have learning gaps or need advanced opportunities for enrichment. It can be an extremely effective method of shoring up lagging skills. Research has shown that online tutoring can help students overcome COVID-19-related learning loss. It's most effective when it's one-on-one rather than in group settings.
Some teachers grade more on effort than retained knowledge, so even if your child brings home good grades, they may not understand all of the concepts. The Fordham Institute reports that grade inflation is a significant concern. In 2021, ACT test takers had the worst composite scores in a decade but the highest GPAs ever recorded. If your child brings home concerning standardized test scores despite good grades, you can use online tutoring to figure out what's going on and how to fix it.
You might also want to use online tutoring to provide enrichment activities for your advanced students. With many schools cutting gifted programs, advanced students may not have the opportunity to learn at a higher level. Online tutoring meets students where they are and allows them to advance at their own pace. You can also use online tutoring to ignite your child's love of learning by allowing them to study subjects their school doesn't offer, such as paleontology or coding.
Here are five popular online tutoring platforms, including the key features and pros and cons of each, and who they’re best for.
1. Learner.com: Personalized Online Tutoring with Hand-Matched Experts
Learner offers online tutoring in most academic subjects for all grade levels. You complete a short assessment to explain your child’s needs, participate in a five-minute phone call, and schedule their first session within three days. After making sure the tutor is a good fit, the platform guarantees you’ll see progress in as little as two weeks. The platform combines video calls with a shared whiteboard that the tutor and student can both access to work on problems.
Key features
- Tutors are well-vetted and experienced
- Students are matched with students according to their goals
- Tutors provide feedback after each session so you can track progress
- Online platform works on most devices
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Learner include:
Pros:
- Wide variety of subjects offered
- Good reviews from parents and students
- Responsive customer service team
Cons:
- No option to choose your own tutor
- Pricing not available on website
- No live chat available for support issues
Best for:
Students seeking one-on-one support tailored to their learning style
2. Tutor.com: 24/7 Homework Help Backed by The Princeton Review
Tutor.com is a tutoring service provided by the experts at The Princeton Review. It has over 4,000 tutors available to teach over 250 subjects. Tutor.com is primarily offered through institutions, including K-12 schools. If you’re interested in trying it, ask your school if they offer it. If they don't, it may be available through your local library. Its data-based platform provides real-time analytics with actionable insights into your child’s performance.
Key features
- On-demand tutoring available
- Research-based program design
- Session recordings for easy review
- Personalized learning plans
- Summer enrichment program available to stop summer slide
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Tutor.com include:
Pros:
- Free for students through institutional partnerships
- Demonstrates positive improvements in grades and attendance
- Highly vetted tutors
Cons:
- Students complain about not being able to find tutors the same day
- Poor customer support
- Inconsistent responses from tutors
Best for:
On-demand support and general academic help
3. Wyzant: Flexible Learning with a Wide Tutor Network
Wyzant tutoring is an online tutoring marketplace where you can find a tutor. It’s not a tutoring service like some other options, so the price and quality vary widely. They have thousands of tutors and offer almost every possible subject. Because the platform isn’t providing the service directly, it’s up to individual tutors to decide how your sessions are structured.
Key features
- Proprietary platform that allows you to meet one-on-one and share resources such as text editors, code editors, and whiteboards
- Over 12 million lessons created
- Price set by tutors, starting as low as $10/hour
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Wyzant include:
Pros:
- Lower cost than many other options
- 65,000+ tutors to choose from
- Over 300 subjects offered
Cons:
- Inconsistent tutor quality
- Tutors aren’t required to have a background check
- Lesson recording feature fails often
Best for:
Students who want tutor choice and scheduling freedom
4. Varsity Tutors: Live Instruction and Test Prep Tools in One Platform
Varsity Tutoring is a well-established tutoring service that has a full-featured platform. It supports live online lessons as well as one-on-one sessions. They have a variety of membership plans to choose from, including academic, enrichment, languages, and test prep.
Key features
- Multiple subjects offered for all age groups
- Unlimited live small group classes
- Unlimited on-demand lessons
- Instant tutoring
- Expert essay review
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Varsity Tutors include:
Pros:
- Full-featured platform
- Tutors must pass a background check
- Unlimited learning options encourage exploration
Cons:
- Unclear pricing
- Expensive compared to other options
- Membership plans may be more than some students want or need
Best for:
Exam prep and academic enrichment
5. Skooli: Pay-As-You-Go Tutoring for K-12 and College Students
Skooli is an online learning platform that supports students from kindergarten through college. Skooli tutors are licensed teachers in K-12 subjects or subject matter experts in college subjects. You don’t have to pay for a membership plan, so you’re not stuck with sessions or features you don’t need.
Key features
- Interactive virtual classroom
- Covers most academic subjects
- Choose between instant help or scheduled sessions
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Skooli include:
Pros:
- Ideal for last-minute test prep or homework help
- High-quality, verified tutors
- Convenient access
Cons:
- Can be expensive if you use it often
- Lacks continuity of working with one tutor on a regular basis
- No free trial
Best for:
Flexibility without long-term commitment
How To Choose the Best Online Tutoring Platform
There are several factors to consider when choosing an online tutoring platform, including your child’s unique personality, their schedule, and the subjects available to them. Make sure the tutoring service you choose has verified experts who are capable of teaching high-quality lessons in the area where your student needs help.
You should also consider your budget, although it’s better to think about value than raw costs. Excellent tutors may charge more, but they can also provide better lessons that can teach your student more in less time. This means less on your plate and more free time for your child.
Think about your child’s learning style as well. Many children suffer from screen fatigue and will do better working with a tutor who doesn’t use an online platform. Math, in particular, is often best performed on paper. Students can still take advantage of online tutoring services, but they will just show the tutor their work on paper.
Also, think about how often you want your child to attend tutoring sessions. Attending tutoring once a week may be enough for enrichment, but it may not be adequate for catching up a student who is behind or preparing for a high-stakes test like the ACT or SAT. You may want to schedule two or three sessions weekly for intensive work.
Choose Alexander Tutoring for Personalized Math and Science Support
Alexander Tutoring provides personalized support in math and physics for students in grades 7-12. Our tutors are all subject matter experts with at least a bachelor's degree in their fields. Many tutors have master's or graduate degrees. Our tutors meet with your student one-on-one for a personalized diagnostic session to evaluate their current level. Then they’ll develop a personalized learning plan based on the results. We provide options for both in-person and online tutoring, based on what works best for your child.
Key features
- Methodology focused on transforming how students feel about math and reducing student stress
- Offers math tutoring and physics tutoring, including college test prep and summer enrichment
- Highly qualified experts who have degrees in their areas of expertise
- Helps students overcome math anxiety
- All tutoring is one-on-one
- Flexible scheduling options online or in-person
Pros and cons
The pros and cons of Alexander Tutoring include:
Pros:
- Personalized learning plans based on students’ goals
- Lessons that cater to students’ learning style
- Tutors have deep expertise in their field
Cons:
- May be more expensive than lower-quality options
Best for:
Students who need personalized online tutoring services in math and physics.
Alexander Tutoring is committed to helping every student reach their full potential. We ignite students’ passion for learning by exploring real-world connections in math and physics. Read more about what parents say about Alexander Tutoring. Reach out today for a free consultation.
