Subject match isn't enough
· 3 min read
Great at maths, wrong for your child — fit is about level, pace, and whether they can read when your child shuts down.
Most tutor searches start with "Year 8 maths" or "HSC English." Necessary. Not sufficient.
Two tutors can both know the syllabus. One gets your child talking. One triggers silence.
Fit includes
- Level — work in the ZPD, not too easy or hard
- Pace — moves on when they're ready, not when the clock says
- Tone — firm without shame; children who've shut down need that calibrated
- School alignment — still in classrooms beats generic expertise
How to test fit cheaply
One session. Watch whether your child engages, not just whether answers were correct.
Our Diagnostic exists for exactly this — before a term, not after you've prepaid ten sessions.