Wondering what the perfect tutoring rate is that will balance your efforts with student satisfaction? We know finding the right balance is not an easy task. However, you can set the optimal group tutoring rate by carefully considering several factors. Keep reading for more.

What is Group Tutoring?

As the term suggests, group tutoring is a learning process for multiple students conducted by a single tutor. Contrary to that of a conventional classroom, the learning environment created by a tutor is less formal. 

Tutoring sessions provide students with a more flexible learning experience, that can be moulded to suit the students in the group. When assessing student performance, tutors pay more attention to group assignments rather than using individual standardized tests. This form of tutoring encourages the use of problem-solving and teamwork skills to complete assignments, rather than relying on standardized tests to assess a student’s progress.

Benefits of Group Tutoring You Should Not Miss

Motivation: Group assignments and the general group setting are key contributing factors to increased motivation among students. They help students develop a sense of collaboration and shared challenges, which makes the learning process more engaging.

Socialization: Teaching in a group provides a perfect opportunity for students to develop their social skills while also learning together in a group setting. Alongside the other skills acquired through tutoring, students also learn to work with others in a team.

Cost Efficiency: You can earn more per tutoring session if you work with several students instead of one. This is especially true online, where an increasing number of software and tools make group tutoring far more accessible.

Flexibility: With relevant online tools readily available, group tutoring is more adaptable than ever. For example, group tutoring tools allow tutors to recreate a group environment outside a conventional classroom too.

Will You Be In Demand as a Group Tutor?

One of the positive side effects of the pandemic for tutors was that students became accustomed to distance learning, which saw an unprecedented high demand as a result. In fact, the online tutoring market is expected to grow by $182.32 billion between 2021 and 2026.

The increased demand for group tutoring follows several other key trends. One of the most important is the competition in traditional higher education. Stricter criteria and more rigorous selection processes at universities and schools result in heightened competition. Consequently, students are more likely to turn to a group tutor’s service outside the classroom. Not only does this help students maintain a level of competitiveness, it also ensures they continue to set higher goals and become adept at overcoming challenges in their learning.

What Is The Average Rate For Group Tutoring?

Group tutoring rates can vary across a wide range, from $15 up to $125 per hour. The average is between $25 and $55 per hour. The exact price for your tutoring services depends on several key factors such as your qualifications, the subject you are teaching, and the age of the students. Let’s focus on the optimal rates you can charge for online group services.

What Key Factors Should You Consider Before Setting a Group Tutoring Rate?

Qualifications

Formal qualifications are not a prerequisite for an online tutor. However, having a degree in your area of expertise allows you to charge accordingly. For instance, for a tutor teaching conversational English the average rate is $15 per hour, while for an online tutor preparing students for IELTS the average is between $30 and $55 per hour.

Subject

Some subjects require more specialized knowledge. For example, a tutor teaching pre-university level Mathematics would command a higher hourly rate, between $40 and $60 per hour. For a conversational level English tutor, however, the average rate is lower, as noted above.

Purpose

The goal of your tutoring is important too. Are your classes designed to complement the students’ main curriculum and therefore designed for general development of skills? Or are your sessions focused on preparing students for university entrance exams? The more specialized and targeted your classes are, the more you can charge for group tutoring.

Age

The general rule is that the older your students are, the more you can charge. Older students are more likely to show interest in more advanced topics for which you can charge more. A university-level Chemistry professor would charge significantly more than an elementary school Science tutor.

Session Depth

The quality of your sessions is important. Do you offer more advanced services alongside your group sessions, such as individualized feedback hours? Do you use innovative tools like interactive whiteboards to make your lessons more engaging? Such services can be priced more highly than those of a tutor who simply delivers a presentation on Zoom, for example.

Session Length

Longer sessions, as well as sessions that require more preparation from you as a tutor, take a significant amount of your time. Consequently, more time devoted to your sessions allows you to increase your rate.

How Should You Charge Students?

Having set your group tutoring rate, you must next decide how to charge your students. Luckily, there are numerous options available to you as a tutor.

Which Method of Payment Is Best?

As a group tutor, there are many different ways you can accept payments: cash, credit/debit card or bank transfer. However, if you offer online group tutoring classes, the latter two are the options that make sense. Make sure you clarify the form of payment with your students beforehand.

How Often Should You Charge?

This largely depends on the structure and goal of the sessions you offer. For example, if you are preparing students for an exam at the end of the academic year, it may be helpful to charge monthly instead of per lesson.

Another important point is whether you ask your students to pay upfront or after each lesson. Both options have their advantages. For example, as an online group tutor you may prefer to charge upfront, to avoid a situation where you have to chase after students for delayed payments. In either case, the key is to be consistent and avoid misunderstandings with your students.

How LiveBoard Can Help You Earn More as a Group Tutor

One example of a useful, cost-effective tool for online tutoring is LiveBoard. It offers easy access to interactive online whiteboards for a more effective and high-quality teaching experience. 

For group tutors looking to go the extra mile to improve their sessions, we highly recommend exploring the Pro and Advanced plans. These packages are ideal for group tutoring, allowing you and your students to use multiple boards in your sessions.

These include:

• Interactive quizzes organized by the tutor for student groups, providing a less formal and more engaging form of assessment.
• An attention tracker to maintain a consistently high level of student participation and interaction during the lesson.
• PDF export and unlimited recordings to ensure the tutor and students have access to previously covered material.

The LiveBoard app helps tutors keep track of their students’ participation, engage students with quick questions, and export the class material in PDF format for further revision.

Additionally, LiveBoard ensures everyone in the classroom has access to the board, in contrast with brick-and-mortar classrooms, where the board can sometimes remain invisible to students sitting in the back rows.

For tutors, LiveBoard is a convenient tool for organizing tutorial groups and categorizing them based on subject and the number of students. The one-to-one learning environment is guaranteed through interactive visuals and a personalized approach.

Sign up now to start your LiveBoard journey!