How To Become A Maths Tutor
It doesn't matter if you are interested in tutoring Maths full-time or part-time, as it can be an extremely rewarding career. According to the Sutton Trust's recent study, 77% of students received maths tuition. It is clear that Maths tutors are in high demand, especially for GCSEs and A-Levels.
Your student base as a Maths tutor can extend beyond school-age students. We provide tips on how you can become a maths tutor in UK.
What you need to become a maths tutor
In the UK, there are no formal qualifications needed to be a maths tutor. Since most tutors work independently (even those who are employed by agencies), the client decides if you're qualified to be their tutor.
The more you know, the better you appear to prospective tutees. A Maths A Level qualification, or even an undergraduate degree in Maths, can help you to stand out from other potential tutors. This also demonstrates that you are able to teach students with varying abilities.
If you're planning on tutoring children younger than 18, it's worthwhile to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS) certificate.
What Skills Do You Need To Become A Maths Tutor?
You'll need a solid understanding of several mathematic areas to be able to tutor in person or online. You'll also need to be familiar with the following areas:
- Algebra
- The study of shapes and angles
- Trigonometry
- Combining components Original: Innovation Paraphrased: Creation of something new or improved
In addition to math skills, you will also need:
Adaptable Style. As a teacher, you may be dealing with students from all age groups and levels. Therefore, you must be able effectively communicate. You'll find that each student learns in a unique way. Some are visual learners and others prefer reading or writing.
Teaching One-to-One You'll have to focus your entire attention on one student for the lesson. You must be personable, encouraging and empathetic to help your students achieve their full potential. These skills are applicable to both online and in-person tuition.
Business Know-How. As a tutor in Maths, you are self-employed and will therefore need to understand the basics of business management. You'll have to learn about the tax system, marketing techniques and how to run a business whether you are a sole-trader or incorporated. You can get help from accountants or local council business advisers.
What Maths Level Should You Teach?
Most of the students you tutor will likely be GCSE or A-Level students. If you are a Maths tutor, it is possible to find university students seeking extra help. Especially if their degree includes Maths. You can choose to specialize in school-age students or teach those who are older.
Set Your Maths Tutoring Rates
Starting out as a teacher, it's difficult to know how much your service is worth. Google search shows that Maths Tutors charge between PS15 an hour and PS80, depending on factors including experience and education. The average UK Maths tutor charges between PS25-PS30 an hour. However, this is dependent on their level of experience.
You could offer a discount to students who book in bulk or small groups. Whether you charge travel costs to the students' homes is another option. If you want to start low, it is tempting, but tutoring hours are usually restricted to weekends and evenings.
Find maths tutoring jobs
It is difficult to market your Maths tutoring business as an independent contractor. You may be interested to learn how to market yourself as a local tutor if you are searching for tutors in your locality.
If you want to market your tutoring business online effectively, please read our post on 7 Steps.
The Tutor Website offers a board of tutoring positions. You can also sign up for our private directory in order to maximize your chances to be found online by local students.
