Choosing a tutor deserves the same care as choosing a school. Here is the checklist we recommend to every parent on EduDoorstep.
1. Verify identity first. Ask for ID, or use a platform where Aadhaar and PAN verification is already done before a profile goes live.
2. Match experience to your child's stage. Five years teaching Class 9-10 CBSE beats a higher degree with no board-exam experience, if your child is in Class 9.
3. Insist on a trial class. One session tells you more than any CV. Watch whether the tutor asks diagnostic questions or just starts lecturing.
4. Watch your child, not the tutor. In the trial, did your child ask questions? Look comfortable? Time flies for a child who is engaged.
5. Ask how they will assess. A good tutor tests where the student stands in the first week and can tell you, specifically, what is weak and what the plan is.
6. Agree on a progress rhythm. Weekly notes, or a five-minute call after each class - whatever it is, agree on it before you start.
7. Fix the commercial terms upfront. Fee, frequency, duration, what happens before exams, what happens when a class is missed by either side.
8. Check the mode genuinely suits your child - see our comparison of online versus home tuition.
9. Red flags: guarantees of specific marks, reluctance to do a trial, pressure to pay months in advance, vagueness about their own education.
10. Trust results within a month. You should see a change in confidence within four weeks, even if marks take a term. If nothing changes, use replacement support and try again.
Every tutor on EduDoorstep is identity-verified, and posting a requirement is free. Set your budget, take your trial class, and use this checklist.