In this guide
The questions to ask a home tutor come in three rounds: a short screening by phone or chat before the demo, what you watch for during the demo class, and the practical terms you agree after it. Below are the questions for each round, what a good answer sounds like, the red-flag answers, and a checklist at the end you can screenshot.
You don't need to run it like a job interview. Most good tutors are glad to be asked, because clear answers now save both of you awkward conversations in month two. If you're still deciding what kind of tutor you need, start with how to choose a home tutor.
Before the demo: questions to ask a home tutor by phone or chat
Ten minutes on a call saves a wasted demo. Ask these before you fix a time:
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Which boards and classes have you taught in the last two years? | Specific, like “CBSE Class 8 and 9 Maths”, rather than “all boards, all classes”. |
| What do you know about my child's syllabus this year? | They name chapters or the textbook, or ask which book the school uses. |
| How would you start with a child who finds this subject hard? | Finding the gaps first, often from an earlier class, before rushing ahead. |
| Where do you live, and how will you travel here? | Close enough to come reliably in evening traffic and through the monsoon. |
| Which days and times can you keep for the whole year? | Clear slots, and honesty about their own exams or other work. |
| Do you charge for the demo, and how long is it? | A straight answer either way. |
| Are you comfortable with a parent at home during classes? | An immediate yes. |
| Could I speak to a family you've taught recently? | A name and number offered without fuss. |
For IGCSE and IB students, add one question about assessment: how do they use the mark scheme or the assessment criteria when they set practice? A tutor who knows the board will answer without hesitating. Our page on IGCSE tutors explains why this matters.
During the demo class: what to watch for
Judging a demo class is less about how well the tutor explains and more about how well they find out what your child doesn't know. Sit in for at least part of it, or stay within earshot for the rest.
How the tutor finds the gaps
- Do they ask your child to attempt a problem or explain an idea before they start teaching?
- When your child gets something wrong, do they ask “how did you get that?” to find the real mistake?
- Do they go back to a basic idea when needed, without making your child feel small?
- Do they check understanding with a fresh question, rather than asking “understood?”
How your child responds
- Is your child talking and trying, or only listening and nodding?
- Do they ask the tutor anything? Questions are a sign your child feels comfortable.
- How do they describe it afterwards? “It was fine” tells you little; ask what they learnt and whether they'd like another class.
How the tutor conducts the class
- Arrived on time, or messaged you if delayed.
- Kept their phone away.
- Stayed patient and respectful, including when your child was slow or distracted.
- Kept the class where you agreed, with the door open.
| Good sign | Weak sign |
|---|---|
| Your child did most of the work | The tutor talked for most of the hour |
| The tutor found the reason behind a mistake | The tutor just gave the right answer |
| Checked understanding with a new question | Asked “understood?” and moved on |
| Named specific gaps at the end | Said “we'll finish the syllabus” |
Before the tutor leaves, ask two things: “What did you notice about where my child is stuck?” and “What would you cover in the first month?” A good tutor can give you specifics after one class.
After the demo: fees, schedule and communication
If the demo went well, settle the practical terms before regular classes begin. These questions prevent most of the disagreements that come up later.
Fees and payment
- What's the fee per month, and how many classes and hours does it cover?
- When is it paid - start of the month or end - and by UPI or cash?
- Is anything charged extra, such as study material or extra classes before exams?
- When might the fee change?
For what drives tuition rates, see our home tuition fees guide for Pune.
Schedule, cancellations and holidays
- If you need to cancel a class, how much notice will you give, and will you make it up?
- If we cancel, how much notice do you need?
- What happens over Diwali, school exams, summer holidays and your own exams?
- How much notice will either of us give if we decide to stop?
Homework and progress
- Will you set homework, and how will you check it?
- How will you keep up with what the school is teaching each week?
- How often will you update me? A short weekly message is a fair ask.
- What should be better after the first month, and how will we both know?
Communication with parents
- Will you message me or my child? For younger children, every message should come to a parent.
- For older children, are you happy to keep a parent in any group chat?
- If my child is unwell, distracted or not doing the work, will you tell me?
Put the answers in one WhatsApp message and ask the tutor to confirm it. If you found them on TutorUp, the fee is agreed and paid directly between you; TutorUp doesn't take a cut. Parents on TutorUp Pro can also chat with tutors in the app.
Extra questions for your child's situation
The core questions work for most families. Add one or two of these if they fit:
- A board year (Class 10 or 12): “How will you plan the months up to the board exam, and when do timed papers start?” Look for a plan that works back from the exam, with revision and practice papers built in, not a rush to finish the syllabus in January.
- A child who has fallen behind: “How far back will you go, and how will you balance that with what the school is teaching now?” Good tutors fix the old gap and keep up with current homework at the same time.
- Young children (phonics, reading, handwriting): “How long will each session be, and how do you keep a young child engaged?” Shorter, active sessions tend to suit this age better than an hour at a desk.
- Semi-English or Marathi-medium students: “Are you comfortable explaining in Marathi or Hindi when an idea doesn't land in English?” Some students grasp an idea faster that way, then practise writing it in English.
- More than one child: “Will you teach them together or separately, and how is the fee worked out?” Agree this before the first class, not after.
Red-flag answers when you interview a tutor
| If the tutor says… | Why it's a concern |
|---|---|
| “I teach every board and every class.” | Rarely true at any depth. Ask which classes they've taught in the last two years. |
| “Your child will definitely score 90%.” | Nobody can promise marks. A tutor who does is selling, not teaching. |
| “Pay three months in advance to book the slot.” | Pay monthly, once classes have started, with a UPI record. |
| “I prefer a separate room with the door shut.” | Classes should happen where an adult can see or hear them. |
| “I'll message your child directly about homework.” | For younger children, messages go through a parent. For teenagers, keep a parent in the chat. |
| “I'd rather not show ID.” | Seeing an original ID is a basic, reasonable check. Walk away. |
| “We'll just finish the syllabus.” | No plan for your child's particular gaps. |
On TutorUp, a person on our team checks every tutor's identity before their profile goes live, on a short call or from a photo ID and a selfie. That is an identity check, not a police verification or background check, so the questions above still matter. How TutorUp verifies tutors explains it, and our home tutor safety checklist covers setting up the first classes safely.
Your demo class checklist
Screenshot this and keep it open during the call and the demo.
- Boards and classes taught recently: specific
- Knows this year's syllabus or textbook
- Lives close enough to come reliably
- Days and times fixed for the year
- Demo fee and length agreed
- Happy with a parent at home
- Spoke to a family they've taught
- Original ID seen; name matches the profile
- Asked my child to try before explaining
- Found the real mistake, not just the answer
- Checked understanding with a new question
- My child talked, tried and asked questions
- Named specific gaps after the demo
- First-month plan in plain words
- Fee, payment date and mode agreed
- Cancellation, notice and holiday rules agreed
- Homework and weekly update agreed
- Messages go through a parent
- Everything confirmed in one written message