If you’re considering one-on-one academic tutoring, you’ve probably asked yourself: does tutoring really improve academic performance? Is it worth the investment? Are there more effective ways to improve academic skills? Fortunately, researchers have been studying this question for years, and the results are definitive: one-on-one tutoring is an exceptionally effective method for boosting academic performance.
How Much Does Tutoring Improve Academic Performance?
In 1984, educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom published a groundbreaking study on the benefits of one-on-one tutoring. Astonishingly, he found that students who receive one-on-one tutoring perform two standard deviations higher than the average student in a traditional classroom environment. In other words, students who regularly receive one-on-one tutoring perform better than 98% of students who do not receive one-on-one tutoring.
Moreover, Bloom found that 90% of students in one-on-one tutoring achieved a level of mastery that only 20% of students in a traditional classroom setting could reach. In short, if you want to be at the top of your class, one-on-one tutoring is a highly effective and reliable way to achieve that goal.
Is Tutoring Helpful for Students Who Have Fallen Behind Academically?
Tutoring has been shown to advance student learning by three to fifteen months, depending on the subject and grade level. If you’re falling behind or you lack foundational knowledge in a particular class, tutoring has proven to be highly effective at quickly improving your understanding compared to your peers.
Additionally, if you have a specific goal of getting ahead in school, tutoring is a proven strategy to help you achieve it. If you want to move into a high math class, for example, perhaps to prepare for a STEM major in college, the data shows that one-on-one tutoring offers a realistic path to reaching that goal.
How Much Tutoring Do I Need to Improve My Academic Performance?
Even a small amount of tutoring can make a difference in your grades. A study by San Bernardino Valley College found that students who used campus tutoring services at least once a semester performed 7% better on average than those who did not. This increase was even more significant in STEM fields. Students who utilized STEM tutoring at least once a semester performed 13% better than their peers who did not.
These findings suggest that scheduling just a few tutoring sessions can boost your academic performance, even if you do not commit to regular tutoring. While you may not see the full benefits of consistent, frequent tutoring, any amount of tutoring can be beneficial, and you are likely to start seeing improvements immediately.
Benefits of High-Impact Tutoring
In recent years, “high-impact” or “high-dosage” tutoring has gained popularity. High-impact tutoring involves meeting with a tutor three or more times a week for 30 to 60 minutes (or longer), using high-quality academic materials that align with classroom content, and working consistently with a trained, experienced, and engaging tutor. A recent study on the benefits of high-impact tutoring found that it can be up to 20 times more effective in math and 15 times more effective in language arts than inconsistent or sporadic tutoring.
In 2022, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona encouraged schools to adopt high-impact tutoring models, as research demonstrates that it is the most effective way to improve academic performance. “The evidence is clear,” said Cardona, “high-impact tutoring works, and I’ve urged our nation’s schools to provide every student who is struggling with extended access to an effective tutor.”
Choosing the Right Tutor
A skilled tutor can unlock opportunities for college admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and future career paths. Since the pandemic, the need for tutoring has surged, making it more challenging to navigate the many private tutors and tutoring services available. One important factor to consider is the cost, as tutoring rates can vary widely. However, with some research and little patience, you can find a tutor that’s the best fit for your need.
Benefits of Spaced Practice
While not every student can meet with a tutor three or more times a week, students can still achieve similar benefits by spacing out study time between tutoring sessions. Spaced practice, a tutoring technique that builds in breaks between sessions, has been proven to improve student comprehension and offers an excellent way to approximate the high-impact tutoring model, even without the frequency of three or more one-on-one sessions per week.
If your tutor assigns practice work between sessions, try to spread it out over multiple days rather than cramming it all into the same day as your tutoring session. Alternatively, ask your tutor to break your homework assignment into multiple parts, which you can complete on different days.
Psychological Benefits of Tutoring
Tutoring not only improves academic performance through direct instruction but also by fostering a positive attitude toward academic work and boosting student motivation. A meta-analysis of 65 studies on tutoring effectiveness found that students who receive tutoring develop more positive attitudes toward their subjects, which leads to better learning outcomes.
The psychological benefits of one-on-one tutoring result from the individualized attention it provides. By tailoring lessons to a student’s unique needs and offering consistent support, tutors help build self-efficacy—a student’s belief in their ability to succeed academically. This psychological boost can be just as impactful as the academic content being taught, making tutoring a powerful tool, both for improving grades and enhancing overall motivation.
Tutoring Reduces Learning Loss
Tutoring can also improve academic performance by minimizing learning loss that often occurs during summer and winter breaks. A recent study by the RAND Corporation found that tutoring during breaks can effectively reduce this loss.
Specifically, they discovered that a minimum of 25 hours of math or 34 hours of language arts tutoring over the summer led to significantly better performance on standardized tests the following fall. Additionally, students who received tutoring for two consecutive summers performed significantly better than their peers in both math and language arts.
The study also showed that these students were more socially and emotionally competent when they returned to school, further supporting the earlier findings about the psychological benefits of tutoring. These social and emotional benefits indirectly contribute to enhanced academic performance.
How to Maximize the Impact Tutoring on Your Academic Success
For over 40 years, research has consistently shown that tutoring has a positive impact on academic performance. So, if you’re planning to work with a tutor, there’s a strong likelihood you’ll see improvements. However, there are a few steps you can take to maximize these benefits:
- Choose a trained and experienced tutor who is engaging, knowledgeable about the subject you are studying, and able to provide high-quality academic materials that align with your class content.
- Maintain consistency with your schedule, and try to tutor more frequently. If adding more sessions isn’t possible, the next best thing is to set aside dedicated study times between tutoring sessions. Ask your tutor for practice materials if they aren’t already providing them. And, of course, stay consistent with your self-study schedule!
- Schedule sessions during low-stress periods, such as summer and winter breaks, rather than cramming all your sessions right before a big test. Maintaining a consistent schedule and minimizing learning loss during breaks will be more beneficial in the long run and will make studying for that big test much easier.
Conclusion
Academic tutoring is a proven, effective way to improve performance, build confidence, and achieve academic goals. Whether through frequent high-impact sessions or occasional support, tutoring offers personalized instruction that addresses individual needs and fosters long-term success. By investing in tutoring and adopting strategies like spaced practice and consistent study habits, students can unlock their full potential and set themselves up for lasting academic achievement.
Ready to take the next step? Book a free consultation today and discover how tailored tutoring can help you reach your academic goals.
