Tutoring and teaching - what's the difference?

If you're a student who needs a bit of extra help on a tricky subject, you may consider a private tutor. I hope this advice helps in advantage of private tutoring, over and above the education offered in a traditional school environment.

Teaching and private tutoring aim at the same target - inspiring young minds to grapple with stimulating intellectual material and methods, be it Shakespeare or essay writing. We do it so that they can pass exams, write coursework, do university and job interviews and, more broadly, take in the world around them and critically think about their lives. Both a good teacher and good tutor will be confident, interesting, courteous and professional, with passions not just for their subject, but for how that subject might interest students. Where they differ is in the detail.

In a typical lesson, a teacher must handle anywhere between half a dozen students, to thirty-five, depending on the school, subject, and grade. They teach a particular class at the same time, in the same classroom, every week, knowing that both they and the students have a full week of work to get through. From the perspective of the student, you are faced with not only the teacher - a busy, often stressed authority figure who might praise you, or give you detention for something you didn't do - but also your peers. Who hasn't ever held back an opinion for fear of embarrassment? 

This means we have to make a few compromises. Perhaps in an ideal world, students and teachers would be matched up according to temperament and style. Energetic educators would teach those who learn through loud, boisterous lessons; but quieter, more reflective students would benefit more from a more understated educational style. Ever had a teacher you didn't like? Someone else may have preferred them to your own favourite one! Sometimes we get on with our fellow people, sometimes we don't; it's not necessarily the fault of either person. In any case, learning to smoothly navigate the oceans of humanity, and to consider others' feelings and natures, even when they seem silly or irrational, is an essential life skill. Remember - to other people, some of your habits may look a little silly and irrational! But if everyone were the same, the world would be pretty bland. An ounce of tact and empathy goes a long way.

Unfortunately, all the niceties in the world still won't change a grade that's lower than it should be - at the very top. So that's where the tutors come in, with their unique advantages.

Private tuition typically consists of one-on-one sessions, arranged at the tutee's convenience. Instead of the relatively large, noisy environment of a classroom, tuition sessions can be done anywhere reasonably quiet - in the living room, bedroom, dining room, or even, if the British weather behaves itself, in the garden. In a classroom, you may have to shout; in the comfort of your own home, perhaps with a cup of tea, you can speak much more normally and focus on your ideas, rather than your public presentation. You can be as honest as you like. On the other hand, a lot of responsibility is put on you. The tutor can't put you in detention if you don't do your homework; we can encourage you, but ultimately you're the boss, whereas in a classroom, the teacher's word is final.

The most important difference is that in tutoring, you have the full and undivided attention of the person helping you get the grade you deserve. With this in mind, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your tutoring relationship.

• When arranging the first lesson, make a quick written or mental note of the following: