A new tutor. How long should parents wait to see results?

You have just engaged a new tutor for your child, and you think that the worst of your worries are over. Then the results of the next immediate exam comes back to you and you see little improvement. You start to wonder if the tuition is even helping. Then you find yourself asking, should I give them more time, or should I take swift action and engage another tutor (after all the second academic semester is only 16 weeks)?

This is a debate that many parents find themselves contemplating, when examination results do not meet expectations. At the end of the day, you want to make the decision that is best for your child's academic future. On one hand, you might decide that the tuition has proven to be ineffective, and you should immediately find another tutor while you still have time. On the other hand, you might think, realistically, that success cannot be simply bought overnight, and that your child and the tutor should be given more time. 

It becomes a gamble. What if I let the tuition continue and the results do not materialise? Wouldn't it be too late then to find a new tutor? If I change my child's tutor now, how can I be sure that my child's grades will improve under the new tutor? And if it does improve, how long will that take?

Before you make any decision, here are some questions to consider:

Does the problem lie with my child or the tutor? Who should shoulder the blame for the lack of subject competency? If a child doesn't put in the effort to learn from his mistakes and improve himself, then it would not make a difference even if you employ the best tutor. 

Does my child have a slower rate of learning? Are my expectations realistic given the short period of time? Sometimes, students take time to adopt to the methods of a new tutor.

When I was in Secondary 3, I got a D7 for my Physics mid-year exam and decided to get tutoring in the subject. But even after one semester of group tuition, by a retired Physics teacher I should add, I still couldn't pass the final exam (not for the lack of trying!). It wasn't until Sec 4 that my grades gradually improved and I eventually got an A2 for the O Levels.

Here are two of my recommendations. Firstly, talk to your child. After all, they interact more with the tutor than you do. Ask them if they are benefiting from the current tutor. I once told my mum that my tutor was teaching me things that I already know. By the end of the month, the tutor was gone. 

Finally, don't expect overnight results. Some students just need time to grasp a better understanding of a subject. Tutors also need time to find the most efficient method in working with different students.