How we teach
Is small-group tuition better than one-to-one?
Answered by Andrea, founder and biology teacher · 20+ years’ teaching experience
Last reviewed
The short answer
Often, yes. One-to-one lessons can give a false sense of security because the teacher keeps prompting. In a small group, students get the thinking time to work out what an applied question is really asking — the skill exams test — while still getting help whenever they need it.
Key points
- Constant prompting in one-to-one lessons can hide gaps in understanding.
- Exams test whether students can work out what a question is asking.
- Small groups give thinking time without the pressure of ‘time wasting’.
- One-to-one lessons are still available for specific needs.
Why not just have one-to-one lessons?
A one-to-one lesson can give a false sense of security because the teacher is constantly giving prompts to help students answer questions. The hardest part of an applied or contextual question is understanding what it is actually asking, and students must develop this skill without a teacher rephrasing the question.
This requires thinking time, which is unlikely to be given in a one-to-one setting. It is much easier to ask for, or give, a prompt because both the teacher and the student are aware of ‘time wasting’ and feel that pressure.
Do you still offer one-to-one lessons?
Yes. One-to-one lessons can accommodate specific learning requirements, and are available alongside our small groups.