How Does First Tutors: South Africa Work?

To use our online self-selection service simply follow four easy steps:

Step 1: Register as a student (it's free!).

Step 2: Use our search engine to find the right tutor for you.

Step 3: Make contact with as many tutors as you wish for free and discuss all tuition needs through our system via your member's area.

Step 4: Once / if you decide to go ahead with a tutor, and they have accepted your request, you can pay the intro fee (R 60.00) to receive the tutor's details.

If you have a question, or are unsure, please contact us using our support form and we will guide you through the process.

See How It Works...

Which Tutor?

Whether you're an adult learner or a parent searching on behalf of your child, you want to find that right private tutor; the one that can really help you or your child get to grips with a subject and master difficult concepts, and who enters every week's lesson dedicated to help you learn.

To help you select your tutor we've given each one the opportunity to talk about their qualifications, experience and approach to teaching.

Tutoring Approach

When considering your prospective tutor's approach to teaching, you have to take into account both your learning aims and what style of teaching works best for you. For example, a tutor with experience teaching in a Primary School may be better suited to younger kids, while a tutor with an academic background may be just what's needed if you are looking to master advanced concepts or analyse works of literature. You will notice as you look through tutors' profiles that some have experience with a diverse range of clients and others cater to specific situations.

Tuition Intensity

If you are choosing a tutor for a child, we would recommend the following:

Primary - 1 hour sessions maximum; 30 - 45mins is often preferred. To make such tuition worth your tutor's while you may wish to consider tutoring for more than one child, so the tutor can teach two children for half an hour each.

Secondary/GCSE - 1 hour is fine; 1 hour 30 if your child has the stamina.

A-Level - 1 hour to 1.5 hrs if you are being tutored on a regular basis. 1.5 - 2.5 hours if you are cramming before exams.

If you're an adult learner, lessons should be as long as you want them to be. Remember to take into account natural limitations on human concentration: take short breaks every twenty minutes to maximise your focus!

Tuition Duration

When you contact a tutor, be sure to state your desired course duration. So, if you're looking for a long-term arrangement with a tutor be sure to clarify that they'll be available for the duration; likewise, if you need a tutor to help intensively before a trip abroad, please do discuss your availability requirements before reaching a lesson agreement.