THE UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTRE
Study Skills Resource
Getting the Most from a Tutoring Experience
A tutor offers content specific expertise in a given area to provide specialized
support. Though it is tempting to see tutoring as a quick fix for struggling students,
it is important for students to take certain steps to ensure that they make the best of
their tutor experiences.
Before You Hire a Tutor
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Be sure that you have made use of any free support services that might assist you. If you are
having difficulty with study skills, a tutor is may not help you more than a free service would.
Even for some content specific struggles, there are services around campus, such as
University Learning Center (ULC) Math and Stats Help or ULC Writing Help, which offer free
support to all U of S students.
Consider visiting your prof during office hours to discuss any specific questions you may have
about course content or suggestions on where to access additional resources. Although your
prof may not be able to direct you to suitable resources, you should not expect them to
provide a list of tutors.
If you know you are having significant struggles in a certain subject and need individual
attention, then hiring a tutor may be the right course of action. This is an important
investment, so be sure to be thorough in your search to find the right person.
Finding the Best Candidate
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The first step to finding the best candidate is figuring out who there is to choose from.
Campus directories, advertisements in the hallways, and advertisements online are all good
sources. However, word of mouth is often the most effective way to find a tutor who is not
only qualified, but also suited to your individual needs.
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Consider a variety of tutors; don’t just hire the first one you find.
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After you’ve found someone that seems like a good fit, make sure you know how long and
how frequently that person is willing to meet with you. Also be sure to agree on how long
each session will be and what cost will be associated.
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Once these details have been established, and you feel you’ve found someone that will work
well with you, get ready to improve your academic skills.
www.usask.ca/ulc
For more information on study skills, please visit our website. Getting the Most from a Tutoring Experience – Page 2
Study Skills Resource
Preparing for Your Tutoring Sessions
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Before you meet with your tutor, it is important to do some preparation so that you can make
the most of your meeting time. This continues to be important between meetings, so that
you can cover new material and become confident with that material on your own time.
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Make a list of areas you would like to address in your tutoring sessions so that your tutor is
better equipped to help you.
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Once you’ve established the areas that need work, come up with specific questions to address
during your sessions. This will keep you focused while providing your tutor with clear
direction for the content of your sessions.
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Between sessions, it is useful to keep a written record that tracks the progress you’ve made in
the areas you’ve identified. This can be done in a few reflective moments after working on an
assignment or a study session.
Getting the Most from Your Sessions
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Be sure to bring all of your materials to your session and review your work shortly before the
session begins.
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As a session with your tutor approaches, do your best to stay concentrated and relaxed. If you
are distracted and anxious, it will create more obstacles for you as you learn.
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Always meet your tutor in a public space. This is a simple precaution to ensure your safety
and establish the boundaries of a professional relationship
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Be an active participant in the sessions, rather than passively expecting your tutor to lead the
session and guide you through the work. If you demonstrate what you know and where
you’re at, your tutor will be better equipped to provide help that is useful and constructive.
Be tactfully honest with your tutor about how you learn best and what’s not working.
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Be patient. You won’t learn everything at once, and it may take some time to establish good
communication between you and your tutor. Remember, overcoming adversity in any area is
always a process, and that process may contain some adversity within itself. If you
communicate clearly with your tutor and make the effort to improve, results will come.
Stay Committed, and Start Accomplishing!
www.usask.ca/ulc
For more information on study skills, please visit our website.