Tutoring works through a cycle: something is diagnosed, taught, practised independently, then checked. Frequency should be whatever keeps that cycle turning without the practice stage being skipped.
A sensible default
- One hour a week suits most students through Years 10 to 13.
- Two sessions a week can be justified in an exam term, or where a large gap is being rebuilt.
- Fortnightly can work for a confident student who only needs periodic checking.
How long before progress shows
Confidence and the ability to start questions typically move first, within a few weeks. Marks follow later, because a school assessment samples topics that may not have been covered yet. Judging tutoring on a single test taken in the first month is unreliable in both directions.
When to stop
When the student is independently accurate on current work and can diagnose their own errors from a mark scheme, the job is done. A good tutor should be willing to say so rather than continuing indefinitely.