Your child’s first tutoring assessment: what to expect
Get tutoring help for your child →Most good tutoring starts with some kind of assessment: a conversation, a short skills check, or both. Knowing what to expect helps you get more out of it and judge whether a provider is a good fit.
What an assessment usually covers
- Skills: where your child is now in the subject, including any gaps from earlier grades.
- How your child learns: how they approach problems, where they get stuck, and how they respond to help.
- Your goals: what you and your child want to change, and by when.
What to bring
- Recent report cards and teacher comments.
- Recent tests or assignments, especially ones that went badly.
- Results of any school or state assessments.
- A short list of what you have noticed at home.
Want someone to look at your child’s situation? Answer three quick questions and we’ll be in touch.
Questions to ask afterward
- What are my child’s main strengths and gaps?
- What would you work on first, and why?
- How often and for how long would you recommend sessions, and when would we review that?
- How will you measure and report progress?
Good signs and warning signs
- Good: a clear explanation of results in plain language, a specific starting plan, and honesty about what tutoring can and cannot do.
- Warning: pressure to sign up on the spot, a long contract before results are explained, or promises of a guaranteed grade or score.
See also how to choose a tutor and what tutoring costs.
Ready for a first conversation?
Tell us your child’s grade, ZIP code and the subject that feels hardest. Wherever you live in the U.S., we’ll search for a tutoring provider near you. Families near Bay Ridge, Brooklyn can connect with Huntington Learning Center.
Start the questionnaireRelated guides
- How to choose a tutor for your child
- How much does tutoring cost? What parents should budget for
- How much tutoring does a child need?
- All parent guides