How to Get the Most Out of Tutoring (And Your School Teacher Too)

Let’s get one thing clear. Your classroom teacher is a huge asset.

They know the syllabus inside and out. They write your assessments. They mark your work. In short, they’re your best insight into what success at school actually looks like. So use that.

Ask questions. Stay back after class. Send the email. Most teachers genuinely want to help and love when you show you're keen.

At Drift, we’re not here to replace your teacher. We’re here to support you. To help you fill in the gaps, build your confidence and feel more in control of the tricky stuff.

Here’s how to get the most out of both your teacher and your tutor.

1. Talk to Your Teacher First

If you’re unsure about something in class, ask your teacher before anything else. They're the one marking your work and know what to expect as experts in the given subject. Even just saying, "I don’t quite get this," or "Could you run through that again?" can give you clarity and give us a head start when we work with you.

Building a positive relationship with your teacher also shows them you're engaged. That can have a big impact on how much support they’re willing (and excited) to offer.

2. Come to Tutoring Prepared

Bring whatever you’re working on at school. Your homework, a draft, an assessment notification, or even just the topic that’s being covered in class. That way, we can focus on the exact skills and content you need help with, not waste time guessing.

The more specific you are, the more helpful we can be. Even a simple, "This paragraph didn’t make sense to me" or "I didn’t understand today's class", helps us plan and act upon areas for improvement. We help this by creating a forward plan at the beginning of term, so you can show up ready to learn and ask questions.

3. Be Honest About What’s Hard

Tutoring isn’t about impressing anyone. It’s a space where you can say, “I’m completely lost” or “This makes me panic before every test.” We want to know what’s actually holding you back, whether it’s time pressure, confidence, essay structure, or simply not knowing where to start.

When you're honest with us, we can teach in a way that meets you where you’re at. No judgment. Just progress. We also want to know what you coast through, so we can skip the simple stuff.

4. Keep Practising Between Sessions

Tutoring gives you guidance, but you still have to put in the hard work in between. I find that tutoring is especially helpful for procrastinating students because the hardest part of starting your work is actually knowing where to! Small and specific exercises like reviewing your notes, redrafting a paragraph, or revisiting a tricky concept we covered together are great.

You don’t have to spend hours every day. But doing something each week helps what you’ve learned sink in — and gives us a stronger foundation to build on next time.

5. Ask Questions (Big, Small, or “Silly”)

If something doesn’t make sense, ask. Whether it’s something from class or something we’ve gone over three times already, you can always speak up. This is your time, and you’re allowed to be confused.

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the questions you were too nervous to ask in class. As I’ve heard a few times in my professional career: "I don’t know is a GREAT answer". It also shows you’re confident in what you know and willing to fill in the gaps where you don’t.

Tutoring works best when you show up with curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to try. You don’t have to be perfect (contrary to popular belief). You just have to be present.

We’ll take care of the rest.

-Bella at Drift Tuition