Algebra tutoring: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What algebra tutoring is

Algebra tutoring helps students understand variables, equations, functions and graphing, working through homework and test material step by step. Students and parents book it when algebra starts, when a unit test is close, or when a student is stuck on a concept that every later class depends on.

Signs you need it

  • The student can solve one equation but cannot set up a word problem
  • Variables feel like a mystery and the student guesses at the letters
  • Graphs and functions make no sense, so the student avoids them on the homework
  • The student knows the steps but makes sign errors when they move terms across the equal sign
  • A new course is starting and the student has gaps in fractions, negatives or order of operations

What the pro does

  • Checks the student's basics, such as fractions, negative numbers and order of operations, before the algebra starts
  • Explains what a variable stands for and how an equation keeps both sides balanced
  • Works through word problems by turning the words into an equation step by step
  • Teaches graphing and functions with a table, a line and a clear meaning for each point
  • Gives practice sets that match the homework and reviews the mistakes at the next session

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • The level, such as first-year algebra, algebra two or a college algebra course
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • One-on-one tutoring versus a small group
  • Whether the tutor works from the school's textbook or from their own materials
  • How many gaps in earlier math the student has to fill first

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and start date
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Whether practice sets and progress notes are included
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress with a parent or teacher

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you check the basics first, such as fractions and negatives, before the algebra?
  • How do you teach word problems so the student can set up the equation?
  • How do you explain graphs and functions so the student sees what they mean?
  • Will you work from my child's textbook and the teacher's method?
  • How do you handle sign errors that keep coming back?
  • If my child is under 18, have you passed a background check?
  • What should the student be able to do after the first month?

Red flags

  • Teaches only tricks or shortcuts without explaining why the steps work
  • Solves the homework for the student and does not check that they can do it alone
  • Promises a grade change without checking the student's skills
  • Does not ask about the class, the teacher or the test coming up

What you can do yourself

A student can work through the practice problems in the textbook, watch explanation videos for one topic at a time, and redo missed problems the next day. Ask the teacher for old tests and answer keys. Hire a tutor when the same type of error keeps coming back, when word problems or graphs are blocking progress, or when a test is near and the student needs a plan.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor algebra privately. If the tutor works in a school or a program, that program may have its own rules. Ask whether the tutor has a degree or teaching experience in math, and check with your state or local licensing agency only if the tutoring is part of a school or program with its own requirements.

Algebra tutoring questions

Why does my child keep making sign errors?

Sign errors often come from rushing or from gaps in negative numbers. A tutor can have the student slow down, check each step and redo the problems where the sign changed.

Do I need to know algebra to help my child?

Not necessarily. You can help by asking your child to explain each step, checking that they do the homework on their own, and asking the tutor for a summary of what to practice.

When should my child start tutoring?

Many students start when they first see a gap, not after a bad test. Ask the tutor to check the basics in one session so you can see where the gap starts.

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