Engineering tutoring: what to know

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

What engineering tutoring is

Engineering tutoring helps students with statics, circuits, thermodynamics or related coursework, building problem-solving and math skills. Students and parents book it when a course moves from math to applied problems, before an exam on forces or circuits, or when a student knows the equations but cannot set up the problem.

Signs you need it

  • The student can solve an equation but cannot draw the free-body diagram for the problem
  • Statics problems with several forces stall because the student does not know how to resolve them into parts
  • Circuit analysis is confusing, and the student mixes up voltage, current and resistance
  • Thermodynamics problems use many variables, and the student loses track of the units and the process
  • The course has a problem set due each week, and the student is falling behind on the setup

What the pro does

  • Checks the student's algebra, trigonometry and units before the applied topics start
  • Teaches each problem with a drawn diagram and a list of what is known and what is asked
  • Works through statics and forces, step by step, with equilibrium and free-body diagrams
  • Teaches circuit analysis with simple circuits first, then with the course's problems
  • Gives practice problems and reviews the set-up and the units 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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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 course and level, such as an introductory engineering course or an upper-level course
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and whether diagrams are drawn live
  • One-on-one tutoring versus a small group
  • How much problem set-up work versus concept teaching each session needs
  • Whether the tutor works from the course's textbook or their own materials

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and start date
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and what drawing tools are used
  • Whether problem set review and practice problems are included
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress with a parent or the student's teacher

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you teach a free-body diagram so the student can draw one on a test?
  • Do you start with the math the course needs, or with the applied problems?
  • How do you handle units in multi-step problems?
  • Will you work from my child's textbook and the course's problem sets?
  • How do you help with a circuit problem that mixes series and parallel parts?
  • If my child is under 18, have you passed a background check?
  • What should the student be able to set up on their own after the first month?

Red flags

  • Teaches equations without asking the student to draw the problem first
  • Solves the problem sets for the student rather than checking their set-up
  • Promises a grade change without checking the student's skills
  • Does not ask about the course, the problem sets or the textbook the class uses

What you can do yourself

A student can draw a diagram for every problem before writing equations, check units at every step, and redo missed problems the next day. Many textbooks include worked examples for each type. Hire a tutor when the student cannot set up a problem, when statics or circuit problems keep going wrong, or when problem sets are falling behind.

Licenses and permits

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

Engineering tutoring questions

Why is my child good at math but struggling in engineering?

Engineering courses ask the student to turn a real situation into a diagram and equations. A tutor can practice the set-up step, which is where most students get stuck.

How much math does the course need?

It depends on the course. Most introductory courses use algebra, trigonometry and some calculus. Ask the tutor what your child's course uses so the sessions match the level.

Does my child need a calculator?

Check the course and exam rules. Many courses say which calculator is allowed. A tutor can practice with the calculator the course allows.

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