Frequently Asked Questions
Everything UK parents need to know about StudyGuru online tutoring. Pricing, lessons, tutor verification, safety, and our First Lesson Guarantee, answered in plain English. If you can't find what you're looking for, the chat widget in the bottom-right will get you a real answer in minutes.
Who this page is for
- Parents researching online tutoring for the first time
- Families comparing StudyGuru against other platforms
- Anyone wanting clarity on pricing, refunds, or how lessons actually work
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
How does StudyGuru work?
StudyGuru is an online tutoring platform connecting UK students with Enhanced DBS-checked tutors from top universities. You sign up as a parent, browse our verified tutors filtered by subject and level, book a session, and your child meets the tutor on our purpose-built whiteboard with HD video. After every paid lesson you receive an AI-generated summary of what was covered and your child's progress.
Do I need to sign up to browse tutors?
No. You can view tutor profiles, qualifications, rates, and availability without creating an account. Signing up is only needed when you want to book a session or claim the Starter Pack.
How quickly can I book my first lesson?
You can request one straight away: after signing up, browse tutors and pick a time that suits you. The lesson is booked as soon as the tutor accepts.
Can my child use StudyGuru directly?
Students aged 13+ can have their own account, but it must be linked to a parent account first. Parents make all bookings and manage payments. Students cannot book sessions or message tutors until their account is linked and confirmed.
Pricing & Payments
How much does tutoring cost?
Tutoring starts from £24/hour. Each tutor's rate follows their pricing band, from £24/hour. New customers can claim the £15 Starter Pack (4 sessions from £15 each) to try us with minimal risk.
What is the £15 Starter Pack?
It's our introductory offer for new customers: 4 full 60-minute sessions from £15 each, depending on the tutor you choose. That is around a third off standard rates. Use the sessions within 30 days. There is no obligation to continue afterwards.
When is payment taken?
Your card is authorised (funds held) 24 hours before each session, and captured (charged) 24 hours after the session ends. This window allows time for any disputes to be raised before final payment. All payments are processed securely via Stripe.
Are there any subscriptions, contracts, or hidden fees?
No. StudyGuru is entirely pay-as-you-go. There are no platform fees, no subscriptions, and no minimum commitments. You pay per session and can stop at any time.
What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit and debit cards via Stripe. We do not accept bank transfers, cash, or off-platform payments. All bookings must go through the Platform for safeguarding and our First Lesson Guarantee to apply.
Lessons & Learning
How long are tutoring sessions?
All sessions are 60 minutes. This gives enough time for proper teaching and practice without losing the student's focus.
What happens during a session?
Sessions run on our interactive whiteboard with HD video. Tutor and student can both write, draw, and annotate in real time. The tutor tailors the session to your child's needs, exam board, and current level. Sessions typically include teaching, worked examples, and guided practice.
What equipment does my child need?
A computer, laptop, or tablet with a webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection. Our platform runs in the browser, no downloads required. Chrome or Firefox give the smoothest experience.
Which subjects do you offer?
At GCSE: Maths, English, and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Combined Science). At A-Level: Maths, Further Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English. Tutors teach AQA, Edexcel and OCR.
Which exam boards do you cover?
AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and WJEC. Tutors are familiar with the specific question styles, mark schemes, and content for each board.
Will I receive feedback after each lesson?
Yes. After every paid lesson you receive an AI-generated lesson summary, usually within 45 minutes, covering topics taught, your child's progress level (Struggling / Progressing / Confident), key moments, and personalised practice recommendations. Everything is tracked in your parent dashboard.
Tutors & Verification
How do you vet your tutors?
Every tutor passes our 7-step verification: identity check, right-to-work confirmation, Enhanced DBS verification (via uCheck or Update Service), physical certificate upload, database verification, a 20-minute live teaching assessment with trained assessors, and final safeguarding team approval. Roughly 3% of applicants make it through.
Are your tutors DBS-checked?
Yes. Every StudyGuru tutor must hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate before they can teach on the platform. This is non-negotiable and we re-verify status periodically.
How do I choose the right tutor?
Browse tutor profiles to see qualifications, subjects, exam boards, experience, and reviews. Consider tier (Foundation or Higher) and exam board fit for your child. If you would like to chat first, message a tutor through the Platform before booking.
Can I switch tutors if it isn't the right fit?
Yes, at any time and at no cost. Just let us know and we'll help you match with a different tutor. Finding the right fit matters more than sticking with the first one. There is no penalty for switching.
Safety & Safeguarding
Is the platform safe for children?
Yes. All sessions take place inside our platform. There is no need for Zoom, Skype, or any external tool. All messaging between parents, students, and tutors is logged. Combined with mandatory Enhanced DBS checks, live teaching assessments, and ongoing safeguarding monitoring, the platform is built with child safety as a first principle.
Are sessions recorded?
Yes. Every lesson is recorded for safeguarding and quality assurance, and recordings are kept for 1 year. The parent who booked a lesson, and the student in it, can watch it back from their StudyGuru account once the lesson has been checked. Tutors can't, and free introductory sessions aren't available as replays. StudyGuru staff may also review recordings for safeguarding, complaints, or disputes.
Do parents need to supervise lessons?
For students under 18, we ask that an adult is available nearby during online lessons. You don't need to sit in on every session, but children should not be left entirely unattended.
How do I report a concern about a tutor?
Email our Designated Safeguarding Lead at safeguarding@studyguru.co.uk or contact support directly. We take every concern seriously and investigate promptly. Read our full Safeguarding Policy at /safeguarding.
Refunds & Cancellation
What is the First Lesson Guarantee?
Your first lesson on StudyGuru is fully refundable, no questions asked. If you're not satisfied for any reason, contact us within 24 hours of the lesson ending and we'll process a full refund to your original payment method. The guarantee covers your first booked lesson, whether that's part of the £15 Starter Pack or a full-priced session. Full details at /guarantee.
How do I cancel a lesson?
You can cancel free of charge any time more than 24 hours before the lesson. Within 24 hours of the lesson, cancellations are not permitted through the Platform, so please contact your tutor directly if you have exceptional circumstances. The one exception is a lesson we could not take payment for: if your card was declined and the payment has not gone through, you can cancel it yourself at any time, free of charge.
What happens if my tutor doesn't show up?
You will not be charged. If a tutor cancels or fails to attend, any pre-authorised payment is automatically released. Persistent cancellations by a tutor lead to account review or removal.
How do I claim a refund?
For the First Lesson Guarantee: email support@studyguru.co.uk within 24 hours of the lesson, or use the chat widget on our website. We process refunds within 5 working days. For other refund requests (e.g., tutor no-show), contact support within 48 hours so we can investigate.
Progress & Results
How quickly will my child improve?
It varies. Some students see noticeable progress within a few weeks of focused exam-technique work; others need several months to fill deeper gaps. We typically see meaningful change within 8 to 12 weeks of regular tutoring. We can't promise specific grade outcomes. Anyone who does is being dishonest.
Can I track my child's progress between sessions?
Yes. Your parent dashboard shows current vs target grades, topics covered, progress level on each topic, exam date countdowns, and individual lesson summaries.
What if my child needs extra help between sessions?
After some GCSE lessons, in subjects where we have a question bank, we are piloting a short set of exam questions on what was covered, each set checked by our team before it is sent. If your child needs more support, just book additional sessions. There is no minimum or maximum.
Becoming a Tutor
How do I become a tutor on StudyGuru?
Apply at /become-a-tutor. Requirements: studying at or graduated from a UK university, A/A* at A-Level in your teaching subjects, right to work in the UK, and willingness to complete our 7-step verification. Tutors set their own hours.
How quickly do tutors get paid?
Payouts are processed via Stripe, typically arriving within 2 business days after each lesson is captured. New tutor accounts may experience longer initial payout times while Stripe completes verification.
General
Do lessons and messages stay on the StudyGuru platform?
Yes. Every lesson runs in the StudyGuru lesson room and all messages between parents, students and tutors go through the platform, where they are moderated.
The essentials. What it costs, how it starts, what you get after, and how parents rate it.
Your first 4 lessons are an intro rate, from £15 each. After that you pay per lesson, from £24/hr. No sign-up fee, no subscription.
Everything happens in one lesson room. Built for learning, and for the parent who is not in it.
Work it out together, on one board
Not a screen share. Tutor and student write, draw and solve on the same canvas in real time, exactly as on paper, and every board is saved for revision.
How lessons work
Tutor
YouWhere does y = x² + 5x + 6 cross the x-axis?
x = −3x = −2
Checked before they meet your child
Identity, right to work, Enhanced DBS, certificate upload, database verification and a live teaching audition, then final approval. About 3% of applicants end up teaching on StudyGuru.
How we vet tutors3%of tutor applicants make it
Final approval
Know how it went within about 45 minutes
After every paid lesson you get a recap: what was covered, how your child did, and what to practise before next time.
See how progress tracking worksWhat was covered
Exam-style questions on this week's topic
Worked through two past-paper questions step by step.
How it went
Method was solid, wording the answer was trickier
Needed a nudge on the command word, then finished the rest on their own.
What to practise
Two more long-answer questions from the same paper
Plus the mark scheme, to see where the marks are.
Real results from UK parents157 reviews, every one 5 stars
5 → 7
Year 9 Physics, in a few months
“My son in year 9 struggled with physics at school and went from grade 5 to 7 in a few months with a 1-2-1 tutor. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a personalised learning experience!”
Shiponara, Parent · Bristol · via Trustpilot
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£15 Starter Pack · 4 sessions · No commitment
See what it costs
First 4 lessons from £15 each, then from £24/hr. No subscription, no sign-up fee.
Pricing