Online tutoring really works — and the research proves it
Your child can learn just as well online as in person — often better — when an expert tutor is on the other side of the screen. Here's the proof, in plain English.
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Why it works, in three findings
Decades of large-scale studies point to the same conclusion — and online delivery keeps every bit of the benefit.
A tutor is the biggest lever in learning
The studies agree: one-to-one help moves the needle like almost nothing else. A review of 96 studies (led from the University of Toronto) found tutoring lifts the average student from the 50th to about the 66th percentile2 — roughly five extra months of progress a year.3In John Hattie's synthesis of over 1,200 meta-analyses, feedback and tutoring rank among the highest-impact influences on learning.7And in Benjamin Bloom's classic research, one-to-one tutoring placed the average student above 98% of their classmates.1
Online doesn't mean second-best
The screen is not a downgrade. A randomized trial of fully online tutoring raised grades and improved students' wellbeing.4 And a 232-study meta-analysis from Concordia University found online and classroom instruction are, on average, equally effective — with asynchronous online study often coming out ahead.5 What matters is the teacher, not the room.
Regular, interactive sessions are where it happens
Consistency beats cramming. What lifts results is frequent, structured sessions with a tutor who knows the student. A Concordia University meta-analysis found that strengthening genuine interaction — student with teacher, student with material — significantly raises achievement, with the strongest gains in well-designed online courses.6 The OECD agrees: technology helps most when it is used purposefully, not passively.8
Online vs. traditional: what changes, what matters
Moving online changes the logistics of tutoring — not the ingredients that make it work.
What online makes better
- Access to a true subject specialist anywhere in the world
- Every session recorded for later review
- No commuting time for student, parent, or tutor
- Flexible scheduling that fits around school and time zones
What stays exactly the same (the part that matters)
- A knowledgeable, well-trained educator guiding every session
- A genuine, motivating tutor-student relationship
- Personalized, real-time feedback on the student’s own work
- Focused one-to-one or small-group attention
Across 232 studies, online and classroom instruction proved, on average, equally effective — and asynchronous online study often outperformed the traditional classroom.
— Meta-analysis, Bernard et al., Concordia University (Canada, 2004)5
The everyday benefits of online tutoring for your family
Beyond the research, online tutoring removes the everyday friction that gets in the way of steady progress.
A specialist, not just whoever's nearby
Geography no longer limits who teaches your child. Students are matched with an IB- or AP-trained educator in their exact subject — anywhere in the world.
Every session, recorded
Students can revisit any explanation as often as they need, and focus on understanding in the moment instead of frantically taking notes.
Zero commute, more learning
Online removes travel entirely — saving most people over an hour a day that goes straight back into studying, rest, and family time.
Flexible across time zones
Sessions fit around school, sport, and family life — wherever your family is in the world, and whatever the week looks like.
Focused one-to-one attention
The format research shows works best: a tutor fully focused on one student, adapting to exactly where they are and where they want to go.
Structured practice between lessons
Smart tools and targeted practice keep momentum going between sessions, so progress compounds week after week.
Commuting time saving based on a 27-country study of remote work arrangements.9
What our students and parents say
The research explains why online tutoring works. These families have lived it.
“Great learning support. Highly recommended!! My son went from not being sure about what to do and how to being proud of the work he handed in. THANKS A LOT.”
“Highly effective for French learners! As a French student, I struggled with English until I found this platform. Their teaching methods are engaging, well-structured, and truly effective. Thanks to their lessons, my fluency and confidence have improved significantly!”
“I felt so much more confident going into the exam. I knew what to expect and how to manage my time—and the listening section didn't scare me anymore.”
Everything the research says works — built into how we teach
We pair your child with an IB-trained educator in their subject, build a plan around their goals, and keep momentum going with structured practice between sessions — for students in 10+ countries. Every journey starts with a free, no-pressure conversation.
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Online tutoring: your questions answered
The evidence behind the most common questions about online learning.
References & sources
- Benjamin S. Bloom, "The 2 Sigma Problem," Educational Researcher (University of Chicago). View source
- Nickow, Oreopoulos (University of Toronto) & Quan, "The Impressive Effects of Tutoring on PreK-12 Learning," NBER Working Paper 27476. View source
- Education Endowment Foundation (United Kingdom), Teaching and Learning Toolkit — One to one tuition. View source
- Carlana & La Ferrara (Bocconi University, Italy), "Apart but Connected: Online Tutoring and Student Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic". View source
- Bernard, Abrami et al. (Concordia University, Canada), "How Does Distance Education Compare With Classroom Instruction? A Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Literature," Review of Educational Research 74(3). View source
- Bernard et al. (Concordia University, Canada), "A Meta-Analysis of Three Types of Interaction Treatments in Distance Education," Review of Educational Research. View source
- John Hattie, Visible Learning (University of Melbourne, Australia) — synthesis of 1,200+ meta-analyses: feedback d=0.70 and peer tutoring d=0.53, well above the 0.40 average-impact benchmark. View source
- OECD, "Students, Digital Devices and Success" (PISA 2022) — technology improves learning when used purposefully. View source
- Aksoy, Barrero, Bloom, Davis, Dolls & Zarate, "Time Savings When Working from Home" (27-country study). View source
Effect sizes are reported as they appear in the cited research. Benjamin Bloom's “2 sigma” result comes from small controlled studies and is widely cited as an idealized benchmark; large-scale tutoring programs typically show gains of around +0.3 standard deviations. We cite real, published research only.