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What does a freelance tutor do?

A freelance tutor is charged with helping students learn, outside of a classroom setting, a particular subject or discipline. A freelance tutor may work with a single student or with multiple students in a group setting, offering lesson plans, homework assistance, test preparation, and more.

The ultimate goal of a freelance tutor is to help students improve their academic performance and become proficient in a particular subject. Freelance tutors may be hired by parents, students, academic staff, and third-party organizations charged with assisting student academic performance.

What skills do I need to become a freelance tutor?

While clients may require different skills from different tutors depending on the subject being taught and the students requiring help, there is a list of skills most freelance tutors should possess, including:

• Technical knowledge. A capable freelance tutor must have technical knowledge of the subject they are teaching. Whether it’s math, languages, art, or science, a tutor must be highly familiar in the specific area in order to effectively impart knowledge to their students.
• Positivity. It’s important that tutors convey a sense of positivity regarding the subjects they’ve been hired to teach. Some students may feel discouraged due to their lack of progress when learning a subject. Freelance tutors must instill a positive, can-do attitude in their students, giving them the sense that they can learn the subject and become proficient in it.
• Empathy. No two students are alike. Some absorb lessons and concepts more quickly and easily than others. With this in mind, a tutor must empathize with each individual student, encouraging them to work at their own pace to grasp specific lessons. If the student struggles at any point, the tutor must show understanding while still encouraging the student to move forward.
• Patience. Tutors must exhibit patience when conveying lessons and concepts to their students. While some students might grasp concepts immediately, others may struggle to understand. In these cases, the freelance tutor must patiently work with the students until they make the required progress.
• Communication. Because a freelance tutor’s role is to convey concepts and theories to students, communicating effectively is vital. Communicating well, whether verbally or in writing, helps ensure the student understands what’s being taught and the tutor understands challenges students may be facing.
• Adaptability. A freelance tutor must configure their lessons to suit the strengths and weaknesses of each student.
• Confidentiality. Parents and schools often provide tutors to students confidentially in order to protect the student’s reputation and ensure they can learn in private at their own pace. For this reason, the freelance tutor must act with discretion when dealing with the student and the client securing their services.

What are the core job responsibilities of a freelance tutor?

Clients hire freelance tutors for a variety of reasons. Some tutors are charged with helping high school students score well on the SAT, while tutors at universities help college students grasp basic math concepts. Regardless of the scenario, there are core duties freelance tutors are hired to perform, including:

• Create lesson plans designed to increase test scores for individual students or students in a group setting
• Leverage interactive learning tools, available through the school system or via a third-party provider, to teach students in a face-to-face environment
• Improve students’ ability to perform well on required tests in math, science, and other subjects
• Provide weekly progress reports to parents and teachers regarding each student’s improvement
• Refine teaching methods based on the needs of each student

Should I get a degree or certification to become a freelance tutor?

In addition to developing your skills in a particular subject matter, obtaining a degree or taking a professional class can help your Upwork profile stand out. While most teachers require certification, most tutors do not. In fact, many tutors are currently students pursuing their own undergraduate or graduate degree. Working as a freelance tutor not only provides additional income but allows the tutor to gain experience if teaching is a long-term goal after obtaining their degree.

Popular degrees or certifications helpful in becoming a freelance tutor include:

• Associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in education, mathematics, science, English, English as a second language (ESL), art, liberal arts, or an equivalent field of study from an accredited college or university
• Tutoring Certificate—offered by the Association for the Coaching and Tutoring Profession
• Certified Tutor—offered by the National Tutoring Association