Let's start off by answering a few questions a lot of students and parents have about the topic of Grinds/Tuition:
- What are grinds?
- How much are grinds?
- Are grinds a waste of time?
- Do many people get grinds?
- How do I choose a good grinds tutor or school?
What are grinds?
In Ireland, grinds are private tuition, which is a major industry, particularly at the Secondary school level.
Grinds are seen as a cooperative activity between student and tutor, there is a clear understanding of learning objectives. The student understands the importance of their contribution. The student is set feasible and achievable goals by the tutor.
Do many people get grinds?
It is estimated that during any given year roughly 65,000 junior cert and leaving cert students are taking grinds throughout the year. The official survey estimates that close to half of Leaving Cert students are having private grinds outside their school. t isn't clear how grinds are different to normal classes, but one thing is for sure right now, private tuition is trending.
Are grinds a waste of time?
The answer to this question depends entirely on 3 things:
- The Student
- The Tutor
- If You Actually Need Tuition
As mentioned already, grinds are a cooperative activity between student and tutor, you have to be willing to put in the work. You also need to make sure you choose a tutor whose energy and teaching style mesh well with yours. On top of all this, you should only take grinds in the subjects you're actually struggling with, otherwise, it will feel like a waste of money and time. Remember you are preparing for a big exam you don't have time to waste.
How Much Do Grinds Cost?
This is a great question! not only because it varies so much, between your core subjects (maths, English, Irish, French, Spanish and German) to your specialist subjects (things like biology, business, accounting, home economics, etc...) but other factors influence the prices.
"Definitely, study is absolutely necessary in all forms - it's just like any talent that's born within somebody. It's just like a good pair of shoes when you put a shine on it, you know? Like, schooling brings out the polish of any talent. It happens anywhere in the world."
- Charlie Parker
Things that influence the price of grinds/tuition:
- Location of the Lesson (online/in-home/onsite/after school/academy)
- Tutors Experience
- Geography
Location of the Lesson
Let's start with the location of the lesson, this is probably the biggest thing that will affect the price of the lessons. Considering that an online lesson with Superprof starts at just €12 per session per subject vs the average one-hour tuition per subject when you get a tutor to come to your home is roughly €50 that is a huge difference. Tutors to get you to come to them and teach maybe three or four people at a time may charge €10-€15 less so you're paying probably about €35 per session per subject that's usually a little better.
Then we have after-school study which is a minimal fee but it's a large group of students a lot of the time some students just get their homework done in these groups or they help each other it's beneficial for students who are not struggling too much but need the motivation to study rather than actual assistance to catch up on a subject.
Now let's not forget that some academies offer crash courses for a few hundred euros per week to cover all of your subjects this might seem like a great offer but please only happen at certain times of the year and it may already be too late considering the leaving cert is only about eight weeks away. These crash courses usually take place during the Halloween midterm, Christmas midterm and Easter midterm.
There are other options out there if you don't get the points you are aiming for in the Leaving Cert, from Further Education Colleges to Work Experience and Gap Years, you have plenty of choices.
Tutors Experience
When it comes to choosing a tutor, there are a few things you really should keep in mind, particularly if the subject you need help with is also a subject to struggle with. For example, if you need a maths tutor but you have Dyscalculia too or you need an English tutor and you also have Dyslexia, you may want to look for a tutor who has experience not only teaching the subject but with techniques that will make it easier for you to learn what you need to.
Learning from the right tutor can help strengthen a student's subject comprehension, boost confidence, and build important learning skills.
Geography
On average, students who live in the capital or in the bigger cities around Ireland (Dublin, Galway, Cork) will pay on average €10-€20 more per lesson compared to those living in other parts of the country. This is largely due to population and demand. However, this does not apply when it comes to online tuition! No matter where you live in Ireland if you choose to take lessons with a tutor on an online platform such as Superprof, you can get leaving cert grinds from as little as €12 per session.
Choosing a Good Grinds Tutor
Don't just pick the nearest available tutor, find an experienced professional who specialises in exam preparation and will help you build confidence in your skills.
STEM courses are becoming increasingly popular! But the classics like Medicine and Accounting still remain popular among the Leaving Cert applicants for 2023.
Some tips when choosing your tutor:
- Find a tutor with the right skills: Platforms like Superprof let you have a look at each tutor's CV so you can get a feel for their level of qualifications and expertise as well their teaching experience. But whether you choose a tutor with Superprof or find one elsewhere, we recommend you ask about their qualification level about their experience in teaching.
- Choose between different price points: private tuition can get expensive. If you have a budget, choose which modules you are struggling with and then find your tutor based on their level of experience in that area.
- Try before you buy: A stand-out advert doesn't always guarantee the ideal tutor. Superprof allows you to consult several tutors before you decide which one has the best methods to suit your needs.
Giving yourself credit when you complete a task and trying to focus on things you can control can help when it comes to managing exam stress and anxiety when studying for your Leaving Cert.
Where ever you find your tutor, we hope you have a wonderful experience with someone helpful who can keep you focused and interested and get the grades you need in the Leaving Cert.
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