How Much Does an A-Level Biology Tutor Cost? (2026 UK Guide)
A transparent breakdown of what you should expect to pay, what affects the price, and how to decide whether the investment is right for your child. Written by a tutor who is upfront about his own rates.
The Quick Answer
In 2026, A-Level Biology tutoring in the UK costs anywhere from £20 to £100+ per hour, depending on who you hire. The average across all tutor types is around £39 per hour.
That is a very wide range, and for good reason — a £20/hour undergraduate student tutor and an £80/hour former examiner with 25 years of teaching experience are offering fundamentally different services. Understanding what drives that difference is essential to making the right choice for your child.
I am going to be completely transparent in this article, including about my own rates. I think parents deserve that.
Three Tiers of A-Level Biology Tutoring
The UK tutoring market for A-Level Biology broadly falls into three categories. Each serves a different need.
Student & Graduate Tutors
- ✓ Affordable and accessible
- ✓ Recent exam experience
- ✓ Relatable to students
- × Limited teaching experience
- × No examiner insight
- × May only know one board
Experienced Private Tutors
- ✓ Several years’ experience
- ✓ Often degree-qualified
- ✓ May have teaching qualification
- ✓ Broader board knowledge
- × Rarely have examiner experience
- × Variable quality
Qualified Teachers & Examiners
- ✓ Qualified teacher (QTS/PGCE)
- ✓ Examiner experience
- ✓ Deep mark scheme expertise
- ✓ All exam boards covered
- ✓ Proven track record
- × Higher cost per session
None of these tiers is inherently “better” than the others. A student who needs someone to go through the textbook chapter by chapter may do perfectly well with a Tier 1 tutor. A student who needs to jump from a B to an A* and needs someone who can explain exactly what examiners look for in a mark scheme will likely need a Tier 3 specialist.
What Affects the Price
Qualifications and experience
This is the biggest factor. A current or former classroom teacher with a PGCE and years of A-Level teaching will charge significantly more than a university student who got an A in Biology last year. An examiner — someone who has actually marked exam papers and understands precisely how marks are awarded — commands a premium because that knowledge is rare and genuinely useful.
Online vs in-person
In-person tutoring typically costs 10–20% more than online, because the tutor has travel time and costs. For A-Level Biology specifically, online tutoring works extremely well — screen sharing of diagrams, mark schemes, and past papers is arguably better than sitting side by side over a textbook. The vast majority of A-Level Biology tutoring is now delivered online.
Platform vs independent
Tutoring platforms like MyTutor, Tutorful, and others take a commission of 20–40% from the tutor’s fee. This means either the tutor earns less (and may be less experienced as a result) or the parent pays more. Independent tutors set their own rates and keep the full fee, which often means better value at the higher tiers because you are paying the tutor directly, not a platform.
One-to-one vs group sessions
Group sessions are significantly cheaper per student. A tutor charging £80/hour for one-to-one might charge £50/student in a group of four. Groups work well for content revision and general exam technique, but are less effective for targeted individual work. Many students benefit from a combination of both.
Subject specialism
Biology tutors who cover A-Level exclusively tend to charge more than generalist science tutors who cover GCSE through to A-Level across multiple subjects. The depth of A-Level Biology content — and the marking precision required — demands genuine specialism.
The Real Cost: Monthly Budgets
Most parents want to know what tutoring will actually cost per month, not just per hour. Here is a realistic breakdown based on the most common arrangements.
| Arrangement | Hourly rate | Monthly cost | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student tutor, weekly 1hr | £25/hr | £100 | £1,200 |
| Experienced tutor, weekly 1hr | £45/hr | £180 | £2,160 |
| Specialist/examiner, weekly 1hr | £80/hr | £320 | £3,840 |
| Specialist, fortnightly 1hr | £80/hr | £160 | £1,920 |
| Group session, weekly 1hr | £50/student | £200 | £2,400 |
Not Sure What You Need?
Book a free 20-minute consultation. I will give you an honest assessment of whether tutoring would help, what kind of support your child needs, and what the realistic cost would be. No obligation whatsoever.
Book Free ConsultationIs It Worth the Money?
I am going to be honest here, even though it might not be in my commercial interest.
Not every student needs a tutor. Some students are self-motivated, have excellent teachers at school, and can achieve their target grades independently. If your child is consistently hitting their targets and has a clear revision strategy, tutoring may be an unnecessary expense.
However, there are situations where tutoring delivers a genuine return on investment:
The B-to-A* gap. This is where specialist tutoring has the biggest impact. Students stuck at a B or low A often know the biology but are losing marks on exam technique, precision of language, and mark scheme requirements. An examiner can diagnose and fix these problems in ways that a textbook cannot. The difference between an A and an A* can determine university offers.
Students who have fallen behind. If your child has significant content gaps — perhaps they struggled in Year 12 or had disrupted teaching — a tutor can provide structured catch-up far more efficiently than self-study alone.
Confidence issues. Some students understand more than they think they do, but their confidence has been knocked by poor results. A good tutor can rebuild that confidence by showing students that their knowledge is stronger than their exam performance suggests.
Students who have been let down by their school. I say this carefully, but it is a reality — not all schools deliver A-Level Biology to the same standard. If your child’s school has high staff turnover, a teacher covering a subject outside their specialism, or limited exam preparation, a tutor can fill that gap.
What to Look for in an A-Level Biology Tutor
Regardless of budget, there are certain things every parent should check before committing to a tutor.
Do they specialise in A-Level Biology? A generalist who covers GCSE Science and dips into A-Level is not the same as someone who teaches A-Level Biology as their main focus. At A-Level, the content depth and exam technique requirements demand genuine specialism.
Do they know your child’s exam board? AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, and Eduqas all have different specifications, paper structures, and mark scheme conventions. A good tutor should be able to teach to your specific board. Ask them — if they are vague about the differences, that is a warning sign. For more on this, see my exam board comparison guide.
What are their qualifications? At minimum, look for a degree in Biology or a closely related subject. Ideally, a teaching qualification (PGCE or equivalent) and verifiable classroom experience. Examiner experience is a significant bonus for exam technique work.
Can they show reviews or testimonials? Genuine student and parent feedback is the best indicator of whether a tutor delivers results. Check Google Reviews, Trustpilot, or ask for references. Be wary of tutors with no verifiable track record.
Do they offer a free initial consultation? Any good tutor should be willing to discuss your child’s needs before you commit. This gives you a chance to assess whether they are the right fit — and it gives the tutor a chance to assess whether they can actually help.
My Rates — Full Transparency
I believe parents should be able to see pricing upfront, so here are my rates.
| Service | Weekday rate | Weekend rate |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one tuition | £80/hr | £120/hr |
| Group tuition (min. 4 students) | £50/hr per student | £80/hr per student |
| Initial consultation | Free (20 minutes) | |
I sit in Tier 3 because of what I bring to every session: over 25 years of A-Level Biology teaching experience across AQA and WJEC specifications, examining experience for both WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel, a BSc in Immunology from King’s College London, a Research Degree in Molecular Pharmacology from Newcastle University, and current status as a Chartered Biologist (CBiol MRSB) with the Royal Society of Biology.
I am not the cheapest option, and I do not try to be. But I am confident that what I offer — particularly the examiner perspective on mark schemes and exam technique — delivers measurable results for students who are serious about improving their grade.
You can see my full pricing details on my charges page, read student and parent testimonials, or book a free consultation to discuss whether I am the right fit for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
In 2026, rates range from approximately £20–£35/hour for undergraduate student tutors, £35–£55 for experienced private tutors, and £55–£100+ for specialist tutors who are qualified teachers or examiners. The average across all types is around £39 per hour, but the service you receive varies enormously across this range.
It depends on what your child needs. For basic content support, a less expensive tutor may be fine. For exam technique coaching, mark scheme expertise, or jumping from a B to an A*, a qualified teacher or examiner offers insight that others simply cannot. An examiner knows exactly what earns and loses marks because they have marked thousands of papers.
This varies depending on starting point and goals. Most students have weekly one-hour sessions for between 3 and 12 months. Students who start earlier typically need fewer total sessions. Some benefit from just a handful of targeted sessions focused on exam technique before the exams.
For A-Level Biology, online tutoring is at least as effective. Screen sharing of diagrams, mark schemes, and past papers works extremely well, and students can access specialist tutors from anywhere in the UK rather than being limited to whoever is available locally. The vast majority of A-Level Biology tutoring is now delivered online.
Yes — typically 40–60% less per student. Group sessions work well for content revision and general exam technique. One-to-one is better for targeted work on individual weaknesses. Many students benefit from a combination of both.
The earlier the better. Students who start at the beginning of Year 12 or early in Year 13 consistently achieve better outcomes. Starting early means building understanding rather than cramming. That said, even a few sessions focused on exam technique in the weeks before exams can make a meaningful difference.
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Disclaimer: Pricing information in this article is based on UK market research as of February 2026. Actual rates vary depending on location, tutor qualifications, and availability. Biology Education is transparent about its own pricing, which is listed on the charges page.