Private vs Group A-Level Biology Tuition
An evidence-based comparison of one-to-one and group tuition for A-Level Biology — real UK pricing, what the research actually shows, and how to decide which format is right for your situation.
Last updated: February 2026
What the Research Actually Shows
Before looking at pricing and logistics, it is worth understanding what high-quality research tells us about tutoring effectiveness. The most authoritative evidence comes from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) — the UK’s leading independent evidence organisation for education.
One-to-One Tuition
The EEF’s Teaching & Learning Toolkit, based on extensive meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials across seven countries, shows that one-to-one tuition delivers an average of five additional months of academic progress. This breaks down to approximately six months at primary level and four months at secondary — suggesting A-Level students may need more sustained engagement to see equivalent gains.
Small Group Tuition (2–5 Students)
Small group tuition delivers approximately four months of additional progress on average. Effectiveness decreases noticeably above 6–7 students. Interestingly, the EEF notes that in some contexts, small group learning can be as effective as one-to-one — particularly where peer discussion adds value.
What Matters More Than Group Size
The gold-standard meta-analysis by Nickow, Oreopoulos and Quan (96 randomised controlled trials, published in the American Educational Research Journal) found that teacher-led tutoring produces the largest effects, and programmes with three or more sessions per week significantly outperform less frequent sessions. The quality of the tutor and the consistency of sessions may matter more than whether you choose one-to-one or a small group.
What Does A-Level Biology Tuition Actually Cost?
The UK private tutoring market is worth an estimated £2 billion per year, and pricing varies enormously depending on format, platform, and tutor credentials. Here is what the current market looks like.
One-to-One Pricing by Platform
| Platform | Typical Price | How It Works | What Tutors Actually Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyTutor | From £26/hr | Pay-as-you-go; mainly university student and graduate tutors | ~58% of lesson fee (after commission + VAT) |
| Tutorful | Avg £39.82/hr | Marketplace; tutors set own rates; 94% hold advanced degrees | 75–80% of lesson fee |
| Superprof | £15–£40/hr | Student pays £39/month subscription; tutors set own rates | 100% of lesson fees (subscription covers platform) |
| Spires | From £30/hr | Bidding marketplace; 4% acceptance rate; all lessons recorded | Commission built into rate |
| First Tutors | £20–£60+/hr | Directory model; one-off finder’s fee (£9.99–£34.99) | 100% of lesson fees after initial fee |
| The Profs | From £60/hr + £70 registration | Premium agency; 4% acceptance rate; 40%+ tutors have PhDs | Revenue-sharing model |
| PMT Education | £20–£120/hr | STEM-focused marketplace with free resource upsell | Not publicly stated |
Group Tuition Pricing
| Format | Per Student Cost | Group Size | Where Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyTutor Groups | From £16/lesson | Up to 6 students | MyTutor platform |
| Small group (independent tutor) | £15–£25/hr | 2–4 students | Arranged directly with tutor |
| Masterclass format | £5–£16/hr | 6–12 students | Specialist independent tutors |
What Drives the Price Differences?
Platform commission is the single biggest factor in pricing. MyTutor takes approximately 42% of the lesson fee (commission plus VAT), meaning a tutor advertising at £26/hr takes home roughly £15. Tutorful takes 20–25%. Superprof takes nothing from tutors but charges students a £39/month subscription.
This creates an unusual dynamic: the cheapest-appearing platforms often have the highest commission, which means they either attract lower-priced tutors or compress the earnings of experienced ones. Independent tutors, by contrast, keep 100% of their fee — allowing them to charge competitive rates while still earning more per lesson.
Online sessions typically cost around 20% less than in-person tutoring. Tutorful data shows the average A-Level Biology online session is £41.95/hr compared to £51.78/hr for in-person.
Private vs Group — A Direct Comparison
Here is how the two formats compare across the factors that matter most for A-Level Biology students.
| Factor | Private (1-to-1) | Group (2–6 Students) |
|---|---|---|
| EEF evidence | +5 months additional progress | +4 months additional progress |
| Personalisation | Fully tailored to individual weaknesses, exam board, and learning style | Must follow a shared programme; less scope for individual focus |
| Typical cost | £26–£85/hr (platform dependent) | £5–£25/hr per student |
| Exam board specificity | Can focus exclusively on your board’s specification and exam style | Usually grouped by board, but may mix students from different specifications |
| Pace | Adapts to the student — faster through strong topics, slower on weaknesses | Moves at the group’s average pace; some may find it too fast or too slow |
| Confidence building | Private environment; student can ask questions without fear of peer judgement | Some students find peer learning motivating; others find it inhibiting |
| Scheduling | Fully flexible — arranged between tutor and student | Fixed schedule; must fit the group’s availability |
| Best for | Students with specific weaknesses, those preparing for imminent exams, anxious learners | Students who thrive in discussion, those wanting regular reinforcement at lower cost |
Why This Decision Matters More for Biology
A-Level Biology presents specific challenges that make the private-vs-group decision more consequential than for some other subjects.
The Exam Board Problem
Only about 60% of A-Level Biology content overlaps between exam boards. AQA has a unique 25-mark essay. Edexcel uses a pre-released scientific article. OCR includes multiple choice questions. WJEC/Eduqas offers optional topic choices. In a group session, if students are on different exam boards, a significant portion of each lesson may cover material that is irrelevant to some students. Private tuition eliminates this problem entirely.
Individual Topic Weaknesses
Biology is an unusually broad A-Level. A student might be completely comfortable with genetics and inheritance but struggling with cellular respiration, or confident with ecology but unable to tackle the AQA essay. Private tuition can target exactly the topics where marks are being lost, rather than working through a general revision programme.
Practical Skills and Data Analysis
All exam boards now include at least 15% of exam marks testing practical and mathematical skills — areas where students often need very specific, individual guidance. Interpreting experimental data, calculating chi-squared values, or evaluating experimental methodology requires step-by-step attention that is difficult to deliver effectively in a group format.
The UK Tutoring Market — What You Should Know
The context behind these numbers matters. The UK tutoring market has changed dramatically in recent years.
Around 30% of 11–16 year olds in England and Wales have received private tutoring — the joint highest figure since the Sutton Trust began tracking this in 2005, when it was 18%. About 11% received tutoring in the most recent school year alone.
There are significant demographic differences in who accesses tutoring. In London, 46% of pupils have had private tutoring compared to just 16% in the North East. Higher-income families are more than twice as likely to use tutoring as lower-income families — 32% versus 13%. These patterns are worth being aware of, because they influence the type and quality of tutoring available in different areas.
The online tutoring market in the UK is growing at approximately 12% per year, meaning online options are expanding rapidly. Around half of all UK private tuition is now delivered online, a shift that became permanent after the pandemic.
Frequently Asked Questions
EEF research shows one-to-one tuition delivers slightly more progress (+5 months vs +4 months for small groups). For A-Level Biology specifically, private tuition is particularly valuable because it allows fully personalised teaching targeted at individual topic weaknesses and your exact exam board. Group tuition can work well for general revision but may not address the specific areas where a student is losing marks.
The average in the UK is approximately £40/hr. Budget platform tutors start from £15–25/hr, experienced tutors charge £26–50/hr, premium tutors with teaching qualifications charge £50–85/hr, and specialist tutors with examiner experience typically charge £85–180/hr. Online sessions are usually about 20% cheaper than in-person.
Small group tuition (2–4 students) typically costs £15–25 per student per hour with an independent tutor. Platform-based group sessions like MyTutor start from £16 per lesson. Larger masterclass formats (6–12 students) can be as low as £5–16 per student per hour. Group tuition is generally 40–60% cheaper per student than one-to-one.
This is often the most effective and cost-efficient approach. Use regular group sessions for general content review and revision, then supplement with targeted one-to-one sessions for exam technique, weak topics, and board-specific preparation. This gives you the cost efficiency of group work alongside the precision of individual attention.
Major UK platforms include Tutorful (average £40/hr), MyTutor (from £26/hr, mainly graduate tutors), Superprof (from £15/hr, subscription model), Spires (from £30/hr), First Tutors (directory with one-off fee), The Profs (from £60/hr, premium), and PMT Education (£20–120/hr). Each has different pricing models, vetting standards, and tutor profiles. For specialist A-Level Biology support, an independent tutor with examiner experience may offer something platforms cannot easily replicate.
EEF evidence shows even 12 hours of tutoring can produce measurable gains. For best results, aim for at least one session per week sustained over a term or longer. The most effective programmes involve three or more sessions per week, though this is not always practical. Consistency matters more than intensity — regular weekly sessions over months outperform short intensive bursts.
Disclaimer: Pricing data is based on publicly available information from the named platforms as of early 2026 and may change. Research figures are from the EEF Teaching & Learning Toolkit and published academic meta-analyses. Biology Education and its author accept no responsibility for individual outcomes. Students and parents are advised to verify current prices directly with providers.
