Which IGCSE support route looks closest to your situation?
These are example planning scenarios, not real student case studies and not result promises. They help families understand which first step may be sensible before paying for tutoring, marking, planning or guided study.
Use evidence first
The most useful route depends on a mock paper, work sample, school feedback, topic test or exam-board details.
Choose the first step
The first paid step answers the next decision instead of pushing the largest package first.
Review before extending
After the first stage, the family can continue, change focus, add marking, move into revision or pause.
Common student situations
Find the situation that feels closest, then use it as a starting point. The final recommendation still depends on evidence, subject, exam board, tutor availability and timeline.
| Student situation | Useful first step | Typical first budget | Why this route fits | When to move up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student has one completed mock or past paper and does not know why marks were lost. | Mock marking. | £45 for one paper; £79 for two papers in the same subject. | Real answers show error patterns, weak topics and exam technique issues. | Move to tutoring if feedback shows repeated gaps that need teaching. |
| Parent has school feedback or a work sample but is not sure lessons are necessary. | Diagnostic review. | £35. | A smaller review can clarify whether marking, lessons, planning or self-study is the best next step. | Move up only if the recommendation shows a clear service need. |
| Exam board, paper route, private-candidate path or subject choice is unclear. | Exam planning. | £55 to £89. | Planning reduces the risk of using the wrong materials or buying lessons before the route is clear. | Move to tutoring or marking after the route and timeline are confirmed. |
| One subject is clearly weak and the student needs regular explanation and practice. | One-to-one tutoring. | £399 for a 10-lesson package, or £45 for a focused single lesson. | Regular teaching is useful when the weak subject and availability are clear. | Review after early lessons before extending to a larger package. |
| Student can self-study but does not follow a stable weekly routine. | Guided study programme. | £179, £329 or £479. | It adds structure, checkpoints and parent updates without turning into full online school. | Move to lessons if the student cannot understand content independently. |
| Student is aiming for a high grade but loses marks in wording, precision or exam technique. | Mock marking, targeted lesson or A* notes method. | Usually £45 to £79 first, or £45 for a focused lesson. | High-grade improvement often depends on mark-scheme precision and repeated error correction. | Move to a package only if the same issues repeat across papers. |
| English writing, ESL response or essay structure feels unclear. | Writing sample diagnostic or one-to-one English support. | £35 to £45 first; £399+ if regular teaching is needed. | A sample shows whether the main issue is grammar, structure, vocabulary, task response or timing. | Move to lessons when the student needs repeated drafting and feedback. |
| Exam or mock is very close and the family wants urgent help. | Focused marking, revision sprint, single lesson or small group if a suitable cohort exists. | Usually £45 to £129 for a narrow first step, or £45 to £79 for marking. | Short timelines need realistic priorities, not a promise to rebuild the full syllabus. | Move up only if time, tutor availability and student workload make it sensible. |
| Several subjects feel weak but the family has a limited budget. | Diagnostic or planning before buying multiple packages. | £35 to £89 first. | Prioritising prevents the budget being spread too thin across many subjects. | Move to the highest-priority subject first. |
How to use these scenarios
A scenario is useful only when it leads to a clear next action. Use the table below before submitting the assessment form.
| Decision point | What to check | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Can you provide a mock, paper, writing sample, school feedback or topic test? | Buying a large package with no evidence of the real problem. |
| Exam route | Do you know the exam board, paper route, tier, component or exam session? | Starting lessons before the route is clear enough to teach responsibly. |
| Budget | Is the first payment answering the next decision? | Paying for a long package because the family feels pressured or confused. |
| Availability | Can the student attend lessons or complete work between checkpoints? | Choosing guided study or tutoring when the student cannot participate reliably. |
| Expectation | Does the family understand that support improves preparation but does not guarantee a grade? | Depending on a promised result, official predicted grade or exam-entry service. |
What to prepare before asking for a recommendation
Families who provide these details usually receive a more practical recommendation and fewer follow-up questions.
Student profile
Year group, school route, country or timezone, subject priorities and target grade if known.
Exam route
Exam board, syllabus, paper route, tier, expected exam session or private-candidate questions.
Recent evidence
Mock score, completed paper, writing sample, topic test, school feedback or a difficult question.
Timeline
Mock date, final exam window, coursework or school deadline and when support should start.
Budget range
Whether the family wants a low-risk first step, a guided plan or a lesson package if suitable.
Availability
Lesson windows, timezone, communication language and whether the student can complete tasks between sessions.
How a short parent message becomes a sensible route
Families often begin with one sentence. A useful reply should not jump straight to a package. It should ask for the missing evidence, explain the likely risk and suggest the smallest step that can give a clearer answer.
| What a parent may say | What we would check | Sensible first reply |
|---|---|---|
| My son is stuck around a grade 5 in Maths and wants a 7. | Exam board, tier or paper route, one recent paper with working, repeated topic errors and how many weeks remain. | Send a recent paper first. Mock marking or a diagnostic review may show whether the student needs method repair, topic teaching or exam-technique practice before buying a lesson package. |
| My daughter writes a lot in English but still gets modest marks. | English route, writing sample, task type, teacher comments, sentence control, paragraph structure and whether the answer actually responds to the question. | Start with a writing sample review or diagnostic. Regular lessons make more sense after the writing issue is identified. |
| We are changing schools and do not know which exam board to follow. | Current school route, possible new school route, subject choices, exam session, candidate status and any centre or school requirements. | Do exam planning before subject tutoring. Route mistakes can waste more time than a delayed lesson start. |
| The exam is close and three subjects are weak. | Exact exam dates, recent marks, highest-risk subject, weekly study time and whether any completed papers are available. | Prioritise one subject first. A narrow mock review or short sprint is usually more realistic than trying to rebuild three syllabuses at once. |
| The student practises online but improvement is hard to see. | What work is actually completed, whether it is exam-board aligned, how answers are checked and whether the student receives useful correction. | Guided study, marked checkpoints or mock marking may be more useful than more unsupervised practice. |
When a careful recommendation may be smaller than expected
A smaller first step is not a weaker service. It is often the more responsible choice when the family still needs a clear answer.
No recent work
If there is no paper, writing sample or marked task, the first reply may ask for evidence before recommending lessons.
Route not confirmed
If the exam board, tier, paper route or private-candidate position is unclear, planning should come before subject tutoring.
Budget needs protecting
If several subjects feel urgent, the first step may be to rank priorities instead of buying support for everything at once.
Student workload is limited
If the student cannot complete practice between sessions, a large lesson package may not produce enough value.
Group fit is weak
A small group should not be offered just because it is cheaper. The subject, level, board, timing and availability should be close enough.
Expectation is unrealistic
If the family wants a guaranteed grade or official exam entry, the boundary should be made clear before any payment.
Found a scenario that looks familiar?
Submit the assessment form with the closest scenario, recent evidence and the budget range you are considering.
Match the student situation to a clear service
If the first step is still unclear, choose the closest student situation. Each route carries the service preference into the free assessment. Before payment, we still confirm subject, exam board, evidence, tutor or marker availability, timing and cancellation rules.
Free Assessment
Use this when you need a first recommendation before paying.
- Best when
- Subject, exam board, timeline or support type is not clear yet.
- Prepare
- Student year, subjects, exam date, current concern and any recent result.
Diagnostic Review
A low-risk tutor judgement before deciding whether lessons are needed.
- Best when
- There is school feedback, a topic test, writing sample or recent work.
- Prepare
- One subject, exam board if known, recent evidence and target grade.
Mock Marking
Turn a completed mock or past paper into mark-loss patterns and revision priorities.
- Best when
- The student has completed one or two papers and needs exam-board-aware feedback.
- Prepare
- Paper, answers, subject, exam board, time taken and school feedback if available.
Parent Review Call
A focused 30-minute parent discussion before approving the next spend.
- Best when
- Parents want to understand assessment, diagnostic or mock feedback before upgrading.
- Prepare
- Existing recommendation, mock feedback, diagnostic result or key questions.
Study Plan Setup
A practical 2 to 4 week plan before committing to guided study or tutoring.
- Best when
- The student can self-study but needs priorities, syllabus coverage and a realistic routine.
- Prepare
- Syllabus, exam date, weekly study time, weak topics and recent evidence.
One-to-One or Guided Support
Use this when the weak subject is clear and regular teaching or checkpoints are needed.
- Best when
- Subject priority, availability and likely support rhythm are already reasonably clear.
- Prepare
- Subject, exam board, availability, target grade, recent evidence and start date.
Submitting a service preference does not collect payment. If information is missing, delivery is not feasible, timing is unrealistic or a grade guarantee is expected, we explain the boundary before any payment step.
A simple way to decide what comes next
Begin with the exam route and a piece of recent work. That gives a firmer basis for choosing support than picking a package first.
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01
Confirm the exam route
Start with the subject, exam board, exam date and current learning position.
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02
Look at recent work
Mocks, past papers, writing samples and school feedback help show where support is needed.
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03
Choose the right starting point
Address the immediate need first, then decide whether ongoing lessons would help.
-
04
Begin support and review progress
Marking, planning, guided study, tutoring and groups should have clear review points.
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05
Keep arrangements clear
Tutor fit, communication, rescheduling, refunds and grade boundaries are agreed before booking.
With an exam route and recent work in hand, choose the service that best addresses the current need: diagnosis, mock marking, planning or lessons.