HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an exam preparation tutor in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An exam preparation in Ireland costs €30–€70 per hour, typically around €45. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an exam preparation tutor in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers exam preparation tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — personalized Study Plans — A key component of exam preparation is the creation of personalized study plans that cater to an individual student's strengths and weaknesses.
- How does tutor's experience change the price?Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does subject matter change the price?Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location change the price?The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Study Skills and Strategies — tutors often teach effective study skills and strategies, such as note-taking techniques, time management, and revision methods — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a exam preparation tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers exam preparation tutor work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — personalized Study Plans — A key component of exam preparation is the creation of personalized study plans that cater to an individual student's strengths and weaknesses.
A good answer: Specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Study Skills and Strategies — tutors often teach effective study skills and strategies, such as note-taking techniques, time management, and revision methods — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a exam preparation tutor job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — practice Exams and Mock Tests — many tutors provide practice exams and mock tests that simulate the actual exam conditions.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the exam preparation tutor starts, and an itemised invoice after — group Study Sessions — collaborative learning experiences that encourage peer support and knowledge sharing.
Getting the quote right
- Tutor's experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe.
- Subject matter — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day.
- Location — the distance is worked out before the quote is given.
- Duration of sessions — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: tutor's experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe
- They will not talk about it: subject matter — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day
- They will not talk about it: location — the distance is worked out before the quote is given
- A price for the exam preparation tutor before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the exam preparation tutor has begun
What an exam preparation tutor costs: €30–€70 per hour
Most exam preparation tutors quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Subject-specific tutoring and Mock exam preparation each carry their own band. Exam Preparation price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Exam preparation tutors near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstTutor's experience — specialists charge for knowing which shortcuts are safe — that is what the exam preparation tutor is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSubject matter — providers allow for it rather than discover it on the day — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLocation — the distance is worked out before the quote is given — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDuration of sessions — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the exam preparation tutor is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, tutors should have relevant qualifications and experience in the subject matter.
- Practice Exams and Mock Tests
- Many tutors provide practice exams and mock tests that simulate the actual exam conditions.
- Study Skills and Strategies
- Tutors often teach effective study skills and strategies, such as note-taking techniques, time management, and revision methods.
- Personalized Study Plans
- A key component of exam preparation is the creation of personalized study plans that cater to an individual student's strengths and weaknesses.
- Subject-Specific Tutoring
- Focused sessions on specific subjects to enhance understanding and performance.
- Mock Exam Preparation
- Simulated exam conditions to help students practice and build confidence.
- Study Skills Coaching
- Guidance on effective study techniques and time management strategies.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an exam preparation tutor: questions people ask
The cost of exam preparation services can vary based on the tutor's experience, the subject matter, and the location. specialised tutors in high-demand subjects may charge more than general tutors.
Exam preparation sessions usually last between one to two hours, depending on the student's needs and the complexity of the material. Longer sessions may be scheduled closer to exam dates for intensive review.
Same-day bookings for exam preparation sessions are often available, but they depend on the tutor's schedule. It's advisable to book in advance to secure the best time slots.
Yes, many tutors offer packages for multiple sessions, which can provide a more structured approach to exam preparation and often come at a discounted rate. Timing is crucial; start preparation well in advance of the exam date.
Exam preparation services generally focus on academic subjects and study skills. Topics such as mental health support or personal issues are typically outside the scope of these services.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
MORE GUIDES