How Much Does Selective School Tutoring Cost Per Hour?

How much does selective school tutoring cost per hour? Published 2025–26 guides from Australian tutoring marketplaces put most private 1:1 tutoring at roughly $55–$130 an hour, with exam specialists (selective, HSC, VCE, IB) often charging $90–$160+. Small-group sessions usually cost less per student. These are marketplace figures, not an official survey, and prices vary by city, tutor experience and whether sessions are online or in person.

Before comparing hourly rates, ask what is included: materials, homework marking, practice tests, and whether writing is marked by a person.

Published price ranges (AUD)

The total depends on how long you continue. As a simple example, one $70 session a week for 40 weeks is $2,800, before enrolment fees, materials or holiday programs. For ways to cut that down, see preparing without a tutor.

What you are actually buying

• Structure and accountability — a schedule and someone checking homework.
• Explanations — valuable when the tutor adapts to your child’s errors.
• Writing feedback — most useful when a person marks the piece and explains what to change. Ask who does the marking.
• Practice volume — check whether practice is on screen: the NSW Selective and OC tests are computer-based.

A higher hourly rate does not automatically mean a better result. Students get faster at timed tests mainly by answering timed questions themselves and reviewing their mistakes, so a cheaper plan built on good practice papers and careful review can work as well as an expensive class.

Tutoring-only vs timed practice at home

Where EduSpark sits (practice complement)

EduSpark is not hourly tutoring. It is timed online practice with instant marking and step-by-step explanations — designed to complement a tutor, a parent-led plan, or both. You pay once for 12 months of access and nothing renews: $59 per subject or $149 for a Complete Bundle ($49 / $119 for NSW OC). See pricing. We don’t mark writing.

Every student can try 1 free paper per subject first, with no card needed, to check whether timed online practice suits them before you spend on tutoring.

A sensible spend mix

1. Confirm the exact exam (VIC ACER, NSW Selective, OC, or EduTest) via our selective practice hub.
2. Use official samples for format authenticity.
3. Buy timed practice with explanations for volume (EduSpark or another quality platform).
4. Add a tutor only where you need human coaching — usually writing, motivation, or a stubborn weak topic — not for every multiple-choice drill. Brief the tutor from last week’s missed topics so the paid hour goes where it is needed (turning practice scores into a tutoring brief).

Related reading: free vs paid practice tests, how long to study, and official sitting fees in how much exams cost to sit.