How to budget for private tutoring in Egypt

Start with 3 matching details: the course, the lesson format and the duration. An IGCSE exam-preparation lesson and a primary-school homework session serve different needs, so their prices alone cannot tell you which offers better value.

Write down the exact subject and level, then ask what you will work on. “Maths help” is vague. “Rearranging equations for my current course” gives a tutor something concrete to plan. Check whether the quoted session is individual or shared, and whether preparation or marked practice is included.

• Same curriculum and level, with relevant tutor experience.
• Same number of students and comparable session length.
• Clear teaching goal, practice expectations and arrangements.

Convert the quoted lesson price to a 60-minute equivalent using price × 60 ÷ duration in minutes. In our hypothetical worksheet, 240 EGP for 45 minutes equals 320 EGP per hour. This calculated comparison is not a bookable offer, and it does not measure teaching quality or guarantee a result.

Suppose another suitable tutor quotes 300 EGP for 60 minutes. That lesson costs more at checkout than the 240 EGP option, but less for the same amount of teaching time. Keep both numbers visible: the actual amount you must pay matters for cash flow, while the equivalent helps you compare.

Count booked dates rather than assuming every month contains 4 teaching weeks. In this example, 8 lessons at 300 EGP total 2,400 EGP before additional charges. A month containing 10 planned lessons would total 3,000 EGP at the same fictional rate. The calendar changes the budget even when the rate stays fixed.

Build a sustainable plan around school commitments and independent practice. Add another subject as its own line, rather than hiding it inside a rough family estimate. Agree how you will handle exam weeks, holidays and schedule changes before committing to recurring sessions.

Keep 2 totals: the credit used for lessons and the money paid to obtain that credit. The current pricing page explains that a platform fee is added when credits are recharged. That fee does not become lesson credit. Check its current percentage and your payment summary before paying.

For example, if you need 1,000 EGP of lesson credit, your payment can exceed 1,000 EGP because the recharge fee is separate. Do not assume that a tutor receiving their full lesson earnings means students pay no fees. The pricing page is the place to check the current mechanics, rather than relying on an old article or screenshot.

Also distinguish a return of lesson credits from a refund to a payment method. Read the applicable cancellation terms before booking, particularly if your timetable may change. A lower price does not compensate for arrangements you cannot realistically attend.

A price cannot establish effectiveness. The Education Endowment Foundation’s one-to-one tuition review includes 123 studies and stresses the importance of targeted teaching and monitoring progress (EEF, 2021). That international school evidence does not rank Egyptian tutors or establish a fair local price; ask for a plan that addresses your specific learning gap.

Compare what happens during the lesson. Does the tutor ask you to attempt questions, notice the point where your reasoning breaks down and give you an appropriate next task? A confident explanation is useful, but you also need opportunities to demonstrate that you can apply it yourself.

After an initial period, review a few comparable pieces of work. Keep the question difficulty and amount of help similar. If the plan is not working, discuss the evidence with the tutor before simply increasing the number of paid hours.

Use 5 budget fields for each shortlisted tutor: session price, duration, planned lesson count, confirmed additional costs and total spending. This worksheet keeps the arithmetic separate from the teaching decision. Fill it with current quoted amounts, and note the date so a later change does not look like an unexplained mistake.

Choose the option that fits your learning needs and remains affordable across the planned period. If the total is too high, ask about an appropriate frequency or a shorter targeted programme. Do not cut independent practice from your schedule just to fit in more paid teaching.