"How much should we be paying for tutoring?" is the question every Perth parent asks. The honest answer ranges from $40 to over $200 per hour, and the price doesn't always track quality.
Here's what's actually being charged in Perth right now, and what you should expect at each price point.
The price ranges
$40-60/hour: small group with a recent graduate
The most common pricing for ATAR tutoring in Perth is $40-60 per hour per student in a small-group format (4-10 students). The tutor is usually a recent ATAR graduate, current uni student or 1-2 years post-graduation.
Strengths: tutor remembers the syllabus vividly, group dynamic supports motivation, costs are accessible for ongoing weekly support across multiple subjects.
Weaknesses: less individual attention than 1-on-1, group pace is set by the median student, less flexibility on which topics get covered each week.
Educatta sits in this band, our small-group classes (max 10 students) are $960 per subject per term (10 weeks of 2-hour classes, working out to $48/hr). Each additional subject is 20% off, so a two-subject student pays $1,728 per term. See our full pricing for the breakdown.
$60-100/hour: 1-on-1 with a recent graduate
Step up to one-on-one and the price typically doubles. Tutor still tends to be a recent ATAR graduate. The advantage is fully individual attention, every minute is on your child's specific gaps.
Strengths: fast progress on highly specific issues, tutor adapts to your learning pace, flexible scheduling.
Weaknesses: no group accountability, no peer comparison, weaker for subjects where discussion improves outcome (especially English).
$100-150/hour: 1-on-1 with an experienced tutor or specialist
Tutors at this price typically have 5+ years of ATAR tutoring experience or a specific reputation in a niche subject (e.g., Maths Specialist, Literature, Music performance). Some are former or current school teachers.
Strengths: deep subject expertise, strong essay/exam mark feedback, often includes resource libraries (past papers, marking notes).
Weaknesses: cost adds up fast for multiple subjects, scheduling is tighter (these tutors are usually booked out months ahead).
$150-200+/hour: "boutique" tutoring
The high-end of Perth tutoring. Usually a former WACE marker, a current or retired teacher with established reputation, or a tutor who has produced multiple 99+ ATAR results in their subject. Often comes with structured year-long programs and detailed progress tracking.
Strengths: highest level of subject and exam-process knowledge in WA. Often has direct connections to school networks and ATAR examiner culture.
Weaknesses: cost is significant ($150 × 30 sessions × 2 subjects ≈ $9,000 a year per subject pair). Diminishing returns above a certain point, a great $80/hr tutor with consistent weekly cadence often produces equal results to an excellent $180/hr tutor seen fortnightly.
What you should actually be paying attention to
Price is the easiest thing to compare. It's also a poor proxy for results. The questions that actually matter:
- Does the tutor mark your child's work to SCSA standard? Many tutors give "looks great" feedback. Real progress requires SCSA-style marking with specific deductions and rewrites. Ask in the first session: "How will you mark this?"
- What's the past-paper rotation plan? By Term 3 of Year 12, your child should be doing 1-2 past papers per week per subject under exam conditions, with the tutor reviewing the marking. If the tutor doesn't have a clear system for this, the price is irrelevant.
- Does the tutor know your school's specific assessment style? Different Perth schools have different internal assessment cultures. A tutor who has worked with students from your school is significantly more useful than a tutor who hasn't.
- What's their cancellation/missed-class policy? Year 12 is busy. A tutor who lets you reschedule reasonably is worth more than one who doesn't, regardless of headline price.
- Can you see actual ATAR outcomes from past students? Anyone can claim "we got students into Medicine". Asking for specific 2024 or 2025 student outcomes (with permission, anonymised) gives you real data.
Group vs 1-on-1: what's actually better?
This is where pricing decisions get murky. A few patterns we see:
- 1-on-1 wins for: students with very specific gaps (one topic they don't understand), students with social anxiety in groups, students aiming for ATAR 99+ where every mark counts.
- Small group wins for: most ATAR-bound students. The peer comparison and group accountability are more valuable than the extra individual attention. Costs are 30-50% lower for similar outcomes.
- Hybrid (group + occasional 1-on-1 catch-ups) is often optimal. Weekly small-group class for cadence, plus 1-on-1 sessions in the lead-up to major assessments or exam blocks.
Hidden costs to ask about
- Workbooks/resources. Some tutors charge separately ($50-200/term). Some include them. Educatta includes all materials.
- Holiday programs. School holiday intensives are typically priced separately from term-time classes. Ask about cost.
- Travel/online setup. If you're using a private tutor at home, factor in their travel time. Online sessions usually price the same as in-person.
- Bulk-pay discounts. Many tutors offer 5-10% off for paying a full term upfront. Worth asking.
What to do
For most Perth families, the right approach is small-group tutoring at $40-60/hr per student per session, weekly, in 1-3 subjects, starting before the subject becomes a problem (see our Year 11 tutoring calendar for timing).
For ATAR 95+ targets, layer in 1-on-1 sessions in the lead-up to assessment blocks. Don't pay for 1-on-1 every week unless your child genuinely needs it.
To see what we offer, our full pricing is published on the site. Or book a free trial, two hours, no card needed, see how the small-group format actually works.