Free Demo Class Checklist: What to Check Before You Hire a Tutor
A demo class is the clearest chance you get to judge a tutor before you commit money and months of your child's time. One well-used hour tells you far more than any profile or review.
This checklist shows you what to share and ask before the demo, what to watch during it, what to settle afterwards, the red flags that should make you pause, and when it is time to switch. At the end there is a short checklist you can copy onto your phone or print for the day.
Before the demo: prepare in 15 minutes
What to share with the tutor
Send these details in advance so the tutor can prepare:
- Class, board and subject – for example, Class 10 ICSE Physics, or IB Maths Analysis and Approaches.
- The goal – passing comfortably, moving from 70% to 85%, board exam preparation, or JEE/NEET alongside school.
- Current level – recent test marks and, if you can, a photo of a recent test paper with mistakes.
- Two or three weak topics – ask your child which chapters they dread.
- Upcoming dates – unit tests, pre-boards or entrance exams in the next few months.
- Practical details – preferred days and times, and whether classes will be at home or online.
On NXTutors, when you ask for a tutor, you tell us the subject, class, board and area, and we shortlist two or three matched tutors. The first class is a free demo, so you can use it to test the fit properly.
Questions to ask the tutor
Good tutors answer these easily and specifically.
- How many students have you taught in this class and board recently?
- How would you plan the next two months for my child?
- How do you set and check homework?
- How will you tell me about progress, and how often?
- What happens if a class is missed, by you or by us?
- For exam years: how do you use past papers and timed practice?
During the demo: what to watch
If you can, sit in for part of the class, or at least stay within earshot. For online demos, sit beside your child for the first ten minutes. Watch for these six things.
1. Clarity
Can the tutor explain an idea in simple words, and then again in a different way if your child does not follow?
2. Checking understanding
Strong tutors do not just ask "understood?" – children almost always say yes. They ask your child to solve a similar question, explain a step back, or spot an error. Listen for these checks.
3. Pace
The pace should fit your child, not the tutor's plan for the hour. If your child is lost after ten minutes, or bored because the material is too easy, the tutor should notice and adjust.
4. Engagement
Who is doing most of the talking? In a good class, your child is writing, answering and asking questions for a large part of the time.
5. How mistakes are handled
Watch what happens when your child gets something wrong. The most helpful response is calm and curious: "Let us see where this changed." Impatience, sarcasm or simply correcting the answer without explaining are warning signs.
6. Homework and a plan
By the end, the tutor should be able to say what they noticed, what to work on first and what to practise before the next class. A small, specific piece of homework is a good sign.
After the demo: settle the practical details
Ask your child the right questions
"Did you like the tutor?" invites a one-word answer. Try these instead:
- What is one thing you understood today that you did not before?
- Did you feel comfortable asking a question?
- Was it too fast, too slow or about right?
- Would you be happy to have this class twice a week?
If your child cannot name one thing they learnt, take that seriously, even if they "liked" the tutor.
Agree the plan, fees and schedule
- Follow-up plan – ask for a short written plan for the first month: topics, number of classes and how progress will be checked.
- Fees – Across NXTutors, most home-tuition sessions fall between ₹800 and ₹2,500 an hour; Classes 11–12, IB/IGCSE and JEE/NEET sit toward the upper end; specialists for IB HL or JEE Advanced can charge more. On NXTutors, payment is made in advance, and you get a refund if you cancel within 24 hours of booking.
- Schedule – fix days, times and class length, and agree what happens around school exams and holidays.
- A review point – agree to review after the first month. Four weeks is usually enough to see whether homework is being done, whether your child is more confident and whether test marks are moving.
Red flags
- The tutor did not ask about your child's board, syllabus or recent marks.
- They spent the demo talking about their results rather than teaching.
- They could not explain the same idea in a second way.
- They were on the phone, late, or ended early without reason.
- They promised specific marks or ranks. No honest tutor can promise a result.
- They pushed for a large advance payment before any plan was agreed.
- Your child seemed anxious, embarrassed or unwilling to ask questions.
One red flag is worth a conversation. Two or more usually mean you should try another tutor.
The demo class checklist
Copy this list into your phone notes or print it before the class.
Before
- Class, board, subject and goal shared with the tutor
- Recent test paper or marks shared
- Two or three weak topics listed
- Exam dates and preferred timings shared
- My questions for the tutor written down
During
- Explanations were clear and simple
- Tutor checked understanding with a question, not just "understood?"
- Pace suited my child
- My child did plenty of the talking and writing
- Mistakes were handled calmly and explained
- Tutor ended with a plan and small homework
After
- My child can name one thing they learnt
- My child felt comfortable asking questions
- First-month plan agreed
- Fees, payment and cancellation terms clear
- Days, times and class length fixed
- Review date set for the end of month one
When to switch tutors
Most children need a few classes to settle, but do not wait a whole term if things are clearly not working. Consider switching if, after about a month:
- your child still dreads the class or avoids it;
- there is no plan, or the plan is not being followed;
- homework is rarely set or checked;
- you hear nothing about progress unless you ask;
- test marks and confidence show no movement at all.
Switching is easier than many parents expect. On NXTutors, switching tutor is free if the fit is not right; tell the team what did not work, such as pace, explanation style or timings, so the next shortlist fits better.
Ready to try? Find a tutor for your child's subject and board, look at local options such as Maths home tutors in Gurgaon, or book a free demo class on NXTutors. See also home tutor or online tutor.
Frequently asked questions
Is the demo class really free on NXTutors?
Yes, the demo class on NXTutors is free: the first class with a matched tutor is a free demo, and you see the tutor's fee before it. NXTutors suggests two or three matched tutors for each request, so you can compare them. If the fit is not right later, switching tutor is also free.
Should my child be alone with the tutor during the demo?
During a demo class, a parent should ideally be present or nearby for at least part of the class, rather than leaving the child alone. It helps you judge the teaching and helps your child feel at ease with someone new. For an online demo, sit beside your child for the first ten minutes.
How long should a demo class be?
A demo class should be long enough for the tutor to teach one idea, check understanding and set a small task. For most school subjects, that means a class of normal length rather than a 15-minute chat. By the end, the tutor should be able to say what they noticed and what to work on first.
Can we try more than one tutor before choosing?
Yes, you can try more than one tutor, because NXTutors shortlists two or three matched tutors so you can compare them before choosing. If the first tutor is not the right fit, switching is free. Ask the team how further demo classes work for your booking, and use the same checklist each time so your comparison is fair.
How soon will we see results after starting with a new tutor?
Results from a new tutor usually show first in confidence and homework habits, which often change within a few weeks, while marks take longer. Marks depend on the next test and how much ground there is to cover. Agree a review point with the tutor after the first month, since four weeks is usually enough to see whether things are moving.
What are the red flags in a demo class?
The main red flags in a demo class are a tutor who never asks about your child's board, syllabus or recent marks, or who promises specific marks or ranks. Others include talking about their own results instead of teaching, arriving late or taking calls, and pushing for a large advance payment before any plan is agreed. Two or more red flags usually mean trying another tutor.
What should I share with the tutor before a demo class?
Before a demo class, share your child's class, board, subject and goal with the tutor, plus recent test marks and two or three weak topics. A photo of a recent test paper with mistakes helps the tutor prepare. Add upcoming unit tests or pre-boards and your preferred days and times, and say whether classes will be at home or online.
