This page shows what to send, how the hour runs and how we decide what comes next.
Why we start with a real lesson
A good first lesson answers one question: what does this student need next? To answer it, the teacher must see real work and teach something real. A chat about goals cannot do that.
So the trial is a paid one-hour lesson, from RM70/hr, taught by the teacher who would continue. You see the teaching your child would actually get.
Before the lesson
After you message us, we reply the same day to confirm the rate, the teacher and a time. We ask for a few details so the teacher can prepare.
- Your child's year, board and strand: First Language, ESL or Literature.
- The target grade and the exam year.
- One recent piece of writing, if you have it.
- A recent school report or mark, if you are happy to share it.
- What worries you most, in your own words.
Nothing needs to be perfect. If your child has no recent writing, the teacher sets a short task in the lesson.
On the day, your child needs a quiet space, a device with a camera and microphone, and paper or a tablet.
The hour, step by step
Every child is different, so these timings are a typical shape, not a script.
| Time | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 min | The teacher talks with your child about school, reading and how English feels. | It sets a relaxed tone and shows how your child thinks. |
| 10 to 25 min | The teacher reads the submitted writing with your child and asks about their choices. | It shows what your child can already do and where marks slip. |
| 25 to 40 min | Your child reads a short passage, and they annotate it together on screen. | It shows how deeply your child reads. |
| 40 to 55 min | The teacher teaches one skill your child needs, then your child tries it. | You see what a normal lesson feels like. |
| 55 to 60 min | The teacher shares a short plan and a task for the week. | The next step is clear, even if you do not continue. |
There is no sales pitch, no long form and no package to sign. The hour belongs to your child.
What the teacher looks for
In reading, the teacher checks whether your child can find evidence and explain what it suggests. They also ask why the writer chose those words. In writing, they look at structure, sentence control, vocabulary and tone.
For ESL students, the teacher also listens to speaking. The aim is not to grade your child. It is to find the one or two changes that would lift the work most.
What you hear afterwards
The teacher tells you honestly how far your child is from the target grade and how much time that usually needs. You leave with a clear, realistic plan.
Reading a guide like this helps. A trial lesson shows how it works for your child, one-to-one and online.
How we decide next steps
After the lesson, we talk through three options with you.
- Continue weekly. This suits a clear, ongoing gap with enough time to work on it.
- Continue less often. This suits a student who needs occasional marking and guidance.
- Pause for now. This suits a student who is progressing well and needs time or reading, not lessons.
Our guide to how often lessons should be explains how we think about this. The decision is yours.
A parent's checklist for the trial
| Ask yourself | A good sign |
|---|---|
| Did the teacher use my child's own work? | Yes, from the first ten minutes. |
| Did my child do most of the talking and writing? | Yes, with the teacher guiding. |
| Was one skill taught clearly? | My child could explain it afterwards. |
| Was the teacher honest about the gap? | The feedback was specific, not vague or all praise. |
| Do I know what happens next? | I have a clear plan and a clear price. |
Our longer list of questions to ask a tutor works for any provider you are considering.
An example trial
Imagine a Year 10 student on Cambridge First Language English. Her parents feel her essays are flat. She sends one narrative and a recent school comment.
In the trial, the teacher notices that every paragraph opens the same way and the ending only summarises. The teacher shows two ways to open a paragraph, and she rewrites two openings. Her task for the week is a short narrative with a controlled ending.
The parent receives a note naming the habit, the fix and the task. This example is invented, but it shows what a real trial looks like.
How ESL and Literature trials differ
In an ESL trial, the teacher adds a short speaking exchange and checks listening habits. In a Literature trial, the teacher uses a short extract from your child's set text and looks at how well they use evidence. The shape of the hour stays the same: real work, one taught skill and a clear next step.
Is a trial the right next step?
If your child is confident and only worried about one assignment, a trial may be more than you need. Message us and we will say honestly whether it would help.
We teach skills, so students' coursework and speaking scripts stay their own work. We do not teach SPM English, IB or MUET.
Ready to start?
Message us on WhatsApp with your child's year, board and target grade. You can read more about how we teach, meet our teachers and check pricing.
When you are ready, book a Trial Class and the teacher will take it from there. One-hour paid trial · Same-day reply.