Parent questions, answered
Short answers to the questions Singapore parents ask us most, each with its source. Rates come from our published rate card, and school facts from MOE and SEAB.
Tutors and prices
- Undergraduate, full-time or ex-MOE tutor: what is the difference?
What an undergraduate, a full-time tutor and an ex-MOE teacher each cost per hour in 2027, what the higher rate pays for and which suits each stage.
- How much is P4 tuition in Punggol in 2027?
P4 home tuition in Punggol costs about S$25 to S$35 an hour with a part-time tutor, up to S$50 to S$70 with an ex-MOE teacher. Same rates island-wide.
- How much is home tuition per month in Singapore in 2027?
Monthly home tuition costs in 2027 for every level, worked out from the published hourly rates for 4 lessons a month at typical weekly hours.
- How much is H2 Maths tuition in Singapore in 2027?
H2 Maths home tuition costs about S$45 to S$60 an hour with a part-time tutor, S$65 to S$90 full-time and S$90 to S$130 with an ex-MOE teacher.
- Sec 1 tuition in 2027: how much is it, and does my child need it?
Sec 1 tuition costs about S$30 to S$45 an hour with a part-time tutor in 2027. When it helps after the PSLE, and which subjects to start with.
Choosing tuition
- IP Maths tuition: should it focus on methods or content?
IP Maths runs on each school's own scheme with no SEC at Sec 4. When tuition should focus on problem-solving methods, and when on keeping up with content.
- When should my child start PSLE tuition?
When to start PSLE tuition: P5 to build foundations, or January of P6 for a focused run-up. What each start date gives you before the September papers.
- How many hours of tuition a week does my child need?
Typical weekly tuition hours by level in Singapore, from 1 hour at lower primary to 2.5 hours at JC, and when to add more or cut back.
- Home, centre or online tuition: which suits my child?
Home tuition, a tuition centre or online lessons: how they differ on attention, travel, cost and fit, and which suits which child in Singapore.
Starting with TSS
- What happens at a trial tuition lesson with The Singapore Syllabus?
The first lesson with a TSS tutor is a paid trial at the tutor's rate. What happens before, during and after it, and what to do if the fit is wrong.
- What if my child's tutor is not a good fit?
If a tutor is not working out, how to tell, what to say, and how a free re-match works with The Singapore Syllabus, with no contract to break.
- Do I need to sign a contract for home tuition?
With The Singapore Syllabus there is no contract and no minimum number of lessons. The 3 terms that do apply: paid trial, 24 hours' notice, tutor's rate.
- How fast can I get a home tutor in Singapore?
With The Singapore Syllabus you get 3 to 12 tutor profiles within 16 hours of a request, and the first lesson usually within 5 to 10 days.
School system
- Can my child change subject levels in secondary school?
Under Full SBB, Sec 1 subjects start at G1, G2 or G3 by Posting Group and PSLE AL, then can move up on school results. MOE's rules, checked Nov 2026.
- JC or poly after the O-Levels: how do we choose?
JC or poly after the 2026 O-Levels: what each leads to, the 2027 JAE entry rules (L1R5 20, ELR2B2 26) and dates, and how to decide.