Before comparing hourly rates, compare what each rate covers: the exact subject code, the exam year, the route or tier, and what the lessons actually do. A price only means something once the scope is the same.
This page gives you a short checklist you can use on any tuition provider, including us, and a worked example of why it matters.
What should be identical before you compare two prices?
Write these five items down and ask each provider to confirm them. If two quotes differ on any of them, they are not yet comparable.
- Subject and code. The four-digit Cambridge code, not just the subject name.
- Exam year or series. The version of the syllabus that applies to your entry.
- Route or tier. For example Core or Extended in a subject that has tiers. Check with your school which one you are entered for.
- What the lessons do. Teaching new content, fixing gaps, past-paper practice, or exam technique. These are different jobs.
- Who the teacher is for your subject. Whether the teacher has taught your specific code recently. You can ask about fit during the trial.
Why can the same subject name hide different syllabuses?
Cambridge sometimes offers two qualifications with similar names, or replaces one version with another. Some examples that our subject pages cover:
- Mathematics 0580 and International Mathematics 0607 are separate qualifications.
- Business Studies 0450 and the newer Business 0264 are separate. Cambridge identifies 0264 as starting with first assessment in 2027, so your exam year decides which applies.
- Computer Science 0478 and 0265 are also separate codes.
- English as a Second Language 0510 and 0511 are separate codes.
Check the current position on the Cambridge subject page before you commit, because transition dates and notices are updated there.
Worked example: two Business quotes
A parent receives two quotes for “IGCSE Business”.
| Quote A | Quote B | |
|---|---|---|
| Code stated | Not stated | 0450, exam year before 2027 |
| Lessons | “Revision” | New content plus past-paper practice |
| Hourly rate | Lower | Higher |
On price alone, Quote A wins. But the parent does not know whether A is preparing the child for 0450 or 0264, or whether “revision” means the child will be taught content they have not yet covered.
She asks A for the code and year. If A confirms 0450 for a pre-2027 exam year and describes the same kind of lesson, the two quotes can finally be compared on price. If A cannot say, the lower rate has no clear meaning yet.
The lesson is simple: the price is only comparable after the scope is.
What should you ask any provider?
- Which code and exam year will you plan lessons for?
- What will the first lesson do, and how will you know my child’s gaps?
- Who is teaching, and have they taught this code recently?
- How is the rate confirmed, and what is it for, exactly?
- What is agreed after a first lesson, and with whom?
You do not need to accept vague answers. A clear provider can give a clear reply, and a teacher who cannot name the code is worth a second question.
How do we handle scope with you?
We take the subject, code and exam year at the start. An experienced teacher is then assigned, and the one-hour trial lesson is a taught, paid class at that teacher’s confirmed rate, starting from RM80. The actual rate is confirmed before the lesson.
Other fees and schedules are discussed directly with the teacher after the trial. See how the process works.
The syllabus and exam-year navigator helps you line up a code and exam year against what needs checking. If something cannot be confirmed from a reviewed profile, it returns a checklist rather than a guess.
When is price the right first filter?
Price can reasonably come first when budget is the hard limit and you already know the exact code and route you need. In that case, compare rates only among providers who confirm the same scope.
If you are still unsure which subject to start with, read which subject to enquire about first. For the general question of what “from RM80” means, see what from RM80 means.
Next steps
- Find your code and exam year from your school.
- Write the five items above on one page.
- Ask each provider to confirm them in writing.
- Then compare price.
More guides are in our decisions section, and subject details are under subjects.
You may also find these guides useful: what affects the cost of IGCSE tuition and what a private candidate pays for.