Best Alternatives to Tutors

Private tutoring can be brilliant. But it's not always possible, affordable, or even necessary. Whether you're a student looking for extra support or a parent trying to help without breaking the bank: tutors aren't your only option.

There are fantastic alternatives that can help you succeed in your GCSEs and A-Levels. From revision platforms built by teachers to AI tools, the way we learn is changing fast.

This guide breaks down the best alternatives to tutors, helping you find what works for your learning style, budget, and goals.

Key Takeaways

• Tutors aren't essential for success — many students achieve top grades using self-study resources and peer support

• Different alternatives suit different needs — visual learners might prefer videos, while independent learners thrive with revision sites

• Cost varies massively — free options exist alongside paid platforms (typically £10–£15/month)

• You can mix and match — combining different alternatives often works brilliantly

Why People Are Looking for Tutor Alternatives

Why so many students and parents are searching for alternatives: 

• Cost. Private tutors typically charge £30–£60 per hour. That's £120–£240 per month for just one hour per week. For families juggling multiple children or tight budgets, it's simply not realistic.

• Scheduling issues. Finding a tutor who's available when you are can be a nightmare. Between school, extracurriculars, and family commitments, coordinating regular sessions becomes stressful.

• Inconsistent quality. Not all tutors are brilliant. Some are university students with no teaching experience charging £40 an hour to read through your homework. Finding a genuinely good tutor takes time and often several disappointing sessions.

• Preference for independence. Some students prefer teaching themselves. They like learning at their own pace and not feeling pressured during face-to-face sessions.

• It feels like overkill. If you only need help with one specific topic or a quick refresher before an exam, paying for weekly hour-long sessions feels excessive.

How to Choose the Right Tutor Alternative

Before diving into specific platforms and tools, think about what you actually need.

Ask yourself:

• What's your learning style? Visual learners thrive with videos. Independent learners do well with self-paced sites. Social learners benefit from study groups.

• What subject do you need help with? STEM subjects often benefit from structured practice. Essay subjects might need model answers.

• What's your budget? Free resources exist and can be excellent. Paid platforms (£10–£30/month) usually offer more structure and exam-specific content.

• How much structure do you need? Be honest about how self-motivated you are.

• Do you need feedback? Some alternatives offer marking and feedback. Others are purely for learning and practice.

Best Tutoring Alternatives by Type

Self-Study Revision Platforms

This is probably the closest alternative to having an actual tutor, and it's where many students see the best results.

Save My Exams is specifically designed for GCSE and A-Level students, with resources written by actual teachers and examiners. Here's what makes it stand out:

• Exam-board-specific content. Everything is tailored to your exact specification (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, etc.), so you're not wasting time on irrelevant material. Generic revision sites might teach you photosynthesis, but Save My Exams teaches you exactly what your exam board wants you to know about photosynthesis.

• Comprehensive coverage. You get revision notes, topic questions, past papers, AI-powered SmartMark and model answers all in one place. No jumping between different websites.

• Written by experts. The content is created by teachers and examiners who know exactly what gets marks in exams. They're not just explaining concepts; they're teaching you how to answer exam questions effectively.

• Affordable. 

  • Some resource access for free. 

  • Premium unlimited access from £4 per month (billed annually at £48). 

  • You can also choose from a 3-month Premium subscription for £10 per month (billed at £30/3 months) or a monthly Premium subscription for £12 per month.

• Available 24/7. Study at 6am before school or 11pm before bed. No scheduling required.

With Save My Exams, you're never left wondering "what should I revise?" Everything is organised by syllabus topic, making it easy to identify gaps and work through them systematically. It’s simply one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly resources out there, especially compared to others such as Physics and Maths Tutor.

Who it's best for: Self-motivated students who want comprehensive, exam-focused resources without the price tag of private tutoring.

AI Tools

Artificial intelligence has transformed how students can get help with homework and revision. AI assistants can explain concepts, answer questions, and provide practice problems on demand.

The benefits:

• Available 24/7 with instant responses

• Can explain the same concept in multiple ways until you understand

• Helpful for getting unstuck on homework

• Can generate practice questions on specific topics

• Often free to use

The limitations:

• Sometimes provides incorrect information (especially for complex topics)

• Can't replace structured learning or exam-specific content

• Doesn't understand your particular exam board's requirements

• Can't mark your work or give detailed feedback on essays

How to use AI effectively:

Think of AI tools as a homework helper, not a complete learning solution. They're brilliant for understanding a concept you're stuck on, getting a different explanation, or generating extra practice questions. But don't rely on them as your only revision method. 

Our guide to using AI for revision will tell you more.

Who it's best for: Students who need quick answers to specific questions or want extra practice problems generated on demand.

YouTube Channels & Video Lessons

YouTube has become an incredible resource for GCSE and A-Level revision, with thousands of educational channels covering every subject.

The benefits:

• Completely free

• Visual and auditory learning combined

• Can pause, rewind, and rewatch as many times as needed

• Great for understanding difficult concepts through diagrams and animations

The limitations:

• Not always exam-board specific

• Quality varies massively between channels

• No structure or learning path

• Easy to waste time watching videos without actually doing practice questions

• No feedback on your own work

How to use YouTube effectively:

YouTube works brilliantly as a supplement to other revision methods. Use it when a topic isn't clicking from your textbook, you need visual explanations of processes, or you want a quick refresher before an exam. But don't just watch videos passively. Take notes, pause to try problems yourself, and follow up with actual exam questions.

Who it's best for: Visual learners who need concepts explained through diagrams and animations.

Study Groups & Peer Learning

Never underestimate the power of learning with others. Study groups can be just as effective as tutoring, and they're completely free.

In-person study groups: Meet with classmates at school, the library, or someone's house. Quiz each other, work through past papers together, and explain concepts to one another.

Online study communities: Platforms like Discord Revision Server (opens in a new tab), Reddit (opens in a new tab), and The Student Room (opens in a new tab) have active communities of GCSE and A-Level students. You can ask questions, share resources, find study buddies, and join subject-specific forums.

The benefits:

• Completely free

• Builds accountability and motivation

• Explaining concepts to others reinforces your own learning

• Social aspect makes studying more enjoyable

The limitations:

• Requires self-organisation and commitment

• Can turn into socialising rather than studying

• Peer explanations might not always be accurate

How to make study groups work: Set clear goals for each session. Choose study partners who are serious about their grades. Use a timer to stay on track.

Who it's best for: Social learners who stay motivated through peer support and accountability.

Other Useful Resources

Exam board websites: AQA (opens in a new tab), Edexcel (opens in a new tab), OCR (opens in a new tab), and other exam boards offer free specimen papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports. Essential for exam practice.

BBC Bitesize (opens in a new tab): Free and covers all GCSE subjects. Decent starting point for understanding topics, though fairly basic.

Khan Academy (opens in a new tab): Excellent for Maths and Sciences. It's American, so not perfectly aligned with UK curricula, but the core concepts are the same. Completely free.

Quizlet (opens in a new tab): Great for memorising definitions, vocabulary, and key facts. You can create your own flashcards or use sets made by other students.

When a Tutor Might Still Be the Best Option

Let's be balanced. Tutoring alternatives are brilliant, but they're not right for everyone.

Consider a tutor if:

• Your child has special educational needs (SEN) and needs tailored support

• You're really struggling despite trying multiple alternatives

• You need accountability and structure and self-study has failed repeatedly

• You're aiming for top grades at a competitive school and need that extra polish

• Your exam is in a few weeks and you need intensive, targeted help

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tutoring alternatives as effective as a tutor?

It depends entirely on the student. For self-motivated students who just need access to quality resources, platforms like Save My Exams can be just as effective as tutoring 

However, students who struggle with motivation or have significant learning gaps might benefit from one-to-one tutoring. Many students combine approaches, using a revision platform for most subjects but getting a tutor for one particularly difficult topic.

What is the cheapest alternative to private tutoring?

YouTube, Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, and study groups with classmates are all completely free. Exam board websites also offer free past papers.

If you're willing to spend a little, revision platforms like Save My Exams give you unlimited access to structured, exam-specific content.

Are tutoring alternatives good enough for GCSEs or A-Levels?

Absolutely. Thousands of students achieve top grades every year without ever hiring a tutor. What matters most is consistency, practice, and using high-quality resources.

For GCSEs and A-Levels specifically, exam-board-aligned resources are essential. Save My Exams is built specifically for these qualifications, so you're learning exactly what you need for your exams.

Final Thoughts

Tutors are helpful, but they're not the only way to succeed academically. What matters is finding resources that work for you, putting in consistent effort, and practising exam questions until you know the material inside out.

If you're a self-motivated student with access to quality revision platforms, you can absolutely achieve top grades without a tutor. If you need more structure and accountability, there are still plenty of affordable alternatives like study groups and online communities.

You can mix and match. Use a revision platform for most subjects, watch YouTube for the tricky bits, form a study group for accountability, and save tutoring for the one subject you genuinely can't crack on your own.

Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you use it consistently. The best resource is the one you'll stick with. So try a few options, see what works, and commit to it.

Check out Save My Exams for extensive and targeted learning and revision support.

References

• Discord Revision Server (opens in a new tab)

• Reddit (opens in a new tab)

• The Student Room (opens in a new tab)

• AQA (opens in a new tab) 

• Edexcel (opens in a new tab) 

• OCR (opens in a new tab)

• BBC Bitesize (opens in a new tab)

• Khan Academy (opens in a new tab)

• Quizlet (opens in a new tab)