We think the answer to this question depends on the particular kind of tutoring you’re interested in, so let’s distinguish two types – “course support” and “one on one teaching“.
By “course support” we mean that you would like help with a course you’re currently taking, say with clarifying and organizing concepts, problem solving strategies, and so on. The point being that you’ve already had a fair bit of exposure to the core material and have engaged a tutor to take your facility with it to the next level.
By “one on one teaching” we mean tutoring sessions where the primary focus is on introducing and teaching new material, things that you haven’t learnt in school or university. (Or perhaps you encountered them a while ago and are looking to learn anew.)
Tips for optimizing your "course support" session:
1. Come prepared with a list of questions. The process of writing down your questions and confusions can itself help sharpen and clarify your thinking! Send this list along to your tutor beforehand if possible.
2. Send along some relevant exercises or problems from class, homework, etc. This will give your tutor a better idea of what you’re learning in class.
3. If your tutor uses a “virtual blackboard” or annotates PDF’s during lessons, be sure to ask them for copies. These can be a really useful reference when you’re self-studying.
4. Ask your tutor if they know of any particularly clear text or video resources that you could use to review the material later or to study it further.
5. Ask your tutor for a frank diagnosis of any lingering weaknesses in your grasp of the material and ideas for working on them.
Tips for getting the most out of "one on one teaching":
Point 3 from the “course support” suggestions is important here as well. Additionally,
1. Ask your tutor for a teaching plan or syllabus early on. Along with giving you a heads up about what’s coming this also helps ensure that the tutor has thought about a “big picture plan” for how they are going to teach you.
2. Be sure that your tutor is giving you regular practice material and make a point of going over your work with them. Keep a record of this homework so you can easily refer to it when studying later.
3. Let your tutor know if the pace of lessons is too slow or fast and if the homework is too easy or hard.
4. Ask your tutor for some (short) videos to watch, or some material to read, as preparation for your lessons. This way the lesson is likely to be more of a back and forth discussion, which we think is a really effective and enjoyable way to learn.
5. If you feel a lack of familiarity with some assumed (“pre-requisite”) knowledge during lessons, be sure to let the tutor know.
6. Periodically ask your tutor for a frank assessment of your grasp of the material.
