Frequently Asked Questions

SmileTutor does not dictate tuition rates. Each tutor sets their own prices depending on their qualifications, experience, and many other factors such as student’s level, location, timing etc.

However, when arranging the tuition for you, our experienced coordinators will ensure that the rates are fair and within market rates. We also conduct negotiation when required to try to reduce lessons fees in order to fit within your budget when necessary.

You may view the latest tuition rates here.

Our services are free-of-charge for parents and students. You are only required to pay for lessons conducted. A portion of the total lesson fees usually in the first four weeks of lessons will be allocated to SmileTutor as the agency commission. This is deducted directly from the tutor’s fees, so you do not pay anything extra.

However, there is a 7% GST imposed on the agency commission.  For example, if you engage a tutor for $50 per class for once a week, the agency commission will be $100. Hence, the GST imposed is $7.  This is only a one-off payment only and from 3rd lesson onward there is no GST since you pay the tutor directly. The tutor's fees are not subjected to GST.

To facilitate the process for us to collect the agency fees, you are required to cooperate with us by transferring the allocated agency commission (usually 50% of the 1^st month fees) + GST directly to SmileTutor. Thereafter, you will pay the remaining lessons to the tutor directly. Our Tuition Coordinators will inform you of the full payment details and instructions upon lesson confirmation.

In general, the agency commission charged to the tutor is 2-weeks of active lessons. Payment of the agency commission will be made directly to SmileTutor after the completion of a certain number of lessons whereby the lesson fees equal or exceed the agency commission amount.  After you may paid the agency commission, you may pay the tutor directly for subsequent lessons in any method preferred by both parties

Do take note that our services are completely free for you. By paying directly to SmileTutor, you are merely helping us to facilitate the collection process of the agency commission from the tutor. There are no additional / hidden fees you need to pay other than the mentioned lesson rates.

We accept various modes of payment including credit/debit card, online transfer, cheque, and cash. Our Coordinators will inform you of the full payment details during your tutor request.

Example: Client Mary hires Tutor for $60/lesson at 1 lesson per week. The agency commission is $120 (equivalent to 2 lessons). After Tutor has conducted two lessons, Client Mary transfers to SmileTutor $120. Then, from the 3^rd lesson onwards, she is to pay Tutor directly. The arrangement made between Mary and the tutor is to pay every 4-lessons via bank transfer.

You do not have to make advance payments of any kind. All payments are made only after the requisite lessons have been conducted.

There are no contracts and obligations until you agree to engage our tutors. When any assignment is confirmed, there are guidelines to follow to ensure that both the student and tutor can have a smooth and rewarding experience.

The lessons will be conducted at a pre-determined location according to your preference (usually at your home). If it is not convenient to have tuition conducted at your home, you may request for the tuition to be conducted somewhere else, such as the tutors home or at a convenient public location such as libraries, cafeterias, hostels, etc.

The location of the tuition lessons should be determined before the confirmation of lessons. Any change in address after lessons have started is subject to both parties approval

One of the main benefits of private tutoring is that we do not adopt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Every tutor has their unique methodology, personality, and teaching style. During the prospecting phase, our coordinators do our due diligence to find out your child’s needs in order to match the most suitable tutor.

Usually, the first lesson is a ‘getting to know’ phase, where tutors will gauge your child’s interest in the subject, current level of proficiency, and spot areas of weakness. From the second lesson onwards, tutors will generally be more prepared to conduct the lessons according to the student’s learning or syllabus.

If you are a more hands-on parent, you can also communicate with the tutor and provide suggestions on which area you’d like the tutor to focus more on (i.e. composition writing). As there are no fixed lesson plans or arrangements, both the clients and tutors are free to discuss and conduct their lessons in any way that benefits the student’s learning.

Yes, of course. However, all postponements of lessons must be made at least 24 hours in advance of lessons, except for special cases (such as medical emergencies).

For postponement of the first lesson, SmileTutor must be informed via phone call at +65 6266 4475 (Mon to Sun 9am-8pm). A confirmation SMS will be sent to you acknowledging your postponement after the call. However, if you are informing at least 48 hours in advance, an SMS made to +65 9014 4201 will suffice.

Postponements of lessons after the first lesson may be made directly between tutor and tutee.

Please note that failure to make a postponement at least 24 hours in advance may incur compensation to the tutor for time loss (e.g wasted trips). Generally, the compensation amount is 50% of 1-lesson fee.

You may terminate the tuition at any time after the first lesson but must inform SmileTutor at least 24 hours in advance of the next lesson and must pay for all lessons conducted. Terminations made less than 24 hours before the lesson will incur a late charge of 50% of that lesson’s total fee.

Termination Procedure

1. Inform SmileTutor via a phone call to +65 6266 4475 (9am-8pm) at least 24 hours in advance before the next lesson

2. Pay for lessons conducted, half directly to SmileTutor and WhatsApp the receipt to our Finance Dept. at +65 9450 4390

3. Pay the other half directly to the tutor

However, note that once you have confirmed the assignment to book the tutor in quote, there is a binding contract to complete one full lesson and you may only request a change of tutor or terminate the tuition only after that 1st lesson. If you decide to change your mind before the 1st lesson even commenced, the fee for the unfinished first lesson may be charged as an administrative fee.

SmileTutor does not encourage tutors to make frequent postponements to the lessons. However, we do encourage you to offer some degree of flexibility as tutors are also human and may fall sick or have sudden emergencies from time to time.

If the tutor we assigned to you happen to make postponements more frequently than you prefer, you may wish to communicate with them and remind them to stick to the usual lesson schedule. Sometimes, a simple effort to communicate between both parties can go a long way in avoiding any disruption in lessons or last-minute discrepancies.

If you face further difficulties with your tutor in this area, please feedback to us immediately and we will arrange a new tutor for you.

For termination of lessons, tutors are expected to commit for at least the 4-weeks of tuition. If the tutor backs out of an assignment without a valid reason (e.g. illness) before completing at least 4-weeks of tuition, he/she will not be entitled to receive any tuition fees. i.e. You will only be required to pay 50% of the tuition fees (plus any applicable taxes) directly to the agency.

Unfortunately, we are unable to force tutors to commit for more than 4-weeks. However, we do encourage responsible behaviour and let our tutors know that they should do their best to commit at least until the end of year exams. Most of our tutors follow through.

You may wish to try out one subject first and then add more subjects subsequently. Or, when starting the tuition, you may find yourself wanting to increase the frequency of lessons or to engage the same tutor for your other children. In any of these cases, please make your request through the agency in order to stay protected and keep the tutor accountable to the agency.

SmileTutor is not responsible for any engagements made outside of the agency’s knowledge. Hence, tutors and tutees are expected to inform their coordinators of any added lessons or changes to the lessons schedule/subjects/tutees immediately.

You may email us at Email for any feedback or questions that are not answered under this FAQ.

For private feedback about the agency service, you may contact Rum (Founder) at 97558257 or email him at Rum Email.

We appreciate your help in providing us accurate feedback so as to improve our service and system.