Is Tuition Working? How to Know if Your Child is Actually Learning
- Idasara
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
The Short Answer: The best way to know if a tuition class is working is not by looking at test scores. Give your child an unfamiliar, brand-new problem from a lesson they have already learned — with their book closed and without any help. If they can solve it on their own, they are learning. If they can't, they are simply memorizing, not understanding. This test takes only about 10 minutes, but it will clearly show you whether the thousands of rupees you spend monthly are actually paying off.
Parents in Sri Lanka spend over 122 billion rupees annually on tuition. In fact, 89% of O/L and A/L students attend at least one tuition class. Families spend 10,000 rupees, 15,000 rupees, or sometimes even more every single month for this.
But the real question we need to ask is — is that money actually working?
Increasing marks does not automatically mean real learning is happening. Confusing the two can cost you years — not just in terms of money, but your child's precious time.
This article is not about the money, nor is it asking you to stop tuition classes. This is about a reliable method for you, as a parent, to independently and accurately measure your child's true learning.
Parents Often Measure the Wrong Things
Parents frequently look at the wrong metrics. When deciding whether a tuition class is good or bad, most people look at things like:
How crowded the class is
How famous or well-known the teacher's name is
The classroom environment, building, and facilities
Whether test scores showed a slight increase
None of these factors answer the real question, because they all measure the tuition class itself. What you actually need to measure is the child — whether a real change is happening inside your child's mind.
The Correct Way to Measure if Tuition is Working
The right way to test if a tuition class is effective is this: give your child a brand-new problem from a topic they've already been taught, and let them solve it completely on their own without any assistance.
That is what true learning is. It is not rewriting a known answer. It is thinking independently when facing something new.
What happens if you give your child the exact same paper they did in class, but with slightly altered numbers?
If they can do it on their own → They have truly learned.
If they get stuck or lost → They have memorized the answers, not the subject.
3 Red Flags That Show Your Child is Not Learning
There are 3 major red flags indicating that a child is not truly learning: memorizing answers, over-dependence on the tuition teacher, and an inability to study independently.
1. The Child Memorizes Answers Instead of Understanding
The first red flag: your child memorizes answers without understanding the underlying concepts. They score well on papers they have already seen in class, but get completely lost when faced with a slightly twisted question.
This is rote memorization, not learning. The actual exam paper will never be identical to the practice class papers. That is why a child who relies on memorization often fails in the exam hall, despite having good marks in class.
How to measure: Ask your child a question from a completed lesson, but change the phrasing or the numbers. You will quickly see whether they grasp the core concept or are just relying on memory.
2. The Child is Over-Dependent on the Tuition Class
The second red flag: the child depends entirely on the tuition teacher. If they cannot solve a problem unless the teacher explains it step-by-step, they haven't learned the subject — they have only learned to follow the teacher.
This is a massive risk because the teacher won't be there in the exam hall. In the real career world, there won't be anyone to guide them step-by-step either. If a child gets used to thinking "I can't do this alone," that mindset sticks with them for life.
How to measure: Give your child a problem and step away. Do they repeatedly ask, "How do I do this?" or do they try to solve it on their own first? A child who tries is learning. A child who immediately begs for help is dependent.
3. The Child Cannot Learn Independently
The third and most critical red flag: the child has no method to learn something new on their own. Can your child start a new lesson by themselves, understand it, identify where they are confused, and ask targeted questions?
A child with this capability can learn any subject at any time in their life. A child who lacks this skill will feel helpless before every new challenge, no matter how many tuition classes they attend.
The world is changing rapidly. The subject matter learned today might become obsolete in 10 or 15 years. However, the ability to learn independently never goes out of style. That is the most valuable gift you can give your child.
The 10-Minute Tuition Assessment Test
Set aside just 10 minutes to run this simple test. You don't need to stop tuition classes immediately — you just need to start measuring their effectiveness.
Once a week, give your child a new question from a lesson they've covered — with their books closed and zero assistance.
Result | Meaning | Action |
Can solve it independently | The tuition is working. | Keep going as you are. |
Gets stuck / Cannot solve | The problem isn't the tuition, it's the methodology. | The child is memorizing, not learning. Shift focus to conceptual understanding. |
These 10 minutes will show you whether the thousands of rupees you spend each month are actually delivering results.
What is the Real Investment?
The real investment isn't about collecting high marks on repetitive class tests — it is about raising a child who can think independently.
A child who can think for themselves, ask questions, identify their own weak spots, and formulate answers is ready — not just for an exam, but for life. Because every challenge in life is a brand-new problem, and there won't be anyone there to guide them step-by-step.
This Foundation is Why We Built Idasara Academy
Idasara Academy is an AI-powered learning platform designed for O/L and A/L students in Sri Lanka. Instead of forcing children to memorize, it builds their capacity to solve problems independently.
The core philosophy we discussed in this article — training the child to study and solve problems on their own — is the heartbeat of Idasara Academy. We do not promote rote memorization, and we do not just hand over the answers.
Instead, we train the child to:
Think critically when facing brand-new problems.
Identify their own knowledge gaps (concept clarity).
Learn how to find the answer step-by-step, rather than just being told what it is.
Build the capability to learn independently without relying blindly on a teacher.
To see if your child is truly learning, try this approach today:
Try Idasara Academy here ⟶ academy.idasara.org
In Conclusion
Tuition classes are not inherently bad. The real danger is spending money and years on them without ever measuring if they are actually working.
This week, set aside 10 minutes and give your child a completely new problem. See if they can handle it alone. The result will tell you much more than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I measure if a tuition class is working?
Give your child a brand-new, unseen question based on a theory they have already been taught. If they cannot solve it without help, they are memorizing rather than learning. If they can solve it independently, the tuition is effective.
Isn't it enough if their marks are improving?
No. Improving marks can be a sign of real learning — or it could simply be the result of rote memorization and repeating the exact same classroom papers over and over. The real test is how your child performs when facing a modified, brand-new question.
How do I know if my child is over-dependent on the teacher?
Give them a problem and step away. Watch whether they attempt it on their own first, or immediately ask, "How do I do this?". If they instantly ask for help, they have learned to rely on the teacher rather than learning the subject itself.
Should I stop tuition classes?
Not necessarily. What you need to do is start measuring their impact. If a class is working, continue it. If it isn't, complement or replace it with a learning method that helps the child develop independent study skills.
How is Idasara Academy different from a conventional tuition class?
A typical tuition class simply gives you the answers. Idasara Academy teaches you how to find the answer — building problem-solving skills through concept clarity and step-by-step guidance. It is powered by AI and accessible from anywhere in Sri Lanka.
Can your child solve a brand-new problem independently? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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