A Definitive Guide to Tuition Rates in Singapore

Usually, the term ‘tuition’ refers to the fees charged by universities. It’s usually the amount you have to pay to study at universities.

However, in the context of Singapore, tuition is primarily about classes with tutors outside of your school. This helps students ace their examinations, achieve remarkable grades and widen their academic possibilities in the near future.

Tuition classes have become a phenomenon in the country, eventually becoming a part of almost every student’s education. In fact, according to The Straits Times, even children aged four already enrol in tuition centres to give them a headstart. 

This leads us to the question: How much money does a Singaporean parent pay for tuition? What are the tuition rates in Singapore for every level of education as well as for specific subjects like JC A Level Economics & IB Economics? 

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For more information, continue reading below!

The Basics: What Is Tuition in Singapore?

Before we go straight into the tuition rates in Singapore, let’s discuss first what it means and its types.

Considered to be a major component of Singapore’s education system, tuition means teaching or instruction. It provides supplementary learning in different subjects to fully prepare students for specific examinations.

Tuition classes are most common in Asian countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. The latter’s tuition scene even ballooned to a billion-dollar industry, amounting to approximately S$7,920,000,000 in 2021. And as of writing, there are over 750 MOE-registered tuition centres in the country suited for different kinds of learners. 

Moreover, there are two main types of tuition in Singapore, specifically:

• Private Tuition – To completely address a child’s learning difficulties, some parents opt for private tuition classes. It is a one-on-one session where the child gets the full, undivided attention of the tutor.

It allows the tutor to tailor their teaching style to let them learn at their own pace. The schedules and payment methods can also be flexible, depending on your preferences.

However, this type of tuition typically charges a much higher rate since the tutor will solely be teaching your child for every session.

• Group Tuition – This is the most popular type of tuition in Singapore. It is done in tuition centres with specific schedules and allows tutors to make the lessons more interactive and exciting. 

And unlike private tutoring, tuition rates are cheaper because the group shares the costs. Students also get to interact with each other, share their ideas and take advantage of healthy competition, which can be conducive to learning.

Now, let’s proceed with the tuition rates!

Tuition Rates in Singapore: How Much Does it Cost?

There’s no denying that tuition classes can help you increase your chances of improving your grades and entering the country’s most prestigious universities. However, tuition rates in Singapore can vary depending on your education level and preferences. 

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Some centres offer fees that can perfectly fit your budget, while others have a more expensive rate. Let’s take a look at these rates below:

Preschool Tuition Rates

The early childhood years of a learner set the foundation for their academic success. That’s why most parents tend to enrol their kids in preschool tuition classes. This allows them to catch up with their peers, experience a fun learning environment and prepare themselves for the rigorous schooling structure of Singapore.

Children aged three can already join tuition classes. To improve their knowledge of English phonics, mathematical skills and Mandarin oral skills, preschool tutors would usually use songs, stories and games. 

And since it’s not an easy job to teach children, rates can be pricey. Here are a few rates from popular preschool tuition centres in Singapore:

Tuition Centres	Rate
The Learning Lab	S$432 to S$457.92/month per month + registration fee of S$86.40.
Mind Stretcher	S$190 to S$220 per month
Edufirst Learning Centre	S$140 – S$160 per month

However, if you’re considering private tuition for your children, here are the expected rates:

Type of Tutor	Hourly Rate
Part-time tutor	S$20 – S$25
Full-time tutor	S$30 – S$40
Ex/Current School Teachers	S$50 – S$55

Primary School Tuition Rates

Lots of children are being enrolled in primary school tuition classes because of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). It is administered by the Ministry of Education, which is considered to be one of the most competitive exams in the world. 

This is the reason why tutors for primary students are getting more in demand. Every year, the PSLE cut-off points required to get into the top secondary schools get higher. 

Depending on your child’s needs, you can choose from various subjects like Foundation Tamil, Higher Malay, Mother Tongue, Foundation Mathematics and many more.

Take a look at this table for the primary school tuition rates from different centres:

Tuition Centres	Rate
Mavis Tutorial Centre	S$127 to S$186 per month
True Learning Centre	S$200 to $260 per month
Future Academy	S$400 per month OR S$1200 for 13 lessons

For one-on-one tuition classes, take a look at these hourly fees:

Type of Tutor	Hourly Rate
Part-time tutor	S$25 – S$35
Full-time tutor	S$35 – S$50
Ex/Current School Teachers	S$55 – S$70

Secondary School Tuition Rates

After primary school, the next stage for every student in Singapore is secondary school or the O Levels. This is where things get more complicated for children, given that the difficulty of the O Levels increased when MOE collaborated with Cambridge. 

Most students tend to fall behind among their peers due to the overwhelming amount of assignments, tests and CCAs. How will they obtain high scores for the O-Level examinations and get into the best JCs and top IB schools in the country?

Good thing there are secondary school tutors here to help your child ace their exams. Here are the rates from tuition centres catering to secondary students:

Tuition Centres	Rate
The Write Edge	S$984 per term for 12 lessons
The Learning Lab	S$472 – S$484 per month
Mind Stretcher	S$230 – S$240 per month

On the other hand, here are the estimated rates for private tuition rates:

Type of Tutor	Hourly Rate
Part-time tutor	S$25 – S$40
Full-time tutor	S$45 – S$50
Ex/Current School Teachers	S$65 – S$80

Post-Secondary Tuition Rates (Junior College (JC), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Polytechnic)

One of the most demanding stages of a student’s academic journey is when they reach post-secondary education. Depending on their future plans, they have three options to choose from: junior college, international baccalaureate or polytechnic.

Of course, academic hurdles will be a part of their journey. For instance, the A Level is known to be very academically rigorous. IB students, on the other hand, have to study more subjects and face graded coursework throughout the 2 years. If you are still unsure which to go for, do check out our post on A Levels or IB.

And for polytechnic students, they focus more on project-based learning where they apply for internships in their final year. The main goal is to help students gain technical knowledge and skills in the industries they want to work in. By the end of their polytechnic years that span over three years, they are expected to be ready for the workforce.

If things get overwhelming, you can sign up for various tuition classes to help you in your academic journey. Here are the tuition rates from some of the established JC, IB and polytechnic tuition centres in the country:

JC Tuition Centres	Rate
Miracle Learning Centre	S$340 per month + S$30 Material Fees and S$100 Deposit
Sophia Education	S$580 to S$640 for every 4 2-hour lessons and S$120 to S$135 per hour for individual tuition
MaxiMind	S$380 per month for group classes (4 lessons)
IB Tuition Centres	Rate
Eureka Advantage Learning Hub	S$360 to S$480 per month for 4 lessons
Young Scholarz	S$65 per hour for group classes and S$100 per hour for solo class
Afterskool Learning Centre	S$480 to S$520 per month
Polytechnic Tuition Centres	Rate
Ingel Soong Tuition Centre	S$70 to S$140 per hour or S$560 per month for 4 lessons

Private tuition classes are also available for post-secondary students. Depending on the tutor’s experience and credentials, these are the ranges of rates you may expect:

Type of Tutor	Hourly Rate
Part-time tutor	S$40 – S$50
Full-time tutor	S$60 – S$80
Ex/Current School Teachers	S$90 – S$120

JC & IB Economics Tuition Rates in Singapore

Economics is one of the most common subjects that learners have to take for their A Levels and IB programme. However, it can be a demanding and complicated subject since most students don’t have a strong foundation in economics. 

They struggle with decision-making frameworks, conceptual understanding, data analysis and economics essay writing, among others.

Fortunately, there are lots of tuition centres that solely focus on JC Economics and IB Economics. Tutors are highly competent and qualified in the field, helping students fully understand and appreciate economic concepts.

To help you estimate the rates of tuition rates for JC and IB economics, we have provided you with a range of fees from JC and IB economics tuition providers in Singapore below:

Pax	Rates
Individual	S$520 – S$1600
Group	S$280 – S$640

The number of learners in a group setting will vary, depending on your chosen tuition centre. Some economics tuition providers accommodate a larger group of students in a group setting, while others have an unspecified number. 

Do note that the group setting for The Economics Tutor—MINI group classes—is much smaller and more streamlined. What’s more, we don’t charge the highest fees that will break the bank. 

And with a 2-hour duration of classes, lots of reliable materials and a great economics tutor, you’re better off signing up for our classes to get the most out of your payment. 

What are mini groups, you ask? 

Our mini group classes have an impressively low student-teacher ratio, only accommodating 4 to 6 students in each class.

This mini class size allows us to focus on every student and customise lessons according to their needs. They also receive three to four detailedly marked assignments per month, one-on-one engagements and quarterly gatherings for food and econs boosters, among other things.

That way, students get the opportunity to have a proper consultation and receive the full attention of the tutor during discussions while embracing the benefits of being in a group. Everyone gets the chance to express their views and formulate arguments that can lead to a more fruitful conversation in the class. 

If you’ve done some research, you probably noticed that many economics tuition providers only provide 1.5 hours per lesson. This is also where The Economics Tutor classes are also different since we offer two hours per session and lots of super quality videos and notes for our students to continue learning and revise outside of our lessons.

This means that more lessons, questions and concepts are covered and answered. We can delve more deeply into certain topics without the pressure of a shorter time restraint. 

Students will not be pressured to understand everything at once since a two-hour discussion allows each learner to go at their own pace.

Several materials are also available to maximise every student’s learning experience. This includes workbooks & worksheets, Mr Hong’s economics study guide and model essays publications, economics notes and mindmaps and real-world examples & definitions database. 

Final Thoughts

No matter where you are in your academic journey, signing up for tuition services in Singapore can help you maximise your chances of boosting your rank points. And if you plan to enter prestigious universities, getting help from certified tutors can help you stay on top of your academics.

Taking tuition classes helps you learn at your own pace, ask questions and interact with your peers. This also gives you the opportunity to meet teachers that can change your life and teach you things that may not be addressed in the classroom. 

And in the case of learning the ins and outs of economics, no one does it better than The Economics Tutor. You’ll receive helpful tips on how to ace your economics, attend highly engaging discussions and learn important economics definitions. Read our testimonials!

Check out our JC and IB Economics resources such as infographics, model essays and real-world examples. Schedule a class and take your tuition journey with us!