The Liddane Method: Why One-on-One Tutoring Delivers Better Results
Group tutoring, classroom instruction, online courses – there are plenty of ways students can get academic help. So why does one-on-one tutoring consistently produce the best results?
After 24 years and hundreds of students, we have the data. Here's exactly why individual instruction works better.
Reason #1: Immediate Error Correction
The Problem: In group settings, students can practice mistakes for extended periods before anyone notices.
The One-on-One Solution: Errors are caught and corrected within minutes, not days or weeks.
When Sarah was learning fractions in her math class, she developed the misconception that you add denominators when adding fractions. For three weeks, she practiced this incorrect method in homework and classwork. By the time her teacher realized the error, Sarah had to unlearn weeks of practice before learning the correct method.
In one-on-one tutoring, this misconception would have been caught in the first problem. The result? Sarah learns correctly the first time instead of struggling to overcome ingrained mistakes.
The Measurable Difference: Students in one-on-one settings master concepts 3x faster than those in group instruction because they're not spending time unlearning incorrect methods.
Reason #2: Personalized Pacing
The Problem: Group instruction moves at the average pace, which is too fast for some students and too slow for others.
The One-On-One Solution: Instruction moves at each student's optimal learning speed.
Marcus understood algebra concepts quickly but needed extra time to master computational skills. In his algebra class, he fell behind because lessons moved to new concepts before he'd mastered the arithmetic. In one-on-one tutoring, we spent the necessary time on computation until it became automatic, then accelerated through concepts he grasped easily.
Emma was the opposite – she had strong computational skills but needed more time to understand abstract concepts. Her individual instruction spent minimal time on computations and focused on concept development.
The Measurable Difference: Students achieve 40% better comprehension when instruction matches their individual pacing needs.
Reason #3: Adaptive Teaching Methods
The Problem: Group instruction uses one teaching method and hopes it works for most students.
The One-On-One Solution: Teaching methods adapt to each student's learning style in real-time.
Visual learners need to see information. Auditory learners need to hear explanations. Kinesthetic learners need hands-on manipulation. Most students are combination learners who need multiple approaches.
In one-on-one tutoring, if a student looks confused during a verbal explanation, the tutor can immediately tailor their approach—switching to visual diagrams or hands-on examples. This kind of customized support happens in real time, not after a failed test.
The Measurable Difference: Students retain 60% more information when taught through their preferred learning modalities.
Reason #4: 100% Attention and Feedback
The Problem: In group settings, each student receives a fraction of the instructor's attention and feedback.
The One-On-One Solution: Students receive continuous attention and immediate feedback on every response.
In a classroom of 25 students, each child gets approximately 2.4 minutes of individual attention per hour. In one-on-one tutoring, students receive 60 minutes of focused attention per hour.
This isn't just about time – it's about quality of interaction.Every confused expression gets addressed. Every success gets acknowledged. This creates a feedback loop that accelerates learning exponentially.
The Measurable Difference: Students in one-on-one settings show 5x more engagement and participation than in group settings.
Reason #5: Customized Difficulty Level
The Problem: Group instruction aims for the middle difficulty level, leaving advanced students bored and struggling students overwhelmed.
The One-On-One Solution: Every problem and concept is calibrated to the student's current ability level plus appropriate challenge.
The "zone of proximal development" – the sweet spot where learning happens most efficiently – is different for every student. One-on-one tutoring keeps students in this zone consistently.
For struggling students, this means building confidence through achievable challenges before tackling harder concepts. For advanced students, this means intellectual stimulation that prevents boredom and maintains engagement.
The Measurable Difference: Students achieve optimal challenge levels 90% of the time in one-on-one settings versus 30% in group settings.
Reason #6: Focused Problem-Solving
The Problem: Group instruction must cover broad curriculum standards, often leaving specific student difficulties unaddressed.
The One-On-One Solution: Sessions focus exclusively on each student's specific knowledge gaps and skill deficits.
When David came to us failing chemistry, we didn't start with the current unit. We diagnosed exactly where his understanding broke down – which turned out to be basic algebraic manipulation, not chemistry concepts. We spent three sessions strengthening his algebra skills, then returned to chemistry. Suddenly, everything clicked.
This targeted approach is impossible in group settings where curriculum pacing takes priority over individual needs.
The Measurable Difference: Students close learning gaps 4x faster when instruction targets their specific deficits rather than following general curriculum.
Reason #7: Safe Learning Environment
The Problem: Many students avoid asking questions or admitting confusion in group settings due to social pressure.
The One-On-One Solution: Students feel safe to make mistakes, ask questions, and show vulnerability – all essential for deep learning.
Fear of looking stupid prevents learning. When students worry about peer judgment, they shut down intellectually. One-on-one tutoring eliminates this barrier completely.
Students ask questions they would never voice in class. They admit confusion without embarrassment. They take intellectual risks because the environment is psychologically safe.
The Measurable Difference: Students ask 6x more questions in one-on-one settings and demonstrate deeper understanding through their willingness to explore concepts thoroughly.
The Proof: Quantifiable Results
Over 24 years, we've tracked outcomes for students receiving one-on-one tutoring versus those in group instruction:
Grade Improvement: Average of 1.3 letter grades improvement in targeted subjects
Test Scores: Average SAT improvement of 180 points, ACT improvement of 4 points
Concept Mastery: 85% of students master target concepts within 10 sessions
Confidence Measures: 92% of students report increased academic confidence
Study Skills: 78% of students demonstrate improved independent learning abilities
These results aren't achievable through group instruction because the fundamental advantages of individual attention can't be replicated in group settings.
When One-on-One Makes the Biggest Difference
Learning Differences: Students with dyslexia, ADHD, processing disorders, executive functioning challenges, or other learning differences often need specialized approaches that group instruction can’t provide
Significant Gaps: Students who are behind grade level need intensive, targeted instruction to catch up quickly.
Advanced Learners: Gifted students need intellectual challenge and acceleration that group settings rarely offer.
Test Preparation: Standardized test improvement requires identifying and addressing individual weak areas.
Subject-Specific Struggles: Students who excel overall but struggle in specific subjects need targeted intervention.
The Bottom Line
One-on-one tutoring delivers better results because it addresses the fundamental limitations of group instruction: lack of individualization, insufficient attention, inappropriate pacing, and limited adaptability.
When instruction is perfectly calibrated to a student's needs, abilities, and learning style, remarkable improvement happens quickly and sustainably.
At Liddane Tutoring & Learning Services, we've built our entire approach around maximizing these advantages. Every session is designed to deliver the personalized attention that makes the difference between struggling and thriving.
Ready to see these results for your student? Contact Liddane Tutoring today to discuss how one-on-one instruction can transform their academic experience.
