What to Do if Online Tutoring Is Too Difficult or Too Fast
Online tutoring can provide you with personalised learning support, but sometimes a lesson may feel too difficult or move fast.
If you are struggling with online tutoring this does not necessarily mean that you cannot understand the subject, the difficulty may be related to the lesson pace, explanation, unfamiliar terminology or an earlier concept that needs more attention.
The important thing is to identify the problem and communicate it clearly. Here are some practical steps that can help.
1. Identify Exactly What Is Difficult
Before changing the lesson or tutor try to identify where you are getting stuck.
Ask yourself:
Which concept do I not understand?
Did the tutor explain it too quickly?
Am I missing an earlier concept?
Do I understand the explanation but struggle with practice?
Are unfamiliar terms causing confusion?
Identifying the specific problem will make it easier to find an appropriate solution.
2. Ask the Tutor to Slow Down
If your online tutor explains too fast communicate this directly.
You can simply say:
"Could we go through that step again more slowly?"
A good tutoring session should give you an opportunity to ask questions and clarify concepts, asking for more time does not mean you are failing it helps the tutor to understand how you learn best.
3. Request a Different Explanation
Sometimes the topic itself is not the main problem the explanation method may simply not match your learning needs.
Ask your tutor to explain the concept using:
A simpler example
A diagram
A real world situation
A step by step explanation
A practice question
Seeing the same idea in a different way can sometimes make a difficult lesson easier to understand.
4. Break Difficult Topics Into Smaller Parts
A large topic can feel overwhelming when everything is explained at once.
Instead divide it into smaller sections, focus on understanding one concept before moving to the next.
For example:
Understand the basic concept → Work through an example → Try a question → Review mistakes → Move to the next concept
This approach can make difficult lessons more manageable.
5. Review the Foundations
An advanced topic can sometimes feel difficult because an earlier concept has not been fully understood.
If this happens tell your tutor and review the relevant basics before continuing.
For example, if you are struggling with an advanced mathematics topic revisiting an earlier mathematical concept may help you understand how the new topic works.
6. Practise After the Lesson
Listening to an explanation is only one part of learning, practice can help you determine whether you are able to apply what you have learned independently.
After a session:
Review your notes
Solve a few practice questions
Revisit difficult examples
Write down questions you still have
Discuss those questions in your next lesson
Practice can reveal exactly which areas require additional explanation.
7. Communicate Your Learning Needs
Tell your tutor what type of support helps you understand better.
For example:
"I understand better when we solve one example together before I try one myself."
You could also explain if you prefer diagrams, written steps, practical examples or additional practice.
Clear communication allows the tutor to adjust the lesson according to your needs.
8. Adjust the Lesson Pace
If you repeatedly struggle because lessons move too quickly discuss changing the pace with your tutor.
It may be more useful to spend additional time understanding an important concept rather than rushing through several topics without fully understanding them.
A personalised tutoring session should allow reasonable adjustments when a learner needs more explanation or practice.
Quick Problem-Solving Checklist
When online tutoring is too difficult try these steps:
Identify the exact difficulty
Ask the tutor to slow down
Request another explanation
Review foundational concepts
Break the topic into smaller parts
Practise after the lesson
Communicate your learning preferences
Adjust the lesson pace
When Should You Consider a Different Tutor?
You do not necessarily need to change tutors simply because one lesson was difficult.
First explain the problem and give the tutor an opportunity to adjust the pace, explanation style or lesson structure.
However if you consistently find that the teaching approach does not match your learning needs even after discussing it exploring other tutoring options may be reasonable.
The goal is to find a learning arrangement where you can understand concepts, ask questions comfortably and make steady progress.
How MyTutaSpace Can Help
MyTutaSpace connects students and tutors for personal learning experiences across different subjects and learning needs.
When choosing or continuing with a tutor students can consider factors such as subject expertise, teaching approach, availability and communication.
The right tutoring experience is not necessarily about moving through topics quickly, it is about creating an environment where the learner has enough time and support to understand the material.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if online tutoring is too difficult?
Identify the specific problem, communicate it to your tutor, ask for another explanation, review foundational concepts and practise the topic in smaller steps.
What if my online tutor explains too fast?
Tell your tutor that you need more time and ask them to slow down, repeat important steps or provide additional examples.
How can I understand difficult online lessons?
Break difficult topics into smaller sections, review the basics, ask for alternative explanations and practise after the lesson.
Should I change my tutor if I cannot understand the lessons?
Not necessarily, first discuss the problem with your tutor and consider changes to the pace, explanation style or lesson structure. If the approach still does not meet your learning needs you can explore other tutoring arrangements.
Is it normal to find some online tutoring lessons difficult?
Yes, some subjects and topics naturally require more explanation and practice. Difficulty with a particular lesson does not automatically mean that you cannot learn the subject.
Final Thoughts
Struggling with a difficult online lesson does not mean you have failed, sometimes learning simply requires more time, another explanation or additional practice.
If a lesson is moving too quickly communicate this clearly with your tutor. By identifying the problem, reviewing the basics and adjusting the learning pace you may be able to make difficult concepts much easier to understand.
Effective tutoring is not about how quickly a topic is completed it is about how clearly the learner understands it.
