Choice of tutor
Online lessons open up every approved tutor in the UK. This matters for specialist needs such as GCSE Chinese speaking or a particular set text. In-person lessons are limited to tutors who can travel to you.
Focus and age
Most GCSE students work well online, especially with a shared whiteboard. Some younger or less confident students concentrate better with someone in the room, at least at the start.
Travel and scheduling
Online lessons remove travel time for both sides, which often makes evening slots easier to find. In-person tutors usually charge more to cover travel.
A blended pattern, occasional face-to-face lessons with online lessons in between, works well for many families.
Making online lessons work
Use a laptop rather than a phone, keep a notebook next to the screen, and ask the tutor to share a short summary after each lesson.
Exam details change. Check the current specification on the exam board's website before making decisions.