English Tutoring in Sydney and Online
Short answer: Rubix Learning offers one-on-one English tutoring from Kindergarten to Year 12, at home across Sydney or online anywhere in Australia. Tutors cover every HSC English course, including the Extension courses, and every VCE English study. Lessons focus on close reading, planning and writing strong essays, and exam technique. English tutoring costs $95 to $115 an hour.
At a glance
- Every HSC English course: Standard, Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2, EAL/D and English Studies.
- Every VCE English study, online: English, English Language, Literature and EAL.
- Kindergarten to Year 10: reading, writing, spelling and grammar, plus NAPLAN preparation.
- 79% Band 6 or E4 in English: in the 2025 HSC, 81 of the 103 students we tutored in English (79%) achieved a Band 6 or E4. Across all subjects, 241 of 288 (84%) did.
- $95 an hour online (K–Year 10), $105 (Years 11–12); in-home lessons in Sydney are $10 an hour more.
- A summary after every lesson, and a detailed progress report every 10 lessons.
- Free study guides for HSC English Common Module texts, on the Rubix website.
English courses we tutor
English is the one subject every senior student takes, and it always counts towards the ATAR. In NSW, your best 2 units of English must be included (UAC); in Victoria, one English study must be in your top four (VTAC).
| Year level | What we tutor |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 6 | Reading, spelling, grammar and writing, NAPLAN preparation (Years 3 and 5), and the reading and writing parts of the OC and selective school tests |
| Years 7 to 10 | Essays, text analysis, creative and persuasive writing, and NAPLAN preparation (Years 7 and 9) |
| Years 11 and 12, NSW | English Standard, English Advanced, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, English EAL/D and English Studies |
| Years 11 and 12, Victoria (online) | VCE English, English Language, Literature and EAL |
| Years 11 and 12, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia (online) | QCE, SACE and WACE English, with tutors from those states |
HSC English: the exams and where marks are lost
NSW has new English syllabuses. Year 12 students begin them in Term 4 2026, and the first HSC exams under them are in 2027 (NESA). The module names stay familiar. English Standard and English Advanced each have two exam papers, worth 100 marks in total:
| Paper | Time | What's in it | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Texts and human experiences | 1 hour 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes reading | Short answers on unseen texts (20 marks) and an essay on your prescribed text (20 marks) | 40 |
| Paper 2, English Advanced | 2 hours, plus 5 minutes reading | Textual conversations, Critical study of literature and The craft of writing, 20 marks each | 60 |
| Paper 2, English Standard | 2 hours, plus 5 minutes reading | Language, identity and culture, Close study of literature and The craft of writing, 20 marks each | 60 |
Source: NESA HSC exam specifications for English Advanced and English Standard.
Where students most often lose marks
- Memorised essays that don't answer the question. A prepared essay helps, but it has to be adapted to the question on the day. Our guide shows how to adapt a pre-memorised HSC essay.
- Listing techniques without explaining them. Markers reward analysis of how a technique shapes meaning, not a list of techniques.
- Running out of time. Paper 2 is three 20-mark responses in two hours, about 40 minutes each, so timed practice matters.
- Using big words to sound smart. Some students think bigger words make an essay sound better, but what really counts is how well you explain your ideas, and you don't need big words for that.
VCE English: the exam
VCE English and EAL students sit a 3-hour exam, plus 15 minutes reading time. It has three sections, each worth a third of the marks (VCAA sample exam):
| Section | What students do |
|---|---|
| A: Analytical response to a text | Write an essay on one text from the text list |
| B: Creating a text | Write an original piece on one of four Frameworks of Ideas, using the given title and at least one stimulus |
| C: Analysis of argument and language | Analyse how an unseen persuasive text uses argument, language and visuals to persuade its audience |
School-assessed coursework (SACs) in Units 3 and 4 also counts towards the study score. Rubix tutors VCE English online, and matches VCE students with former VCE students or tutors with VCE experience. See our online VCE tutoring page.
How English lessons work
- The first lesson finds the gaps. Your tutor works out what's holding your child back: understanding the text, building an argument, structuring an essay, or timing in exams.
- Lessons follow school. Tutors work with your child's set texts, assessment tasks and upcoming exams, so every lesson helps with what's due next.
- Write, get feedback, rewrite. Students write paragraphs and essays in lessons, get detailed feedback, and rewrite until the improvement sticks. Tutors also mark essays between lessons.
- Practise under exam conditions. As exams get closer, lessons include timed responses to unseen questions.
- You stay in the loop. A written summary after every lesson, and a detailed report every 10 lessons.
Free English study guides
Rubix publishes free English study guides on its website. Some ask you to sign up before you read the full guide.
HSC English: Common Module texts
- An Imaginary Life
- Away
- Cold Enough for Snow
- Gwen Harwood, selected poetry
- Henry Lawson, short stories
- Love Poems and Death Threats
- One Night the Moon
HSC English: skills
Years 7 to 10
English tutoring prices
English costs the same as every other subject.
| Per hour | Online | At home in Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to Year 10 | $95 | $105 |
| Years 11 and 12 | $105 | $115 |
There's no enrolment fee, and lessons are paid by the term. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't be charged for it, and if the first tutor isn't right, we'll trial a different tutor at no charge. See our tutoring prices page for the full details.
Why families choose Rubix
- Results. In the 2025 HSC, 81 of the 103 students Rubix tutored in English (79%) got a Band 6 or E4. Across all subjects, 241 of 288 (84%) got a Band 6 or E4 in the subject they were tutored in.
- Experience. Rubix has tutored more than 3,100 students since 2021.
- Trained tutors. Every tutor is trained by founder Chris Tembeleski and completes Rubix's onboarding before teaching.
- Safety checked. Every Rubix tutor must hold a current Working With Children Check (a blue card in Queensland).
- Reviews. Rubix is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 95 Google reviews.
"My assigned English tutor helped me rank in the top 5 of my cohort for English Extension and was always available to give feedback on my work." — Ryan P., Year 12 student (Google review)
English tutoring: frequently asked questions
When should my child start English tutoring for the HSC?
As early as possible, ideally in Year 11. HSC courses usually begin in Term 4 of Year 11, and school assessments make up half of each HSC mark, so the essays your child writes at school count as much as the final exams.
Do you tutor English Extension 1 and Extension 2?
Yes. Rubix tutors every HSC English course, including English Extension 1 and English Extension 2.
My child has memorised an essay. Can you help them use it in the exam?
Yes. A prepared essay is useful, but it has to be adapted to the question on the day. Tutors teach students to reshape their essay quickly under exam conditions. Our guide shows how to adapt a pre-memorised HSC essay.
Do you tutor primary school English and NAPLAN?
Yes. Rubix tutors reading, spelling, grammar and writing from Kindergarten, and prepares students for NAPLAN in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Does English tutoring work online?
Yes. Students share their writing on screen and get feedback as they work. Because lessons are online, your child isn't limited to tutors who live nearby, so we can match them with the right English tutor from our whole team.
How much does English tutoring cost?
$95 an hour online for Kindergarten to Year 10 and $105 for Years 11 and 12. In-home lessons in Sydney are $105 and $115. There's no enrolment fee.
Book an English lesson
Tell us your child's year level, English course and goals, and we'll match them with the right English tutor, at home in Sydney or online. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't pay for it.