Choosing a tutor or course: exams, languages, kids and prices

When choosing a tutor or a course, first define the goal (an exam, spoken language, getting a child ready for school, a profession), then the format (one-to-one, group, online), and only then compare prices. On 27 September 2026 Prayk's Education and courses section had 710 listings; the median price of the latest 500 was 70 AZN, with half between 40 and 130 AZN. Read these figures carefully, though: some listings price a single lesson, others a month.

Short answer: choose the goal and format first, then take a trial lesson and agree the terms in writing (number of lessons, duration, payment, missed lessons, refunds). On 27 September 2026 the median prices on Prayk were 80 AZN for foreign language courses, 80 AZN for exam preparation, 135 AZN for computer courses, 50 AZN for one-to-one tutoring and 43 AZN for child development and speech therapy.

What kind of lessons do you need?

• Exam preparation. School-leaving and university entrance exams, master's admission, civil service, international language exams (IELTS, TOEFL). The teacher must know the format and syllabus of that particular exam. Official exam rules, syllabi and calendars are published by the State Examination Centre — check its website before you start preparing.
• Foreign language. Conversation, grammar, business language or a certificate exam — different goals need different courses. Don't join a group without a placement test.
• One-to-one subject lessons (tutor). Falling behind in a school subject, a specific topic, homework help.
• Kids' courses. Pre-school preparation, logic, drawing, music, speech therapy. Short lessons, play elements and regular feedback to parents matter.
• Computers and programming. Office software, graphic design, video editing, AutoCAD, programming. The outcome should be practical assignments and a portfolio.

How much do courses and tutors cost?

The table shows figures for the subsections of Prayk's Education and courses section, measured on 27 September 2026. The median is the middle price when listings are sorted by price; “half” is the range of the middle half of listings.

Keep two things in mind when reading the figures. First, the price unit varies: “18 AZN” may be one lesson, “80 AZN” a month and “170 AZN” a whole course. Always ask: “What does this amount cover — one lesson, one month or the whole course?” Second, specialised courses such as IELTS, TOEFL, ACCA and civil service preparation sit in the upper band (there are listings at 160–240 AZN), while pre-school preparation and one-to-one subject lessons are in the lower band.

What drives the price?

• One-to-one or group. Group lessons are usually cheaper; one-to-one lessons adapt to your pace.
• Lessons per week and lesson length. To compare monthly prices, convert them to an hourly rate: “12 lessons × 90 minutes a month” and “8 lessons × 60 minutes” are different things.
• The teacher's experience and specialisation. A teacher with a track record for a specific exam costs more.
• Location. Home visits, a training centre or online — travel and time are part of the price.
• Materials. Ask separately whether books, test collections and mock exams are included.

What should you look for in a trial lesson?

1. Level check. A good teacher first tests your (or your child's) level and then proposes a plan.
2. Plan and goal. “What will we achieve in three months?” should get a concrete answer.
3. Lesson structure. Explanation, practice, homework and review — a lesson should not be a lecture only.
4. Rapport. Is the child comfortable with the teacher? For adults: are your questions answered patiently?
5. Measuring progress. A monthly test, mock exams, a short report to parents.

Ask in advance whether the trial lesson is free or paid. Taking trial lessons with several teachers is normal.

What should the agreement say?

Written terms with a course or tutor prevent disputes later. With a training centre sign a contract; with a private tutor at least have a clear agreement in writing, for example in messages:

• number, length and schedule of lessons;
• price and its unit (lesson, month, course), payment date;
• missed lessons: how they are made up depending on who missed them;
• refund rules if you leave the course;
• whether materials and mock exams are included;
• whether a certificate is issued and what it confirms.

This is general information; if you have a legal question, consult a specialist before signing a contract.

How to find a tutor or course on Prayk

All listings are in the Education and courses subsection of Services; by goal you can go straight to foreign languages, tutoring, exam preparation or computer courses. Type the subject and exam name in the search (“riyaziyyat abituriyent”, “IELTS”). Most listings are in Baku — 427 of the latest 500. If nothing fits, save your search. If you are job hunting after the course, see our guide on how to write a CV.

Checklist for choosing

• Is the goal specific (exam, level, skill)?
• Is the price unit clear (lesson, month, course)?
• Have you worked out the hourly rate?
• Did you take a trial lesson and get a plan?
• Are the rules on missed lessons and refunds written down?
• How will progress be measured (tests, mock exams, reports)?
• For exam prep, does the syllabus match the official source?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tutor charge per hour?

On Prayk the price unit varies from listing to listing. On 27 September 2026 the median price of the 60 listings in the Tutoring subsection was 50 AZN (half between 30 and 60 AZN), but that is sometimes per lesson and sometimes per month. To compare, ask the teacher for the price of one hour.

Group course or one-to-one lessons?

A group course is cheaper and works well for spoken language and general programmes. One-to-one lessons are more effective when you need to prepare quickly for a specific exam, catch up, or need your own pace.

When should exam preparation start?

It depends on the exam and your starting level. First check the exam syllabus and calendar on the State Examination Centre's website, then take a placement test with the teacher and build a plan. On 27 September 2026 the median price of exam preparation listings on Prayk was 80 AZN.

Does a course certificate help you get a job?

A certificate is one way to show a skill, but employers usually look at practical results: a design portfolio, a programming project, an interview in the language. When choosing a course, ask what real piece of work you will have produced by the end.

Are online lessons worse than in-person ones?

For adults taking language and computer courses, online is often enough and saves travel time. For young children and speech therapy sessions, in-person lessons are usually more effective.

Sources and methodology

Listing counts and prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 27 September 2026: the “Services → Education and courses” section (with all subsections) and its subsections Foreign languages, Tutoring, Child development and speech therapists, Computer courses, Exam preparation and Programming courses. For the whole section the 500 most recent listings were used, and for subsections all listings (131 for foreign languages); the median and the 25th–75th percentiles were calculated only from listings priced in AZN. The price unit (lesson, month, course) differs between listings, so the figures are a guide, not an exact rate. We do not publish a median for subsections with fewer than 15 listings. Official exam information: State Examination Centre (dim.gov.az).