If you want to improve your grades, one of the first questions you are likely to ask is: how long will it actually take?
Based on The Profs’ 2023-25 outcomes across A-Level and undergraduate study, our students achieved a +1.0 grade improvement with an average of 23 hours of one-to-one tutoring. By publishing this data, we aim to give students and parents greater transparency over what tutoring can achieve, as well as the time and financial investment that may be involved in reaching their academic goals.
Of course, every student is different. Your starting grade, target, subject, study habits and the time available before an exam can all influence how quickly you progress. Our results therefore provide a useful benchmark rather than a guarantee of individual performance.
Below, we break down our three years of student outcomes, before looking at the revision techniques and study strategies that can help you make every hour count.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Grades?
The short answer is that meaningful academic improvement can happen within tens of hours of targeted tuition, but there is no fixed number of lessons that guarantees a particular result.
Our three-year outcomes data gives families a useful benchmark:
| Level of study | Average tutoring hours | Average improvement |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | 24 hours | +1.0 grade |
| Undergraduate | 22 hours | +1 degree classification |
The important distinction is between simply spending more time studying and making that time effective. With the right tutor, a student can focus on the particular gaps in knowledge, exam technique or academic skills that are preventing them from reaching the next grade.
How Long Does It Take to Get Better Grades at A-Level?
Using three years of data from 2023–25, A-Level students working with The Profs improved by an average of one grade with 24 hours of tutoring.
The 2025 data provides an even more tangible example: students achieving an A improved by two grades on average with 23 hours of tutoring – equivalent to moving from a C to an A.
| 2025 final A-Level outcome | Average tutoring hours | Average grade improvement | Equivalent grade jump | % achieving grade or higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A* | 26 hours | +2 grades | B → A* | 35% (national average: 9%) |
| A | 23 hours | +2 grades | C → A | 68% (national average: 28%) |
| B | 15 hours | +2 grades | D → B | 90% (national average: 55%) |
| C | 14 hours | +1 grade | D → C | 98% (national average: 78%) |
Starting tutoring earlier gives you more time to identify weaknesses, strengthen your understanding, practise under exam conditions and act on feedback before the real exam. If you want to start working towards your target grade, our A-Level Tutors have the expertise and track record to guide you to success.
View A-Level Subject Outcomes →
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Grades at University?
Our undergraduate data shows a similar pattern. Using three years of data from 2023–25, undergraduate students improved by an average of one degree classification with 22 hours of tutoring.
In 2025, the results were even stronger: students improved by an average of two classifications with 21 hours of tutoring. Those who ultimately achieved a First completed 24 hours on average, with an average two-classification improvement.
| 2025 final undergraduate outcome | Average tutoring hours | Average grade improvement | Equivalent grade jump | % achieving grade or higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 24 hours | +2 classifications | 2:2 → First | 57% (national average: ~33%) |
| 2:1 | 18 hours | +1 classification | 2:2 → 2:1 | 89% (national average: ~77%) |
| 2:2 | 11 hours | +1 classification | Third → 2:2 | 98% (national average: ~95%) |
Improve Your Grades With Better Revision & Study Habits
Good study habits can reinforce the knowledge and academic skills developed during each lesson, helping you make better use of both tuition and independent study time.
One particularly useful approach is active recall and spaced practice.
Rather than reading the same notes repeatedly, active recall requires you to retrieve information from memory. You might close your book and write down everything you remember, answer a question without referring to your notes or explain a concept aloud.
Spaced practice involves returning to that material over time.
Instead of trying to cram several hours of revision into one evening, you might divide the same work into five short sessions across several days. Repeated retrieval can support longer-term memory consolidation and reveal which areas you genuinely understand.
A sustainable study routine might therefore combine:
| Study method | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Active recall | Retrieving information without looking at your notes |
| Spaced practice | Revisiting material at intervals rather than cramming |
| Practice questions | Applying knowledge in the format required by the exam |
| Past papers | Testing knowledge and timing under realistic conditions |
| Tutor feedback | Identifying recurring weaknesses and correcting them |
| Targeted revision | Prioritising the topics where improvement is most needed |
Different subjects will require different study techniques, but active engagement is generally more useful than passive memorisation alone.
Practical Tips to Get Good Grades in School or University
A positive mindset can help, but academic success isn’t achieved through positive thinking alone. Whether you’re studying for GCSEs, A-Levels, at sixth form, or trying to improve your grades in college or university, your everyday approach to your studies can make a significant difference.
If you want to start improving your grades, focus on practical habits that you can maintain consistently:
- Set a specific goal: Decide what you actually want to achieve. “I want an A in Maths” is more actionable than “I want better results.” A clear target also makes it easier to decide where to focus your attention and measure your academic achievement over time.
- Identify what is holding you back: Look beyond the grade itself and work out why you aren’t achieving your target. Is it a gap in your knowledge, weak study skills, exam technique or your current way of studying? Understanding the problem is the first step towards addressing it.
- Start early: Things can often take longer than one thinks, particularly when you need to revisit several topics or develop new skills. Starting early gives you enough time to practise, receive feedback and improve gradually rather than trying to fit hours and hours of revision into the weeks before an exam.
- Prioritise active practice: When you study for exams, don’t rely entirely on rereading notes and study guides. Complete questions, past papers and practice exams so you can test whether you can actually apply your knowledge. This is particularly important when preparing for GCSEs and A-Levels.
- Use your mistakes as information: A disappointing result or failure doesn’t tell you what to change on its own. Review every test, mock and piece of homework to understand where you lost marks and what you can do differently next time. This makes assessment and grading in education useful sources of feedback rather than simply an end result.
- Stay consistent outside of class: You don’t necessarily need to study for hours every day. A realistic routine — whether that’s a focused session a few times per week or regular hours outside lessons — can support more effective learning than occasional bursts of intensive revision. Consistency also makes it easier to meet deadlines and keep on top of your workload.
- Avoid putting off work: If you tend to procrastinate, break larger tasks into smaller, specific actions. Instead of telling yourself to “revise Biology”, for example, set a goal to complete and mark 20 questions on one topic. Making tasks manageable can help you stop putting off work and build momentum.
- Use online resources strategically: Online resources, including educational websites and YouTube, can be useful for seeing a topic explained in another way. But watching videos alone is rarely enough. Follow explanations with questions or independent practice to check whether you can use the information yourself.
- Ask for help when you need it: If something isn’t improving, speak to your teacher, lecturer or tutor. Targeted one-to-one support can help you identify where you’re going wrong and focus your time on the areas most likely to enhance your grades even further.
- Protect your wellbeing: Sleep, exercise and social time matter, particularly during busy exam periods. If exam anxiety or other mental health concerns are affecting your studies, seek appropriate support. Looking after yourself can make it easier to concentrate, learn and perform academically.
How Can One-to-One Tutoring Help You Get Better Grades?
One of the main benefits of one-to-one tutoring is that you don’t have to learn at the pace of the rest of the class. Each lesson can focus on what you need to make progress, whether that’s filling gaps in your knowledge, tackling a difficult topic or improving your grades on tests through better exam technique.
At The Profs, we take a personalised approach from the outset. Our Client Success Managers look at your current level, goals, subject, learning preferences and any areas where you’re struggling before matching you with a suitable Online Tutor. And because 98% of our tutors are postgraduates, 41% hold PhDs and 70% have at least 10 years of tutoring experience, we can draw on a highly qualified network of specialists across different subjects and levels of study.*
Early lessons might focus on closing knowledge gaps, while later sessions move towards timed papers and preparing for the real exam. Rather than following a fixed programme, the support evolves around your progress and where your time is best spent.
*Based on The Profs Tutor Survey 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I improve my grades in two weeks?
You may be able to improve aspects of your performance in two weeks, but actual grade improvement depends on your starting point and assessment. With limited time, we recommend you prioritise high-impact topics, past papers, exam technique and targeted feedback rather than trying to cover everything equally.
What is the 1/3, 5/7 rule in study?
The 1/3, 5/7 rule is a study-planning approach designed to help you start revision early and avoid cramming. The idea is to complete your first review of new material within three days of learning it, then revisit it again within five to seven days.
Spacing your revision in this way gives you repeated opportunities to retrieve and apply information rather than trying to memorise everything in one long study session. This is closely related to spaced practice, which can support longer-term retention and help you identify gaps in your understanding before an exam.
For example, if you learn a new topic on Monday, you might review your notes and complete a few practice questions by Thursday, then return to the topic the following week. The exact timings don’t need to be rigid; the important principle is to revisit material regularly rather than leaving all your revision until the last minute.
How early should I start revising for exams?
Start early enough to allow repeated cycles of learning, practice and feedback. The Profs’ 2025 A-Level data found that students beginning tutoring between October and December achieved greater average grade improvements than those beginning after February, even when both groups completed the same number of tutoring hours.
Can tutoring guarantee better grades?
No reputable tutor should guarantee a particular grade. The Profs explicitly states that outcomes cannot be guaranteed because student effort, ability and individual circumstances also influence results.
What tutoring can provide is targeted academic support, expert feedback and a personalised approach designed around the student’s specific needs.
How can I improve GCSE grades?
When it comes to improving GCSE results, it’s crucial to identify whether your biggest issue is subject knowledge, application, revision or exam technique. Use the specification and past papers to identify gaps, create a realistic revision plan and seek extra help when you cannot resolve a problem independently.
What is the fastest way to get better grades?
There is no shortcut that works for everyone. A strong approach is to identify the precise reason you are losing marks, prioritise those weaknesses, use active practice, learn from feedback and stay consistent. Targeted one-to-one tutoring can accelerate this process by helping you focus your available study time on the areas most likely to improve your performance.
How often should I have tutoring?
It depends on your goal, timeframe and availability. At The Profs, weekly or twice-weekly sessions are common, but the appropriate frequency should be discussed with your tutor based on what you need to achieve.
Can I improve my grades without studying for hours every day?
Yes. Spending more time studying does not automatically produce better results. A focused study session using active recall, practice questions and targeted revision can be more productive than several hours of passive reading. The aim should be to make your available study time as effective as possible rather than simply accumulating hours.
