How do grinds work?
Your child sees a tutor once or twice a week for about an hour. That might be one-to-one, a small group or a bigger class. The tutor teaches a topic, sets practice questions, and checks your child can do them without help.
Some grinds are in person, at a tutor's house or a grind school. Others are live online over Zoom. Online means no driving, so a student in Kerry or Donegal gets the same lesson as one in Dublin.
Who are grinds for?
Mostly Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert students who are stuck on a topic, slipping behind, or aiming for a higher grade. Parents often start in 5th or 6th year, or in 3rd year ahead of the Junior Cycle exams. Your child doesn't have to be failing. Plenty of students are doing fine and just want to feel steadier before the mocks.
What should good grinds include?
You want to know what is being covered, and to get practice questions with worked solutions. You also want a way to ask a question between lessons, because one hour a week can leave a student stuck for the other six days. It helps if parents can see how things are going, and if the first lesson is free so you can judge the fit before you pay.
How much do grinds cost?
It varies a lot between group classes and private lessons. At Next Level Learning, Group Grinds are €79 a month for two live classes a week, and 1-to-1 is €219 a month. The cost guide has the full breakdown of what is and isn't included.
How to try grinds without committing
Book a free grind in Leaving Cert Maths, Junior Cycle Maths or Leaving Cert Physics. You don't need to give card details. Enrol monthly only if the format suits your child.