How to run a trial lesson as a tutor: pricing, flow and converting to enrolment
Kebao team · Updated November 1, 2026
Trial lessons are usually free, half price, or full price credited against tuition on enrolment. Assess the student, teach one complete piece, keep the last 5 to 10 minutes to explain the suggested frequency and price, and follow up within one or two days.
- Free / half price / credited
- Last 5–10 minutes on the plan
- Follow up within 1–2 days
Should you charge for a trial lesson?
Tutors still building a student base can start free; tutors with full timetables suit charging or crediting.
- Free: the easiest yes for parents, but also the most trial-only visits.
- Half price: filters out the uncommitted without putting people off.
- Full price, credited on enrolment: free for committed parents and fair on your time.
How should a trial lesson run?
Ask about needs beforehand
When booking, ask the year, current level and what to work on, for example "Year 8 maths, scoring around 60% in tests".
Spend the first 5 minutes assessing
Use a few questions from easy to hard to find where the student gets stuck.
Teach one complete piece
Pick a concept the student is stuck on so they learn one thing during the trial; that persuades more than introducing yourself.
Use the last 5 to 10 minutes with the parent
Explain what you saw, the suggested lessons per week, lessons per term and price, and your leave policy.
Follow up within one or two days
Send one message summarising your observations and the suggested plan so the parent can pass it on to their partner.
How do you get parents to enrol after a trial?
Make the plan concrete: "one lesson a week, eight lessons a term, NT$800 a lesson" is easier to decide on than "depends on your child". Spell out the leave and make-up policy too; parents who see fair rules are more willing to buy a full term.
Letting parents book trials online
Kebao's enrolment page can open trial slots: parents pick a slot and fill in the student's details with no account needed. The lead lands in your dashboard, where one tap turns it into a student and sends a LINE link invitation.
FAQ
How long should a trial lesson be?
Most match a normal lesson so parent and student feel the real pace; some tutors run a 30-minute short trial.
What if the parent does not reply after the trial?
Follow up once with your observations and the plan; pushing harder tends to backfire.
Can several students trial together?
For group classes, yes, so parents see a real lesson; for one-to-one tutoring a solo trial is better for judging level.
Further reading
Set it up today. From your next lesson, the system does the asking.
Free forever for up to 3 students. No credit card needed.