A note home about your Grade 4 child's reading screen. A Grade 9 PAT in January. A Grade 12 diploma exam that's worth 30% of the final mark. If you're an Alberta parent looking up online tutoring this fall, one of these is probably why.
This guide walks through what's new in Alberta schools in 2026/27, what the provincial tests mean for your child, how online tutoring works in Calgary, Edmonton and smaller towns, what it costs, and how to start without paying for help your child doesn't need.
Sources: Government of Alberta, screening, PATs, diploma exams and Guide to Education (2026)
What's changing in Alberta schools this year
Most of this year's changes land in the middle grades. The new social studies curriculum is now required in Grades 4 to 6, and school authorities can pilot draft math and social studies in Grades 7 to 9 and field test draft science (Government of Alberta, 2026). From Kindergarten to Grade 6, the newer curriculum is already in place in English and French language arts, math, science and physical education and wellness.
So homework may not look like what an older sibling brought home a couple of years ago, or what you remember from school. A tutor who teaches from the Alberta program of study can explain a new method in the same words the teacher uses, so your child isn't stuck between the way it's taught at school and the way it's explained at home.
Why is my child being screened in reading and math?
Alberta screens young students to catch early gaps in reading and number sense, not to grade them. Kindergarten is screened in winter, Grades 1 to 3 in fall and winter, and starting in 2026/27, Grades 4 and 5 every fall, with a spring follow-up for students who need more support (Government of Alberta, 2026).
A flag on a screen isn't a diagnosis. It means the school wants to keep a closer eye on a skill. Ask the teacher which one was flagged (letter sounds, reading fluency, counting, number facts) and what support the school is already giving. The answer tells you whether some one-on-one practice outside school could help, and exactly what a tutor should work on first.
PATs in Grades 6 and 9, and diploma exams in Grade 12
All Alberta students write provincial achievement tests in Grade 6, in June, and in Grade 9, in January and June, in language arts, math, science and social studies (Government of Alberta, 2026). PATs sit alongside the teacher's own assessments; they don't replace them.
High school raises the stakes. A student needs at least 50% in a course to earn its credits (Alberta Guide to Education, 2026). In 12 Grade 12 courses, including Mathematics 30-1, English Language Arts 30-1, Biology 30 and Physics 30, the diploma exam counts for 30% of the final mark and the school-awarded mark for the other 70% (Government of Alberta, 2026). If you're still decoding the grading scale, our guide to Alberta report cards explains what the numbers and letters mean.
The calmest time to start is usually a term before the exam. Steady work on the course content first, then a few sessions of exam-style questions under real timing, is what most students need.
PAT or diploma exam this year?
Start a term ahead, not the week before
A certified tutor who knows the Alberta course can work through it with your child now, then switch to timed, exam-style practice before January or June.
Find the Right Tutor for Your Child →Is online tutoring as good as in person?
For most school-age children it works well, as long as the sessions are one-on-one, regular and led by someone who knows the course. Distraction is the real risk. Researchers at Stanford's National Student Support Accelerator found that about 19% of virtual tutoring time was lost to disruptions such as technical problems, distraction and background noise, and more was lost when a tutor worked with more than one student at a time (National Student Support Accelerator, October 2025).
A typical online lesson is a video call with a shared whiteboard. Your child holds up the worksheet or textbook page they're stuck on, the tutor works through it with them, and the session ends with one or two things to practice before next time. All you need at home is a quiet spot, a laptop or tablet with a camera, a steady connection and, ideally, headphones.
Younger children, or kids who drift off the moment there's a screen, often do better with someone in the room. Our comparison of online and in-person tutoring goes through how to choose by age and attention span.
Online tutoring in Calgary, Edmonton and across Alberta
Online tutoring widens the choice. A family in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie or a rural community can work with a certified teacher who knows Physics 30 or Grade 6 math, without a long winter drive. Teenagers juggling practices and part-time jobs can fit a session in after supper.
In Calgary and Edmonton, in-person tutoring is an option too. In person means at your home or at a public library. A library branch near you is a good place for a first meeting: it's quiet and neutral, and you can stay close by. Some families mix the two, in person for a younger child and online during exam season or a cold snap.
How much does a tutor cost in Alberta?
There's no official price list for private tutoring in Alberta. Each tutor sets their own rate, and online sessions usually cost less than in-person ones because there's no travel built in. For a sense of scale, Job Bank puts the median wage of an Alberta secondary school teacher at $47.12 an hour (Job Bank, wages updated November 19, 2025). Our breakdown of tutoring costs in Canada shows typical ranges by tutor type and format.
Before you book, ask what the rate includes, whether online and in-person prices differ, and how cancellations work. A clear answer up front saves an awkward conversation later.
How to get started
- Write down what you've noticed: the screening result, a report card comment, the test date, or the homework that keeps ending in tears.
- Pick the format that fits your child: online, at home, or at a public library.
- Choose a certified tutor who teaches your child's grade and subject, and share the course outline or a recent test.
- Keep the first month to one or two clear goals, and check in with the tutor and the teacher after a few sessions.
How Connect Education Can Help
Every tutor on Connect Education is a licensed teacher in good standing. Your child gets a personalized one-on-one plan built around Alberta's program of study and their next milestone, whether that's a fall screen, a PAT or a diploma exam. Sessions run online anywhere in the province, or face to face wherever a tutor is available near you. You can meet our tutors first.
When you're ready, sign up for free and book your first tutoring lesson with a certified tutor.
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