Any grade
An essay came back with a low mark
Bring the marked essay. I'll find the two or three habits that cost the most marks, and your teen fixes them on the next assignment.
Toronto · Grades 9 to 12
English tutoring in Toronto, from a former TDSB teacher
I'm Peter Wade. I help high school students write stronger essays, read with confidence, pass the literacy test and put together university applications they're proud of. Sessions are one-on-one, online or in person.
Book a free 20-minute call
Tutoring is $100/hour. See prices
ENG3U · Macbeth essay, paragraph 2Draft 1
In Macbeth, Shakespeare shows that ambition is bad1. Macbeth kills King Duncan because he wants to be king. “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other.”2 This shows that he is ambitious.3 In the end Macbeth dies, which proves that ambition leads to downfall.
- 1. Too broad. What does ambition do to him? That's your thesis.
- 2. Set it up: who says this, and when? (Act 1, Scene 7, before the murder)
- 3. Go deeper. “Vaulting” is a rider who jumps too far and falls. Use that image.
34 years teaching
27 of them with the TDSB, mostly in English
Grades 9 to 12
Every Ontario English course, from ENL1W to ENG4U
Online or in person
Video sessions anywhere, or in person in Toronto
A written plan
You get a short plan after our first session
When parents usually call
Most families reach out at one of four moments
Grade 10
The literacy test is coming up
Most students write the OSSLT in Grade 10 and need it to graduate. Sessions cover the reading and writing tasks with timed practice and feedback.
Grades 11 and 12
Marks start to count for university
Ontario universities admit on a student's top six Grade 12 U and M courses, and almost every program requires ENG4U.
Grade 12
A supplementary application is due
Competitive programs ask for written answers or interviews on top of marks. I coach the writing, and your teen writes every word.
What I do
English tutoring, and help with university applications
High school English tutoring
- Essay writing: thesis, structure, evidence and revision
- Novels, plays, poetry and Shakespeare
- Course support for ENL1W, ENG2D, ENG3U and ENG4U
- OSSLT preparation
- Exam review and culminating tasks
University application coaching
- Choosing programs and building a list
- Supplementary applications, like Ivey AEO and the Waterloo AIF
- Personal statements and short-answer questions
- Interview practice
- Keeping track of OUAC and program deadlines
How it works
From first call to a written plan in a week
- 1
Free 20-minute call
Tell me what's going on. I'll say honestly whether I'm the right fit.
- 2
First session
Your teen brings a recent essay or test. We work through it together and find what's holding the mark down.
- 3
A plan, then weekly sessions
You get a short written plan, then a note after each session on what was covered and what comes next.
Prices
$100per hour
- One-on-one, online or in person in Toronto
- Application essay package: $650
- Full application season: $1,800
- No contract. Cancel with 24 hours' notice.
About me
I know what Ontario English teachers look for, because I was one.
I taught high school English in the Toronto District School Board. Now I work with students one at a time, on their own essays and their own deadlines, and keep parents posted along the way.
Questions parents ask
Before you book
How much does an English tutor cost in Toronto?
Most private tutors in Toronto charge between $40 and $100 an hour, and certified teachers sit at the top of that range. I charge $100 an hour for one-on-one sessions. There's no contract, and the first call is free.
Do you tutor online or in person?
Both. Online sessions run over video and work anywhere in Ontario. In-person sessions are in Toronto, so ask about your neighbourhood on the first call.
What's the difference between an English teacher and an English tutor?
A teacher plans for a class of thirty and marks against the course. A tutor works with one student on that student's gaps. I've done both, so I know what Ontario English teachers look for when they mark.
Will you write or edit my teen's essays?
No. I ask questions, give written feedback and teach the skill, and your teen writes and revises every draft. That's what moves the mark on the next essay, and it keeps university applications honest.
How often should my teen have sessions?
Most students meet once a week. Some add a second session before exams, the OSSLT or an application deadline.
Start with a free 20-minute call
Tell me about your teen, the course and what's due. I'll tell you how I'd help.