Learnmate helps families find an independent tutor. Plume provides an HSC course with the teaching, marking and exams planned for the term. The difference is how much of that arrangement the family needs to organise.
By Plume Specialist Tuition. Official provider information checked on 8 October 2026. This comparison covers Year 11 and Year 12 English, Maths and Economics, with Plume's Year 12 fees below.
Who plans the lessons?
Learnmate's student FAQ explains that tutors set their rates and deliver the lessons. The platform handles profiles, messaging, bookings and payments. Its Sydney HSC page includes graduates, experienced tutors and qualified teachers, with different courses and availability.
Tutors can adapt lessons to the student's needs and school topic order. Learnmate's HSC page describes support for school assessments, Trials and the final exam, online or in person. The marking allowance and exam schedule depend on the agreement with the tutor.
At Plume, the class tutor teaches the content, sets the practice and marks the student's work. They can connect a written mistake with a question raised in class. Students then have someone who knows their work to help them correct it.
Feedback on exam answers
In English Advanced, Plume students learn to build an argument from their texts and adapt it to the question. Our sample essay feedback shows how the tutor explains improvements. The course includes one private hour with that tutor each term.
Maths students practise starting unfamiliar questions and showing their working, as in our Extension 1 practice exam. In Economics, we work on connecting theory to evidence; our essay guide includes a paragraph correction and timed planning exercise.
Course fees and hourly rates
Learnmate's pricing page advertises rates starting at A$30. Its HSC page gives an average of A$61 an hour. Neither is a quote for a particular Year 12 English Advanced, Maths or Economics tutor.
| Arrangement | Plume Year 12 course | Private tutoring through Learnmate |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | English Advanced A$1,170; Maths Advanced A$900; Extension 1 A$950; Economics A$1,080 per ten-week term | Chosen tutor's hourly rate |
| Hours | 25 group hours per course, including assessments | Arranged with the tutor |
| Class size | Maximum eight | One to one |
| Marking | Own class tutor; unlimited submissions included | Scope and any separate charge agreed with the tutor |
| Exam practice | Weekly timed quizzes and supervised term exam | Planned with the tutor |
Plume fees are in Australian dollars before discounts. Course details: English Advanced, Maths Advanced, Extension 1 and Economics. Advanced and Extension 1 are separate courses, costing A$1,850 together. Plume has no new-student administration fee.
At Learnmate's advertised HSC average, one private hour a week for ten weeks would cost A$610; two hours would cost A$1,220. One hour a week is cheaper than any of these Plume terms; two hours costs more. Those are illustrations, not quotes, and private tuition gives the student more individual attention during the booked time.
Starting lessons
Learnmate says most HSC tutors offer a free first lesson, with payment after lessons and no term commitment. The selected tutor's offer and cancellation conditions need checking.
Plume offers a two-week free trial at 30/41 Rawson Street, Epping. If you enrol, both trial weeks are included in your term fees.