Glossary
Tutor Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential tutor terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key tutor vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in tutor training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Diagnostic assessment
- A test to find learning gaps.
- Executive function
- Skills like planning and organization.
- Formative assessment
- Checks for understanding during learning.
- Growth mindset
- The belief that abilities improve with effort.
- Homework help
- Support with assignments.
- Learning objective
- What a student should learn.
- Learning style
- How a student prefers to learn.
- Mnemonic
- A memory aid.
- Practice test
- A sample exam.
- Retrieval practice
- Recalling information to strengthen memory.
- Scaffolding
- Support that’s reduced as students learn.
- Session notes
- Records of what was covered.
- Spaced repetition
- Reviewing material over time.
- Study skills
- Habits that help students learn.
- Test prep
- Preparing for exams.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Tutor practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Tutor training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.