Students often ask which format is "better". Neither is. They suit different goals, budgets and personalities, and many students combine them. Here is how to decide.
What each format is
A 1-to-1 lesson is 55 minutes with your own tutor, at times you choose, in any language and at any level. Single lessons are from £32; a pack of 10 is £290 and a pack of 20 is £540. A small group course is 8 weeks with the same tutor and the same group of at most 6 students, two 55-minute lessons a week, for £240.
Speaking time
In a 1-to-1 lesson you speak for most of the hour and every mistake is corrected. In a group you speak less, but you listen to other learners, work in pairs and get used to different accents and speeds, which is closer to real life.
Pace and content
1-to-1 lessons follow your agenda: your job interview next month, the grammar point you keep getting wrong, your partner's family in Seville. A group follows a course plan at a steady pace, which many students find easier to stick to.
Schedule
1-to-1 lessons can be any day from 7:00 to 22:00 UK time and can be rescheduled for free up to 12 hours before. A group has fixed days and times for 8 weeks, and it starts once at least three students at the same level have signed up.
Motivation
Some people need the accountability of a group that expects them on Tuesday evening. Others need the flexibility of lessons that fit around shift work and travel. Be honest about which one you are.
Cost
Per hour, a group is cheaper. Per unit of progress, it depends on how much you use the speaking time. Students who prepare and do the homework progress well in both formats.
A common combination
Join a group course for structure and add occasional 1-to-1 lessons for the things only you need, such as exam practice or a presentation. Your trial lesson is a good moment to ask the tutor what they would recommend for your goal.