Studypool is a platform that connects students with tutors for online tutoring and homework help. As a Kenyan tutor, it’s an opportunity to earn money by providing academic assistance to students around the world. In this review, we will take a closer look at what you can expect when working on Studypool as a tutor, including how the accounts work, compensation and payment, workflow and more. Whether you’re a seasoned tutor or just starting out, this review will provide you with the information you need to decide if Studypool is the right platform for you.

 

How the Account Works

Studypool operates on a client assign bid-based system. Clients post assignments and tutors place bids to complete them. Once a student selects a tutor, the tutor has a set amount of time to complete the work and submit it for review.

In addition to this, there are also assignments that are automatically assigned to tutors based on their qualifications and bids. These assignments have an auto-match feature, which means that they are assigned to writers without the clients’ input. In case multiple writers have been invited to a project, the first to bid will be assigned the task. Additionally, moderators can also assign orders that have the auto-match feature enabled, giving tutors an opportunity to work on assignments in what can be considered a hybrid take-take system.

Levels and Ranking Systems

Studypool offers two types of accounts for tutors: Default Tutor (a) and Partner Tutor (b) accounts. Partner accounts are typically for English native speakers and offer more benefits, such as higher bid prices, more recommendations and lower commission deductions. As such, they get preferential treatment in order distribution and earn more per order. Default accounts are typically for Kenyan or Asian tutors and do not offer any additional benefits. They also get higher commission deductions compared to Partner accounts. It is important to note that currently Studypool does not accept applications from Kenya, so the accounts you will most likely find available in the market will probably be foreign (Asian) profiles. As a result, using tools such as RDP and VPN to hide your IP address may be necessary in some cases.

Accounts are also categorized into different subjects, known as badges, such as Writing, Health, Engineering, and Math. Each badge is associated with a different level of workflow, with non-technical subjects generally having a higher workload than technical subjects. While it is possible to bid on orders in subjects that you do not have a badge for, the chances of getting assigned to those orders are lower. Having a badge increases the chances of getting recommended to students for assignments in the subject area of the badge, resulting in a higher probability of being assigned an order.

Accounts at the company are ranked on a few factors including: Success rate (out of 100%), Reply rate (out of 100%), status update rate (out of 100%) and overall customer feedback rate and recommendation (out of 5). In order to determine the success rate, orders that cost less than and more than $15 are considered separately. Heavier emphasis is placed on successfully completing orders that cost more than $15, without any refunds. For example, achieving a high rating (5) and recommendation from a student for completing an order worth more than $15 in a subject area without a badge, increases the likelihood of being awarded a badge in that subject.

Studypool has four levels:

1. New Tutor: Accounts that are newly created are considered as New Tutor level. In order to progress to the next level, tutors must successfully complete at least 3 orders.

2. Rising Star: Tutors who have successfully completed their first 3 orders and have demonstrated exceptional quality are promoted to the Rising Star level. These tutors are considered promising prospects and are given preferential treatment in the distribution of certain types of orders, and also get recommended to students with orders in the subjects they have badges for. This increases their chances of getting assigned work. By maintaining a 100% success rate and increasing the number of badges they have, Rising Star tutors can quickly progress to the Top Tutor level.

3. Standard: Tutors who have had quality issues and have seen a significant drop in their success rate are demoted to the Standard level. These accounts do not get recommended to students when they bid for orders, making it harder to get assigned to work. However, by improving their rating, they can work to progress to the Top Tutor level.

4. Top Tutor: These are the highest level of tutors at Studypool, and are considered the best on the platform. They receive more recommendations to students, increasing their chances of getting assigned work. They also have better chances of getting assigned to orders with the auto-match feature. Overall, these accounts have a more stable workflow and higher earning potential.

Workflow

The workflow at Studypool is generally consistent, with a steady flow of orders throughout the year. However, there may be some fluctuations during off-peak seasons (July to September, and January to February), especially for tutors at lower levels. Nevertheless, well-rated and top-tier accounts tend to maintain a steady workflow even during these periods. It’s worth noting that competition for orders can be high, so having strong statistics, badges, and a positive history are crucial for increasing your chances of getting assigned work by clients. Overall, Studypool’s workflow is considered to be among the top in the industry.

Compensation (CPP) and Payments

Studypool operates on a bid system, where tutors decide how much they want to be paid for an order. Similarly, the clients set prices based on their budgets, which can vary greatly. Ultimately, it is up to the tutor to decide how much an order is worth, after reviewing the task. When setting your bid prices on Studypool, keep in mind that the company takes a commission cut of 30% for normal orders and 27% for invited orders from returning clients (For Partner accounts it is ≈ 20%). This means that the amount you will actually earn per page may be less than what you bid. It is recommended to set a minimum bid of $5 in order to make a good income, as this will cover the commission cut and leave you with a reasonable amount.

With Studypool, tutors have the flexibility to request their earnings as soon as they reach the minimum payout threshold of $50. The company processes payments within 3 business days of the request being made, unlike other writing companies that have fixed pay days. Payment options available on Studypool include MPesa, bank transfer, Paypal, and Payoneer, among others. This gives tutors the ability to manage their finances and cashflow more efficiently.

Support and Quality

In terms of support, Studypool is relatively lenient and does not often involve themselves in the daily management of tutors. As long as clients are satisfied with the work, there is little to no intervention from support. However, if clients raise complaints or disputes, support tends to side with the client.

Quality control is not heavily emphasized at Studypool, as moderators do not typically review submitted orders. As long as the client is happy with the work, there is no issue. It is important to note that while this may provide more freedom for tutors, it also puts more responsibility on them to ensure that their work meets the client’s expectations and standards.

Growth and Earning Potential

At Studypool, opportunities for growth are ample. It is possible to move from New tutor status to Top tutor level by completing orders successfully and ensuring your clients rate you well. However, new or relatively new accounts need time and a lot of effort before you can start making good money. This is because clients will tend to choose more experienced tutors when assigning their orders. A critical component to making progress on the platform is building credibility through high ratings and good feedback from students, as well as getting repeat customers. The more bids you have get accepted, the better chance you have of making more money on the platform.

The earning potential of an account will largely depend on the account’s level, statistics, badges, history and even the relationships formed with clients. New tutors/ rising star tutors should not expect to make much as they will tend to get fewer orders assigned. It takes time, hard work and dedication to grow an account to a point where it can start earning good money. Established accounts however can make an average of over $2,000 monthly. Of course, these numbers will vary depending on how much you’d like to work and how much you charge per question. A critical component to making money as a tutor on Studypool is building credibility through high ratings and good feedback from students, as well as getting repeat customers. The more bids you have get accepted, the better chance you have of making more money on the platform.

Account Stability

Account stability at Studypool is generally good as long as you are delivering quality work and keeping your clients satisfied. However, in instances where clients complain or dispute, support will often side with the client, which can affect your account stability. To minimize the risk of termination, it is important to deliver high-quality work, maintain good statistics, and avoid fraudulent activities such as buying accounts or attempting to steal clients from the platform. 

Additionally, investing in a rising star or top tutor account is a good long-term investment as these accounts have a higher chance of winning orders. However, it’s worth noting that top tutor and rising star badges can be revoked if there are high refund rates from clients. Overall, the system is self-filtering, and accounts with low ratings and poor statistics will have a harder time getting assigned work.

OWC Tips

1. Make sure to only bid on orders that you are confident about completing to a high standard. This will help you avoid refund requests from clients, which can negatively impact your account stability.

2. Increase your bidding activity as much as possible. The more orders you bid on, the better your chances of winning assignments and making money on the platform.

3. Build credibility by delivering quality work and getting good ratings and feedback from clients. This will increase your chances of getting recommended to students and winning more assignments.

4. Focus on building a good relationship with your clients. Repeat customers are a great source of stable income.

5. Invest in a good account by acquiring a rising star or top tutor account. This will give you more opportunities for growth and earning potential. Avoid Standard level accounts, unless you know what you are doing.

6. Be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices to grow your account to a point where it becomes a reliable earner. Be willing to work at any time and on lower-paying jobs to maximize your chances of getting assigned work. Remember that new accounts will take time and effort to start making good money.

7. Keep your account statistics high by maintaining a high success rate, reply rate, and status update rate.

8. Consider acquiring a Partner Studypool account if you want an easier path to career progression and higher earning potential. However, note that these accounts are often less stable and more likely to be terminated.

9. Use IP hiders such as RDP and VPN to connect to the platform if using foreign profile accounts, especially Partners.

Credit

This article was written with the help and input of several seasoned writers and Studypool account users, including:

1. Edwin Marwa

2. Steve Otieno

3. Nicholas Siocha

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