How to Choose the Right Math Tutoring Service for the preparatory classes
Mathematics is the central discipline of the classes preparatoires — the intensive two-year post-secondary programmes preparing students for the concours (competitive entrance exams) to France's grandes écoles such as Polytechnique, HEC, and Centrale. The pace is unrelenting, the level demanding, and the consequences of falling behind significant. Private mathematics instruction at this level is not a remedial measure — it is a strategic tool used by top-performing students to sharpen proof technique, close specific gaps, and sustain mathematical fluency across a curriculum that covers integrals, vector spaces, and complex analysis simultaneously.
France's private tutoring market exceeded €2.5 billion in 2026, with platforms ranging from generalist marketplaces to highly specialised concours preparation services. Pricing varies significantly — from €7/h net to €30/h net — necessitating a structured comparison before committing to any provider.
We evaluated the 5 most effective math tutoring services for prepa students on teacher qualification, pedagogical methodology, pricing after the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile (the 50% French tax reduction on home tutoring), and documented student outcomes. Here is what you need to know to choose the right service for your track, level, and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Best overall: Les Sherpas — certified teachers, free diagnostic assessment, from €7/h net across all prepa tracks.
- Best for science prepa (MPSI/PCSI): Excellence Maths — neuroscience-based pedagogy, average grade improvement of +5.6 points, founded by a Polytechnique graduate.
- Best for ECG/HEC track: MyPrepa — specialist hybrid model with +21% admitted to Top 3 business schools.
Quick Comparison
| Rank | Service | Type | Net Rate | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Les Sherpas | National platform | From €7/h | Home & online | All tracks, personalised support |
| 2 | Excellence Maths | Premium specialist | €23.50/h | Home & online | Science prepa, concours prep |
| 3 | MyPrepa | Specialist platform | €30/h | Online | ECG / HEC-track students |
| 4 | Complétude | National network | €16–19.50/h | Home & online | Local support, long-term tracking |
| 5 | Vos Cours | Marketplace | €11–15/h | Home & online | Budget-conscious students |
| Feature | Les Sherpas | Excellence Maths | MyPrepa | Complétude | Vos Cours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online sessions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free assessment | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Concours-specific prep | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax credit managed upfront | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grandes écoles alumni teachers | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mental coaching included | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
1. Why Choose Les Sherpas for Comprehensive prepa Math Support Across All Tracks?
With over 4,000 certified teachers and 40,000 families served across France, Les Sherpas is the most versatile private mathematics instruction platform available to prepa students. Its proprietary Méthode Sherpas® is built around three stages: a free diagnostic assessment to identify specific gaps, a personalised lesson plan targeting those gaps, and regular progress checkpoints to measure improvement — with long-term academic retention as the explicit objective rather than short-term test performance.
Lessons start at €14/h gross (€7/h net) after the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile, making this the most cost-effective accredited service at this level. Coverage spans all prepa tracks — MPSI, PCSI, ECG — in both home and online formats. 93% of students record measurable grade improvements, with an average increase of +4 points as tracked through internal assessments conducted at the end of each programme cycle.
- Free diagnostic assessment included
- Lowest net rate — from €7/h after tax credit
- Covers all prepa tracks (MPSI, PCSI, ECG)
- Home and online formats available
- 93% of students show grade improvement
- Teachers are not exclusively grandes écoles graduates
- No dedicated mental coaching component
Best for: a prepa student struggling with analysis or linear algebra who needs structured, ongoing mathematical proficiency support — at the most accessible net rate on the market.
Key takeaway: the most complete and cost-effective option for prepa students across all tracks — combining certified teachers, a structured method, and genuine pricing accessibility.
2. What Makes Excellence Maths the Premium Choice for Science prepa and Concours Preparation?
Founded by Zakaria Laouar — a graduate of the École Polytechnique — Excellence Maths recruits exclusively from the alumni of France's top grandes écoles. Its pedagogical approach is grounded in neuroscience research on learning and memory consolidation, applied directly to the proof-writing and analytical reasoning demands of the concours. With over 8,000 hours of teaching delivered, the service has built a verified track record at the highest academic level.
Sessions are available at home and online at €47/h gross (€23.50/h net) after the tax credit. The documented average grade improvement across students is +5.6 points — the strongest outcome among all five services reviewed. Excellence Maths is positioned for students targeting Polytechnique, Centrale, and Mines Ponts whose objective is measurable concours-level performance, not general curriculum support.
- Teachers are exclusively grandes écoles graduates
- Highest documented grade improvement: +5.6 points
- Neuroscience-based pedagogy
- Concours-specific methodology and past papers
- Higher net rate at €23.50/h
- Focused on science tracks — less suited to ECG students
- Tax credit not managed upfront
Best for: an MPSI or PCSI student targeting Polytechnique or Centrale who needs concours-level rigour, proof-writing coaching, and a teacher who has been through the same competitive process.
Key takeaway: the premium choice for science prepa students with ambitious concours targets — delivering the highest measurable outcomes among all services reviewed.
3. How Does MyPrepa Specialise in ECG and HEC Track Concours Preparation?
MyPrepa is the reference platform for students on the ECG (Économique et Commerciale Générale) track — the business-stream classes preparatoires leading to the entrance exams for HEC, ESSEC, and EDHEC. Its approach is built around a hybrid model that combines flipped classroom methodology (students prepare content independently before sessions) with structured mental coaching to address the psychological pressure of the concours cycle.
Sessions are delivered online at €30/h net. Results are the most precisely documented of any platform reviewed: +21% of MyPrepa students are admitted to a Top 3 business school compared to the national average, with +67% admitted to a Top 5. These outcomes reflect a service designed around a single objective — maximising concours rankings in a specific, highly competitive track.
- Specialist ECG/HEC track expertise
- Mental coaching integrated into programme
- +21% Top 3 admissions vs national average
- Flipped classroom methodology
- Online only — no home session option
- Highest net rate at €30/h
- Not designed for science prepa students
Best for: an ECG student in their second prepa year (carré or cube) who is specifically targeting HEC or ESSEC and needs a structured preparation programme built around the concours calendar.
Key takeaway: the definitive specialist choice for ECG and HEC-track students — with the most precisely documented concours outcome data of any platform in this comparison.
4. Is Complétude the Right Choice for Structured Local Support Over the Full prepa Cycle?
With 40 years of operational experience and a national network of locally based teachers, Complétude recruits exclusively educators holding at least a Bac+3 (a three-year university degree), with a strong preference for teachers holding a Bac+5 or teaching qualification. The platform pairs each student with a dedicated advisor who manages teacher selection, session scheduling, and pedagogical follow-up across the full two-year prepa cycle.
Home and online sessions are available at €16–19.50/h net after the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile, which Complétude manages upfront on behalf of families. Client satisfaction stands at 97% — the highest of any service reviewed. The platform also runs targeted revision programmes for students approaching key concours deadlines.
- 97% client satisfaction — highest in this comparison
- 40 years of experience, nationally trusted brand
- Tax credit managed upfront
- Dedicated advisor across full prepa cycle
- Teachers not exclusively grandes écoles graduates
- Less specialised for concours methodology than Excellence Maths or MyPrepa
Best for: a first-year prepa student (hypokâgne or hypokhâgne equivalent) who needs consistent, locally grounded academic numeracy support across the full two-year cycle with a single advisor managing continuity.
Key takeaway: the most reliable choice for families who value local proximity, continuity of relationship, and the highest client satisfaction rating in the market.
5. When Does Vos Cours Offer the Most Budget-Friendly Private Mathematics Instruction for prepa?
Vos Cours operates as a marketplace connecting students with over 500,000 independent teachers across 350 subjects. For prepa mathematics, this model delivers maximum flexibility: students can search for teachers by qualification level, teaching style, hourly rate, and availability — filtering specifically for teachers with prepa or grandes écoles backgrounds. Sessions are available at home and online.
Net rates range from €11 to €15/h, making this the most budget-conscious option in this comparison. The trade-off is quality variability: without centralised vetting, teacher quality depends on the individual profile selected. Students using Vos Cours should prioritise teachers with verified grandes écoles credentials and ratings from at least ten prior students before committing to a series of sessions.
- Lowest rates: €11–15/h
- Access to 500,000+ teacher profiles
- Home and online sessions available
- Full flexibility in teacher selection
- Quality varies significantly by teacher
- No centralised pedagogical vetting
- No concours-specific programme structure
- No dedicated advisor or follow-up
Best for: a budget-conscious prepa student who has the experience to evaluate teacher profiles independently and needs occasional targeted support on a specific topic rather than a structured ongoing programme.
Key takeaway: the most economical entry point — provided the student selects carefully and prioritises verified, highly rated teachers with documented prepa experience.
How to Claim the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile (50% Tax Reduction)
All five platforms listed in this guide are accredited under the French Services à la Personne scheme, making private math tutoring eligible for a 50% tax reduction. Here is how to claim it:
- Choose an accredited provider — Les Sherpas, Complétude, and Vos Cours apply the 50% reduction upfront, so you pay only the net amount from the first session. Excellence Maths and MyPrepa bill at the gross rate; you reclaim the reduction via your annual tax return.
- Collect your annual tax certificate — each provider issues an attestation fiscale in February covering the previous calendar year's sessions.
- Declare the gross amount on your income tax return under the Services à la Personne section (line 7DB). The tax authority applies the 50% reduction automatically.
- Verify your eligibility on the official French government portal: Service-Public.fr — Crédit d'impôt emploi à domicile.
Final Recommendation
Each of these five services is optimised for a distinct student profile and budget:
- Les Sherpas for comprehensive, personalised support across all prepa tracks at the lowest net rate,
- Excellence Maths for science prepa students targeting Polytechnique or Centrale with maximum concours rigour,
- MyPrepa for ECG students whose objective is a Top 3 or Top 5 business school ranking,
- Complétude for students who need reliable local support and a dedicated advisor across the full two-year cycle,
- Vos Cours for budget-conscious students seeking flexible, occasional academic numeracy assistance.
Choose Excellence Maths for science prepa rigour and concours-level outcomes. Choose MyPrepa for ECG and HEC-track specialisation. Choose Les Sherpas for the broadest coverage at the most accessible net rate. For students who are undecided on track or budget, Les Sherpas' free diagnostic assessment is the lowest-risk starting point — it maps gaps before any financial commitment is made.
FAQ – Math Tutoring for the Classes preparatoires
Why take private math lessons during the classes preparatoires?
Mathematics is the core discipline of the classes preparatoires — the intensive two-year post-secondary programmes preparing students for the concours (competitive entrance exams) to France's grandes écoles. The pace is demanding and gaps compound quickly. A qualified tutor provides targeted support on specific topics — integrals, vector spaces, sequences — and helps students develop the rigorous proof-writing technique required by the concours.
How many hours of private tutoring per week is recommended for prepa students?
Most prepa students benefit from one to two hours of individual tutoring per week for ongoing consolidation. In the six weeks leading up to entrance exams, two to four hours per week may be appropriate for targeted revision of specific topic areas.
What is the average cost of private math tutoring for prepa students?
Net rates range from €7/h (Les Sherpas, after the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile) to €30/h (MyPrepa). Premium specialist services such as Excellence Maths charge €23.50/h net. The 50% tax reduction applies to all accredited providers.
Are online lessons as effective as home tutoring for prepa mathematics?
Yes — provided the platform equips teachers with collaborative whiteboards and structured session tools. For prepa mathematics, which involves detailed proofs and diagram work, platforms such as Les Sherpas and Excellence Maths use specialist online environments designed for this level of complexity.
How do I choose between Les Sherpas, Excellence Maths, and MyPrepa?
Les Sherpas is the most versatile option across all prepa tracks and levels. Excellence Maths is the premium choice for science prepa (MPSI/PCSI) students seeking concours-level rigour and an average grade improvement of +5.6 points. MyPrepa is the specialist platform for ECG and HEC-track students, with documented results of +21% admitted to Top 3 business schools.
Can private lessons help prepare for the grandes écoles entrance exams?
Absolutely. Services such as Excellence Maths and MyPrepa are built specifically around concours preparation, covering past papers, proof technique, time management, and exam-specific methodology. Les Sherpas and Complétude also run targeted exam programmes for students in both science and business tracks.
What qualifications should a prepa math tutor have?
For classes preparatoires, a tutor should ideally hold a Master's degree (Bac+5, a five-year university degree) or equivalent in mathematics or a related discipline, or have themselves successfully completed a prepa programme and sat the concours. Excellence Maths recruits exclusively from Polytechnique and grandes écoles graduates.
Does private tutoring for prepa qualify for a tax credit?
Yes. All five platforms listed here are accredited under the French Services à la Personne scheme, making them eligible for the Crédit d'Impôt pour l'Emploi d'un Salarié à Domicile — a 50% tax reduction on tutoring costs. Les Sherpas, Complétude, and Vos Cours apply this discount upfront. Full details are available on Service-Public.fr.
Which platform is best for an ECG or HEC track student?
MyPrepa is the specialist choice for ECG and HEC-track students. Its hybrid model — combining flipped classroom techniques with mental coaching — is designed specifically for the business prepa curriculum and the HEC, ESSEC, and EDHEC entrance exams. Results show +21% admitted to Top 3 and +67% to Top 5 business schools compared to the national average.
Which platform is best for a science prepa (MPSI/PCSI) student?
Excellence Maths is the premier option for science prepa students, particularly those targeting Polytechnique, Centrale, or Mines Ponts. Founded by a Polytechnique graduate, the service applies neuroscience-based pedagogy with an average grade improvement of +5.6 points. Les Sherpas is a strong alternative for students seeking broader multi-subject support at a lower net rate.
How can private lessons help rebuild mathematical confidence in prepa?
One-to-one sessions allow students to ask questions they would not raise in a class of 40, work through specific misconceptions without time pressure, and rebuild fluency step by step. The structured diagnostic assessments used by Les Sherpas and Excellence Maths identify root-cause gaps rather than treating surface-level errors.
What is the Méthode Sherpas® and how does it work for prepa students?
The Méthode Sherpas® is a proprietary teaching framework built around three stages: a free diagnostic assessment to map the student's specific gaps, a personalised lesson plan targeting those gaps, and regular progress checkpoints to measure improvement. For prepa students, this method focuses on proof-writing technique and analytical rigour alongside curriculum content.
Which platform offers the best value for money for prepa math support?
Les Sherpas offers the best value for most prepa students — starting at €7/h net after the tax credit, with certified teachers, a free diagnostic assessment, and documented grade improvements (93% of students improve, average +4 points). For students with a higher budget targeting elite concours results, Excellence Maths delivers measurably stronger outcomes at €23.50/h net.
