Cluey runs large-group video-style sessions. Merit runs small live classes of five students or fewer, where your child plays through curriculum-aligned gamified challenges with a tutor guiding them in real time.
Cluey Learning and Merit Tutoring are both online tutoring services for Australian families — but the way they deliver learning is quite different. Cluey operates at large scale with video-style broadcast sessions that can accommodate many students at once. Merit's model is built around live small-group interaction: a tutor, up to five students, and a curriculum of gamified challenges the group works through together.
Neither approach is universally right for every family. If your child needs Year 11 or Year 12 support — HSC, VCE, ATAR — or needs a science subject like Chemistry, Cluey covers ground that Merit doesn't. Merit focuses exclusively on Maths and English for Years 1 to 10.
But if your child is in that Years 1–10 window and you're wondering whether a different approach might get better engagement and more personal attention, this page lays out the differences honestly.
| Feature | Cluey Learning | Merit Tutoring |
|---|---|---|
| Class size | Large group (typically 20+ students per session) | Max 5 students per class |
| Teaching style | Presenter-led video broadcast; students watch and follow along | Live tutor guiding a small group through interactive challenges |
| Student engagement format | Passive viewing with chat-style Q&A | Active play — students work through gamified challenges in real time |
| Year levels covered | Primarily secondary (Year 7+); some primary content | Years 1–10 (primary and secondary) |
| Subjects | Maths, English, Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and more | Maths and English only |
| Personalisation | Same session for everyone in the group; no individual interaction | Tutor can address each child's question directly during class |
| Homework / reinforcement | Worksheets sent after sessions | Gamified homework on an interactive platform — students unlock levels |
| Parent visibility | Session reports after class | Live progress dashboard — updated after every class and homework session |
| Free trial | Varies — check Cluey's website | Full free group class trial, no card required |
| Lock-in contracts | Minimum commitment periods apply | No lock-in, cancel anytime |
When parents who've looked at Cluey end up choosing Merit instead, it usually comes down to one of the following four reasons.
In a Cluey session, a presenter broadcasts to a large group of students. There is no practical way for the presenter to notice that your child in particular didn't follow a step, or to pause and explain something differently for them. Merit's maximum of five students per class changes that dynamic entirely. A Merit tutor can see who's engaged, who's stuck, and who needs a different explanation — and act on it during the session, not in a follow-up report afterwards.
Cluey students watch a presenter and type questions into a chat interface. Merit students are active participants — playing through gamified challenges on screen, competing on points, solving interactive puzzles, and responding to the tutor's prompts in real time. For most children, particularly primary-aged students, "doing" and "playing" creates far stronger retention than "watching". The curriculum content is the same; the experience of learning it is completely different.
Cluey's catalogue has a heavy secondary focus. For a Year 3 student working on multiplication or a Year 5 student building reading fluency, the content depth in the primary years at Merit is specifically designed around those year levels — with game formats that suit a 9 or 10 year old's attention span and learning style. Merit tutors work with Years 1–10, which means the jump from primary to secondary is handled as a continuum, not a separate product category.
Cluey sends session reports. Merit gives parents a live progress dashboard that updates after every class and every homework session. You can see which topics were covered, how your child performed on each challenge set, and where the tutor is taking them next. There's no need to wait for a report or ask your child what they did — the data is just there, in real time.
"Since beginning tutoring, we have seen a significant improvement in his schoolwork, along with a noticeable increase in his concentration and engagement at school."— Ivan Njul, parent (Google Review)
We'd rather give you a useful comparison than a one-sided pitch. Here's when Cluey is likely the better fit:
Merit tends to suit families where:
Merit caps every group class at five students. Cluey operates video-style broadcast sessions that typically accommodate far larger audiences — often 20 or more students watching a single presenter. The difference in class size has a direct effect on how much individual attention a child receives during a session. With five students, a Merit tutor can notice when one child is stuck and address it in real time. That's not practical in a large-group broadcast format.
Yes — and primary school is actually where Merit's program is strongest. Merit covers Years 1–10, with content and game formats specifically designed for each year band. Cluey's curriculum has a strong secondary-school focus, so younger students may find the primary-level content less developed there. Merit tutors Maths and English from Year 1 through Year 10 as a continuous programme.
Yes. Merit offers a full free group class trial — no credit card required, no lock-in, and no catch. Your child attends a real class with a real tutor and up to four other students, working through a session's worth of gamified challenges. If it's a good fit, you continue. If not, you haven't spent anything.
Start by booking a free group class trial through Merit's contact page. If you're currently in a Cluey contract, check the terms before cancelling — some plans require advance notice. Merit has no minimum commitment, so you can start a trial without needing to cancel anything first. Once your trial is done and you're happy, you choose a plan and continue from there.
They take different approaches. Cluey sends worksheets after sessions — which work for students who are self-motivated to complete them. Merit's platform delivers homework as unlockable challenge levels: completing one level unlocks the next, creating a sense of progression that keeps students returning. For children who resist traditional homework, the game format often makes the difference between completing it and ignoring it.
Merit tutors Maths and English for Years 1 through 10. All content is aligned to the Australian Curriculum. If your child needs subjects beyond Maths and English — or is in Year 11 or Year 12 — Merit would not be the right fit, and Cluey or another service may serve you better.
Book a free session — your child joins a live small-group class with a Merit tutor and works through a real session's worth of gamified challenges. No obligation, no lock-in.
Or call us: 0468 229 358
No lock-in contracts · Cancel anytime · Free group class trial