Strength and Weaknesses
My Math tuition begins by identifying strengths and weaknesses during the first few sessions. This is achieved by working through questions from core topics based on the exam board specifications, and/or reviewing recent assessment feedback, particularly focusing on areas with the lowest scores, often marked in red.
Frequently, a simple misunderstanding of a concept that hasn't been addressed before is the cause of the low score, and once clarified, the student can progress to the next topic quickly. However, some topics can be more difficult, requiring repeated walkthroughs of graded questions to ensure full understanding.
Mirroring School Learning
Once the student has gained confidence in their weaker areas, I focus on the topics they are currently studying in school to reinforce what has been covered. I ask students or parents to send photos of any difficult questions, which I then upload to the online whiteboard to prepare for the next session.
I encourage students to write out their answers themselves, as this often helps with their learning, although this depends on the individual. As they work, I observe and step in with hints if I notice any errors, misunderstandings, or difficulty starting the problem. If a student prefers not to write or struggles to do so, I ask them to guide me through each step, offering hints along the way.
Past Examination Papers
Alongside following the classroom curriculum, I also incorporate past exam papers throughout the academic year for GCSE, rather than only focusing on them as exams approach.
The reason for this focus on past papers throughout the year is that many students feel confident answering the questions set by their teachers in class, but struggle when faced with questions in formal tests or exams. This is often because exam questions tend to combine multiple areas of the specification, and with the introduction of the new 9-1 exams in 2017, there is now a stronger emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning.