Is your child finding the syllabus for JC math a lot harder to manage than secondary school? Want to prepare your child for the challenges they may face in A Level’s H2 Math but unable to teach them yourself? The next logical step for most Singaporean parents would be to find a qualified math tutor to fill the gap.
But how do you choose the “right” math tutor for the job? With hundreds of tuition centres and freelance private tutors to choose from, it can be a mind-boggling endeavour for anyone.
Need some tips on what you should look out for? Here are 4 key factors any parent should consider:
- Specialization in H2 Math Tuition
“10,000 hours is the magic number of greatness” And that is the reason why subject experts are always better at what they do than a generalist.
Compared to a tuition teacher who teaches multiple subjects and specializes in none, a specialized subject tutor would most definitely produce much better results for the following reasons:
- Understanding of the subject and syllabus in detail
- Experience in explaining concepts and exam techniques in the most effective way
- Fine-tuned teaching materials adapted to students’ needs over the years
- Good Track Record & Testimonials
How do you tell if your child will be in good hands? In this case, a simple “Google search” can tell you plenty:
- Track Record: How long has the tutor been teaching H2 Math tuition? How many students have they taught? What are the success rates?
- Student Testimonials: Students who enjoy their learning experiences are typically happy to share their personal experiences online.
- Parent Testimonials: Speak to fellow parents to learn more or ask for testimonials from the tutor.
- Effective Teaching Methods and Teaching Materials
Mathematics can be a dry and tough subject if taught by the wrong teacher or with ineffective teaching methods or materials– and that is especially the case for JC-level math which gets only more complex.
This is where effective teaching methods come into play – these may vary from centre to centre and between tutors:
- Small-Group Lectures: Well-structured, engaging lectures and complementary notes are critical to helping students breakdown and understand difficult and challenging topics.
- Tutorials: In-class practices in the form of a variety of tailored practice questions, quizzes and more are important in helping students review, revise, and clarify concepts that they have just learnt.
- Self-Practice: Math is all about practice – hence self-practice worksheets and exam papers are essential in helping students reinforce their learning outside of class too.
- Summary Sheets: Consolidated formula sheets come in handy as quick references for students going through quick revisions for their examinations.
- Exam Oriented Math Camps and Workshops: Usually conducted during the March, June holidays and before exams, these “boot-camp” styled camps, and workshops can help students get a crash course on the topics.
Depending on your child’s learning style, it would be best to find a tutor that provides a teaching method that matches their needs – which ties into the next point.
- Trial Session
Apart from online research and in-person visits, it would be best to get your child to sit in for a trial session if possible!
Online research can only tell you so much. An in-person trial session is the fastest and probably most effective way of determining if the tutor is a good fit.
A quick trial class would be able to help your child and you assess:
- Is the learning environment conducive and comfortable for them?
- Is the tutor teaching in an engaging manner?
- Is the tutor using customized in-house materials?
- And other possible concerns…
How to Choose The “Right” H2 Math Tutor for Your Child?
Based on these criteria, it would be best to start by shortlisting a few tutors or centres with the right qualifications and call up to learn more about their teaching approach.
At New Dawn Learning Studio, we specialize in Math, Physics & Chemistry Tuition. Our specialized H2 Math tutor, Mr. Daniel Yeo, is also the invited author for GCE A ‘Level H2 Mathematics & H1 Mathematics Ten Years Series, with a great track record and glowing testimonials from his students.
Interested to learn more about our H2 math tuition? Simply drop us a message to share with us any specific learning concerns you may have for your child.
