From the Editor’s Desk
6th March 2023
Taking tuition classes for help with school subjects is a common practice amongst Singaporean students. However, there are some students who make the best use of tuition classes so that they can maximise their time (and possibly save money). This article will provide tips on how students can maximise their time with their tutors so that they can achieve the best results in their subjects.
1. Come with genuine questions about revision which you have undertaken yourself
Students should first do some preliminary revision and try to go over a topic themselves before coming to their tuition teacher. This method is more effective that letting the tuition teacher teach a topic from scratch, as the student will have areas in their understanding which lack that the tuition teacher does not know about.
2. Attempt and mark past year papers first and ask about the mistakes you have made
Furthermore, students should attempt and mark their past year papers before coming to the tuition class to revise their mistakes. This way, students can address their mistakes directly instead of wasting time doing the papers during the class itself. Tutors can better get a sense of which mistakes students are more prone to making and tailor their revision to those mistakes.
3. Do not be afraid to ask about any concepts you do not have a solid foundation in
Students should bear in mind that tutors are there not to question knowledge but to help build an understanding of different concepts. If there are concepts where students do not understand the full extent of knowledge required for the exam, they should ask their tutor to explain it from the beginning. Students should be humble and honest about what they do not know and what gaps there are in their knowledge.
To conclude, it is important for students to make full use of their tuition classes. It is entirely possible for a student to undertake years of tuition and yet still not learn a substantial amount about their subjects. However, a student who is diligent and knows how to maximise the utility of their tutor’s time will be served well.