Key Concerns of Parents III – Selecting a ‘A’ Level Physics & Maths Tutor
Which schools do your students come from?
They come from different JCs, from the well-known to the less well-known. While students coming from the less well-known JCs might have an L1R5 that is not appealing, their sciences may be actually quite good, but the L1R5 is pulled down by other subjects!
Do the students need to memorize?
Unlike the IB examinations, students are expected to memorize more things in the “A” level examinations. There are certain concepts or equations that when one has sufficient practices, they will be hard-wired into your brain memory! During usual practice, it is ok to refer to notes. However, certain amount of memory work is definitely needed before the exams. In the “A” level physics examinations, the total marks awarded to those purely memory type of questions like definition or standard description, etc, could amount to about 10 to 15 marks. That is 1 to 2 grades of difference! Until one day when we can have open book examinations, we just have to put in some effort in memorization!
Will homework be given?
No homework will be given but students are encouraged to complete the worksheet at home if they cannot complete it during the tuition classes. Detailed solutions are provided with the worksheet and allow the students to learn independently. When a student encounters difficulty and is not able to solve after 2 or 3 attempts, it is recommended that the student go and look at the detailed solutions. An important strategy is that the student comes back and re-does the question 4 or 5 days or one week later. If the student re-does it straightaway, he might be relying on memory as he has just seen the solutions. If he can re-do it sometime later, chances are he has already understood.
Are there notes given?
Concise and precise lecture notes are given for each chapter taught. Together with the worksheets and their accompanying detailed solutions, students will find them very handy in understanding the chapter. Closer to the final “A” level examinations, a set of summary notes and a set of formula list will be given to help students in their final preparation. When the student has consistently put in effort throughout the year, the summary notes and formula list greatly reduce the burden on the student when he revises his physics or mathematics. This will also give him more time to prepare for other subjects.
Are you the right tutor for my child?
Within the first 2 to 3 lessons, students should be able to gauge if the tuition is suitable. While Dr Chang cannot claim to be a suitable tutor for everyone, his credentials and results are proof that he has successfully helped many students in achieving success.
