The exams are over and the Nov/Dec holidays are round the corner. Have you any plans for your child this holidays? If you are reading this article, very likely you are sourcing for a good tutor and your child has gotten less than ideal grades for his science exams.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for being a very concerned parent who is trying to help your child achieve better grades. Getting good grades in science is more than just scoring As. It brings a host of other benefits:

1. It opens doors for your child: If your child is taking pure sciences, scoring As in “O” Levels will mean at least 1/3 of the battle won as two science subjects can contribute towards the 6 point aggregate system. You child can have the option of which JC or poly he/she wants to go.
2. The widest possible choice of careers: “A” levels science students with good grades can choose any course of study they want in the universities and this ultimately determine their careers. It will also open up scholarship opportunities.
3. Understanding yourself and the world around you: Our body functions, the nutrition our bodies need, the appliances and machines around us, the air we breath in are all science. With a good science background, you will be able to better care for your body and understand the environment around you.

Given the benefits of doing well in science, I love to help weak students improve and excel. Many students come to me either failing science or having D or C grades. The common comment from their parents is they do not have interest in science. I think that is a very natural reaction. How many people like things that are not their strength? Under my tutelage, I have seen these students transformed and blossomed into individuals with a keen interest in science. The key reason I believe for this metamorphosis is that they began to understand what they are studying and they start achieving. The achievements give them confidence and hope.

Hence, if your child is struggling with science, I strongly urge you to make full use of this holidays to help your child build a strong foundation in science by having tuition with the right tutor. Do not waste this golden opportunity.

One of my students, a JC 1 student, informed me this week that his Chemistry grade improved from an “Unclassified” grade to a “D” grade. I was very happy for him. This student only joined me in August and his final exams was in September. Even though there was less than 2 months to help him, he still managed a more than 20 point jump in marks and an improvement by 2 grades. I strongly believe that one of the key factors for his improvement was his commitment in coming for tuition and his consistency in doing the assigned homework. He did not miss a single lesson and completed all the homework on time.

From my teaching experience, I observed that the students that went on to do very well in the exams may not be the most intelligent ones. Rather, those students who came regularly for lessons were the ones that went on to ace their exams even though they had dismal grades before coming to me. Thus, I have formed the linked between commitment and consistency to success.

This is definitely not a new idea. The best sportsmen, violinists, pianists etc are those who are most committed to their trade. My observations basically echoed the fact that those who are most committed will achieve success in whatever they do. Hence, I hope to inculcate commitment and consistency in all my students.

I was very touched when I received a thank you message from one of my students’ parent last night. She text me the following message:

“She is so blessed to have you as her tutor. She is very happy that she understood what you taught her today. She said she didn’t understand it when her teacher explained to her in School. Thank you”.

Personally, I feel that I am the one that is truly blessed to have the faith of my students and their parents in my ability to tutor their children. Hence, I always strive to do my best to teach and coach them. When any of my students do not understand a particular topic at first and show an enlightened look after I explained to them, that look really brightens up my day.

I am especially heartened by one of my students, “X”. Before X came to me, X has never passed Chemistry and found Chemistry incomprehensible. After a month’s of tuition with me, X passed Chemistry for the first time and even told me that Chemistry seems so easy now. I am very impressed by X’s learning attitude. X never misses a lesson with me even when X had a bad fall and one of the legs’ was in a cast and clutches were necessary. X still came faithfully for lessons. During heavy rain and thunderstorms, X also turns up for class and there was a time when X thought that X maybe late for class, X even took a taxi just to be on time. After a few months’ of tuition, I can see the transformation in X. X has become much more confident in doing science questions now and is aiming for high grades. I really hope that X can do well in the upcoming major exams.

As a tutor, every parent that decides to entrust their child to me for science tuition is a blessing to me. Thus, I try every way I can to help their children achieve their dreams. I hope I can continue to help more children in the years to come.