As a tutor, I often see students when they are already in crisis mode. While we can achieve great things in a short time, the best results come from steady, consistent preparation[cite: 10].
The Medical Approach to Tutoring
In medicine, prevention is better than cure. The same is true for education.
- Diagnosis: I assess where the student is struggling—is it content knowledge, or is it exam technique?
- Treatment: We build a plan. Sometimes this means going back to master the basics before pushing forward.
Why Confidence is Key
My background as a swim teacher has taught me that confidence is half the battle. If a student believes they "can't do Maths," they won't try. My role is to show them they can. By showing their working and gathering method marks, they can see progress quickly[cite: 6].
Signs to Look For
- Grades stagnating despite hard work.
- Avoidance of specific subjects.
- Panic regarding "tricky" questions.