Chester Maths Tutoring

Frequently Asked Questions

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Benefits of a Tutor

Teaching in school is tailored around the class of pupils rather than the individual. Personal tutors allow an individual approach to teaching and focus on subjects which the student may be falling behind in.

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Best Books to Purchase

CGP are books that I used when working through my School academic life. The books are pivotal for my tutoring sessions and great for solo revision as they summarise complex topics taking what a typical maths textbook might explain in 4-5 pages into 1 short and informative page. They are available for KS2, KS3, GCSE and A-Level. The workbooks for GCSE also list the grade of each topic. Find more information at the CGP website.

www.cgpbooks.co.uk
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What is the Difference Between the Exam Boards?

Once students have passed KS3 level and move onto GCSE they will sit under an exam board defined by the school. This exam board is listed on the front of exam papers. The three most common exam board are AQA, Edexcel, OCR:

The three exam boards have slightly different syllabuses although the core maths is the same. I have students in most schools within the Chester area, so I have the list of exam boards that each takes.

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How to Convert Grades 1-9 to the Old Grading System?

You can find more information about grading conversions on the government's website below

Grading Conversions
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What Frequency of Tutoring Sessions is Best?

This is completely based on the student and parents needs. I have students that have sessions twice a week right through to once a fortnight depending on the level of ability and end-goal. Additionally, less frequent sessions with comprehensive homework lists also works well.

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What is the Difference Between Foundation and Higher Syllabus for GCSE?

Foundation maths is taken by individuals who want to achieve up to grade 5. If students wish to achieve higher grades, they need to be studying the higher syllabus which allows them to achieve grades 5-9.

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Online vs. In-person Tutoring

I currently teach 90% of my students in-person and 10% online. Personally, I feel as the complexity of topics increases in-person tuition becomes more important. For example, I would not feel comfortable teaching A-Level topics via webcam online however teaching multiplication to a KS2 candidate is achievable.

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Importance of Getting at Least a Grade 4

When getting employment, most employers will ask for a grade 4 as a minimum in both English and Maths. Achieving these grades therefore is not only beneficial to general math skills however it will aid in getting a job in the future.