Is a tutor worth it for A level biology?

There are many and varied reasons why students, or their parents, feel the need to engage a tutor’s services at some time during GCSE, A level of IB courses. Whether you too would benefit for a one-to one biology tutor will depend on your individual circumstances, but if you learn better with personalized explanations, or if you feel your teacher can’t give you the individual attention you need, a tutor can fill that gap.

Here are some reasons why a biology tutor might just be able to provide that extra bit of help you need to reach your goals.

I understand the topics, I get good marks in homework but I do badly in exams

If you find that changing how you study isn’t improving your grades, a tutor can help you find more effective strategies. If you struggle with exam technique or underperform in timed conditions, a tutor can help you maximize your marks by helping you understand how to approach different types of questions.

 I need an A or an A* in biology

If you’re aiming for top grades (A or A*), a tutor for your desired university course (especially in competitive fields like medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or veterinary medicine), a tutor can ensure you’re fully prepared and help push you beyond what is covered in class to help you secure that grade.

 I struggle with specific topics.

If you find certain topics consistently challenging, despite being a conscientious student who works hard in lessons and is a good self-studier, a tutor can be at hand to help clarify difficult concepts.

Remember you’re not alone. As an experienced tutor, I know the problem topics that students ask for help with are the same year on year. If you’re an A level biology student, these topics may resonate with you: tissue fluid; immunology;  biological molecules; maths questions; gas exchange, succession, statistics; oxygen dissociation curves; cardiac cycle; plant transport. I could go on. If there are particular areas in biology that consistently confuse you, a tutor can provide focused help with these tricky areas.

I just need a bit of guidance from time to time.

If you’re keeping up most of the time and end of term tests are going well, you may not need regular tutorials but instead might benefit on occasion from one-on-one guidance, explanations, and personalized feedback. A few sessions with a tutor before exams or key transfer tests, or finding a tutor who provides a  tutor-on-demand service could well be the way forward for you.

 I need to re-sit my biology  A level.

Exam results day can feel like the end of the world you don’t achieve the grade you were predicted, you know you deserve or that you needed for that all important university place. Re-sitting can be a  challenging time even if you are highly motivated and a good self-studier. An experienced tutor at  your side can be the support you need to help you understand and reflect on your result, provide personalized focused help and help you regain the confidence you need to achieve and reach your potential next time around.

All my friends have tutors!

With tutoring becoming more and more popular, many parents believe they would be putting their child at a disadvantage by not getting them a tutor. And they’re probably right. One year I was tutoring over a third of a class of 30 students at the same local sixth form. ‘It’s ok, I have biologywithjude’ was what they used to say to each other after a particularly challenging topic had been covered in class!

Remember, good tutors get booked up very quickly. If you think you could benefit from regular, occasional or on-demand biology tuition, or would like to try one or a few tutoring sessions to see if it makes a difference in your understanding, performance and confidence, contact Jude and I’ll do my best to help.