Ben D.

I am a Maths, Further Maths and Computer Science tutor with an MMath from Durham University and I am currently applying for PhDs at the intersection of Maths and Computer Science. I know those subjects inside out, understanding common sticking points, different ways of explaining concepts and best practice for exam technique for each board. 

I have over 300 hours of tutoring experience across GCSE and A-Level Maths, Further Maths and Computer Science as well as University level Maths. I typically see real progress with students within just a few sessions, with students being more confident in approaching new problems in questions and being able to apply their toolkits to novel contexts in exams. My students also see targeted knowledge improvements within a single session where they are struggling on a particular topic.

I also support students with preparation for top universities through STEP, MAT and TMUA entrance examinations. These tests don't require any extra content but force students to think more like a mathematician than at A-Level, which is often a shift students struggle with. I help students to reexamine how to approach problems, and how to start a problem when they may not see the full solution path.

I particularly enjoy working with students who are pushing for those top grades. My style works best with those trying to go from good to excellent, picking up those last few marks to secure that A/A* grade in the exams. I have experience with all exam boards, and offer pure, statistics and mechanics in maths as well as all further maths modules on all exam boards i.e.:

    AQA – Core Further Maths content, Mechanics, Statistics, Discrete Mathematics

    Pearson Edexcel – Core Pure 1 & 2, Further Pure 1 & 2, Further Statistics 1 & 2, Further Mechanics 1 & 2, Decision Mathematics 1 & 2

    OCR A – Pure Core 1 & 2, Statistics, Mechanics, Discrete Mathematics, Additional Pure Mathematics

    OCR B (MEI) – Core Pure, Mechanics major, Statistics major, Mechanics minor, Statistics minor, Modelling with Algorithms, Numerical Methods, Extra Pure, Further Pure with Technology

    WJEC – Further Pure Mathematics A & B, Further Statistics A & B, Further Mechanics A & B

    Cambridge International / CAIE – Further Pure Mathematics 1 & 2, Further Mechanics, Further Probability & Statistics

    Edexcel IAL – Further Pure 1, 2 & 3, Mechanics 1, 2 & 3, Statistics 1, 2 & 3, Decision 1

My sessions focus on the student, aiming for a collaboration between us to build confidence and knowledge rather than a one-way flow of information. I find that students remember things much better if they discover them for themselves, rather than are just told to remember it. I have a passion for the subjects I tutor and wish to pass this on to my students through motivating why we care about topics rather than just learning to pass an exam.

I work best with students who have a reasonable understanding of the content already, and are aiming to sharpen their skills. If the student would find it useful, I can start the session with a recap of the topic but the majority of the session will be spent working through exam style questions while discussing where marks are lost and working together when students are unsure. I often focus on the trickier, higher-mark questions that appear on papers, building the technique to approach these questions when students may not be entirely familiar with them.

A big part of pushing from a good grade to a great grade is confidence. Being able to look at unfamiliar questions and contexts and apply the tools they have learnt is a key skill for GCSE and A-Level (as well as University level maths). I put a lot of emphasis on encouraging students to reason aloud in our sessions, and try different approaches even if they don't always work out!