Ben D.

I’m a Maths, Further Maths and Computer Science tutor with an MMath from Durham University, and I’m currently applying for PhDs at the intersection of Maths and Computer Science. I know these subjects inside out: the common sticking points, different ways of explaining concepts, and the exam technique each board rewards.

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. Students typically make real progress within a few sessions. They become more confident tackling unfamiliar problems and better at applying their toolkit in new contexts. When a student is struggling with a particular topic, we can often fix it within a single session.

I also prepare students for the STEP, MAT and TMUA entrance exams. These tests don’t need extra content, but they do ask students to think more like mathematicians than A-Level does, and many find that shift difficult. I help students rethink how they approach problems, including how to make a start when they can’t yet see the full solution.

I particularly enjoy working with students aiming for top grades. My style works best for students going from good to excellent and picking up the last few marks that secure an A or A*. I cover Pure, Statistics and Mechanics in Maths, and all Further Maths modules across the major exam boards:

    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

At university level, I have tutored students through Real and Complex Analysis, introductory Linear Algebra (including applications to differential equations), and engineering maths modules covering ODEs, PDEs, Fourier and Laplace transforms, matrices, complex numbers, probability and statistics. I particularly enjoy pure maths, including Analysis (real, complex and functional), Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra and Topology, and I’m happy to support maths students as well as those taking maths modules within Engineering, Computer Science or Physics degrees.

My sessions are a collaboration rather than a one-way flow of information. Students remember things far better when they work them out for themselves than when they’re simply told. I’m passionate about the subjects I teach, and I try to pass that on by showing why a topic matters, not just how to pass the exam.

I work best with students who already have a reasonable grasp of the content and want to sharpen their skills. If it helps, we can start with a recap, but most of each session is spent on exam-style questions. We discuss where marks are lost and work through anything the student is unsure of together. I focus on the trickier, high-mark questions, building the technique to tackle them even when they look unfamiliar.

Confidence is a big part of moving from a good grade to a great one. Applying familiar tools to unfamiliar questions is a key skill at GCSE, A-Level and university. I encourage students to reason aloud and to try different approaches, even when they don’t always work out.