Why Have A Maths Tutor?

In one school I taught at I was slightly bemused by the desire of some students to keep hidden the fact that they had a private tutor. If they had had their own private tennis coach I am sure they would have been a lot less reticent abut letting everybody know.

In this modern age maths plays a part in so many areas, so it makes a lot of sense to try and be the best we can at it. Like having a sports coach, having a private maths tutor should be for everyone who wants to raise their game. Let`s see how a private maths tutor might help you.

For students who struggle, maths at school can be a nightmare. The teacher has a syllabus to get through in a limited time, and often 25 to 30 students of varying ability, all vying for his attention. And, often things are made worse by disruptive students wasting the precious little time that is available to cover each topic. So, inevitably, the class moves on to something new before many have mastered what they are currently studying. In this situation tutoring can really change the game. Instead of being left behind, bewildered and frustrated, a student typically gets an hours one-on-one time, with a tutor, in which she can work at her own pace, until she is happy with a concept that is causing her difficulty.

Much the same can be said for middle of the road students. Maths is a subject where they too will often be left floundering, to some degree. Tutoring provides an opportunity to really consolidate what they have covered at school, clear up any misconceptions, and build confidence. In regard to the last of these, this is particularly true when it comes to tackling the problems that require them to apply what they have learnt to an unfamiliar situation, rather than just doing a rote exercise.

But, even the best students can benefit from having a maths tutor. To be brutally frank, the provision for the most able maths students, in the vast majority of schools, is pathetic. Getting the best out of the most able can be even more time consuming and resource intensive than helping they very weakest, and unfortunately less priority is given to the former group. A good tutor should be able to help the best students make the most of their ability. There are several things he should be able to offer. For what the student is currently studying at school, he should be able to offer problems that are more demanding, and will improve or enhance her knowledge of the topic. He should be able to offer the opportunity to study interesting topics that the school might not offer. And, for really ambitious students, he should be able to help prepare them for prestigious maths competitions.

So, just as everybody, of any ability, might benefit by having a coach to help them with their chosen sport, the same is true of maths tuition. Whether you need help with basic algebra, or aspire to represent your country in the International Mathematical Olympiad, a good private tutor should be able to help you succeed.