James

I have been a full-time professional tutor for 9 years. I graduated from the University of Cambridge with a double First Class BA in mathematics, and stayed on to complete a Masters degree (MMath) in mathematical physics. I am bright, enthusiastic, and have a passion for teaching maths and physics.

I tutor both online and in-person, and I'm based in south west London (Richmond area).

The levels I teach are:

• GCSE & IGCSE
• A-level & IB
• University Admissions & STEP
• University Undergraduate

I have tried to provide tailored information for each of these levels in subheadings below - so do scroll down.

Tutoring Experience

My experience includes nine years of 1-1 and classroom tuition, and I have worked for some of London’s top tutoring agencies and centres. Students I tutor often progress rapidly, attaining and often succeeding their target exam grade. I believe that, with dedication and the correct instruction, any student is able to excel at mathematics and science.

I have also worked with students who are home-schooled, as their full-time teacher. I’ve tutored students who need crash course revision sessions during holidays and study breaks in the run up to an examination.

I have undertaken research at King’s College London in the field of mathematics education. I have an excellent understanding of educational theory, and its applications to mathematics, and also fully aware of the issues of mathematical education in schools and how these can be overcome.

Tutoring Approach

GCSE & IGCSE

I provide tuition for Edexcel, OCR , AQA exam boards in both maths and physics GCSE. I also tutor iGCSE.

My approach at this level varies. Sometimes the student is highly motivated, and is looking to attain a high grade to study at A-level or IB., in which case I will supporting them and trying to achieve a balance of succinct explanation, problem solving, and exam technique within lessons. On the other hand, if the student has fallen behind in class and is finding it difficult to comprehend anything in school, then I will work at filling the knowledge gaps with the student, to allow the student to get back on track to understanding class material once again.

A-LEVEL

At A-level I have prepared students in all the main exam boards: Edexcel, OCR, AQA and OCR MEI. I am happy to provide tuition for any examination in any pure maths, further pure examination, and physics. At IB, I have taught both maths (SL studies, SL & HL) and physics (SL & HL).

Often, students are taught in a “bullet point” way in schools, where connections across different topics are not made – which sometimes makes learning the subject frustrating, as there seem to be an infinitude of different “recipes” for solving different problems. An emphasis will be placed on drawing connections and giving the “why” not just the “how to”. This is far more malleable to different, more complex, problems which are now appearing in examinations.

This is now more important than ever as the exams at A-level are now much more rigorous, and place a much larger emphasis on modelling and problem solving.

IB tuition will include, in addition, an emphasis on technology and use of a graphics calculator.

University Entrance

This usually encompasses Oxbridge interview practice and/or entrance exams (e.g. STEP, MAT, PAT, ENGAA, CTMUA)

I provide support for Oxbridge interviews in maths, physics, engineering. One focus is developing problem-solving skills, especially to the sort of open-ended questions that are given at interview, and finding multiple solutions to a particular problem. Another focus is developing communication skills, so that one can verbally explain thought processes with clarity.

Entrance exams are required at interview at some Universities: I can help to prepare for these. STEP exams are also used by Cambridge (and sometimes Warwick) as an entry requirement, and I have significant experience in tutoring for these - including at Cambridge University as a mentor for prospective applicants from state-school backgrounds. I can also help prepare for the MAT and PAT which are used by Oxford prior to invitation to interview.

University Tuition

I have tutored students at universities including: Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL, King's (and many other colleges in the University of London)

Students I tutor come from a wide range of disciplines include undergraduate and postgraduate students of: Maths, Physics, Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Computer Science.

Often University lecturers equate reading or writing out lecture notes to teaching. And this can often lead to difficulties in studying at a higher level, even for those who managed school level studies with ease. At university level I try to pull apart lecture notes into digestible and memorable chunks, highlight important results and provide many examples of the theory, encourage rigour in written solutions, and provide model solutions to past paper questions. It is vital that the student is prepared with materials for their own course (e.g. past papers, lecture notes, textbooks) as each University has their own syllabus. Also, you must be hard working and motivated to learn university material - otherwise tuition is useless.

Please do not contact me if you are looking for someone to simply complete coursework on your behalf.

I have taught for distance University learning, where I correct and provide model solutions to questions.

A (non-exhaustive) list of courses I have taught are:

PURE : Linear Algebra, Number Theory, Set Theory, Group Theory, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis

APPLIED: Vectors & Matrices, Vector Calculus, Differential Equations, Mathematical Methods, Dynamical Systems

THEORETICAL PHYSICS: Classical Dynamics, Special Relativity, Fluid Dynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism

APPLICABLE: Optimisation, Probability, Statistics