Maths Tutor up to and including A-level mathematics

Hi I'm Alex - a year 13 student at King Edward VI Five Ways.
I got ten 9s in my GCSEs and am currently predicted A* in 4 A-levels, including maths and further maths. I have applied to study maths at university.

I tutor a year 11 student in maths at my school and I also have a sisters in year 11 and year 8, who I help with their studies regularly.

As a student myself, I feel I am able to relate to the experiences of other pupils quite well and enjoy explaining concepts in a clear, easy-to-understand way.

The first thing I do is to determine where the pupils needs support.
Then I break them down for the pupil, ensuring that they have full understanding every step of the way. I believe that this clear understanding of what is happening is crucial for 2 reasons:

1. It means that the pupil is able to apply their knowledge to answer any questions that come up in the exam, rather than only being able to answer questions that they've memorised techniques for

2. Maths is not just about being able to answer questions. It is about developing problem solving skills, which are applicable for the rest of a person's life. Problem solving can only be done if a clear understanding is attained.

Once the pupil is happy that they understand the topic, we move on to exam questions. I tend to go through the first couple of questions with the student just to ensure that they know what's happening. I then set the pupil a few more questions, which I mark. If they've gone well, we move onto the next area they want more support in. Otherwise, I explain it in a different way and go through the process of answering exam questions again.
In later sessions, I will set the occasional question on a previously-covered topic because frequently returning to it will make it stick in the pupil's memory memory much better.