Choosing to enter JC means taking up the task of completing the A-Level syllabus in preparation for the exams after 2 years, and to do so, students in Singapore may be considering taking up tuition on their respective H2 or H1 syllabus.
Tuition provides different benefits to each student. For me, lessons in school feel insufficient in preparing me for exams, due to the fast pacing of learning that makes it hard to keep up with the content. While fast-paced lessons at school are necessary to ensure that the syllabus is finished when A Levels begin – it is not for everyone, and there are students who could get lost or left behind early in JC year 1. There are also others that may feel lessons in school do not delve into certain topics enough to allow them to feel confident about the content, especially when it comes to application during a strenuous exam situation.
Thus, tuition is a potential path that can be considered to garner better A-level results. Students in Singapore can join group tuition, or start one-to-one tuition if they have the resources to, and learn at an often easier and slower pace. The classroom sizes are smaller, allowing teachers to assist individual students easier. The smaller sizes also allow students, especially the more anxious ones, to ask questions with less fear of judgment. Tuitions often provide additional learning materials such as lesson notes and exercises, that give the students more opportunities to delve deeper into topics while also summarising the topic to the most important points, allowing easy and quick understanding.
If you do choose to begin attending tuition lessons, one vital decision to make would be choosing between group tuition, offered by most tuition centres in Singapore, and one-to-one tuition.
| Group Tuition | One-to-One Tuition | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Generally lower than 1-to-1 tuition | Dependent on level of teacher |
| Travelling distance | Dependent on location of the centre | None, the tutor will travel to the student |
| Classroom size | Often 3-12 | 1 |
| Pacing | Determined by the class | Determined by the student |
| Timing | Mostly fixed | More versatile, based on teacher and student’s availability |
| Finding a class/tutor | Simple | More complicated |
One-to-one tuition allows for more personalised lessons, as the lessons are structured around the student’s needs, though at a heavier expense. Group tuition, meanwhile, is more similar to a classroom setting, allowing students to learn with peers while still getting quality lesson time, at a lower price. As someone learning in group tuition, the lessons still feel individualised as teachers can divide their attention to each student equally, and I still feel comfortable asking questions within the small classroom.
While tuition does not automatically ensure excellent A-level results, the meticulous lessons and dedicated teachers can ensure a student will enter the exam venue feeling much more confident and prepared. With many testimonials and success stories, I believe tuition is a good choice that anyone can consider if needed.