This month I am posting an interview with Sofia, one of my students who recently received A*, A, A in her science A levels and is off to study medicine at her first choice university. Our editor at Local Mums Online interviewed Sofia.
Sofia came to me in year 12 when she was struggling with A-level Chemistry. She was finding the subject challenging and becoming demotivated. I was delighted that after lessons with me Sofia became confident in Chemistry and happy again and even said she enjoys Chemistry!
Sofia talks about her experiences with Science With Confidence below.
Sofia, how did you feel about Chemistry A level in year 12 before you started tuition with Sadia?
Sofia: "I really struggled with Chemistry. I found the amount of content I had to learn overwhelming and the exam questions difficult to tackle. Through this difficulty, I lost interest in the subject and Chemistry became a chore to revise."
What were your thoughts about tuition before you started having lessons?
Sofia: "I questioned how much my understanding could really improve with tuition. I thought Chemistry simply was not for me and no amount of extra help would change that."
When did you first think that a Chemistry tutor might be helpful for you?
Sofia: "When I began to organise my revision in preparation for the real A level exams. The volume of content I needed to learn and go over was incredibly overwhelming. And so, I decided some help directing my revision and being provided with exam questions and tasks specific to my weakest areas would be valuable."
What did you think when you were first introduced to Sadia?
Sofia: "I thought Sadia was lovely. She was kind, encouraging and eager to help me achieve my best. I could tell she was invested in my learning and genuinely enjoyed teaching me. She spent time with me figuring out where I most needed help and explained concepts clearly and passionately. I grew to really look forward to my lesson with her each week!"
How did you find the online lessons with Sadia?
Sofia: "I loved my lessons with Sadia, she made me feel so confident in my Chemistry ability through consistent encouragement and praise, which played a massive role in being able to do well in the final exams. The lessons also provided me with lots of exam practice which looking back, was a game-changer. With Sadia, I worked on my weakest and least favourite topics which, if left to my own devices, I would have neglected. This resulted in me having solid understanding in all areas of the A level course, not just in the topics I enjoyed revising."
How did you find balancing school-work and online tuition?
Sofia: "I did not struggle balancing online tuition and school-work because, as I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed Sadia’s lessons. This meant my weekly lesson felt like a break from my usual independent revision and I looked forward to it each week. Also as my understanding in Chemistry improved with the online lessons, school work became easier and I soon began to enjoy revising Chemistry."
How do you think Sadia’s lessons helped you achieve the A you needed in Chemistry?
Sofia: "Sadia’s lessons undoubtedly gave me my A. Knowing if I didn’t fully understand something in class I could bring it to Sadia and she would give me a clear and in-depth understanding was a huge relief. For A level Chemistry thorough understanding of the scientific concepts is so important in being able to answer exam questions you have not seen before and I believe I would not have achieved the understanding I had without Sadia. Sadia helped me enjoy learning and revising Chemistry and I don’t think I would have been able to succeed without developing this enjoyment. Furthermore, the weekly hour with Sadia gave my revision structure and helped me to plan how I would be able to get through the great volume of content."
What would you say to a student who is considering online science tuition with Sadia?
Sofia: "Sadia’s lessons made A level Chemistry so much more manageable and gave me peace of mind that I would be okay in the final exams, which when you are trying to tackle the nightmare that is A levels, is so valuable. I cannot recommend Sadia highly enough and can confidently say I would not be in the position I am right now without her!"
How did you feel when you received your Chemistry A level result and you knew you had got into your first choice university to study medicine?
Sofia: "The relief that all the hours spent at my desk and all the hard work was worth it felt incredible. I felt on top of the world and so confident and proud of myself. Looking back to where I was a year ago compared to where I am now, I can’t help but smile."
Thank you so much Sofia. It has been such a pleasure to teach you and see you succeed in your goals. Have an amazing time at Uni!
Sofia: Thank you!
Why choose Science with Confidence?
With a PGCE in Science from the prestigious University of Oxford, I have formal teaching qualifications that demonstrate academic excellence and the ability to teach students effectively.
A degree in Chemistry from University College London (UCL) highlights your deep understanding of the subject, giving you a solid foundation in the sciences.
As a practising teacher in a private girls’ school, I am actively engaged in the educational field and committed to my ongoing professional development, which ensures that my teaching practices and subject knowledge remain relevant to current educational standards.
With over 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience, I bring practical knowledge to my role. I am skilled in differentiating my teaching to suit students' individual needs and help them succeed.
My extensive experience marking large volumes of science examination papers has enabled me to understand what examination boards require. I can guide students towards achieving high-level answers that meet these standards.
I am DBS check, so I have undergone the necessary security checks to work with children, reassuring parents and students that I am a trusted and safe professional.
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