Ilya

Tutoring Experience

Over four years of experience with:

- TSA and Oxford admissions tutoring. All my students have been invited to interview, and many are studying at Oxford now. I have helped students achieve offers in PPE and E&M.

- GCSE and A Level Maths tutoring. Many of my students have seen their results increase by two grades or more.

Tutoring Approach

I think tuition is most effective when it is tailored and sensitive to the particular needs of the student. I’ll always start off by asking what the student hopes to get out of our sessions, and what areas they feel need the most work.

For admissions tests, understanding what each question wants of you is key. Together, my students and I pick questions apart in detail, figuring out exactly what’s being asked and what strategies and approaches are best. For passage-based questions, I teach students how to break down a passage and identifying its key components, and then using this to answer the several kinds of question which come up. We also discuss exam strategies, effective timing, and anything else the student is unsure about.
With other subjects, I start by working to make sure the student fully understands the concepts and layout of the topic. Then we look at particular questions and discuss how these concepts can be applied to answer the question. I have students complete sample exam questions, and we go through them and correct or improve them together.

For essays, including TSA essays, I go over practice essays students write for me, working on grammar, style, and argumentation. I also teach my students techniques to ensure that their writing is clear, transparent and well-structured at all times.