19th September 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The A’ Level results are in, and many students are looking forward to starting their first term at University. Starting a new course requires a lot of preparation, and students are currently stocking up on all the things they will need for their new life, including course books and living essentials. Many students will also have received a course outline and reading list for their new studies, which may have left them feeling a little anxious.
Most students feel some concern over moving away from home and making new friends. And some also become aware that they may experience difficulties making the jump from A’ Level to the rigor of a university degree course. A’ Levels do not demand the kind of extended writing that Arts degrees require, and Science students may find that their Maths is not up to the level required by their course. Some universities actually require new students to brush up on their skills in certain areas as a condition of their acceptance.
In the past, the most common level at which people decide to hire a private tutor has been for their GCSEs and A’ Levels, yet increasingly students are finding that a private tutor can help them way beyond school. Tutors are not just for children, but can provide a private and assessment-free arena in which older students can brush up on their skills and ask questions they might otherwise not be willing to get help with from their university teachers. They can also benefit from an environment in which they can discuss their subject at length, with a tutor near their own age who has recently studied the subject themselves.