9th October 2015 2:00
By Blue Tutors
The principal role of a private tutor is to bolster their students’ understanding of their subject, and prepare them for exams where necessary. For the most part, this means that they will specialise in one subject, honing their students’ skills and ensuring that they have the understanding and experience to succeed in that subject academically. Yet because private tutors work one to one with their students, they are often called upon to give advice about broader academic matters. One of the key decisions students have to make is what subjects to take at A level and university, and this is a decision which many tutors want to discuss with their tutors.
Because tutors tend to specialise in one subject, it may be tempting for them to encourage students to follow in their footsteps. However, it is often the case that a tutor is hired precisely because a student in struggling in a particular subject, meaning that it may not be the best choice for them to continue it. When advising students about subject selection it is important for tutors to keep an open mind. Helping students select their A level choices entails considerable responsibility as this can affect their options later on. Tutors should ensure that their students select subject in which they will thrive, but will also leave the right doors open for them when it comes to university applications.
A tutor is in a good position to point out the best subjects to take when applying for different university courses, and can often give better advice than many schools do. The question of what subject students should apply for at university if more difficult. It is extremely important that it is something that the student will enjoy and excel at, but it also behoves tutors to ask their students to consider their plans for after university too. This can feel like a long way ahead but, whilst students don’t necessarily need to know what it is they want to do yet, it is important that they not close any doors either. Discussing options in advance with a tutor is often a good way for students to think through what they want for their next step.