Interview With an Expert: Senior Maths Tutor Ryan

Maths is one of our most frequently requested tuition subjects. So, we thought it would be fitting to speak with one of our top maths tutors, Ryan, on how he got started specialising in teaching maths, and some of his best advice for students struggling with the subject. 

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Ryan is one of our most senior tutors, with years of experience teaching through both tutoring and in international schools, and specialises in GCSE level maths. However, he is still an expert on the entire UK maths curriculum! Ryan’s expertise has seen students gain an average of at least 2 grades following tuition, with some students achieving even better results!

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Can you tell us about your background and how you got started in tutoring?

When I was at university at LSE, I volunteered at a homework catch-up club near where I lived on the weekend for disadvantaged children. It was very rewarding to see how much I could help them in maths and from there I would go on to tutor students 1-1. 

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What do you find most rewarding about tutoring maths? 

I like seeing students progress from not knowing where to start on a question to taking initiative and solving it by themselves. There can be a lot of fear and negativity around the subject if a student always struggles with maths, but if I can guide them to the answer without giving it to them, then it is very rewarding to hear them think about finding the solution in their own way and seeing them build confidence in themselves.

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Are there any particular difficulties students face when switching to the UK education system from another country’s system? 

It will always be the maths vocabulary and when there are heavy-worded questions that international students will initially struggle to decipher. But due to the repetitive style of questioning in maths, the majority of international students pick up patterns in the questioning and are able to comprehend them quite quickly. 

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What advice do you have for students preparing for maths exams, particularly for GCSEs or A-levels? 

Maths is a very “predictable” subject with only a few surprises in the exams where you have to think a little harder. With small consistent steps (rather than cramming near the end) you can go a long way towards achieving success. I encourage students to practise problems frequently, even if it's for only 5-10 minutes per day. The repetition in solving similar questions consistently will build a lot of confidence and preparation for the real exam.   

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What advice would you give to parents looking to support their children in maths at home? 

There are a lot of topics in maths and it can be overwhelming to know exactly what is going on not just for a student but for a parent also! 

If parents can have a general understanding that Maths is comprised of 4 main topics (Numbers, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics) and discuss with their children and school teacher or tutor how their progress is in each group, it could make it more personal and the student can feel a bit more supported.  

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Are there any particular apps, websites, or textbooks you recommend to students for additional practice?

MathsGenie is a great website resource for covering all topics in IGCSE/A-Level. I also love to use corbettmaths as this website has excellent differentiated questions as you work through the worksheets. 

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Do you have any fun/ funny stories from tutoring you can share with us:

Nothing specifically funny, but a lot of international students I have tutored are keen chess players, and I am an avid player myself! Many have challenged me but none have defeated me yet! Sometimes when I notice a student not on the ball in the lesson I will say if they can focus and answer the question correctly then they can play a chess game with me afterwards. This always seems to get them to answer the maths question with full marks! 

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If you're interested in receiving maths help from Ryan, or looking for extra help in any subject, reach out to us here for a tailor-made plan on how we can help improve your or your child's grades.