Many students in Singapore may not have realised it, but they have been introduced to chemistry at an early age in school. The Singaporean Ministry of Education has ensured that students starting from lower secondary school learn some form of chemistry as part of their science curriculum.
When students take their O Levels, they encounter a subject called Chemistry. In the O Levels qualification in Singapore, students are required to study combined sciences, which consists of three components, one of which is chemistry. When you move on to the A levels part of your studies, you will have a dedicated chemistry subject if you decide to take it. Chemistry, as you might already know, is a subject that most students find difficult. It is not easy to understand what more master’s and scores are; more often than not, this is why students overlook and exclude this subject from their list of electives. We know this subject is challenging because it is not the horror that most students think it is. With the correct attitude and with some help from a tutor, this subject is something that is easily manageable. In fact, you might find that this subject is enjoyable.
We understand that you will need all the help you need when it comes to this subject, which is why we highly suggest getting a chemistry tutor to help you with your subject. However, you might be confused about how to pick a good tutor. In order to be successful in your subject, you will need to look for certain characteristics in your tutor, as this is what will ensure that you enjoy yourself while learning this interesting subject.
Discover the Reasons to Study Chemistry
The most important thing when it comes to choosing a chemistry tutor is to know what are your reasons for studying the subject. This might seem like the most inconsequential question, but you will be surprised at the power it holds once you figure it out.
Are you studying chemistry to merely score the best grade? Or are you studying chemistry because you are interested in learning about it? Are you an adult who never learnt chemistry but has always been curious about it?
These questions will determine what exactly you need when it comes to hiring a tutor. You might be surprised to learn that there are adults who pick up this subject later in life for various reasons, so passing the subject is not the only reason.
When you understand your reasoning for taking this subject, you will be able to understand why you should study chemistry. Are you passionate about a specific career field in chemistry? For example, are you interested in becoming a toxicologist, where you get to evaluate the risks and benefits of certain substances’ and find strategies for managing the risks?
The truth is, one of the most popular reasons students pick up chemistry is the prospects they open up for themselves in the long run. Chemistry is a subject that is in demand not only within the borders of Singapore but all over the world. If you hold a degree in Chemistry, numerous countries are seeking individuals like you.
The Importance of Qualifications
When looking for a chemistry tutor, you should be aware of their credentials. Simply put, you need to know their qualifications as well as experience when it comes to teaching chemistry. As you know, there are many levels of chemistry. You will have O levels chemistry and A levels chemistry as well as the vast and different chemistry subjects and courses offered in universities. The tutor you choose will need experience in the specific topic you are learning at that point. Hiring a tutor who only has A-level expertise will not be able to help you much if you are looking for someone to help you with your university subject. Likewise, a university-level chemistry tutor will not be a good fit if you are looking for someone to help you with your O-level chemistry.
We ask you to ensure that the tutor you are hiring has the credentials because that essentially means that they are qualified and have the required knowledge to help you understand your chemistry syllabus. You do not want to spend precious time and money on a tutor who is unable to teach you at the depth that is required as per your syllabus or, even worse, teaching you the wrong thing altogether.
A tutor with more experience in teaching and tutoring will also tend to be pricier in terms of lesson cost, but you can rest assured that their years of experience will be reflected in their lesson plan as well as their skills.
Exploring Aims and Goals for Taking Chemistry Lessons
One of the first things you should list is your goals for hiring a chemistry tutor. Are you looking to understand a particular topic or need help with your overall syllabus? Some students need someone to help them improve their grades. These are all legitimate and understandable reasons to hire a tutor. The reason we say you should identify the reason before you go looking for a chemistry tutor is because each of these reasons requires a different approach from your tutor. A person who just needs clarification on certain topics will need a different lesson approach than someone who wants to increase their overall score. When you have all of these identified and written down, you will be able to find a tutor that is more specifically suitable for your needs. When you approach and speak to your chemistry tutor, you will be able to identify and express your specific needs, and based on their replies and study plan, you will know if they are a good fit for your needs.
A good tutor is someone who will take the time to listen to your concerns and make an effort to understand what you are looking for by taking chemistry lessons from them. By all means, avoid tutors who are dismissive and refuse to listen to you, and instead, have their own set of lesson plans. As a student, you know that one lesson plan fits all is not the way to go and can be detrimental to your growth as well as your grade in this subject. You do not want to waste your time or money learning something that you don’t need help with.
What is Your Budget for Hiring a Chemistry Tutor?
In a perfect world, the cost of hiring a chemistry tutor should not play an important role when choosing one, but this is not the truth for many people. As a student, you are not only spending the bulk of your money on your education but also on the different classes you are taking for the various subjects you are learning. More often than not, money is a restrictive factor that you cannot ignore.
As you might already know, hiring a chemistry tutor is generally more expensive compared to many other subjects out there. This is because in order to teach this subject, you will need to have a very specific skill and knowledge. Just any person can’t teach chemistry. That would be an absolute disaster. There are, of course, many ways to cut costs when it comes to hiring a chemistry tutor.
You can always consider someone who has the qualifications but less experience. Just because someone does not have extensive teaching chemistry does not automatically mean they are people who are not good at tutoring. Famous chemistry tutors who are highly sought after started at one time as newbies, and this is no different from those tutors with less experience. Choosing someone with less experience will also mean that they will be down to earth, more understanding, and empathetic towards your struggles in understanding and mastering this subject.
Another option you can consider is hiring a university student as a tutor. Although a university student tutor tends to cost less, they are people with a more current knowledge of chemistry. Just like you, they were once students at O-level or A-level, or they have taken the specific subject you are struggling with. They tend to be more emphatic and can find solutions to help you understand chemistry better. They draw from their own experience to help students, which can be extremely helpful.
If you are looking for a good chemistry tutor, you should consider hiring one of the tutors listed on Superprof. Superprof has tutors for a variety of hobbies and subjects. All you will need to do is head over to our platform and begin your search. One thing you will appreciate about our platform is its ease of use and navigation. All you need to do is key in what you are looking for.
For example, if you are looking for a chemistry tutor near me, all you will need to do is key in chemistry and set your location closest to me. From here, our platform will provide you with a list of all the chemistry tutors who are closest to you. You can easily go into the tutor’s specific profiles, and from there, you will be able to view their list of credentials, which includes their background, experience and qualifications. On top of these, you will be able to view the reviews fellow students have given them. This gives you a unique insight into how the tutors are and enables you to make an informed decision.
We have tutors who can meet all your expectations. For example, if you are looking for A-level chemistry tuition, we have qualified and verified tutors who can help you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our tutors today!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
