Physics Graduate from the University of Cambridge, offering physics and Maths tutoring for A Level and for BMO/BPho

Find out more about Sanjith

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I never really had a strong passion for Mathematics and Physics until I was 15. I realised that I could grasp concepts and think through problems a lot quicker than my peers and I became very fond of problem-solving and started to enjoy learning a lot more. I spent quite a lot of time thinking through these problems and trying to make sense of them, I was then able to explain them to my friends. This is where I decided to dip my toes into tutoring, I started to understand how students can misunderstand, how they can make mistakes and how to correct them.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach everything to do with Mathematics and Physics from a pre-university perspective. I'm happy to discuss and teach everything from GCSE to A-level in the syllabus. My favourite topic to teach is calculus as students usually have a huge chunk of misunderstandings with this topic so it's always very interesting to try and tackle them and show them a new perspective.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  In my later years of school, the teaching got considerably worse, I mostly had to rely on self-teaching myself the syllabus. However, I had a tutor called Lewis for a short time who was at the time in his 1st year at the University of Cambridge. I really enjoyed my time going through problems with him, I could see myself getting better and the sessions were slowly turning away from lessons, and more so like a discussion. It felt very nice for someone to accurately judge my ability whilst putting in the effort to help me improve and I always appreciated it.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Listening. Really listen to your students and let them make mistakes. Tutors can get so carried away and start answering the problems themselves. Also being patient is very essential, not everyone picks up concepts and understands as quick as someone else, people learn at their own pace and a tutor should be able to accommodate this. Really persevering and finding the misunderstanding is key in helping students improve their ability.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I used to have a friend who I'd go through problems with in school, I noticed he was actually better than me at going through deeper problems and going through a deeper thought process. I would make sure I'd never overlook a problem with him because I knew he would have an insightful way of looking at things and I'd always learn something and I would never turn down the opportunity to figure more things out..

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or are still facing in your subject?

  I've always struggled with concepts that are abstract without any sign of motivation because I've always found it difficult to simply accept things as they are without any reason. Concepts in general relativity for example, I struggle heavily with as a lot of the mathematics with topology is very abstract.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  Teaching is a passion of mine but I have had many other passions such as music (I used to play the piano regularly) and football.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  A keen individual that simply wants to help and encourage students in Mathematics and Physics, and is willing to put in the time and effort to guide these students forward.