Mathematics is all around us and without it, we would be lost. The subject is so crucial to our adult lives that we are taught it from an early age, and by primary school, it becomes a mandatory subject that sticks with us well into tertiary education.
The IP programme is a unique path offered by top secondary schools, allowing academically strong students to bypass the typical ‘O’ Level examinations at the end of Secondary 4, shooting straight for the ‘A’ Levels or IB exams after the six-year programme.
IP math prepares students to transition from secondary to tertiary mathematics, and eventually, the workforce. While it shares some similarities to the ‘O’ Level exam topics, it is more rigorous and demanding as it will teach students mathematics at a higher level.
Overview of Our IP Math Tutoring Services
Integrated Programme Mathematics
At Private Tutor SG’s IP Math, we will cover more advanced topics than the standard curriculum, going into greater depth and breadth at an accelerated pace. We’ll promote a more holistic, thorough understanding of advanced mathematics, providing loads of real-world applications of concepts and enhancing critical thinking skills.
With the flexibility of personalising lesson plans to suit the needs of students, our tutors routinely encourage students to explore and go deeper into more complex mathematical concepts on their own. All this with the key focus of building a solid foundation, allowing the student to master more complex principles, and ultimately, preparing the student for their ‘A’ Level or IB exams.
Secondary School Mother Tongue
Knowledge of a second language is a privilege, and thankfully, the Singapore school syllabus makes us all effectively bilingual. Whether students choose to learn Chinese, Malay, or Tamil, the Mother Tongue is a crucial subject that plays a vital role in teaching and preserving culture and a sense of community. In secondary school, the curriculum becomes more advanced and focuses on higher levels of language proficiency including comprehension, essay writing skills, literature, and cultural appreciation.
Some students might experience difficulties with the more complex language lessons, especially if they speak predominantly English with their family and friends. Our team of experienced language tutors can help bridge knowledge gaps and promote a better understanding of the language and culture!
Our Private IP Math Tutors
The Private Tutor SG family of teaching professionals come from all walks of life. Armed with a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, most of our tutors that teach high levels like JC and IP math also have post-graduate qualifications such as Master’s or PhDs.
In addition, tutors are closely evaluated on teaching methodologies, proven track records, adaptability, and attitudes to ensure that they provide their students with the best possible education. In addition, we also value soft skills like empathy, patience, and kindness and take pride in matching each and every one of our students with the perfect tutor.
Educational Philosophy and Approach
Our Educational Philosophy and Approach for IP Math Tutoring
We pride ourselves in providing all our students with an engaging and supportive environment for them to be their best.
At Private Tutor SG, we believe that each student has the potential and capacity to excel in any given subject when given the right guidance, motivation, and resources. Our student-centric approach starts from the moment we receive information about current knowledge levels, learning styles, and any challenges faced, and we would use that information to find the perfect tutor to suit each individual.
Then, the tutor will customise a lesson plan to go back to basics and fill any existing gaps in knowledge, ensuring that the student thoroughly understands each concept before advancing to more difficult topics. We also understand that each student learns differently, and a style of teaching that is suitable for most isn’t necessarily suitable for all. That’s why our tutors are trained to identify the unique learning styles of each student and tailor their teaching methods accordingly.
Why Have Private IP Math Tuition
Common Challenges In IP Math
As mentioned in another section, one key difference between ‘O’ Level math and IP math is that the IP programme doesn’t have ‘O’ Levels, which means that students are not exposed to taking a major exam, unlike the other secondary students. This often leads them to become complacent and unmotivated, which can jeopardise the performance when it finally comes down to ‘A’ Level year.
The key to mitigate this is to administer regular tests and practice exams, which can help a student experience academic success while continuing to prepare for their ‘A’ Levels.
Math, like many other subjects, is extremely difficult to pick up again once you’ve fallen behind and lack certain fundamental principles. If there were knowledge gaps or weaknesses in previous stages like lower secondary math, moving on to more complex principles would be extremely stressful for the student, and they would not make much sense of the current classes in school.
Not understanding or following their math classes in school can lead to a student becoming discouraged and completely unmotivated. The key here is to go back to basics and ensure a strong, solid foundation before moving on to more difficult principles.
IP Math isn’t a walk in the park, and some concepts can be difficult to visualise and even harder to understand. Without real-world examples and applications, students often fail to grasp the significance of the topics and relate it to daily life.
One solution is to help students understand difficult concepts and how it would help us in real-life situations by applying theoretical knowledge to solving practical problems. A few examples would be to use geometry to explain building and engineering, or statistics in understanding the stock market or card games.
If a student learns purely from school classes, the learning materials like practice tests and past exam papers are limited to that particular school. In addition, the notes that a student needs to advance in the subject is also acquired from only one source of information: the school teacher.
By broadening their perspectives and exposing students to materials from multiple sources like the other top IP schools in Singapore, each student can obtain a more well-rounded education and be better prepared to face a wide range of challenges in classes, exams, and eventually, the ‘A’ Levels.