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Will you increase tutoring hours to help DC pass maths GCSE?

27 replies

Californiansun · 29/09/2026 15:42

DS struggles with maths, works well with tutor but not so well alone; he said he finds it hard. It is disheartening to see. Thinking of increasing tutoring hours? We can afford it.

Maybe I am going to have to learn the topics to help them; but I didn’t grow up in England and sometimes methodology are different.

Current teacher at school isn’t good (confirmed by other parents too)

Any words of wisdom and encouragement would be appreciated.

Last Mock was a 2.

OP posts:
clary · 29/09/2026 16:02

The way to do well at maths GCSE is to practise. First identify which areas are strong, then which are weak. Work on those areas through practise questions – past papers or other sources online.

The tutor will help I am sure but they can only do so much – DS needs to work on this outside tutoring hours. Is he set HW by the tutor? Does he complete that?

A good method I have found (by accident! but it is a real thing) is called body doubling – if a YP is struggling to focus, you sit in the room with them – at the same table maybe but not looking at them or checking their work. You are just working on something – your emails, the car insurance, your blog – alongside them and it gives them a calm atmosphere and the idea that it is OK to sit and concentrate for an hour.

Californiansun · 29/09/2026 15:46

Just to add that they are doing well in other subjects, 5s and 6s

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