Can a History Tutor help?

[HeynowHannah]

Hi; my daughter's A level history marks have dropped since her AS grades ( where she got over 90%).

I've suggested a tutor, but she is resistant, saying you can't tutor for history. As she has a maths tutor and requested one, I'm wondering if she's right.

Can anyone offer me some advice? Thanks.

I would say it would depend what the issue is? If it's exam technique/confidence building then a tutor could help but if she understands the content and knows what to do then essentially she just needs to learn it. However if she is finding it difficult to grasp then a tutor could help with this too.

I say this as a philosophy teacher rather than history but similar principles I would say.

Not a history teacher but studied the subject beyond A level. AS to A2 is a big jump in terms of structuring and students continuing to use GCSE style essay structure can do reasonably well at AS but find themselves in a bit of a mess by A2. Last year I worked with an A2 student the week before the final exam and just by addressing the way in which the student was structuring their answers, they went from a C to an A in the actual exam. A2 history demands a very specific structure, you have to play the game and box tick so to speak, which is totally unrepresentative of degree level. So yes, a tutor can help (assuming this is the issue and it's not a case of her not understanding the content) but you need someone familiar with the current A2 syllabus and writing style, NOT a history student.

Thanks for your advice. I've done a online search for a tutor but can't find one who says they are actually familiar with the current A2 history syllabus.

Are there any established tutor agencies worth contacting, who use current teachers or full time professional up-to-date tutors, rather than the endless 'contact' sites for part-time tutors/ex students?

Depending on the reason for drop in grade I wouldn't automatically be worried. On the unit I teach for example at A2 it is a very different style of answer as the unit tests themes of continuity and change over 100yr period. My students struggle with this at first but by the exam in June they have nailed it. There is still a long time until the A2 exams, especially in comparison with the timing of AS.

Initially I would try and find out if it is technique or knowledge and understanding that is the current issue,. Is it homework or timed class essays that are getting the lower marks. What can the school/college do to help in the first instance?

I'd feel pretty gutted if my students felt they needed tuition without opening a dialogue with me first. Good luck