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Looking for a G.P. or 'O' level English tutor?

Try a trial lesson with us.  We are a group of 4 university graduates (Shaun, Jacob, Clarissa and Shimin) who founded this tuition center.  We give 1-on-1 tutoring as well as tuition classes.  Shaun and Jacob are recent law school graduates, Shimin is an MIT graduate, and Clarissa is an NUS graduate.  We have each tutored many students over the years.  Learn about our program and ourselves.

Why Us?

We Specialize In English

Lots of Teaching Experience

Our Students Perform Well

Affordable Fees

Also...

• We enjoy teaching!  
• As law school graduates, we train you in the writing skills needed to outperform your peers.
• We are NOT an agency selling tutors, we take personal responsibility in teaching you.
• Try a first lesson, see if you like us.  

How We Teach

• For 'A' level students:  We teach GP students argumentative writing techniques and issue analysis skills (to prepare for Paper 1).  For Paper 2, we coach you in critical reading and show you how to break down the passage into understandable parts.  We also show you how to approach the summary and the AQ.  The General Paper is a daunting examination but it is possible to do well if you prepare.  Using methods we learnt in law school, we coach our students to read critically, and to write concisely, articulately, and persuasively.  With an average JC student, we see a notable improvement in grades after about 4 months.

• For 'O' level students:  We tutor students in composition writing and reading comprehension, with the emphasis towards good grammar and sentence structures.  For students who are weaker in English, it is still possible to perform well on Paper 1 if the student learns narrative writing techniques.  For Paper 2, we train the student to break down the passage, identify the call of the question, and then write a grammatically accurate and concise answer.  Paper 3 Oral Examinations follow the same format every year and are relatively easy to prepare for.  We prepare you for different conversation scenarios and train you to speak articulately and expressively. 

Taking the General Paper

 ●   Isn't the General Paper simply more "advanced" English?

Actually, no, it isn't.  The General Paper ('GP') seeks to inculcate "maturity of thought, independent thinking and the proficient use of language".  See http://www.seab.gov.sg/aLevel/2013Syllabus/8807_2013.pdf.  Doing well in GP takes a little more than having fancy vocabluary and organized paragraphs.  The GP presumes you have moderate knowledge about relevant contemporary issues, and, on the premise of that assumption, asks you to (1) identify the call of the question, (2) synthesize arguments both supporting and opposing a hypothetical position, and (3) write an analytical and persuasive discussion of the issue.  If you can do all these (and under time constraints), you are ready for the exam. 

 ●   I don't have much "general" knowledge, can I do Paper 1?

There are several questions with different topics to choose from. Although it helps to have more than one topic to write about. We suggest you read one or two news articles each day to be aware of current events. 

During the examination, some of your peers will be sweating while trying to figure out which of the given composition questions best allows them to regurgitate that model composition they memorized the night before.  This is a dangerous game to play.  Examiners are very good at spotting a memorized composition.  Your results affect a considerable part of your foreseeable future.  Instead, you should be thoughtfully formulating your arguments, putting pen to paper, and walking out of the examination hall knowing you have 'done it'.  You have just submitted a genuine A-grade composition.

 ●   What GP materials are best?

In general, utilizing the materials (compositions and assignments) that you have been issued to work with by your GP teacher is a good way to start.  We also use the 10 year series (now 6-year series) extensively, espeically for weaker students.  For stronger students, we use the "KS Bull" essays, the RJC Examiners' Reports, and FBP's "General Paper Topical Studies Sample Essays".

We have also found the following to be effective and affordable learning materials:
GP Matters (Vol 1 & 2) by Robert Wilks, 2006, ISBN:981-00-4105-5
New Edition GP Power by Robert Wilks, 2007, ISBN:981-00-9494-9
The Essential GP Companion (1 & 2), Strategies to tackle General Paper by Mervyn Blake, ISBN:981-242-746-5

Finally

Whether or not you call us, finding this page already reflects a tangible effort to improve your language skills.  All the best to you.