Ruth
About Me
I am a recent biology graduate from the University of Oxford and have been teaching for the last 5 years. Having studied and lived in a number of countries, including the UK, New Zealand, and Finland, I approach life and learning with an open mind. I studied GCSEs and A-levels (Spanish, Chemistry, Biology, and EPQ) at a grammar school in the UK, as well as NCEA level 3 at a school in New Zealand.
I love nature, the outdoors, languages, and problem-solving – which works well for me as a Biologist exploring tropical ecology with conservation and sustainability. In October I begin my Masters by research at Oxford, which will involve the interdisciplinary integration of Biology, Mathematics, Economics, and Politics in investigating illegal wildlife trade. From explorations of DNA in laboratories of Oxford, to coral reef restoration projects in South East Asia, my scientific approach has taken me all over the world. Outside of Biology, I also have a passion for sports, literature, and languages. I speak Finnish and Spanish, and you will often find me doing adventure sports such as rock climbing and kayaking.
My teaching style
My lessons are designed to be as interactive as possible! As a 22-year-old with experience teaching ages 5-24, I have a flexible approach to tuition, grounded in my own experience which is always tailored to students’ needs. I predominantly work with students on personal statements, EPQs, and interview preparation for Oxbridge, although I also tutor GCSE, A-Level, and IB. I am friendly and fun, and I thoroughly enjoy helping students along their academic journey. I welcome students regardless of age or ability; I have lots of experience, for example, working with dyslexic students. Because each student is different, I spend time getting to know each individual with care, such as to provide them with the best level of teaching that I can. Understanding how different students learn, and the communication style that suits them the best is very important to me. Being a tutor who has just finished their undergraduate in Biology, with my experience with teaching, all of my students find me easy to approach and professional. This fosters an excellent learning environment where we can tackle even the most difficult learning concepts together, all the time encouraging the development of critical thought. I also offer extensive teaching resources to my students, such as an interactive Spanish learning passport, and I set and mark work for students to complete each week. I have a mixed media approach to learning, using visual guides (such as mindmaps and drawings) as well as rote learning platforms (such as memrise), and the use of past papers and interviews as guides. My lessons work well both in-person and online.
My past experience
I have spent the last 5 years tutoring GCSEs, A-Levels, Study Skills, and University Admissions, particularly for Oxbridge. I currently work with a number of students in admissions for Biology at Oxford and Natural Sciences at Cambridge. This involves intensive study skills development, personal statement help, as well as interview and examination preparation. Since 2018 I have been a GCSE and A-level tutor, working privately with students studying Spanish, Biology, and English in AQA, Edexcel, and OCR. I also work with students for the IB. My track record is strong: so far I have improved the average grade of GCSE students by two over respective 3-month periods of tuition, and 4/5 students I tutor in admissions have gained places at Oxford or Cambridge. I also proofread and critically evaluate EPQ projects, which contributes to students’ top grades.
My Proudest Achievements
Probably moving to New Zealand and completing a 2-year course in 6 months! It was tough but I enjoyed the challenge. I celebrated with a bungee jump in Queenstown, which was a feat in itself.
I teach
- Oxbridge Interview
- Med Personal Statement
- Biology
- English
- Spanish
- Extended Project Qualification
- Dent Personal Statement
- Law Statement
- Vet Personal Statement
- English Literature
- Chemistry
- Maths
My Results and Achievements
- 98/100 marks for EPQ
- top EPQ score in year
- offer from Bristol
- offer from Bath
- offer from St Andrews
- offers from Oxford
- Distinction in Biology
- Distinction in Spanish
- Distinction in Chemistry
- 5th in year for finals at Oxford
- offers from Cambridge