Ruby
University of Oxford
History and German
3rd Year
2About Me
My name is Ruby and I am a third-year History and German student at St John’s College, Oxford. I have been tutoring since 2019, and have since acquired experience in a variety of subjects for a range of abilities. From 11+, 13+ and university entrance tests, to GCSE and A-Level German and History, to general confidence boosting, I am happy to cater to the individual needs of every student. I strive to produce engaging, interactive sessions which inspire a genuine desire to learn and a strong work ethic. My main interests are twentieth and nineteenth century global history, particularly WW1, WW2, the Cold War, the Russian Revolution, German Unification and European imperialism, the Tudors and the Victorians. I also have a lot of experience teaching the 13+ scholarship exams for Eton and Harrow, as well as the HAT Oxford entrance test, and enjoy focusing on historical sources to explore the past.
My teaching style
I use a hybrid teaching style combining short lectures on the main question, topic or theme of the session with more interactive quizzes and exam style questions. For those older students preparing for GCSEs, A-Levels or entrance tests, my focus is on using past papers, coming up with essay plans and practicing writing under timed conditions. For younger students, I often use the whiteboard function to allow them to get involved, and switch between activities to ensure learning does not feel repetitive. I am flexible with homework depending on the student, and can adapt this to your specific needs.
My past experience
I first began tutoring in 2019 for an 11+ tutoring company based in Birmingham (11 Plus Tuition). This was in real life and involved much younger students in larger groups, with a broad range of abilities. I then began private one-on-one sessions or GCSE and general support throughout school, particularly in English and Maths. I have since expanded my subjects to include History and German A-Level and GCSE, MLAT and HLAT, private school scholarship exams (Eton and Harrow), personal statement advice and interview practice. My class sizes range from one to ten students and ages six to seventeen.
My Proudest Achievements
One of my proudest achievements was achieving a Special Commendation in the R.A.Butler Prize run by Trinity College, Cambridge, for a History and Politics Essay. Not only did I enjoy this independent research and writing, it taught me a lot about the importance of trying and applying for competitive and challenging things. Writing alongside my school studies, this took a lot of self-determination and self-discipline.
Aside from this, I am proud of myself for getting into Oxford. As my school did not provide huge levels of support, I had to use my own initiative to prepare myself to get in.
I teach
- MLAT
- HAT
My Results and Achievements
- A*A*A* at A-Level
- Achieved 9 9s and 2 8s at GCSE
- A* in EPQ