My last name starts with a Y, so I used to always receive my exam marks after everyone else. Watching my friends reveal their scores and start to smile and laugh, there was always a growing sense of dread within me, and I would keep my exam paper face down for as long as possible to delay the inevitable.

I knew I was smart enough — as someone who frequently did Olympiad math and sciences — and I sure did my fair share of practice questions. But rank 120/158 for a Y11 math exam? What was going wrong?

What I realised was that by simply emulating the study habits and methods of my peers, I was falling behind in the syllabus content. You see, I never went to tutoring, which as you may imagine in James Ruse was an anomaly. Therefore, I was baited into jumping straight to past papers before developing a solid foundation.

So what did I change?

I let go of the mindset of “Oh yeah, I’ll get the hang of this concept easily enough by doing papers, I don’t need to revisit it”, and started to build a deep and robust understanding of fundamental concepts.

In Chemistry and Physics, I harnessed my curiosity and genuine enjoyment to investigate concepts and rules — not just understanding when they happen, but WHY and HOW.

By the HSC, I was untangling tricky concepts for my friends who said that the large tutoring centers they go to failed to go beyond surface level explanations.

This is how I consistently ranked in the top 10 for Physics tasks, with full marks for all depth studies and a Trials mark of 95%. My math marks were also catapulted from being doubtful of getting into 4U, to consistently ranking in the top 15 for each Extension 2 exam.

How can I help you?

• In depth and intuitive explanations: I don’t simply believe in brute memorisation and handwaving concepts. I know how important it is to have someone to answer all your questions, no matter how simple or advanced, because curiosity breeds real understanding. I won’t hesitate to break down complex topics and concepts into digestible and understandable chunks, making sure students understand the why and not just the

• Firsthand experiences: I know and have been through the times when I just can’t seem to wrap my head around something. And I know how to curate explanations that can cast light on even the most difficult questions. Furthermore, after thousands of practice questions, I am familiar with all the intricacies of the syllabus and the little things that may be the difference between losing 1 mark or achieving a state rank.
• 1 on 1 anytime help: Got a question nagging you before the exam? Need guidance on homework? I am able to review your work and answer any questions you send through outside of class hours.