Michael

Hi, I'm Michael! I am a part-time tutor and have been a biology teacher for nearly 25 years. I started my career as a medical researcher but transitioned to teaching because I enjoyed undergraduate tutoring in seminars much more than the actual laboratory work! This proved to be a great decision, and I feel just as passionate now about biology and teaching, as when I first entered the profession.

Tutoring Experience

I have taught Biology for nearly 25 years and this has covered GCSE, IGCSE, A-level and IBDP. I was a Senior A-level Biology examiner for 7 years in the UK, and have been an IB Biology examiner for the last 8 years. I am currently Head of Biology at a private international school.

Tutoring Approach

I consider myself a very good listener and will first ensure that each session is tailored specifically to your needs. I fully appreciate that different students learn best in different ways and use a variety of strategies to cater for all. My experience has also taught me the most common ‘stumbling blocks’ and misconceptions in specific biology topics. I pride myself on being able to break down complex ideas into smaller, much more manageable chunks. After each of these, I will always check your understanding, before moving on to the next part. I also appreciate the importance of creating a relaxed but professional learning environment. It is so important that you feel comfortable asking questions, being honest if you still don’t understand something, and are not afraid to make mistakes (they are an important part of learning!).

Of course, learning subject content is just one part of exam preparation. The other is exam technique. I have over 15 years of experience as an A-level Biology examiner and 8 years of experience as an IB Biology examiner (HL). This has enabled me to see, ‘first-hand’, the most common mistakes made in specific biology topics. Similarly, I appreciate the most common ways in which marks are lost in exams, due to poor exam technique. I will be ‘weaving’ all of this into our online sessions, to unlock your full potential.

The most important things to me are that you enjoy learning in our sessions, and go away feeling fully confident about what you have just learned. I have also written a wealth of resources for students at my school including concise revision notes for IGCSE and IB Biology; exam-style questions and mark schemes; tips on exam technique, and many tailor-made assessments using Quizizz! and Kahoot! I will, of course, share all resources with you.