Sebastian

Hi! I’m Seb, an Oxford tutor here to help you (or your child) succeed in maths and/or physics. I currently tutor mathematics and mechanical engineering at the University of Oxford, where I'm doing a PhD. I also have a lot of other teaching experience (see below). As someone who didn’t take an interest in science until my A-levels, I know what it’s like to struggle with motivation. I would love to help you come to appreciate maths and physics the way I did, through understanding key concepts and seeing their application to the real world. This enthusiasm helped me get a First-Class degree from Oxford and become a scholar of Materials Science. I am passionate about higher education and am considering making a career out of it after my PhD.

Tutoring Experience

As a university tutor, I help undergraduate students take concepts from maths and mechanics (maths/physics) far beyond what they learned at A-level. I also lecture students at the university for a new foundation year programme. The programme bridges the gap helping A-level students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for an Oxford degree. When teaching, I go the extra mile. In 2023, I was awarded an Associate fellowship of the Higher Education Academy which I currently hold. In addition to this, I have experience tutoring students privately and supply teaching in Swedish high schools, teaching maths, science, and English (I did this in between my terms as a student from 2016-18). My role ranged from full responsibility for classes of up to 30 students to working with small groups and helping students on an individual level. All this is to say that I am able to pitch my teaching to a wide range of abilities, whether they are struggling with GCSEs, or high-flying A-level students aiming for the best universities in the world. I can teach students at a level they can understand but can go beyond the standard A-level syllabus if needed.

I also decided to get an examiner's perspective to help me in my teaching, so I marked British Physics Olympiad Papers (BPhO) in late 2020 on behalf of the Physics department at Oxford. The Olympiad is a paper that involves concepts from A-level physics and maths, but the questions are far more difficult than standard exams. I also have helped out at the official Oxford UNIQ summer school, and have given a lecture for Opportunity Oxford (with very positive feedback) to help incoming students from disadvantaged backgrounds settle in. In addition to all this, I informally tutored fellow undergraduates throughout my degree, earning the nickname ‘tutor Seb’.

Tutoring Approach

I know from first-hand experience that a true understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts goes a long way. It simultaneously makes learning more enjoyable and helps students answer exam questions with confidence. To help maximise grades, I can break down the syllabus into subtopics, spending more time on parts the student struggles with. I also intermittently review topics to keep the student ready for the exam. I put in time outside of the tutorial to think of how best to convey topics, to make the most of the time spent tutoring.

I use active learning methods when teaching, helping the student think through problems rather than just giving them the answer (this has proven comprehension benefits). In addition to this, my teaching can be tailored to each exam syllabus. I will happily make bespoke lessons depending on which exam board the student has to ensure they are learning effectively.

As a PhD student, I also see the application of mathematical and scientific concepts to the real world. Sharing this with students helps them see the point in learning what often seems like abstract topics and gives them a new appreciation for their subject.

If you want to know more or have any questions, please contact me to organise a free consultation session.