Can online Maths tutoring actually help you get an A?

By Russell Greenhill

Founder & CEO @ Greenhill Academics

Oxford Master’s Graduate • 8+ Years Maths Tutoring Experience

Gleb needed an A in Maths to get into Durham. Here’s how he made it happen

A few months after getting a 9 at GCSE Maths, Gleb found himself falling behind in the same class that he was top of just a few months earlier. This was not normal for him. he was intelligent, but the transition to A levels is notoriously difficult. He was losing confidence and knew he had to act quickly to make sure the distance between his knowledge and what was required of him didn’t get too large. 

The pressure was mounting, as was the content that Gleb didn’t understand. Having worked with Greenhill Academics previously for GCSEs, he knew that he could seek help from one of our tutors when he needed. We created a plan to get him back on track and these were the results.

Why is A Level Maths so hard (especially post-GCSE)?

After 8 years of tutoring Maths and founding Greenhill Academics, which has seen hundreds of students asking for exam help, I can say confidently it’s completely normal to find the jump from GCSE to A Level surprisingly difficult. It catches many students out. At GCSEs, it’s possible to succeed with strong pattern recognition and good exam technique, however, at A Level there are far higher demands.

It’s vital that students fully understand the fundamentals since this is the foundation for trickier content. Students are expected to work more independently at A Levels and make connections across topics.

For students such as Gleb, who achieved top marks at GCSE, this transition can feel especially disorienting. When you’re used to being at the top of your class, struggling suddenly can knock your confidence hard. Topics such as proofs require algebraic fluency as a prerequisite. If you fall behind early, it’s difficult to catch up without support. That’s why many students who thrive at GCSE realise they need a new strategy to succeed at A Level.

So what was his Maths tutoring strategy?

How many hours of tutoring were needed to improve his Maths?

Gleb’s tutoring plan evolved with the academic year. He began with weekly 2-hour sessions to build a strong foundation. He found that routine and consistency was important in the learning process. As exam season approached, he increased to two, or sometimes three sessions per week. He found that as the intensity of his school work increased, so did the need for regular support from tutors. The flexibility of Greenhill Academics meant Gleb could scale his support exactly when he needed it.

Does online tutoring work for Edexcel A Level Maths?

Gleb was preparing for the Edexcel A Level Maths specification, which includes Pure Mathematics (Core 1–4), Statistics, and Mechanics. His online tutor was experienced with the exam structure and mark scheme of the exam board, so sessions were targeted on what would actually come up in his exam. Gleb’s tutor worked through the content methodically, and started the past papers early, to ensure he knew everything that was likely to arrive on the day. Gleb maximised the output of each lesson making him feel confident and motivated with the momentum.

How does online tutoring work?

Gleb was at an international school in Europe and had limited access to tutors. He did not have the flexibility that many students have to get an in-person tutor in central London, so instead, he wanted a tutor who had the flexibility to meet with him whenever he had difficulties, especially in the Core 3, Core 4, Statistics, and Mechanics components of his Maths exams.

Online tutors are far more consistent than in-person tutors because they are not impacted by travel and can fit more students in without compromising on the quality of the lessons. The lessons could happen very quickly, as soon as the challenges arose, since there was no travel friction to meet with the tutor. If there was homework to submit to the tutor, it could be submitted on the Maths Tutor’s webpage, ready to go through in subsequent online maths classes.

Online tutoring gave Gleb the flexibility and speed he couldn’t find locally. Living abroad at an international school meant access to in-person tutors was impossible. Greenhill Academics provided fast lesson support using WhatsApp and an interactive tutoring software called Pencil Spaces. This online solution provided access to Oxbridge educated tutors internationally.

Greenhill Academics has worked with students from the United States, China, Spain, and the UAE, to name a few countries. Every lesson is logged on a shared calendar so there is clear organisation. Every student has access to an instant chat with their lesson success team, which includes the founder, so they know there is always help around when they need it.

What’s the best tutoring schedule to get an A in A Level Maths?

Gleb took full advantage of the flexibility that came with the maths tutor online. He started with weekly 2-hour sessions to build consistency and, towards exam season in the Easter holidays, he met with his tutor twice or three times a week to ensure he covered everything.

He could use the time that he paid for with Greenhill Academics for Economics or Computer Science tutoring so often switched between tutors quickly to ensure he got help across all his A levels.

What A Level Maths resources got Gleb back on track?

Past papers, videos, and topic-based questions will get you an A in Maths. This simple strategy is to do as many questions as possible, and if you don’t know how to do them, you need to get help from wherever you can. Some students get help from parents, friends, or teachers. Many remain stuck and seek help from tutors and that’s why we’re here to help you.

As part of Greenhill Academics’ tutoring service, we provide resources to ensure you get the most outside of your lessons as well as in the lessons. We provide past papers, topic specific question banks, and access to video explanations. There is access to a homework submission portal on each tutor’s page on the website so practice questions are seen prior to lessons. It’s very common, as was in the case for gleb, that past papers are the most useful for exam preparation. Gleb’s most effective strategy was completing exam papers in between the lessons and going through his mistakes with his tutor.

Gleb’s results speak for themselves. He’s now studying at Durham

When the day came for Gleb to open his results, he knew that he’d given everything to get the grades he needed. After months of studying, tutoring, and consistent hard work, he achieved the grades A*A*A with an A in Mathematics to secure a place to study Computer Science at Durham University. His story is proof that despite initially struggling to make the transition to A Levels from GCSE Maths, he came out with a result that he was proud of, ultimately achieving his goal of studying at Durham, a Russell Group University.

Get the grades you need to get into university

Gleb worked exceptionally hard to get A*A*AA at university to study Computer Science at Durham University.