Students taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma benefit from the broader curriculum. But, for most pupils, certain subjects prove tougher than others. As exam time approaches, nerves start to fray, and the task of revision can be daunting.
That is where Duc Luu comes in. The chief executive of The Edge Learning Center specialises in test preparation courses to bring students up to standard in their weaker subjects, and give them the confidence to perform to the best of their ability in each exam.
'I see it as a marriage of needs,' says Luu, who has been running the business for more than three years and, previously, worked as a private tutor. 'At any school, students can fall through the cracks, and teachers may or may not have time to give extra help.'
Tutoring courses are tailor-made in terms of length and class size. They may extend over several months with twice-a-week classes or involve a few intensive days during the Easter holidays. Some are for individuals, others for small groups, whose members may not necessarily come from the same school.
Importantly, Luu says, each course is specific to the exam and curriculum. The purpose is to improve students' academic understanding, not to offer 'tips and tricks', he says. However, there is a fairly scientific focus on what students most need to know.
'Take physics as an example,' Luu says. 'There is a certain spectrum [of information] you must know for the exam, with a certain weighting. If you know those areas, you can prepare more efficiently.'
