Mathematics tutoring

[working class]

I am starting a HNC in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in september, and i'll be honest i am absolutely stting myself now about the maths i am going to be doing.
I have not done any sort of maths in that context since i completed an advanced GNVQ in engineering nearly 9 years ago.

So to help me get upto speed/prepare me for what is install i was thinking of having some tutoring at home prior to the course starting. I have also started reading K.A Stroud's engineering mathematics.

I have found a suitable tutor (i think) simply by googling, but i was wondering is this the best way to go about finding a tutor and preparing myself for what is ahead?
What do they charge on average per hour? Do they do discounts on block booking like driving lessons?

Should also add the college i am going to also run an extra hour at the end of the day to help people who struggle with maths which i will obviously be going to!

Thanks in advance.

[ewenm]

I'd start with just the after-college classes to see if that's enough extra support. If it's not, I'd look for recommendations of further tutoring from the college tutors - they should know who can help you and personal recommendation is always best.

Edit: I did some maths tutoring in my holidays from Uni (was at Cambridge doing a Maths degree) and found it pretty difficult. Finding someone who is good at tutoring is more important than someone with the best qualifications

Edited by ewenm on Thursday 3rd June 22:34

[littlegreenfairy]

I know some maths teachers who do tutoring and they charge about £25-£30 an hour.

The KA Stroud book is a good choice btw.

[cqueen]

I was in the same situation as you. I don't have a lot of cash so I paid a local uni maths student £10/hour to help me. To be honest though it didnt really work because he was too inexperienced. Instead I phoned a tutor agency site. They found me an experienced qualified maths tutor. It was'nt cheap - £26/hour, but worth it. High level Maths requires smart people - who won't work for cheap.

Edited by cqueen on Thursday 3rd June 22:37

[working class]

ewenm said:

I'd start with just the after-college classes to see if that's enough extra support. If it's not, I'd look for recommendations of further tutoring from the college tutors - they should know who can help you and personal recommendation is always best.

Sorry i should of also mentioned, the first day there is going to be a maths test to determine how good/poor the students are at maths, i really dont want to look like a fool (i cant even remember how to do a quadratic equation at the moment) hence why i was going to get some tutoring first.

[working class]

cqueen said:

I was in the same situation as you. I don't have a lot of cash so got paid a local uni maths student £10/hour to help me. To be honest though it didnt really work because he was too inexperienced. instead i phoned a tutor agency site. They found me an experienced qualified maths tutor. was'nt cheap £26/hour, but worth it. High level Maths requires smart people - who won't work for cheap.

Can i ask which website you used please?

[sebhaque]

If I were you I'd go with the college option. It's probably going to be subsidised and therefore cheaper (if you even have to pay for it), and they're going to be teaching you stuff relevant to your course. I had a maths tutor and while I learnt a lot of stuff, it was not really relevant to my course.

Just thought I'd throw thisx out there.

[cqueen]

working class said:

cqueen said:

I was in the same situation as you. I don't have a lot of cash so got paid a local uni maths student £10/hour to help me. To be honest though it didnt really work because he was too inexperienced. instead i phoned a tutor agency site. They found me an experienced qualified maths tutor. was'nt cheap £26/hour, but worth it. High level Maths requires smart people - who won't work for cheap.

Can i ask which website you used please?

It was a local agency, 'norfolk tutors' I think.

[littlegreenfairy]

You'd be surprised at how bad many engineering students are at maths.... Lets put it this way, I didn't need to do the remedial maths course and I'm utterly st at it.

[kazste]

Haha I wondered how long it would take you to ask for help with your new course. Did figure you'd of started it before the first one though!!
As said earlier go to the first day see what you can remeber and if you need help they will give it to you. My math was that bad that it took three attempts to pass my gcse but now I'm dealing with imaginary numbers. Not finding it easy but am finding plenty of oppurtunities to get the help required. Understand your concerned but it won't be that bad, I got I to a group of students that all help each other out as everyone has strengths and weaknesses so there is always someone who needs help and someone who can give it. Failing that if your still stuck then ask on here like I have done before or you've got my email so feel free to ask me.

And don't get to down by the fact that I only have one year left

[working class]

kazste said:

Haha I wondered how long it would take you to ask for help with your new course. Did figure you'd of started it before the first one though!!
As said earlier go to the first day see what you can remeber and if you need help they will give it to you. My math was that bad that it took three attempts to pass my gcse but now I'm dealing with imaginary numbers. Not finding it easy but am finding plenty of oppurtunities to get the help required. Understand your concerned but it won't be that bad, I got I to a group of students that all help each other out as everyone has strengths and weaknesses so there is always someone who needs help and someone who can give it. Failing that if your still stuck then ask on here like I have done before or you've got my email so feel free to ask me.

And don't get to down by the fact that I only have one year left

Havent started yet mate, September the 10th! Yes i'll be keeping your email close to hand when i start!

[tim2100]

I have recently Finished a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Solihull College. (Your Profile says you are midlands?)

The lecture ran the maths after the day like you describe. I wouldn't worry to much ahead about the Maths.

Before the exam read up on Trigonometry & Simultaneous equations. I didn't but still got through the exam. (Nobody 'failed' the exam) The maths in the course you will know what you need to know for the coursework.

Don't worry to much. Go there prepared to learn. You will not learn all the maths you will need to know in advance.

[kazste]

Also don't forget the beauty of a hnc is it will more than likely be fully coursework based. Four years onc then hnc and no exam! Gives plenty of time to research exactly what you need. Check out sites like wolfram alpha as they will yell you the answer which means you can check your theories before handing the paper in.

[tim2100]

kazste said:

Also don't forget the beauty of a hnc is it will more than likely be fully coursework based. Four years onc then hnc and no exam! Gives plenty of time to research exactly what you need. Check out sites like wolfram alpha as they will yell you the answer which means you can check your theories before handing the paper in.

Very true. My HNC was 100% coursework, and the brief told you what you needed to do to get pass / Merit / Distinction.

Bit of a shock when doing the degree (50% exam)

[Robert Burns]

Im doing a HNC in Instrumentation and Measurement Control

just finished my maths, i know what maths you will be doing. Maths in Engineering 2

Its easy, and i got a standard grade 3, hated maths at school aswell.

Just attend the extra maths and you will find it easy, if you believe you can't do it, you never will, if you work for it and believe you can do it, bit of hard work you'll get it.

[Robert Burns]

tim2100 said:

kazste said:

Also don't forget the beauty of a hnc is it will more than likely be fully coursework based. Four years onc then hnc and no exam! Gives plenty of time to research exactly what you need. Check out sites like wolfram alpha as they will yell you the answer which means you can check your theories before handing the paper in.

Very true. My HNC was 100% coursework, and the brief told you what you needed to do to get pass / Merit / Distinction.

Bit of a shock when doing the degree (50% exam)

You'll find HNC's are now exams at the end of the year.

[working class]

tim2100 said:

I have recently Finished a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Solihull College. (Your Profile says you are midlands?)

The lecture ran the maths after the day like you describe. I wouldn't worry to much ahead about the Maths.

Before the exam read up on Trigonometry & Simultaneous equations. I didn't but still got through the exam. (Nobody 'failed' the exam) The maths in the course you will know what you need to know for the coursework.

Don't worry to much. Go there prepared to learn. You will not learn all the maths you will need to know in advance.

Yes Solihull is where i am going. Did Cyrus teach you?

[working class]

kazste said:

Also don't forget the beauty of a hnc is it will more than likely be fully coursework based. Four years onc then hnc and no exam! Gives plenty of time to research exactly what you need. Check out sites like wolfram alpha as they will yell you the answer which means you can check your theories before handing the paper in.

Cheers mate i'll have a look at that site

[working class]

Robert Burns said:

tim2100 said:

kazste said:

Also don't forget the beauty of a hnc is it will more than likely be fully coursework based. Four years onc then hnc and no exam! Gives plenty of time to research exactly what you need. Check out sites like wolfram alpha as they will yell you the answer which means you can check your theories before handing the paper in.

Very true. My HNC was 100% coursework, and the brief told you what you needed to do to get pass / Merit / Distinction.

Bit of a shock when doing the degree (50% exam)

You'll find HNC's are now exams at the end of the year.

I was told only 2 months ago by the head lecturer that it will be all coursework? Has this changed recently then?

[tim2100]

working class said:

tim2100 said:

I have recently Finished a HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Solihull College. (Your Profile says you are midlands?)

The lecture ran the maths after the day like you describe. I wouldn't worry to much ahead about the Maths.

Before the exam read up on Trigonometry & Simultaneous equations. I didn't but still got through the exam. (Nobody 'failed' the exam) The maths in the course you will know what you need to know for the coursework.

Don't worry to much. Go there prepared to learn. You will not learn all the maths you will need to know in advance.

Yes Solihull is where i am going. Did Cyrus teach you?

Yes Cyrus is a very good tutor. Give me a PM if you need any help.