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Top Scottish Schools

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The top Schools in Scotland have been released. Is your School among the best?

Top 100 Schools Scotland
2019 Top Schools in Scotland Revealed based on exam results.

The top Scottish Schools list has been published. This list ranks the schools based on exam performance. By achieving either 5+ Highers, 2+ Advanced Highers and 5+ National 5’s, students can contribute to their schools overall ranking. 

The top spot has been retained by Glasgow’s Jordanhill School. This high performing school has retained its place at the top with an outstanding 83 pupils achieving 5 or more highers. 

1 Jordanhill School (83, 48, 95)

2 Dunblane High School (76, 27, 92)

3 St Ninian’s High School, Giffnock (75, 30, 89)

4 Boroughmuir High School (71, 33, 91)

5 Mearns Castle High School (75, 24, 91)

6 Williamwood High School (73, 24, 92)

7 Bearsden Academy (70, 29, 89)

8 Gryffe High School (70, 15, 94)

9 Douglas Academy (69, 20, 89)

10 Bishopbriggs Academy (66, 25, 89)

11 Banchory Academy (62, 31, 84)

12 Boclair Academy (67, 15, 88)

13 Cults Academy (61, 28, 86)

14 Lenzie Academy (61, 19, 92)

15= Balfron High School (62, 25, 83)15= Aberdeen Grammar School (61, 27, 83)

17 Strathaven Academy (61, 18, 81)

18 Woodfarm High School (55, 19, 88)

19 North Berwick High School (55, 22, 82)

20= Westhill Academy (56, 19, 80)

20= Mackie Academy (54, 24, 79)

22 Peebles High School (57, 21, 75)

23 Eastwood High School (53, 16, 87)

24 St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School (55, 19, 79)

25 Linlithgow Academy (56, 17, 76)

26= Oldmachar Academy (55, 8, 86)

26= Turnbull High School (55, 11, 83)

28 Hyndland Secondary School (53, 18, 79)

29= Kirkintilloch High School (56, 15, 75)

29= Craigmount High School (51, 20, 80)

31= McLaren High School (56, 17, 72)

31= The Royal High School (52, 20, 77)

33= Currie Community High School (52, 21, 75)

33= James Gillespie’s High School (48, 28, 76)

35 Dalziel High School (55, 10, 78)

36= Balerno Community High School (53, 15, 75)

36= Plockton High School (47, 23, 79)

38= Clydeview Academy (51, 15, 76)

38= Monifieth High School (51, 10, 81)

40 Earlston High School (48, 20, 76)

41 Kemnay Academy (48, 14, 81)

42 Notre Dame High School (51, 15, 73)

43= Our Lady’s High School, Cumbernauld (51, 11, 76)

43= Wallace Hall Academy (44, 19, 82)

45 Aboyne Academy (46, 22, 73)

46 Hermitage Academy (45, 18, 78)

47= St Luke’s High School (49, 12, 75)

48= Firrhill High School (48, 17, 72)

49= Largs Academy (46, 15, 78)

50= Madras College (45, 23, 72)

51 Elgin Academy (48, 20, 67)

52 Mearns Academy (47, 16, 72)

53= Inverkeithing High School (44, 18, 75)

54= Arran High School (39, 27, 76)

55 Stewarton Academy (45, 19, 71)

56 Queensferry Community High School (48, 15, 68)

57= Kyle Academy (46, 12, 74)

58= The Community School of Auchterarder (46, 15, 71)

59 Kinross High School (42, 21, 72)

60= Dalbeattie High School (47, 13, 69)

61= Stromness Academy (44, 12, 76)

62= West Calder High School (47, 10, 70)

63= Larbert High School (44, 11, 75)

64= St Mungo’s High School (44, 14, 72)

65= Ullapool High School (44, 15, 71)

66= Alford Academy (40, 17, 77)

67= St Margaret’s Academy (47, 7, 72)

68= Grove Academy (44, 13, 72)

69= Holyrood Secondary School (43, 11, 76)

70= The James Young High School (43, 16, 71)

71= St Maurice’s High School (45, 8, 74)

72= St Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch (43, 7, 79)

73= Knox Academy (45, 16, 65)

74= Our Lady’s High School, Motherwell (44, 8, 75)

75= Grantown Grammar School (39, 17, 76)

76 St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School (40, 19, 71)

77 St Columba’s High School, Gourock (43, 13, 70)

78= Anderson High School (41, 12, 74)

79= Dunbar Grammar School (41, 18, 68)

80= Prestwick Academy (41, 7, 79)

81= Wallace High School (45, 13, 64)

82= Broxburn Academy (44, 6, 73)

83= Culloden Academy (44, 10, 69)

84= Holy Cross High School (42, 8, 75)

85= Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School (41, 12, 73)

86= Park Mains High School (41, 11, 74)

87= Ellon Academy (39, 15, 74)

88 Crieff High School (41, 15, 69)

89= Milne’s High School (41, 14, 69)

90= Breadalbane Academy (36, 19, 74)

91= Millburn Academy (43, 10, 68)

92= St Kentigern’s Academy (40, 11, 73)

93= Glasgow Gaelic School (68, 27, -)

94= Lasswade High School (42, 10, 69)

95= Greenfaulds High School (40, 9, 74)

96= Queen Margaret Academy (38, 10, 77)

97= Hamilton Grammar School (42, 12, 66)

98= Biggar High School (40, 11, 71)

99= Marr College (39, 9, 75)

100= Belmont Academy (39, 16, 67)

The Glasgow suburbs made up the top 10% best schools on the list. The list was published by the Scottish Government, along with a list of each schools overall performance which doesn’t just look at exam results.

Is it all about the grades?

Results speak for themselves, however, they don’t provide a clear and accurate picture about the whole school experience.

Of the top 100 Scottish Schools, 40% of students who were interviewed said they disagreed with where they’re school was ranked. Surprisingly all within the top 30, saying “they felt the schools culture and environment wasn’t what you would expect from a high performing school”.

Schools all about grades
Are the top 100 Scottish schools all about grades and academic performance?

What about the others?

Granted there are more Scottish schools which are not even on the list. This doesn’t mean the school is bad or that people from those schools won’t achieve the same grades as those on the list.

These results are based on mass averages, so if your school doesn’t show up don’t feel discouraged that you can’t achieve 5+ Highers or 2+ Advanced Highers; because you can!

Students who perform the best at school know they have to work hard and more than half will have had the help and support of a private tutor. Take a look at our wide range of tutors in your local area.

Low Tuition: Study in Singapore, Tuition Fee, Living cost and Application Procedure

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Alicia Lim is a well-known blogger who has written this post to discuss the quality of education in Singapore. The quality of education is the primary reason for any students to pursue higher education abroad. Studying in Singapore and still wanting to pay affordable tuition fees? Then, this article is the cherry on top for you to list of low tuition. Universities in Singapore for international students.

Study in Singapore Image
Study in Singapore

Before you decide to be enrolled in any Singaporean university as an international student, you need to figure out some points that describe to you why you need to study in Singapore. Let us examine some of the most common reasons for international students who love to be enrolled in a Singaporean university:

Cost of Living in Singapore

Singapore has a strong economy and the high quality of living as a comparison with other Asian countries. It also costs high, when it comes to living expenditure in Singapore. Boasting some of the highest tuition fees in all over Asia. However, it is very much a relatively inexpensive and cheap option when it’s compared with the living costs of international Countries.

The living cost in Singapore varies according to an individual. It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want them to be. However, the major cities in Singapore cost higher in accommodation, but this can be managed with living in university accommodation or homestays. Of which are relatively cheaper than city cost. The cost of food in the cities of Singapore are cheap, while public transport is excellent.

Let’s calculate a rough frugal for economical spending per month:

One-bedroom apartment (outside the city centre) costs around S$1,992

Dairy items like milk cost 2.93 S$/litre

Bread as the main source of meal costs around 2.28 S$/500g

Rice and other cereals cost approximately: 2.65 S$/1kg

Eggs cost 2.88 S$/dozen

Cheese: 21.49 S$/1kg

Chicken: 8.74 S$/1kg

Water: 1.75 S$/1.5Litre

Fruits and veggies

Apples: 4.41 S$/1kg

Oranges: 4.61 S$/1kg

Potato: 2.53 S$/1kg

Banana: 2.50 S$/1kg

Tomato: 2.49 S$/1kg

Onion: 2.23 S$/1kg

Halls of residence – This is solely for students who chose to live on campus.

Homestays – When you live with a family, it presents you with the opportunity to learn more about a new country.

Cost of studying in Singapore

The cost of studying in the country somehow affordable as most of its Asian counterparts and international universities are relatively higher in costs, hereby the cost is still cheaper when compared to universities in the big three study destinations like the USA, UK, and Australia.

By comparing, the quality of education in Singapore from any country it always seems tremendous to what is obtainable in other Asian countries. You can easily discover its excellence in the quality of education by measuring up with its cost.

Those are some factors, which make Singapore an attractive destination for international students.

According to HSBC banks, Singapore is the second-most expensive academic destination after Australia. Therefore, if you are planning to study in Singapore, you must have well hands-on funds to afford to be tight-fisted.

The highlight of the cost of studying in Singapore is the uncharacteristically high cost of living, around $20,292, as the glance of it is been mentioned above. In addition, another aspect to be taken into account when calculating the cost of studying in Singapore is which level of education you are going to study in Singapore, as depending on the level tuition fee can vary.

Here is the average calculation of approx. value of study for an international student:

Diplomas

Duration: 1 – 2 years

Tuition Fee: Around S$8000 – S$15000

Bachelors

Duration: 2-4 years

Tuition Fee: Around S$24,000- S$40,000

Masters

Duration: one- 1.5 years

Tuition Fee: Around S$ 18,000- S$30,000

Admission Requirement

If you want to study in Singapore, then you must have to apply directly by yourself to the college or university you are interested in. Before selecting any university and institution make sure, you research thoroughly to understand all the guidelines peculiar to each institution.

Application Period

There are simply two intakes each year in Singapore (SGP):  August or January, and this period is subject to the selection and recommendation of students own choice. Although, every University reserves their right to admit the applicants in other semesters these two periods is the major month of intakes in SGP.

All applications were referred to the relevant Universities for consideration according to students when they are selecting the course of study and university. After that, their applications will be forwarded to the university management for approval.

The normal application process will take up to 4 months or more depending on universities criteria, so make sure to fill applications prior to the intake. Moreover, try to make it as fast as you can to complete your paperwork assessment by Universities and management.

Tuition fee

Tuition fees in Singapore vary according to the different UNIs and widely depending on universities and its courses.

For example, at the National University of Singapore, the courses may cost you between S$17,100- S$141,100 per semester for the first intake. This fee structure is also depending upon the course studied and whether or not the student is eligible for the MOE Tuition Grant.

Top 5 Tools to Help Teachers

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Teachers today face a never-ending uphill battle with a suitable work-life balance. Teachers are one of the top jobs in the UK that have the highest amount of unpaid overtime. The paperwork overload can be overwhelming for teachers which is why there are many tools for teachers to make their lives easier.

In this post, we will share our top 5 most useful apps/tech that can help teachers reduce their workload and speed up the marking process for tests and homework.

1. VidGrid

VidGrid software to help teachers with their workload.
VidGrid Software for Teachers

VidGrid is a great tool for content. Whether it is recording new content, editing or uploading VidGrid makes the process simple and easy to do. If you are looking for a user-friendly interactive software VidGrid is ideal for creating Quizzes, polls and even homework integration. It is compatible with existing software such as Moodle, Blackboard and Canvas.

VidGrid gives you the flexibility to try before you buy. Simply request a free demo. Once you are happy plans start from as little as $25 per month. This allows you access to annotation tools, email support, GIF creator and much more. Visit VidGrid today! This is a great tool for teachers.

2. Google Classroom

Google classroom is perfect for helping teachers with reducing their workloads.
Google Classroom for Teachers

Google classroom should be part of every teacher’s vocabulary. This software is easily integrated with any device and lets teachers share posts, images or worksheets in a simple click. Best of all its free. Simply sign in with your Google account and build your classroom.

The features this software has to offer are an excellent starter for any teacher. You can assign homework tasks to all your students simultaneously, which ensures everyone got it, and there are no excuses for late hand-ins. You can collaborate with students on a one-to-one basis. The grade book feature is exceptionally handy for marking assignments and homework in a fraction of the time, and feedback is always delivered in a timely manner.

3. Nearpod

Nearpod for teachers

Nearpod is used to create interactive lessons, taking information from other applications such as Powerpoint, PDFs or Google Slides, to share them with students online and in real-time. They can be accessed from any device and remotely using a pin. There is a pool of ready to use content that can be accessed for lessons. Assessment tools are also available for teachers. Check it out today and make it another tool to make your life easier.

4. Edmodo

Edmodo for teachers

This may seem like an obvious choice, however with its popularity, we felt it deserves a place in the top 5. Edmodo acts as a social networking site for the world of education. It allows teachers to post assignments and include students parents into the app. This feature is particularly helpful in keeping parents up-to-date with their children’s progress.

5. TeacherKit

TeacherKit for Teachers

TeacherKit is the ultimate one-stop grade book. This is an essential part of every teacher’s classroom. Perfect for mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. You can create profiles for individual students.

Create course content and design assignments and tests, with specific weighted percentages. This makes grading a breeze. You are able to add in extra features such as behaviour logbook and generate high-quality reports.

The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Tutor UK

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Tutoring is rapidly becoming one of the UK’s biggest part-time money-generating professions. Some choose to tutor in their spare time and others enjoy it so much that they decide to make it their full-time career. In this post, we will show you all the essential steps to becoming a successful tutor.

Choose Your Subjects & Rates

This is the first crucial step in becoming a tutor. You must know yourself what you are good at and what you’re not so good at. If you are still in education then this should be an easy one. If you have been away from education for a while, it might be best to revisit some resources to decide which is the best subjects for you.

A word of caution. Don’t try to tutor many subjects. Focus on one or two, that way you can become an expert and have a strong understanding of the subject which makes teaching it much easier. Visit our Home Page to see which subjects we offer.

Do your research. What are tutors charging on average for the same courses you are thinking of doing? If they are charging £25 per hour, go for £20 or even £15 per hour. Don’t value yourself too low however as this could give people the wrong impression. A modest £20 per hour is a good starting point. The more experience and reputation you create you can charge a higher price. But always stay modest in your valuation.

Tutor thinking about which subjects they should choose to tutor.
Tutor Thinking About Subjects

What Type of Tutoring?

Great you’ve decided on which subjects to tutor! Now its time for you to consider the different types of tutoring that are available. You can tutor online, or face-to-face by going to students houses. Either one has its advantages and disadvantages.
Tutoring online allows you to reach a wider range of people, whereas face-to-face gives you a more personalized service.

Now you need to decide on how much time you can devote to tutoring. When I was studying at university I decided to tutor a maximum of 3 people to allow me time to study over the weekend. This didn’t last for long. Before I knew it I was working Friday, Saturday and Sunday and tutoring over 14 people. I know crazy! However thankfully I had the time available to do so, and so I decided to leave my job and make tutoring my main source of income.

Tutors deciding to tutor full time or part time.
Deciding to tutor full time or part-time

Prepare Subject Material

This step is one which many tutors setting up fail to do. Before an interview, you research the company you’re looking to work for and you learn as much as you possibly can. Preparing to tutor should be no different. Gather as much material as you can, build a portfolio of worksheets, notes, revision material and revision study guides you recommend. The better prepared you are, the better the tutor you will be. Many tutors that don’t prepare end up not enjoying the lessons as they don’t feel confident enough in their knowledge. So always make sure you do plenty of preparation work before setting out.

Tutor preparing teaching material for tutoring students.
Tutor preparing teaching material

Thinking of Advertising Methods

Excellent you’ve now done all the necessary preparation needed to be a successful tutor. You now know exactly what you’re going to tutor, how and when you’re going to do it, and you have a database of excellent material to choose from.

Now let’s get your name out there. The most obvious way of advertising your services is through word of mouth through family and friends. Move to social media like Facebook. Just let people know of your services and leave contact details and let the students come to you.

Make use of sites like Direct Tutoring. Where we can help showcase your profile page in front of targeted students that are looking for tutors specifically like you. Publish your services on educational blog posts to help generate awareness of your brand.

Ways that tutors can advertise their services in their local area.
Advertise Your Tutoring Services

Make a Long-Lasting Impression

Now that your name is out there and students are coming in abundance. It’s time to think differently about your strategy. Begin to focus on the service you provide, making sure you leave a good impression of yourself and your brand. The most powerful form of advertising is word of mouth. Those students you are seeing just now are 10x more valuable than any online advertising.

Make sure you go out and beyond to help and support your students. Give them extra support outwith the hours’ session. Tell them to email you with any questions they have, and that you are available to help anytime during the week via email. Provide them with extra worksheets for practice and give them the best advice on anything you can.

In the seven years, I have tutored, by far the best way of advertising is through students you already see. Having tutored over 115 people, about 60% of them have come from recommendations. So offering exceptional service and getting to know your students and their family personally can be a sure way of cementing your name as a reputable and valued tutor.

Making a good first impression as a tutor is extremely important.
Make a good first impression

Keeping Up-to-date

The hard work is finally paying off. You have a healthy regular stream of students reaching out to you for help. You are earning the extra cash you deserve and your reputation is growing strong. Fantastic! Now a key thing never to forget it always keep up-to-date with any new developments in your subject area, the education system or the tutoring industry. This will ensure you stay at the top of your game. When the new exam papers come out, get them. Write out the solutions and add them to your material.

By staying up-to-date, you are giving parents and students the assurance you are professional and fully committed to the job. That in itself can be essential in students returning to you. I tell all my students and their families this phase and I truly mean it. “If I won the lottery today I would still tutor but I would do it for free” People may think that is nonsense or simply a way of tricking people. I can hand on heart say I would do it for free if I could as it has to be one of the best jobs anyone can ever do, and I would highly recommend anyone to become a tutor.

Tutors need to keep up-to-date with changed in education
Tutors Staying Up-to-date

What Tutors Can do Over the Summer holidays?

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As the summertime approaches, students don’t want to think about school, and as a result, want to take a rest from tutoring. This can be a quiet time for tutors who rely on tutoring as a main source of income. It is for this reason we have put together a few things tutors can do over the summer holidays to keep themselves busy and maybe earn an extra few pounds as well.

What to do? What to do?

Depending on your situation you may be secure enough to go seven weeks without earning any money. If this is you then lucky you! We will start by looking at things tutors can do to earn some much-needed cash over the summer holidays. Then some things to help make their life easier when the schools return in August.

Green Note Card and Four Scrabble Tiles on Gray Surface
What to do for Tutors

Offer Online Tutoring / Support

This may seem a little contradictory however there is still money to be made in the online world. It may be that your local students are off enjoying the sun, but that doesn’t mean everyone is. So widen your student reach and offer online tuition at a discounted rate. Yeah, it’s not a huge bank boost but at least there is money coming in.

Offer to Mark Tests for Teachers

This is a good one if you have connections with a school, or know anyone who does. You may think that when the summer holidays begin the teachers don’t return until the start of the next term. This isn’t the case. Most of the time teachers will come in a couple of days a week to catch up on course writing or test marking etc.

This is your opportunity to dive in and offer your services. Offer to mark homework, assignments, tests or any other admin work the teachers may have for a reasonable fixed rate. Don’t charge by the hour, charge by the day. Rather than charging £20 an hour, maybe charge £50 / £70 a full day.

Image result for test marking images
Test Marking for Tutors

Work on Creating New Material

This is one that tutors often overlook. Just like teachers, tutors can take some time out to work on finding or creating new material for tutoring. This can include, updating the questions you use for a given topic, or writing your own personalized content to teach. The befits of this is you get to sort out all your admin with no distractions and so you are fully prepared and ready for the new term.

For tutors who teach National 5 maths, an excellent website to visit is “National 5 Maths” to see their extensive range of high-quality material.

Take a Well Deserved Rest

Contradictory to making money over the holiday period, but one that should be considered. Taking some time off. Speaking as a chemical engineer I know all to well the mental strain on juggling university work, tutoring and any other social activity. It’s always a good idea to take a few weeks off to relax your mind. Go day trips, take a holiday, relax in the sun and enjoy that well deserved time off. You’ve earned it!

Tutors Taking a Rest

Simple Tips to Improving Communication with Students

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Communication is the key attribute all teachers must have in order to teach students; regardless of their age and ability. Effective communication is essential for the student to engage and learn from the teacher. Here we are going to share with you our top tips to improve communication with your students.

Having an Open Door

Having an open-door policy is a great way to allow students to reach out to you as a teacher, in their own time. As some students may feel pressure in talking to a teacher while other students are around. By giving students the option to come and speak to you at any time can help the student feel more comfortable in the classroom.

Listening to Your Students

One of the key elements of effective communication is being able to listen. By listening to your student’s issues and queries, it will allow you to create a positive environment that, sets a good example to the students on the importance of listening as well as talking.

Student Support Policy

School isn’t as easy as some movies make it out to be. Some students find school incredibly stressful, especially at secondary school when it comes to exam times and tensions are running high. It is, therefore, a good idea to ensure your students know that you are there to support them; both academically and morally. This helps boost their confidence and give them a sense of security within the classroom. It’s good to let students know that their teachers are on their side! Learn more about us and how we can provide extra support for both tutors and students.

Create a Fun and Challenging Tasks

There is nothing worse than sitting in a classroom, watching a PowerPoint with no imagination put into it. This leads to students feeling bored and less engaged. By creating exciting and interesting tasks, it allows the students to develop a passion for the subject, improve their problem-solving skills and gives them the opportunity to contribute their ideas to you and their classmates. This will help build their confidence to ask questions and propose ideas to the class.

Don’t be too Serious

School can be at times boring and tedious. However, some teachers have mastered the way to engage with students on a different level. By making jokes, sharing experiences to the class, telling stories (related to the course that is), it helps bring the theoretical work into reality. By telling stories it can help inspire students to pursue something they didn’t know about. This tip we feel is a fantastic way to not only bridge the gap between teacher and student but also provides a platform for student to look forward to that class and find it enjoyable. After all, a teacher can make or break a subject!

Please let us know what you think of our tips by leaving any comments below. If you think we have missed something send us a message and we will add it in and mention you in the article. We hope you find our tips useful and hope they help enhance and improve your communication skills with your students.

SQA 2019 National 5 Maths Exam Paper.

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It’s that time of year again when your social life goes out the window and endless hours of studying become your daily chore. Nothing can be more tedious than studying maths; especially if maths isn’t your thing. Every year, after the exam students take to social media to vent about their exam papers and to find out the general consensus of their peers. We will take a look at the 2019 national 5 maths exam paper to see if this years paper was ‘fair’ or whether it was undoubtedly, much more difficult than previous years.

Before looking at the paper it is worth noting that students that don’t study for an exam will inevitably find it more difficult than those who put in the work. The ‘tricky’ questions are ones in which the question is riddled with hidden topics that trip almost everyone up.

Let’s take look at the most challenging questions. For full solutions for a range of topics, check out our YouTube channel.

2019 National 5 Maths Exam Non-Calculator Solution’s

2019 Non-Calculator Paper

The beginning of the paper was remarkably fair this year; on review we could only find 4 questions that would pose a major issue. Our YouTube channel has full solutions for the 2019 National 5 maths exam paper questions as well as other helpful content.

Question 10:

2019 National 5 maths Non-calculator question 10.
2019 Non-Calculator Question 10

The major issue with this question is not so much part a, but more so part b. The key to understanding this question is to know that MR is half the value of PR, and to use the answer from part a.

Question 11:

2019 National 5 maths Non-calculator question 11.

2019 Non-Calculator Question 11
2019 National 5 maths Non-calculator question 11.

2019 Non-Calculator Question 11

This question is tricky to visualize, due to the number of cross-linking lines and geometric shapes. However, the key to answering this question is beginning with finding the angles in each section of the first picture, then isolating the triangle AFB. Then it’s simply a matter of adding up all the angles in a triangle to 180.

Question 15:

2019 National 5 maths Non-calculator question 15.

2019 Non-Calculator Question 15
2019 National 5 maths Non-calculator question 15.



This question made news headlines after the exam when students took to Twitter to let off some steam. Unless your familiar with the concept of quadratics and solving trinomials then it may not be helpful to go into too much depth. In a nutshell, this is a quadratic equation question in which you need to use the quadratic formula to solve for the correct value of “t”. Take a look at this video on how to solve this problem.

2019 Calculator Paper

The calculator paper by its very nature should be considered as the easier of the two; since of course you have a calculator. This isn’t always the case. In fact, most of the time the calculator paper is more difficult as the SQA will argue that students have a useful tool in solving calculations, thus there is more problem-solving questions in paper 2. We have looked through the paper and have highlighted the questions we believe most students would struggle with.

Question 5:

2019 National 5 maths Calculator question 5.
2019 Calculator Question 5

Although this question is only worth 2 marks, its worth noting that the first 8 questions of any maths paper students should be aiming for 90% of the marks available to ensure a solid “B” pass. This question we would argue isn’t difficult mathematically, but it can be tricky for the human eye. These questions require the student to know the 3D coordinate system and interpolate the maximum boundary values given in the question. For example, the total height of the shape is 8, thus students should not have a Z-value of more than 8. Similarly with the diameter. If the diameter is 6 then the maximum value in the Y-direction cannot be greater than 6.

Question 11:

2019 National 5 maths Calculator question 11.
2019 Calculator Question 11

This question isn’t as difficult as those still to come, however, we felt it was worth mentioning as it may have caught a few students out. By reading the description carefully it tells you the total length is 1500 meters, and from the diagram, they have only used 1250 meters. It is simply a case of taking the numbers away from each other and that will give you the length of BC. Now it is a simple converse of Pythagoras question.

Question 17:

2019 National 5 maths Calculator question 17.
2019 Calculator Question 17

This question looks simple enough. It is if you have time to think. However in an exam situation, by the time you get to question 17, you may not have that much time left. This is a simple FOIL style question or multiplying out two brackets. If you wrote the bracket out twice to address the squared bracket, then instead of multiplying numbers your multiplying words.

Question 18:

2019 National 5 maths Calculator question 18.
2019 Calculator Question 18

It’s safe to assume that this question has put a lot of students off Christmas for a while. This question made news headlines as well, as many students simply couldn’t work out what was going on with Mr Snowman. These questions are the difference between getting an “A” and getting a “B”. In a nutshell, it is simply a Pythagoras question in disguise. Visit our YouTube channel to see exactly how to solve this problem.

Question 19:

2019 National 5 maths Calculator question 19.
2019 Calculator Question 19

Last but not least, the final question in paper 2. A typical exam style question that looks simple enough; however when looking at the number of marks on offer, its hard to work out exactly where they all come from. It’s not until you begin the question that you understand why it’s worth 5 marks. For readers who understand Trigonometry, you will know what we mean when we say “use the Sine rule”. For those of you who don’t know, you can see how it’s done in our YouTube tutorial. It is essentially needing you to carry out the Sine rule twice. By splitting the triangle into two smaller right-angle triangles, you simply need to work out the hypotenuse of one of them and then using the Sine rule again to calculate the vertical line of the triangle.

We hope we have cleared up some burning questions for students about the 2019 National 5 maths exam paper, and we hope our YouTube tutorials help you understand exactly how to answer questions like those in the future, especially if you are considering Higher maths. For further help and support check out our range of expert maths tutors.

Please let us know if you agree with our choices and drop us a message with any questions or topics or queries you would like us to write about. Good Luck with your results!

Are School Reports Telling the Truth to Parents?

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Whilst tutoring in my local area, a frequent question I always get is; “Are school reports really that accurate”? Usually, when the reports come out some students are reluctant to show their parents in fear of what may be disclosed inside. Often what you find is the teachers copy and paste 90% of what they write for every student, no matter what they are like in class. That final 10% is where the truth really lies.

Are report cards telling the truth to parents?
School Report Card

A Teachers Perspective

From a teachers point of view, it is understandable as to why a lot of it is copied and pasted; however, this does raise a number of questions. “Is this a clear representation of what my child is like”?

This can often lead to arguments between parents and children because their ‘working grades’ aren’t what the parents expected or a slightly negative comment means they are going to fail. More care and attention is needed to help improve the accuracy of these reports.

What is Working Grade?

The philosophy behind the working grade is something yet to be determined as to who actually came up with it. In all my years of tutoring, the working grade has caused nothing but doubt inability, lack of self-belief, which discourages students in thinking they aren’t good enough to pass.

As with every report a ‘working grade’ is a teacher futile attempt at saying “this is what your child would expect to achieve in an exam”. It is often downplayed. I have tutored many students working towards and achieving A’s; they’re working grade was set at a C! Come on, really?

The term ‘waffle’ was used by a headteacher in an interview a few years ago to describe school reports. By writing what seems to be a tailored report to your child is simply a generic transcript which comprises of 80% copy and paste and 20% specific to each student.

It bears little accuracy to the majority of students that receive them. This in mind sparked debate with principle teachers around the UK.

The Modern Report Card

Gone are the days of those long and god awful report ‘booklets’ which posed nothing but extra stress on teachers. They have been replaced with a shorter, quicker, and to the point report. None-the-less they still contain similar fiction to their predecessors.

What’s the Verdict?

We aren’t saying that school reports are all bad, as they do offer a little insight into how their child is getting on; and it is a way for parents to connect with the teachers from time to time. However, they should be taken with a pinch of salt!

It’s important for the parents to take the time to talk to their children about the report to fully understand their thoughts on the subject and to work out for themselves if there are any obvious issues which relate to the report.

For any help and advice on your child’s report card please contact us today, and we will happily answer any queries you may have. Finding a tutor can also help clear things up on a more personal level. Browse our tutors.

Student Tutoring jobs

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Becoming a tutor doesn’t mean you have to be a highly experienced teacher or educational professional. In fact, almost anyone with a relevant qualification can tutor up to that level. Student tutoring jobs can be a very rewarding way of earning some extra cash and improving your understanding of a subject. Having the ability to help someone achieve their goals couldn’t be more rewarding.

Student tutoring jobs with Direct Tutoring, visit www.directtutoring.co.uk/become-a-tutor/
Student Tutoring Jobs Recruiting Now

Things to Consider.

Choosing to become a tutor can be a tough choice, to begin with. Do you do it in your spare time, or do you do it as a full-time career? It’s always best to try it out first before committing to it full time. But once you get the bug you simply won’t stop! If you have a passion for a subject then why not give it a try, it could open a whole new world of opportunity for you.

Being a tutor gives you the freedom to choose your working hours, set your own rates and puts you in control of your life. Not only that you can choose which subjects you are good at and expand on your own personal understanding of the subject while helping others. A good place to start is with National 5’s / GCSE’s.

Some students considering to tutor as a part-time job may worry about not getting enough students. That is why it’s good to get your name out on as many different platforms as possible. By signing up to Direct Tutoring, we can help get you to reach students in your local area, and make becoming a tutor the best decision you ever made!

How to Attract More Business.

Word of mouth advertising can be one of the most invaluable forms of getting your name out there. Invest in some personalized business cards with your details to give to prospective students and let the recommendations work in your favour. Visits sites like vista print to get great deals on business cards.

Using your online presence to showcase your talent is a great way of building your client list. Posting regularly on social media sites getting friends and family to share your posts, can reach a far greater audience than word of mouth. Create your own personal website to showcase your talent. Creating a topics list, the subject you can offer support in and what experiences you have can boost your online presence and give people a chance to learn about you prior to meeting you.

In a Nutshell.

Considering to be a tutor can take time, however, it can be a very rewarding career or hobby. You can be in control of your earnings and work the hours that suit you. Tutoring is a great way to improve your employability skills, like communication, building good working relationships, developing people skills and adaptability as each student will have different needs and you need to be able to change your teaching styles to help them understand in a way that is easiest for them. Let us help you in becoming a tutor and lets kick-start your new career!

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