Jiayi Wu

My lessons can be tailored to each student’s needs. For those aiming to strengthen their understanding of course content, I begin by explaining concepts, by building on familiar ideas or drawing parallels. We then move to practice questions: I first demonstrate an example, then give the student time to solve one independently. By the end of practice, the student will have encountered different question types under the concept we are tackling, and I conclude with strategies for dealing with each type as well as feedback on areas for improvement. Lessons close with a recap of the concept and targeted feedback. Throughout, I encourage questions and provide a handout summarising the examples we work through together.

For students who already understand the material and want practice, I place more emphasis on problem-solving techniques. This often includes reviewing their working and asking them to explain their reasoning. Depending on the student’s goals, this can involve timed exercises and exam strategies, such as checking answers efficiently, presenting workings clearly, and using calculator shortcuts for speed. I enjoy solving questions myself, so I like exploring different methods for the same question and sharing them with students—showing that there is no single “correct” way to reach the answer.

Before each lesson, I prepare by reviewing the concepts and working through the questions in advance. This way, I can provide clear explanations straight away and leave more time for the student’s own questions. If I ever find an explanation unclear in the moment, we can set it aside, continue with other work, and return to it later—or I will prepare a full answer in my own time.

The lesson structures I described are based on what has helped me learn most effectively, but I am always flexible and happy to adapt the format to fit each student’s needs.