Lewis Howe

Generally focus on going through past paper questions.
Unlike other tutors I believe understanding should often be achieved through first giving the student a basic, but sufficient understanding of a topic, and then have that understanding developed in relevant exam questions - this is what I did largely myself.
I find this achieves a few things: firstly the student's ability will be completely in line with what they expect to actually be graded on (rather than pedantic and oftentimes useless textbook questions that aren't akin to exam questions) but it also helps to demystify the "dreaded" exam questions - which are often times straightforward if the student is taught the right way - which is my way - so hire me please.

So to run through a standard hour:
- I'll pick a topic (or take a suggestion)
- I'll give the student a sufficient understanding of the skills they need to be able to do any question (at least in theory) pertaining to that topic: oftentimes this just entails checking a students current understanding from school or a less competent tutor (joke)
- I'll carefully pick questions, often asking the student what they think the approach should be - and to attempt it if they feel comfortable - and then go through the question myself. Because I see exam questions as more of a tool for learning rather than a pure check of understanding, being 'wrong' or not knowing what to do is expected, and I'm very careful to be thoughtful and reassuring to the student.