At A Team Tuition, we believe in celebrating the extraordinary work of our educators—not just for improving grades, but for the deep, lasting impact they make in students’ lives. This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight our APT of the Month, whose dedication to nurturing, mentoring, and inspiring students is nothing short of exceptional.

“Being named APT of the Month is an incredible honour,” they shared. “It reminds me how grateful I am to work for a company that values and supports its educators. This isn’t just recognition of my effort—it’s a celebration of the passion I pour into helping students grow.”

And grow they do. With a deep commitment to developing not just academic skills but confidence, motivation, and emotional resilience, Erin brings tutoring to life in a way that’s both impactful and personal.

💡 Beyond a Tutor—A True Mentor

For this standout tutor, mentoring is woven into every session. “I wasn’t always a strong student myself,” Erin explained. “But two incredible teachers changed my life. One nurtured my creativity; the other taught me how I learn best. Because of them, I strive to be that mentor for others.”

Many of their students face more than academic challenges—they deal with anxiety, low self-esteem, and the feeling that they don’t fit within the education system. With empathy and insight drawn from their own experiences as a neurodivergent learner, this APT meets students where they are and reminds them: “You’re not dumb—you’re brilliant. You just need the right tools.”

🎯 Creative Strategies That Stick

What truly sets this educator apart is their out-of-the-box approach to keeping students engaged and improving behaviour.

Take the “three lives” system, for instance—developed with a student who frequently interrupted sessions to ask how much time was left. Each time they asked, they’d lose a life. Three lives gone? A pre-agreed consequence like a break from iPad time would follow. “It helped them learn to self-regulate,” they explained, “and gave them ownership over their behaviour.”

There’s also the ever-popular “lucky dip” bag filled with incentives like “be the teacher for 5 minutes” or “extra drawing time”—small rewards that create big shifts in motivation.

These tailored strategies have helped countless students not only re-engage with their learning but take pride in their progress.

💬 One Student, One Transformation

One story stands out. “I’ve worked with a Year 6 student since mid-Year 5. She came to me with severe anxiety and low confidence after years of bullying, and a reading level far below standard. Before anything academic, we focused on building trust.”

Bit by bit, her confidence grew. She tackled new reading goals, found books she loved, and started checking books out from the library on her own. “Now, she’s not only reading fluently—she’s leading her own learning journey,” they said. “It’s transformations like these that remind me why I do what I do.”

👏 Living the INSPIRE Values

Of all A Team Tuition’s INSPIRE values, Nurture resonates most strongly. “When students feel safe and supported, they’re more open to learning. I don’t just work with students—I work with their families. Together, we create a shared path to progress.”

Session feedback is sent to parents consistently, and collaboration with their Personal Student Mentor (PSM) ensures no student’s journey is left to chance.

🧠 From Student to Scholar

This educator doesn’t just preach a love of learning—they live it. Having achieved significant personal academic success, their own journey helps them connect deeply with their students. “I make it a point to celebrate small wins with my students. Recognition builds confidence, and confidence fuels achievement.”

💬 Words of Wisdom

So, what advice would they give to other Academic Personal Trainers?

“Be yourself. Connection comes before content. Your students don’t need a perfect tutor—they need someone who gets them. The more you love what you do, the more your students will love learning with you.”

And what’s the passion that drives it all?

“Helping students fall in love with learning. Whether it’s a high score on Mathletics or a sticker from school, those moments—where pride shines through their smile—that’s what it’s all about.”

🎉 Congratulations to our APT of the Month! Your dedication, creativity, and heart make an extraordinary impact—and we’re so lucky to have you on the team.

The post Mentor Changing Lives appeared first on A Team Tuition.

It is important for primary school students to understand the order of operations as they start to learn the basic principles of maths. An easy way to remember the order of operations is through an acronym called PEDMAS. 

What is the Order of Operations?

In simple terms the order of operations is almost like a check list to help students solve equations that involve multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.  

It is vital for students to memorise the order of operations as it is easy to calculate the wrong solution from an equation if the student does not follow the order of operations.

For example, without the order of operations students may be left thinking does 10 x 5 − 3 mean that we start with 10, multiply 5, and then subtract 3 more leaving 47? Or does it mean that we are subtracting 5 − 3 then multiplying by 10 leaving 20? 

To ensure your student has a great understanding of the order of operations maths tutors come in handy as the one on one session will grow students’ confidence with this new concept. 

How to Memorise the Order of Operations

A good way to memorise the order of operations is through the mnemonic device PEDMAS. 

PEDMAS is an acronym that stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction. 

1. Parentheses take precedence over all other operators. The first step is to solve all the operations within the parentheses. Work out all groupings from inside to out.
2. Exponents, also known as powers, (x^b) b, is seen as the exponent. After you solve what is inside the parentheses, solve for exponents. 
3. Multiplication and Division are solved moving from left to right. Now multiply and/or divide whichever comes first in the equation. 
4. Addition and Subtraction are also solved moving from left to right. Add and/or subtract whichever comes first in the equation. 

This acronym assists ALL learners, but especially auditory learners. The table below can assist visual learners.

Why is the Order of Operations Important?

The order of operations is essential as it prevents students from making common mistakes and ensures they obtain the correct answer. It also helps students easily recognise when the order of operations is necessary in resolving mathematical equations. 

Below are two examples of an expression one not following PEDMAS and one following PEDMAS: 

Not following PEDMAS:

Following PEDMAS:

The red arrow indicates where the student started their calculations. When using PEDMAS the student started solving what was inside the parentheses and then moved to multiplication. Whereas the student who didn’t use PEDMAS started with 4 multiplied by 3 which gave the wrong answer. 

As you can see in the example the order of operations is essential to getting the right answer when solving mathematical equations. PEDMAS is an important part of getting an A in maths!

Order of Operations Examples

Example 1:

5 x 2² = ?

Using PEDMAS solve the exponents: 2 ⁴ = 4

From there multiply 5 by 4:   5 x 4 = 20

Therefore, using PEDMAS the correct answer is 20

Example 2: 

2 + 5 x 3 = ?

Using PEDMAS solve 5 multiplied by 3: 5 x 3 = 15

From there add 2 to 15: 2 + 15 = 17

Therefore, using PEDMAS the correct answer is 17

Example 3:

30 ÷ 5 × 3 = ?

Using PEDMAS divide 30 by 5: 30 ÷ 5 = 6

From there multiply 6 by 3: 6 x 3 = 18

Therefore, using PEDMAS the correct answer is 18

Learning the Order of Operations Can Be Simple!

For most students’ mathematical equations with many arithmetics, factors can seem daunting, and they may find themselves unsure of where to start solving the equations. 

That’s why the order of operations is essential! It provides students with confidence and comfort when calculating long mathematical equations. You can find more maths strategies here.  

Are you looking to improve your maths grade but unsure where to start? A Team Tuition is here to help. Our tried and true tutoring and mentoring methods can help your child improve in any Maths level with at-home and online tutoring and mentoring. Find a maths Academic Personal Trainer near you today!

References:

Splashlearn, 2022, “Order of Operations – Definition with Examples”, 2022 SplashLearn, https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/algebra/order-of-operations 

The post What is the Order of Operations? Definition, Tips & Examples appeared first on A Team Tuition.

In this guide, we’ll explore the intricacies of crafting compelling discursive essays, providing insights and practical tips to help you navigate how to write a discursive essay successfully. Let’s embark on the journey of honing your ability to present balanced viewpoints and articulate your thoughts with clarity and precision.

What is a Discursive Essay?

Discursive essays are versatile, allowing you to argue for or against a topic or present a balanced view. These essays, integral to English classes, foster critical thinking by exploring various perspectives. They come in different forms, such as opinion essays, for and against essays, or essays proposing solutions to problems. Understanding the nature and purpose of discursive essays is crucial for excelling in your English class.

Discursive Essay Structure

The structure of a discursive essay is straightforward but essential. It has a snappy introduction, persuasive body paragraph and a cohesive conclusion.

In the introduction, set the stage by clearly stating your stance or indicating a balanced view. The body paragraphs are the core, where arguments are built, each paragraph dedicated to a specific aspect of the topic. Finally, the conclusion summarises key points and may include your final position. This structure ensures coherence and clarity.

How to Write an Introduction for a Discursive Essay

The introduction is your chance to captivate readers. Avoid cliches and generalisations; instead, consider opening with a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or a surprising statistic.

For example, if your essay is on the impact of technology on education, you might start with, “In an era dominated by screens, is traditional education becoming obsolete?”

Clearly state your stance or intention to present a balanced view.

For instance, “In this essay, we will explore both sides of the debate regarding the influence of technology on education, ultimately arriving at a nuanced perspective.”

How to Write the Body for a Discursive Essay

The body is where your arguments unfold. Divide it into paragraphs, each focused on a specific point. Provide evidence from reputable sources to support your claims. To maintain a smooth transition between paragraphs, use connectives like ‘equally,’ ‘similarly,’ or ‘on the contrary.’ If you’re discussing the positive impact of technology on education, a transition could be, “Similarly, the accessibility of online resources has revolutionised the learning experience.”

How to Write a Conclusion for a Discursive Essay

The conclusion is not a mere repetition but a synthesis of your main findings. Recap key points and, depending on the essay type, state your final position. Express your personal opinion logically, aligning it with the evidence presented in the body. For example, “While technology offers unprecedented opportunities, a balanced approach that preserves the essence of traditional education is vital.”

Discursive Essay Writing Tips

• Utilise connectives: Use words like ‘however,’ ‘in contrast,’ or ‘conversely’ for smooth transitions between opposing viewpoints. For instance, “While some argue for the benefits of online learning, others vehemently oppose it. However, a nuanced perspective considers both sides.”
• Formal language: Maintain a formal tone. Avoid colloquial expressions; instead, opt for academic language. For instance, replace “kids” with “children” and “a lot” with “numerous.”
• Persuasive techniques: Experiment with persuasive writing techniques. For instance, if discussing environmental issues, use vivid imagery like “the lush greenery replaced by concrete jungles” to evoke a strong visual impact.

Need More Help With How to Write a Discursive Essay? A Team Tuition Can Help!

For personalised guidance and support in mastering discursive essays, consider reaching out to A Team Tuition. Our English academic personal trainers offer valuable insights and assistance tailored to your specific needs.

Whether forming study groups, seeking your teacher’s guidance, or opting for private tutoring and mentoring through A Team Tuition, these avenues can elevate your essay writing skills.

Remember, mastering discursive essays is not just about academic achievement; it’s a lifelong skill that enhances your ability to think critically and communicate effectively. Take the first step toward academic excellence – contact A Team Tuition to schedule your first session and unlock your full potential. Happy writing!

The post How to Write a Discursive Essay: Structure & Tips appeared first on A Team Tuition.

How to Write an EEI: 3 Essential Tips to Know Before You Start Writing

EEI reports, contrary to popular belief, are not written from the Abstract to the Conclusion. Different sections should be finished at different times, so keep this guide as a reference whilst you progress through each stage of the writing process.

Tip #1: Your Task Sheet Is Your Best Friend

There is a saying that our Operations Manager loves to use here at A Team HQ:

“Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”

This holds true in many facets of life and an EEI is no different, particularly when you are a young adolescent who hasn’t quite mastered the art of time management (no judgement here, we’ve all been there).

One crucial key to making your planning easier is your task sheet and even more so, your marking criteria.  Familiarising yourself with the task sheet is not only going to tell you what you need to be doing (this part is obvious), but when combined with the marking criteria this will paint a clear picture of what your teacher will be looking for in your report.

Some tasks sheets are explicitly detailed and will provide all the information about the topics available for research, the expected report outline, required formatting and necessary information you need.  Others can be quite vague, leaving the experiment open to interpretation.  

In either circumstance, your marking criteria should be quite uniform, as they list the curriculum criteria that you are required to meet, and that are standardised across the state you are studying in. Whilst this may look like a lot of teacher jargon, if you take the time to break it down, it is incredibly informative about what expectations you need to meet for a certain grade.

Your task sheet may also tell you how many references you need to include in your report – this is ideal as you don’t want to spend too much time looking at research when you don’t need to!

Tip #2: Manage Your Time Wisely

Whatever method you may use to manage your time, it is crucial that you do so!  This is fundamental to staying on top of your EEI and ensuring you aren’t sacrificing your other subjects and studies to do so.

Note down when you should be starting each part of your investigation and when you’re finishing it as soon as you receive your task sheet. Setting these mini goals will make you more accountable, therefore, making you more likely to do the work and as well giving you a little bit of satisfaction when you tick off each mini due date.

The easiest way to set these mini goals is to work backwards from the due date to work out when you need to start each part.

Overall you will most likely need to allocate:

•  a third of your time for researching, designing the method and writing the introduction; 
• another third for executing the experiment which includes creating the set up for the experiment and your testing;
• the last third is writing up the results.

So that means for a six-week assignment you should assign two weeks to each different section.

When planning an EEI, knowing your time limits are important. So, don’t forget to look at the grade weighting for each of the sections.  This will inform how much time and attention you should be placing on each section in order to capitalise on your marks.  Typically,  the introduction or the discussion hold the greater weight as the former is the basis for your entire experiment, whilst the latter is evidence of how well you can synthesise information and draw conclusions in a logical manner.

Tip #3: Master the Art of Research and Referencing

In order to write your hypothesis, method, introduction and discussion you need to conduct research.  We know that these parts of your report could be the difference between a C or an A, so research skills are really important.

 The point of research is to gain an insight into the history and existing studies on your topic and to identify a gap in the literature which warrants your experiment.

Like anything else, researching is a skill and it takes time to get good at it. However, once you get the hang of it,  it really is a piece of cake.  Just note there are rules to good research!

 1. Use Google Scholar

Firstly, start by searching not with our old friend Google but its slightly smarter cousin, Google Scholar, which searches for research articles in all the free journals across the internet.

2. Choose the Right Search Terms

Secondly, utilising appropriate search terms will improve the outcome of your search dramatically.  For example, if you were researching glucose concentration in sports drinks, you might type “Glucose Concentration Sports Drink” into Google Scholar.

Try to use industry specific terms when searching.  This will increase the amount, and relevance, of papers found in your search. When reading papers, try to look at those words and then change your search terms to match. 

For example, lifting weights is referred to as “resistance training” by the sport science community and “growing muscle” is called “muscle hypertrophy.” So, a better search term would be “resistance training and muscle hypertrophy for cross country running.”

3. Pick the Right Sources

Now that you have an abundance of papers, you need to pick good ones

The quality of information you find will impact the outcome of your report and understanding that there is a hierarchy of research will help you decide what to include.

If you want to use reputable sources, using peer reviewed journals that are less than 10 years old are most preferred, followed by textbooks and then websites run by scientific or government organizations (such as ANSTO or CSIRO).

Journal articles are considered as the best sources to use for EEI’s because they’re peer reviewed.  This means that the article has been reviewed by a panel of scientists to ensure that there are no questionable results being reported.  See the list to the right to have a look at the hierarchy of research evidence if you want to take it to the next level.

Patience is key because the first few sources that you find may not be what you’re looking for – but they can lead to the ones that you do need.  Look at the references at the end of papers, there you’ll find hidden gems in the form of great papers or textbooks that were used in the article.  Search for those articles to get some better papers if you’re not finding any good ones yourself.

4. Reference Everything

You also need to reference throughout your investigation. Use a table to keep track of the sources you find and use whilst you’re researching. The table should have the who, when, where and what of the publication. That is: 

• Who wrote the source? 
• When was it made? 
• Where was it made or published? 
• What was the name of the publication?

However, only include references that you “in-text” referenced in your investigation. How your references are presented both within your EEI and in the reference section will depend on what your teacher prefers.  Often the recommended format is APA or Harvard.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Let Our Tutors Help Out With Your Report!

How to Write an EEI: A Step-by-Step Process

Now that you have your research prepared, it’s time to start writing your report. As we mentioned at the start of this guide, EEI’s are not typically written from start to finish, but rather in the order of:

• Method
• Introduction
• Results
• Discussion
• Abstract 

For each of these sections, there are specific requirements about what should be included and how it should be written.

How to Write a Method for Your EEI Report

Your method covers the steps you took to undertake your experiment and should be written in a way that will allow the reader to conduct the experiment themselves.

This is often broken into two parts; materials and procedures. It is very similar to a recipe.  Your method should be written in third person and in past tense. List exact measurements and quantities of materials that you used.

How to Write an EEI Introduction

As the name implies, this is where you introduce the concept behind your experiment. When writing your introduction, be sure to touch upon four specific points.

1. Firstly, justify why your topic is relevant to a particular industry or population.

      2. Secondly, explain the theory and science behind your solution.

      3. Thirdly, review the literature. Make sure you discuss the main points you’ve identified from your literature search and include in-text referencing! The aim of this is to        consolidate the foundations of your experiment and highlight how your research addresses a gap in the literature.

      4. Once you’ve justified the relevance and the literature behind your hypothesis you need to explain the aim of your investigation. In simple terms, what does your study        set out to do?

Then, you can explain briefly the science behind your method and how your results will support your hypothesis. Both textbooks and journal articles will help with this part. Finish this section with your hypothesis.

How to Present Your Results

Writing your results is a relatively simple part of an EEI.

Report your findings in figures and tables. Tables are great for comparing before and after results, while graphs are best used when comparing independent and dependent variables to identify a trend. The independent variable always goes on the x-axis (bottom) and the dependent on the y-axis (side).

How to Write an EEI Discussion

The discussion is the ‘make or break’ moment in an EEI and it is often the only part that has a word limit. It’s where you explain whether the results supported the hypothesis or not and then state why your results occurred. Look for reasons why your results were not 100% consistent and this is where your research journal comes in handy. Be succinct and logical. 

After this, state the limitations of the investigation which reduced the accuracy of the measurements and the reliability of the method. Finally, explain how the results are significant for the scientific community.

How to Write an EEI Report Abstract

The final part you write in an EEI is the abstract and should be approximately 50-100 words. The abstract is a summary of the entire paper which includes: a sentence about the significance of your study, what the aim is, what was found in the results and whether the research could be modified or improved in the future.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Let Our APTs Help Out With Your Report!

Writing an EEI report can be one of the most challenging tasks in your high school career, but you’re not alone. With the results of our Transformation Program and support of our Academic Personal Trainers, you’ll have the confidence, motivation and tools you need to succeed in your academic journey. 

Contact us for more information on how to improve your academic performance!

The post How to Write an EEI: Introduction, Conclusion & Examples appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Top 5 Tips on How to Prepare for Year 11 and Set Yourself up for the HSC

1.       Build Good Study Habits

There is a temptation to see studying for Year 11 as a little bit irrelevant. “It doesn’t count for anything.” While technically that may be true, that approach isn’t all that constructive. I mean think about it – do elite performers spend all their time bumming around not caring, and then turn up on game day expecting to produce miracles? Of course not.

It’s far better to think of Year 11 as a bit of a dress rehearsal for the HSC. While your results won’t be counted towards your OP/ATAR, the habits you establish will certainly carry through, and from this perspective, being indifferent to Year 11 is about the worst thing you can do.

Use this year to build good study habits. Identify what study strategies work best for you, and what works best for your different subjects, and also work out the best way to divide your time. What subjects are content heavy, and take more time to put together notes for? What subjects need more attention outside the classroom? How much time needs to be dedicated to a major work?

If you find a good rhythm with your study in Year 11, you’re much more likely to go into your final year with confidence and self-belief, rather than fear and doubt.

2.       Establish a Balanced Routine

You might have heard the term ‘work/life balance’? Well, now is the time to really integrate this philosophy into your life. Your school workload is going to step up from previous years, and you may need to revisit your current routine to accommodate this increase.

A good place to start is to calculate roughly how many hours each week you dedicate to the following areas of your life: school, work, sport/extra-curricular, and social/family commitments. It should then become apparent which aspects of your life (if any) you might be over-committing to, and which areas you may be neglecting. Have you got time for 5 sports sessions a week? Can you afford to be socialising all weekend, every weekend? You need to prioritise, be flexible and realistic, and ultimately be responsible for finding the right balance with your routine. It may mean foregoing some things in the short term – but there’s the rest of your life waiting just around the corner!

Using a yearly or termly planner can be a good way to find some balance with your routine. These tools will allow you to see more clearly the ebbs and flows in your workload at school, and help you manage your time accordingly when managing your study for Year 11. 

3.       Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle 

Taking care of yourself is a key ingredient for excelling in Year 11! Make self-care a top priority by getting enough sleep, enjoying nourishing meals, and staying active. You’ll be amazed at how a healthy lifestyle can supercharge your cognitive powers and keep your spirits high throughout the year!

4.       Seek Help and Ask Questions

Remember, you’re never on this academic adventure alone. Whether you’re puzzling over a tricky equation or decoding the mysteries of literature, reach out for help whenever you need it. Don’t be shy to ask your teachers, classmates, tutors or one of our Academic Personal Trainers for support – they’ve got your back!

5.       Keep One Eye on Year 12

As we’ve touched on, there can be a temptation to become indifferent and disengaged when studying for Year 11. But, sticking with the dress rehearsal metaphor, you might find purpose by occasionally glossing over the Year 12 course for each of your subjects. This will help you see the connections between the Year 11 content and their respective HSC courses, giving some more purpose to the former. Additionally, as you progress through the year, you’ll be able to identify any knowledge gaps you might have, or areas that you’re struggling with, and deal with them before it counts!

So, good luck! No doubt you will feel some stress and pressure over the next couple of years, but trust me when I say these next two are the best years of school. Go and enjoy them!

If you need help learning how to study for year 11, Click here to find an Academic Personal Trainer who can help you establish good study habits suited to your learning style!

The post 5 Study Tips for Year 11: How to Prepare & Get the Most Out of It appeared first on A Team Tuition.

What is the Pythagoras Theorem? 

The Pythagoras Theorem states that the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two shorter sides of a right-angled triangle is equal to the square of the length of the longest side, known as the hypotenuse. 

The theorem can be written mathematically as:

a² + b² = c²

Below, you can see a visual representation of the theorem: 

This article will show you how to use the Pythagoras Theorem, but if you are still struggling with the concept, maths tutoring may be beneficial! 

When to Use the Pythagoras Theorem

The Pythagoras Theorem is an essential mathematical concept for right triangles that has a wide range of applications in many fields. 

Here are some of the uses of the Pythagoras Theorem:

• Finding the length of the sides of a right-angled triangle: The Pythagoras Theorem helps you find the length of the hypotenuse (the longest side) or one of the shorter sides of a right-angled triangle, given the lengths of the other two sides.
• Checking whether a triangle is right-angled: If you know the lengths of the three sides of a triangle, you can use the Pythagoras Theorem to determine whether it is a right-angled triangle or not.
• Distance and displacement: The Pythagoras Theorem can be used to calculate the distance between two points in a two-dimensional space or the displacement between two points in a three-dimensional space.
• Navigation: The Pythagoras Theorem is used in navigation to calculate the distance between two points on a map or the distance between two cities on a globe.

The Pythagoras Theorem is a foundational concept that you need to understand to succeed in maths subjects. Mastering the Pythagoras Theorem will help you build a strong foundation in mathematics that you can build on for future maths classes.

How to Use the Pythagoras Theorem 

How to use the Pythagoras Theorem to find a missing side of a right triangle: 

1. Start with: 

a² + b² = c²

2. Put in what you know: 

10² + 24² = c²

3. Calculate: 

100 + 576 = c²

686 = c²

4. Swap sides: 

c² = 686 

5. Square root: 

c = √686

c= 26.2

Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is 26.2 cm.

Pythagoras Theorem Examples

It is easiest to learn maths by working through examples! 

Question 1: Find the length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with legs of length 3 cm and 4 cm.

Solution: Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can find the length of the hypotenuse as follows:

• a² + b² = c²
• 3² + 4² = c²
• 9 + 16 = c²
• 25 = c²
• c = √25
• c = 5cm 

Therefore, the length of the hypotenuse is 5 cm.

Question 2: Find the length of the shorter leg of a right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse of 10 cm and the longer leg of 8 cm

Solution: Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can find the length of the shorter leg as follows:

• a² + b² = c²
• a² + 8² = 10²
• a² + 64 = 100
• a² + 64 (-64) = 100 (-64)
• a² = 36
• a = √36 = 6 cm

Therefore, the length of the shorter leg is 6 cm.

Question 3: Determine whether the triangle with sides of length 5 cm, 12 cm, and 13 cm is a right-angled triangle.

Solution: We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to check whether the triangle is a right-angled triangle or not as follows:

• a² + b² = c²
• 5² + 12² = 13²
• 25 + 144 = 169
• 169 = 169

Since the equation is true, we can conclude that the triangle with sides of length 5 cm, 12 cm, and 13 cm is a right-angled triangle.

Question 4: A 15m ladder is placed against a wall so that the base of the ladder is 9m from the wall. What is the height at which the ladder touches the wall?

Solution: We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the height at which the ladder touches the wall as follows:

Let the height at which the ladder touches the wall be “h.” Then, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find h as:

• a² + b² = c²
• 9² + h² = 15²
• 81 + h² = 225
• h² = 144
• h = √144 = 12 meters

Therefore, the ladder touches the wall at a height of 12 feet.

Learn the Pythagoras Theorem Fast!

You know know that the Pythagoras Theorem is a maths theory that you can use to help solve questions about right triangles! It is one of the foundational concepts that will help you succeed in almost every maths subject. If you are currently struggling in maths, feel you need extra support or simply want to get an A in maths, A Team Tuition is here to help by providing one to one support.  

Looking to improve your maths grade but unsure where to start? A Team Tuition is here to help. Our tried and true tutoring methods can help you improve in any subject with at-home and online tutoring. Find a maths tutor near you today!

The post How to Use the Pythagoras Theorem: Tips and Tricks from a Maths Tutor appeared first on A Team Tuition.

What is a text response essay?

A text response essay is a style of writing where you share your reaction to something. It’s an opportunity to share your opinion with the world! 

A text response essay is specifically a response to a book that you read, but it can also be a response to a film that you watched, or a video game you played.

In order to get an A in English when writing a response, it is important that your essay gets the following points across to your audience: How you feel about what you read/saw/heard, what you agree or disagree with, can you identify with/relate to the situation? And the best way to evaluate the story. 

How do you structure a Text Response Essay?

When writing a text response essay, you start by introducing the text you will be responding to. Then in your body paragraphs you want to tell your audience how you feel about the text you are responding to, if you agree with it or disagree, how you may or may not identify with the text and how you evaluate it. Then in the conclusion, you restate your main point and sum up the main points. 

How to Write a Text Response Introduction

To begin with, you will set up the context. This will include the type of text you are responding to (is it a book? A play? A collection of poetry?), basic historical context (time, subject matter). 

Next explicitly outline your opinion. This must be clearly addressed in all aspects of the topic you are given. It also needs to demonstrate that you can think independently and uniquely. Finally, briefly introduce the topics you will be covering in your body paragraphs. 

Overall, try to keep your introduction to 3 to 4 sentences to keep your introduction clear and to the point, so your audience doesn’t lose interest. 

How to Write a Text Response Body Paragraph

When writing the body of your text response essay you should include 3 to 5 paragraphs. This allows you to be able to discuss your topics and your text in as much detail as possible. When writing your body paragraphs, it could be helpful to remember the acronym ‘TEEL’

Topic Sentence – Each paragraph should begin with this sentence; it serves as an introduction to your argument. It should engage with the topic you’ve been asked to discuss

Expand/example – After you have introduced your main point, you are going to expand on this and provide examples from the text you are responding to. 

Evidence – At this point you will be using your text to support your examples, essentially to prove what you have interpreted from the text.

Linking Sentence – At the end of each of your body paragraphs you should be linking back to your central theme/topic of your essay. 

Here is an example of a text response body paragraph: 

Early in the novel, London makes reference to Norm White, the resident groundskeeper of The Golden Age Convalescent Home. [Topic Sentence] Norm White hands Frank Gold a cigarette, ‘as if to say a man has the right to smoke in peace’. Here, there is a complete disregard for rule and convention, an idea that London emphasises throughout the text. This feature provides a counter-cultural experience for Frank, pushing him to realise that he is a strong human being rather than a mere victim. [Expand/Example] This is a clear contrast to the “babyishness” of the home and is used as evidence of true humanity in an era where society judged upon the unconventional. Frank yearns for a traditional Australian life after his trauma in Hungary; ‘his own memory…lodged like an attic in the front part of his brain’. Hedwiga and Julia Marai’s caring of him pushed him towards fear and reluctance to trust, yet also pressured him to seek acceptance in a world that ostracises him for his Jewish heritage and polio diagnosis. This here is why Frank desires a mature, adult connection – love that regards him as an equal human being. Frank seeks Elsa’s love and company as she too loathes being reduced to a victim, an object of pity. Frank thereafter uses humour to joke of his wounds; ‘we Jews have to be on the lookout’. Elsa sees ‘a look in his eyes that she recognised’, thus their bond enables both characters to heal. [Evidence] London alludes that Frank requires love and recognition not from the perspective of a sorrowful onlooker, rather he longs to be recognised as a mature adult. [Linking Sentence] 

How to Write a Text Response Essay Conclusion

Your conclusion should be short and sweet! You just need to restate and summarise the points you made in your body paragraphs! Remember to not add any new information to your conclusion. Sometimes as you are summing everything up, you can come across another point that you really want to talk about – and that is amazing! If this happens to you, make a new body paragraph! And then you can talk about it in your conclusion. It can also sometimes be unavoidable for your conclusion to sound very similar to your introduction and be a bit repetitive – this is ok! Just be sure to use different words from what you used in your introduction. 

Text Response Essay Writing Tips

When writing text responses essays, you should:

• Always write in the present tense. 
• Express complex ideas in several short sentences instead of long, this is more likely to control the reader’s interest.
• Express simple ideas in longer, complex sentences. 
• Tie everything back to the question. When preparing to write the essay the question asked should be dissected and at the forefront of your mind. 
• Do not be afraid to make bold statements! 
• Remember to consider how you feel about what you saw/read/heard, and to ask yourself if you agree or disagree with it! 

If you find yourself stuck, our English Tutors are here to help! 

Want to Excel in Your Text Response Essay Writing?

Using resources that are available to you are your greatest ally when it comes to writing your text response essay! There are great resources online such as YouTube Videos explaining how to get started and blog posts.

You also have access to your teacher and peers! Do not be afraid to ask your teacher for help – you are not going to get in trouble or made fun of for not knowing where to start. In fact, your teacher would be very excited to help you! It is why they are there after all! You can also utilise your peers! Set up a small study group with your friends and classmates! You can also get yourself a private tutor if you feel like you could use some extra help.

Need a helping hand writing a text response essay? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help you write impressive essays with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post How to Write a Text Response Essay: Structure & Tips  appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Now that you know the importance of knowing how to write an English Essay, you must be wondering where to begin. Writing an English essay, especially a good one, can seem daunting at first. Thankfully there is a super simple formula: every English essay must have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Let’s get into it further. 

Step 1: Before you start writing an English Essay

To get an A in English you need to understand that there is a structure, and having a plan is the essay structure’s greatest ally. You may think that planning an essay isn’t all that influential and you could just ‘wing it’? This, however, is a mistake that many students have made in the past that can easily be avoided!

A good place to start is to have a firm understanding of your topic/question by conducting research and a detailed outline to organise your thoughts. Outline templates are even available online to help get you started, should you find yourself struggling to get you started. 

Step 2: How to Write an Introduction to an English Essay 

Now that you have a plan outlined for your essay, you can begin to write! An introduction to an English Essay has critical elements including a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. 

What is a hook?

The hook of your essay draws your audience in. It is a sentence designed to get your audience interested in your topic and to continue reading. 

For example, imagine you’re mindlessly scrolling online until you spot an article and see only the first sentence. Why is that? Because the hook tells you if it is even worth stopping to read. 

What is background information?

Background information in an English Essay introduction is just as significant as the hook. It’s what introduces your topic to your reader. It helps them understand why the topic you’re writing about is so important to you, as well as helps the reader understand why it should be important to them too. 

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is what drives the essay. In any English essay, no matter the topic, you will sum it up in one or two sentences that will link to the rest of your body paragraphs. You should be sure that your thesis statement can organise and develop your essay based on your perspective and guide your reader to your argument. 

Step 3: How to Write the Body of an English Essay 

The body of your English essay is your chance to provide evidence that will support your thesis statement. The body of your essay will consist of about 3 paragraphs where you will support your thesis statement with examples and quotations, and explain how they add to your argument. 

Each paragraph should begin with a statement that outlines what you will be discussing in the paragraph otherwise known as a topic sentence. Then you will support your argument with evidence from the chosen text. You will discuss that evidence and explain what techniques are present and how they develop the argument. 

These responses in the body of the essay need to be analytical and should be broken up into 3 paragraphs that show when the next logical point and idea are being made. 

But how do you write an analytical response? 

Whether you are writing an English essay, a speech, or any other form of long response there are a few key features that teachers are looking for when marking your work. Being able to write a well-written analytical response will go a long way in bringing success in English.

Your teacher will give you a text with some clues of what it might be about or what it may mean, however when you are putting together your response, you want to put your own spin on it and express your own ideas from what you understand of the text instead of retelling your teachers’ ideas.

Step 4: How to Write an English Essay Conclusion

The end is near and you’re now ready to write your conclusions for your English essay! Writing a conclusion is something many students struggle to write. In short, a conclusion is a summary of what you have already written. 

The conclusion is not a place for adding new information, you just need to look back upon your thesis statement and evaluate it in the light of the topic sentences discussed in the body of your English essay. Your conclusion needs to be structured to remind your readers of what they have read, and then present to them a final conclusive remark. 

Your conclusion should be at least 3 sentences and at maximum 5 sentences as you are simply summarising your argument, not making a new point. Make it clear what you have been arguing. Be clear and succinct, you don’t want to waffle on. You also will want to aim to keep your conclusion shorter than your introduction – this is because if your conclusion is too long and rambles on, you are likely to lose your reader’s interest. 

Writing an English Essay is Easy With These 4 Steps 

With these 4 easy steps, you can write an impressive English essay no matter your learning style! As discussed above, the outline and structure of an English essay are very important to make the essay accessible to your reader as well as to you, the student writing the essay. With the help of a knowledgeable tutor you can faster learn how to master the structure of an essay using your learning styles to your advantage!

Looking to learn how to write an impressive English essay? A Team Tuition is here to help. With our tried and true tutoring methods, we can help you develop a love for writing with our at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

The post How To Write an Impressive English Essay: 4 Simple Steps to Better Writing appeared first on A Team Tuition.

The good news is it is possible to not just pass, but rather to do well and get an A by putting in consistent effort and strategies. 

If your last maths exam was a blemish to your otherwise perfect report card, or you’ve always had difficulty with mathematical concepts, here are 7 things that will help you to get better at Maths Methods. 

1. Do All the Different Questions for Each Maths Section

In Maths Methods, each section teaches a very specific principle – for example, solving linear algebraic equations. Once the principle is grasped, the basic level questions are easily solvable.

Within each section, however, there are variations of the basic question that take it to the next level – some of these may incorporate principles taught in previous chapters.

If you want to learn how to do well in Maths Methods, It’s vital to attempt these tricky questions, and learning from these will develop a complete understanding of the mathematical principle.

Ideally, students should review their thought process and work backwards with the answer provided to figure out how to correctly solve the tricky questions. This can be a time when collaboration with peers comes in (see below).

Lastly, they should be marked down to be discussed with a tutor or your teacher in class.

2. Join a Maths Study Group

Working with others might be an unwelcome necessity in the workforce, but collaborative learning in maths study shouldn’t be considered a challenge to overcome. If the right people are gathered, in the right situation, and the right environment, studying in groups and collaborating with other students can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s one of the absolute best ways to make those really difficult subjects enjoyable!

Every student, obviously, is an individual, and has different strengths and weaknesses. One of the greatest benefits of group study is that students can learn from each other’s strengths, and support their weaknesses. Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses is essential if you want to improve in Maths Methods, and your peers can help you with that.

Finally, in Maths Methods – and all other subjects, really – a harmonious study group encourages you to actively engage in problem-solving. This is the absolute core principle of maths, as opposed to being spoon-fed the method and answer at every step.

Teaching others is proven to help solidify core knowledge in your brain, as it helps transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory, ultimately helping you understand how to do well in Maths Methods.

As you can see, rehearsal of content helps shift it from short–term memory to long–term. Continuous rehearsal – say, helping others with their work – is sure to build up a strong foundational knowledge base!

3. Have a Good Relationship with Your Maths Teacher

Teachers make a big difference in any subject, but in maths, improper communication can be like learning in a different language.

Being in the teacher’s good books isn’t so they’ll give you the exam questions. It’s more about learning in an atmosphere where you will feel comfortable to ask a question. Asking questions can make the difference between passing Maths Methods and doing well in Maths Methods.

We’ve all heard maths teachers say there’s no such thing as a stupid question.

Making your teacher acknowledge your questions and diligence is simple – demonstrate you are working hard.

Take note of what you don’t understand in Maths Methods class (write it down if you’ll forget), and ask questions during the brief pauses teachers indicate they want you to ask a question. Other than that, students should clarify about homework and show teachers their worked modelling and problem solving (MAPS) questions.

Even though it will be rare, you may get a teacher with whom you just don’t click. Their style of teaching may be in opposition to your learning language, or they may have a pre-existing bias against you.

Whatever the case, there are times when it is best to request a change into another class. If you have a history and reputation of taking your maths study seriously, carefully considered communication with school authorities will pave the way for you to get better at Maths Methods.

4. Learn How To Properly Show Working

From Year 10 onwards, the use of mathematical language to show working is just as important as being able to solve the question itself.

From a marking point of view, the most you can get with just the correct answer is a D, even if your thought process was 100% correct. With minimal working that goes up to a C, and once the principles of mathematical language are understood, you will finally discover how to study for Maths Methods. That’s how A’s are usually achieved.

For such an important part of Maths Methods, it’s ridiculous to think that it’s not actually formally taught per se – there isn’t one class dedicated purely to teaching mathematical language.

“So,” I hear you ask, “how do I learn to show working then?”

Simple:

Pay attention to the teacher’s full worked examples of MAPS questions.

Sometimes, the whole class is stumped by a particularly challenging MAPS question, in which case the teacher does it on the board.

Take this opportunity to note the teacher’s use of mathematical language – it will be an A-level example of what the teacher expects in the exam. If you know this is a critical area for you, copy it completely so you can go through it again.

Mathematical language is something slowly developed for as long as you do maths. This is because each teacher’s expectations vary somewhat, and you must adapt their requirements.

It’s always wise to ask for feedback from your teacher after you’ve done a full MAPS question. Apart from checking the answer, ask them what they think about your working, and how you could improve.

Lastly, observe your study group’s working and incorporate what you like into your own style of mathematical language. As stated above, collaboration is a powerful tool that can facilitate and enrich maths learning.

5. Develop a MAPS Strategy and Study

Have you ever studied long and hard before an exam, only to eventually get to the test paper and think to yourself,

“What the heck? This is nothing like what I learnt in class!”

Say no more. The MAPS questions we’ve been referencing throughout this blog can be quite tricky to figure out, but they do have their own strategy and principles.

The reason Modelling and Problem Solving can be tricky is because they combine multiple mathematical principles that you learnt throughout the term. Not only that, they’re presented as real–life situations, in ways that are often unconventional.

It’s important that you analyse the problem beforehand and map out all of your goals. This will save you any precious time that might get wasted if you had rushed in, and gone down the wrong path.

Our maths tutors teach their students certain systematic strategy for tackling MAPS questions with maximum time efficiency.

6. Don’t Neglect Your Maths Methods Assignments

Maths assignments are a sensitive issue that summons an atmosphere of competitive secrecy. Everyone is trying to achieve the top mark, the top place in the class – and assessments often present the greatest challenge.

This is a time when sources of external help – A Team Tuition tutors, for example – are the most valuable, as the same oath of secrecy does not bind us. Having said that, Maths Methods assignments require knowledge and problem solving not explicitly taught in class that challenges even high school maths graduates.

Before we discuss assignment tactics, it needs to be said that if you want to pass Maths Methods, you should always, always, always start your assignments early. 

Never fear – remember, you are more than capable of accomplishing them! Contrary to popular belief, your teacher would not assign you an absolutely impossible task.

7. Recognise When to Get Extra Help

The prerequisite for learning additional knowledge is that you know the basics. Sometimes, early difficulties can lead to falling too far behind in a section, chapter, or even a whole subject. Maths Methods isn’t an elementary-level course, so you need to make sure you know the basics if you want to pass.

How do you know when you need to get help?

Get extra help if you hardly understand anything from class and every lesson seems like a chore. Get help if absolutely nothing makes sense, and you’re struggling to keep up with the rest of the class. Get help if you need to push yourself from a C to a B, or from a B+ to an A.

What I’m saying is, get help whenever you can, and whenever you want.

There should never be any shame in asking for help. Whether you’ve struggled with Maths Methods from day one, or you’re acing everything except that one key area – it doesn’t matter. Help is available to you whenever you need it – from teachers, parents, or A Team Tuition tutors, at any time.

Still Wondering How to Do Well in Maths Methods?

From learning to show your work, to understanding how to do your assignments the right way, Maths Methods can be a challenging subject to study, let alone do well in. But don’t fear! There is always help when needed, specifically in the form of a tutor.

If you’re struggling to get the grade you want in Maths Methods this term, a private tutor might be right for you – and A Team Tuition is here to help. Our tried and true tutoring methods can help you improve in any subject with at-home and online tutoring. Find a maths tutor near you today!

The post How to Do Well in Maths Methods: 7 Steps to Get Better at Methods appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Let’s dive right into the 7 steps that will help you score an A in legal studies!

1. Contextualise the Legal Problem

A lot of students make the mistake of jumping straight into analysing a legal problem without actually explaining the context at all!  While in some situations you can assume that your audience may be educated on perhaps Australia’s political system, there are other situations where they may not be familiar with the topic at all. So, first things first; write about why there is a legal problem. For instance, if you’re given the topic “Address the legal issues surrounding laws governing assisted reproduction technology in Australia”, you wouldn’t just dive into relevant case law. You would first start by explaining that Australian law is complex and convoluted in this area, which has caused numerous human rights violations.

Establishing the context of your legal problem allows the readers to have a greater understanding of the issue itself. The greater their understanding, the more likely they will follow your analysis.

2. Know the Legal Technicalities!

Students often lose marks in Legal Studies based on technicalities. A technicality could be using the correct language throughout your legal assessment – for example, using “plaintiff” or “defendant” when referring to the people involved in a suit.  Another example would be knowing the Australian court hierarchy and making sure you refer to the correct court in your assessment. The best way to know the technicalities has A LOT to do with the next step:

3. Background Reading is your Best friend.

Something that I realised halfway through Year 11 was that it simply wasn’t good enough to be able to write a succinct analytical essay for Legal Studies. I actually needed to understand what I was talking about.  In order to understand what I was talking about, I needed to do as much reading as possible.  There is no denying that there is a lot of reading in law.

Skim reading is not acceptable, you will miss out on the difficult points! Sit down and read everything the first time – trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you don’t have to go back to refresh your memory!

4. Plan your Assessment

Always plan your work before you start. Chances are, if you start writing your assignment before you’ve actually thought about what you’re writing, your perspective will change halfway through the assignment.

Plan your arguments, find your legal sources and draft your recommendations before you put pen to paper. This will maximise your writing time because you won’t be stopping and starting as you dig up those references!

5. The IRAC Method saves lives (literally).

Legal writing follows a similar structure to what you would see in English. In English, you would typically follow the TEEL (also known as PEEL or SEEL) rule (Topic, Evidence, Elaborate, Link). Legal argumentative essays follow a more propositional method: IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) but it is essentially the same thing!

I: Issue

Firstly, students should identify the legal issue. A legal issue could be something as simple as “whether or not the accused is guilty of murder”.

R: Rule/Principle

Secondly, students should identify the legal principle (also known as the legal rule). This is where it becomes tricky. Legal principles are generally elemental. Maybe the accused is not guilty of murder… Maybe he/she is guilty of manslaughter. How do we know this? We turn our attention to the legal principle that relates to unlawful homicide.

SIDE NOTE: One of the most important things students should know when learning the law is understanding the two sources of law: common law and legislation.

Here, our legal principle is codified into legislation in section 302 of the Criminal Code (Qld) 1899 which outlines the elements for murder in section 1(a)-(e). One out of the five of these elements requires the offender to intend to cause the death of the person killed. However, if the offender did not intend to cause the death of the person killed, then he/she is not guilty of murder. Rather, that person would be guilty of manslaughter!

A: Application

This leads us into the third component of IRAC: application of the facts. Let’s imagine that someone is playing with matches and suddenly sets a wooden post on fire, which breaks and falls on a pedestrian, killing them upon impact. Did the person who set the wooden post on fire intend to cause the death of the person killed? Arguably not.

Application of the facts is the area in which students will receive the most amount of marks, because it requires students to connect the dots between different legal principles.

The best advice I can give to students when applying the law to the facts is to make sure that you consider all possible outcomes, and make counterarguments where appropriate. Perhaps arson could be an alternative charge? Or maybe the accused could rely on an “accident” defence? Make sure to mention these observations in your answer!

C: Conclusion

Finally, based on their application of the law to the facts, students should choose the conclusive argument which they believe is the strongest and articulate why that is the case. This could be as simple as saying, “Therefore, it is unlikely that Jimmy would be found guilty of murder because he did not intend to cause any harm to the pedestrian.”

When concluding, students should sit back and play “the judge” and imagine what finding a judge would make. Most importantly, don’t make your answer absolute! You can never know for certain what the outcome will be, so always make a tentative conclusion! Do this by noting that “it is likely/unlikely that…”, followed by your conclusion.

Understanding and applying these principles is how to get an A in Legal Studies, and how to assess so many decisions throughout your lifetime.

6. Offer Recommendations, and Identify the Limitations

So far you’ve identified a legal issue, you’ve discussed why it’s legal issue, outlined the relevant law, applied the facts and made a tentative conclusion. Now what?

You suggest ways in which the law can be improved!

For example, imagine you are analysing the law relating to double jeopardy. Double jeopardy prevents an individual from being put on trial for the same crime twice. Only recently, the law reform in Queensland to retrial an individual in certain circumstances if “new and compelling” evidence unfolds. However, this law is not retrospective, meaning that any crimes that were committed prior to the enactment of the new law on the 25th October 2007 are “safe” from retrial despite if “new and compelling” evidence proves the acquitted person guilty of their crime.

If you were addressing this scenario for Legal Studies, it wouldn’t be enough to achieve that “A” grade by merely making the above assumption. You would have to make recommendations as to how the law should be improved. Here, you could recommend that the law should be retrospective to ensure that all criminals receive punishment for their crimes. It’s that simple!

However, there is a secondary element to this that will push your assessments over the edge.

The prior steps can be identified as foundational requirements to adequately answer a legal question; but in order to achieve that A Grade, you need to go beyond the bare minimum of merely identifying the parties, issues, legal principles, applying the law to the facts and making recommendations.

To demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the area of law, you need to be able to identify whether your recommendations will give rise to any adverse results – in other words, limitations that your recommendations will result in.

For example, using the above scenario, you have recommended that the Criminal Code (Qld) 1899 should be amended to ensure that the double jeopardy clause applies retrospectively. A limitation here could be that this recommendation would flood the courts with “cold cases”, which will delay a multitude of cases from appearing before the court.

7. Write About Your Passions

For most activities in Legal Studies, you can have a little bit of leeway to pick and choose the topic you want. The best advice I could give a student is write about your passions!

Sticking to your passions ensures that you will enjoy the time you put into your assessment. Personally, my passion is human rights (which is probably obvious with my above examples). Writing about human rights means that I jump at the chance to read another article on law reform! I can do this for hours, since it’s something I have a genuine interest in.

Remember that law (and ATAR legal studies) is very reading-heavy, if you’re not interested in corporate law, that reading will be doubly difficult.  So if you stick to something that you’re truly passionate about, you can’t go wrong!

Thankfully, one of the great things about Legal Studies is that it covers numerous areas, which means you’re bound to set your sights on something you enjoy. I truly believe it’s one of the greatest areas you can endeavour into, and I wish you all the best in achieving the best grades possible for it!  How to get an A in legal studies is about pursuing your interests and dreams.  Isn’t that worth getting an A for?

Need to improve your grades across the board? Find a high school tutor now.

Now you know how to get an A in legal studies, what about those other ATAR classes?

If you’re apply for a place in law at university, you’ll be up against some tough competitors. Regardless of what you plan to study on graduation, getting the best possible ATAR score means you’ll have the most potential options open to you. Now you’ve got your plan for achieving top marks in legal studies, let’s work on getting you the best possible ATAR!

The post How To Study For Legal Studies: A 7 Step Guide to Writing an A-Worthy Legal Essay appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Velocity is the rate of change of an object relative to its direction of movement. 

Velocity is known as a vector quantity meaning that it describes both a numerical value and a direction. Therefore, when calculating the velocity of an object, you must also be aware of its direction. 

To succeed in physics and increase your physics grade, it is imperative to understand the concept of velocity and how it differs from speed. 

What is speed? 

Speed is the rate of change of an object. 

Speed is often referred to as a scalar quantity, meaning that it refers to a single value. Put simply, speed can only tell you how fast something is moving over a distance, it cannot provide any indication of the direction of the object, that’s where velocity comes in. 

Speed vs. Velocity: What’s the difference?  

Speed is the rate of change of an object, while velocity is the rate and direction of movement of an object. 

In physics, explaining that an object is moving at 60km/h is speed, mentioning that the object is moving 60km/h, east is explaining the object’s velocity. The most common standard unit of velocity is m/s or m/s^-1 however, there is a plethora of other units which can also be used, including km/s and cm/s. It is useful to be aware of these in questions to ensure that your measurements do not require converting. (2)

In physics, there are a few different types of velocities:

• Initial Velocity
• Terminal Velocity
• Constant Velocity
• Changing Velocity

Velocity In Physics: Speed in Science

It can be challenging to determine what type of velocity to calculate for. Be sure to ask yourself “what information is the equation providing?” and “what value am I trying to solve for?”.  

To understand physics, it is crucial that you understand the different types of velocity and how to successfully calculate them.

Initial Velocity  

Initial velocity is the velocity when the time of the object is at zero (0). 

This type of velocity is the moment at which the motion starts and is typically represented by the symbol below.

There are 4 initial velocity formulas that can be used to calculate velocity:

• If acceleration, time, and final velocity are provided in a question, then the formula you should use is:

• If final velocity, acceleration, and distance are provided we can use the formula:

• If distance, acceleration, and time are provided, the initial velocity would be solved through:

• If final velocity, distance, and time are provided, then you can use the formula:

Terminal Velocity  

Terminal velocity is used to highlight the movement of an object falling freely throughout the atmosphere. 

Objects which fall in a vacuum (a space where there is no matter or very low pressure) will accelerate until they reach the ground. However, when we talk about objects falling into the atmosphere, they will ultimately cease acceleration due to increased air resistance. 

Therefore, the exact moment at which the air resistance is equal to the acceleration caused by gravity (or any other force which is acting upon the object) is referred to as terminal velocity. 

The easiest way to calculate terminal velocity is through the formula: 

	=	terminal velocity
	=	mass of the falling object
	=	acceleration due to gravity
	=	density of the fluid through which the object is falling
	=	projected area of the object
	=	drag coefficient

The terminal velocity of the object is equal to the square root of the fraction of twice the object’s weight divided by the sum of the front area of the object, the drag coefficient, and the gas density of the atmosphere in which the object is falling through.

Constant Velocity  

Constant velocity refers to an object moving in a constant direction at a constant speed for a certain duration of time. 

Although this type of velocity is quite uncommon in the real world, it can be quite helpful to understand for your upcoming test. 

Constant velocity can be calculated through:

which is also represented as  where d and refer to the change in displacement, and and t are the change in time. 

Note, this formula can also be rearranged to solve distance and time. 

Changing Velocity  

Changing velocity occurs when an object either slows down, increases speed, or changes direction.

Changing velocity can be calculated through the formula: 

Where is the change in velocity of the object, is the initial velocity of the object, and refers to the final velocity of the subject.

Examples of Velocity 

It is important to understand that depending on the velocity question the velocity formula will be different. Make sure you spend some time working through the information you have in your question so that you can decide which is the best formula to use.  

Question 1:

Jane completes a swimming race with a final velocity of  and an acceleration of  within the final 4 seconds. Calculate Jane’s initial velocity. 

Solution: 

Question 2: 

A badminton shuttle with a weight of 5.5 grams is approaching with a velocity of  5m/s. It is then hit with a racket and moves in the opposite direction with a velocity of 12m/s. The shuttle is in contact with the racket for 20 milliseconds. Determine the change in velocity of the shuttle. 

Chosen Formula:

Note that this does not mean that you add 12m/s with 5m/s as this would be calculating the difference in speed, not the difference in velocity. Therefore, to work out the change in  velocity you need to add the vector quantities. 

In order to add the vectors and find the resultant vector, we need to find a way to get rid of  the negative sign. Therefore, if we change the direction of the arrow, you can effectively get rid of the negative sign. 

We then have to connect the arrows from head to tail.

Understand velocity before your next exam  

Understanding a variety of formulas in physics, as well as being able to distinguish the difference between velocity and speed, can help set you up for success in physics. 

If you are finding yourself struggling in physics or would like to improve your physics grade, A Team Tuition is here to help. Our tried and true tutoring methods can help you improve in any subject with at-home and online tutoring. Find a tutor near you today!

Sources:

https://www.thoughtco.com/velocity-definition-in-physics-2699021 (2) https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1DKin/Lesson-1/Speed-and-Velocity
https://sciencing.com/types-velocity-8531474.html
https://byjus.com/initial-velocity-formula/
https://sciencing.com/calculate-terminal-velocity-6134922.html
http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/kinematics/constVelProble ms/kin10.htm 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1-oEt20kFA

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What Is General Mathematics?

General Mathematics is a subject in the Australian Curriculum that is designed to provide students with mathematical skills and knowledge required for everyday life and future studies. It covers a broad range of topics including algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and probability. The course is typically taken by students in their senior years of high school who do not intend to pursue advanced mathematical studies in university.

Is General Mathematics Hard?

The difficulty of General Mathematics varies depending on your own stengths, as well as the effort put into studying and reviewing the content. Generally speaking, General Mathematics is designed to be accessible to a range of students and is considered to be less difficult than both Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics. However, this does not mean that General Mathematics is easy or requires little effort.

Advanced vs General Maths?

Students who are enjoy maths or find maths intersted, or have a desire to pursue studies in fileds such as maths, science or engenering would usualy be a better fir for Advanced Maths, which is a bit more rigorous and covers different content to General Maths. General Maths is more sutable for students who want to develop maths skills that are appliciable in day to day life and for students looking to pursue humanities, social sciences or business in their future. 

How to Be Good at Maths: 6 Tips to Get an A

1. Don’t bludge, Maths A is hard. Get ahead from the start!

Too many times I hear this from students who aren’t taking the subject serious enough. The reality is that any subject you take at school is going to impact both your OP and your options going forward, so the best time to get in good habits is early on.

In addition, Maths is a subject that builds upon the skills you learn earlier in the year. If you don’t know a concept and you get another topic added on top of it, all of a sudden you’re revising 2 things.

Get ahead of the game. Know the topics that you’re going to do, even if it’s only their name, and do a Google search if you can’t access any notes. Get to know when the skills are useful and contextualise them for yourself. Get involved in class and ask those questions. The more passionate you get early, the less work you’ll leave for yourself at the end. You’ll no longer be catching up – you’ll be flying ahead of the rest.

Trust me, you’ll thank yourself in Term 4 when the big decisions are looming.

2. Maths is another language – learn it

One of the first things I do with my students in tutoring is make a Maths glossary.

The advantages of this are simple: They not only give people a reference point for different mathematical terms, but glossaries also store most of the core concepts a student learns in one place. This is especially useful for topics like financial maths, statistics, and coordinate geometry, which uses a few different ideas and concepts.

If someone asks you to find the mode but you find the median, or someone asks you to find the equation of the tangent to the curve and you find some arbitrary equation by fiddling around with numbers, it shows a lack of knowledge and you will be marked down.

See? Even that sentence alone features around 5 or 6 different terms that you must know inside out!

You need to be confident with what each different term means, and what you need to do to get to those different values.

For example, if you don’t know how to get to a gradient in coordinate geometry, how can you get to know the formula of the line on which 2 points are? How can you calculate the equation of a line parallel to that line going through another 2 points?

If you don’t know your mathematical language, that sentence makes no sense. It’s simple maths to do, but knowing the names of the processes you’re doing and knowing when to carry out those processes is the key to mathematics.

We’ll touch on the processing side of things a little later. For now, know your terms!

3. Practice questions – you need to do them but you also need to do them well

There’s 3 general methods that people try when they’re doing practice questions. The first 2 I’m going to describe are ineffective, the last one is the most effective and we’ll explain the pros and cons along the way.

Method 1:

• Reading the question, thinking “that’s easy” as you look at their explanation of the answer, and then simply writing down the answer.

Definite no-no.

Actually doing the question is a key part of practice questions. If you don’t do the question in its entirety during practice, you teach your brain only to acknowledge the cheat answer, not the actual practice. Exams and assignments don’t have answer sheets – in an exam, this method will bite you in the back.

Method 2:

• Writing out the question and answers completely

Now, that may surprise you – you may believe that Method 2 is, technically, the perfect thing to do. It is – if you’d like a C or a B grade. It helps your brain to an answer in an exam, and qualms some of the worries and concerns about weird number, odd decimal places, and so on. However, it is is not the optimal method.

So, what is?

Method 3:

• Write out the question, do the working out, write the answer, and cross analyse.

It may not sound like much of a difference, but doing analysis of your work is absolutely crucial towards getting an A in General Maths. Complete your questions, practice it yourself, and then analyse your method against that of the textbook, or teacher’s, or your tutors. If you make mistakes, look over your working, and have an educational advisory (aka your tutor or teacher) who can show you where you went wrong.

Then, write out the entire question again.

This allows your brain to commit it to memory. You want to make sure you learn from every mistake, so as to apply the proper process to any similar questions.

Only by doing this method do you use practice questions to your full advantage.

4. Practice Mindfully

Doing practice exams and questions sounds like a drag – and, I won’t lie, sometimes it is.

What you want to do is challenge your brain as much as possible, but not burn out. Practice can often bring on brain fatigue, and eventually force people to stare into space or mindlessly scroll through their Facebook feeds.

My solution is to be smart about what and when you study.

Even if I’m tired after university, and don’t feel like studying, I make sure to do little mundane tasks that I know need to be done. They’re often things that can be done quite mindlessly – for example, writing out notes, doing simple knowledge questions (like drawing graphs or putting values in a table), or completing easy homework sheets. This just helps to keep my brain active, and actually gets the small things out of the way easily!

It’s up to you to identify what helps you best prepare, and do little seemingly useless things to help make your work interesting for you. If you’re finding it difficult to do this, get help from A Team Tuition! Our tutors are trained specifically to help you adapt your learning to your interests, learning language, and personal style.

The key message from this paragraph is to study with what you like, when you like, and where you like – you’ll find that it will cause you to want to study, rather than having it be a chore.

5. Master the Calculator (in your head) 

If you can’t add, multiply, divide and subtract quickly and without a calculator, you are wasting valuable seconds per question in an exam punching numbers into a machine.

Try to relearn your multiplication tables alongside school work. You’ll start to notice your in-school skills improve because you now can do the arithmetic that you were doing on your fingers, or in the calculator in your head. This means you have more time to actually study the question and process that is required of you.

In addition (pun intended), your confidence in General Maths goes through the roof when you know that you can do the multiplication that you struggled with initially, and it makes the subject a lot less stressful.

Other skills that need to be up to scratch are using a ruler, using a compass, the conversions of time (hours to seconds), distance (kilometres through to centimetres), and speed (km/h to m/s).

Don’t forget calculator skills themselves! That seems redundant, but if you know how to use your calculator, you’ll be able to get to answers that involve complex processes quicker. You especially want to know how the memory function works, as you can use that in multi stage questions.

Everyone’s calculator is different, so ask your teacher to teach you, or ask someone with the same calculator how they do it. It will help you in the long run.

6. Errors are your best friend – learn from them

Getting something wrong should be acknowledged as the greatest way to learn.

There’s no greater motivator than the sudden realisation that you’ve made a mistake, and the knowledge that you need to work even harder to get back on top of work. People can scramble like their life depends on it in these situations.

I personally believe that mistakes should motivate you through the journey of General Maths

Let it be known: you will make mistakes, and it will be different for everyone. Some people will make the mistake of being overconfident as I alluded to earlier; some people will make the mistake of leaving an assignment too late; and you all will get numerous questions wrong.

My advice is to learn from the mistakes, and never make the same mistakes twice! You need to put safeguards against your previous mistake. These safeguards could be simply starting an assignment a week earlier next time, or doing work every week for the assignment as opposed to only for the week you start it and the week you hand it in.

Write down these safeguards and put them in a place where you’re going to see them daily. Make them a goal to achieve! Having them down on paper will prove beyond helpful.

Most importantly, develop a mindset that accepts mistakes. It is impossible to not make mistakes – therefore, focus on what is possible: learning how to analyse, assess, and improve on your mistakes. It’s a skill that will not only influence your Maths A journey, but your whole life to come.

Still Wondering How to Be Good at Maths?

From memorizing functions and terms to understanding how different parts of formulas work together, General Maths can be a challenging subject to study, let alone become goot at it and get A’s. But don’t fear! There is always help when needed, specifically in the form of a tutor.

If you’re struggling to get the grade you want in General Maths this term, a private tutor might be right for you – and A Team Tuition is here to help. Our tried and true tutoring methods can help you improve in any subject with at-home and online tutoring. Find a general maths tutor near you today!

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