Student Testimonials

"There are many things I understand better due to tuition. Firstly and most importantly, I found the most improvement in my electronics and magnetism test compared to the section of electronics and magnetism in the end of year exam (I got full marks in that section compared to the 65% I got in the unit test). I believe I struggled with it when I did the unit test but I found it far easier in the exam due to the tuition lessons I had been taking. Secondly I remember the huge improvement in geology. Geology was probably one of my weakest science subjects but due to tuition I actually started to enjoy it. I think that is because I actually didn't understand it properly before I started tuition. I learnt that you can really dislike a subject because you simply don't understand it but on the contrary, once you understand the principles, it could be very enjoyable. I also got good marks for that in the end of year exam."

Shalini, December 2008
Year 10, Mathematics & Science

"I passed all my maths and science papers with achieveds and merits."

Kieran, January 2009
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics & Science

“I used to go to NumberWorks, I found that they weren't age appropriate- so many games, and the tutors didn't always know the answer or explain well. AHeadStart is much better; is age appropriate, and Anna could always explain the answer. Also I liked how AHeadStart came to my house because other people like at number works are loud and distracting.”

Emma, January 2016
Year 13, Physics

"As a result of my tuition, answering different kinds of exams, 1) has improved my confidence, 2) has taught me easier ways to solve problems. And step by step I have found myself loving the subject, and test marks have improved successfully."

Donia Hend, December 2008
Year 13, Level 3 Chemistry & Calculus

"My exams went surprisingly well. I passed everything and got a merit in waves and algebra. Thanks so much for your help."

Rachael Peri, December 2008
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

“Thank you so much for teaching me this year. I have especially really appreciated you giving up your time in the last week to fit in the extra lessons. It has really helped to have someone guide me through NCEA 2. I’m looking forward to Calculus and Chemistry next year. Thank you again.”

Emma, November 2012
Year 12, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"AHeadStart was an amazing find! I wish I'd found it sooner! =) It helped me so much, it gave me confidance in maths!! made science interesting!!! and above all improved my school grades, to a level at which I'm winning an award for exellence in science! I came top of my class this year, and AHeadStart helped me there. I can't believe I'm typing this, but I now enjoy maths and science = P Thank you very much!"

Year 10 Student, December 2009
Mathematics & Science

"[Tuition] also helped me have a better understanding of the maths subjects I wasn't doing too well in and also helped me set realistic goals for the subjects. Once I got what I wasn't getting it made my confidence go up as I knew that I could actually do it."

Alice Cameron, December 2008
Year 12, Level 2 Mathematics

"Tuition really helped me with physics and chemistry. In my chemistry and physics internals I found the tuition Melanie provided helped me work out harder problems and understand them, and therefore I was pleased with my results."

Georgie, December 2008
Year 12, Level 2 Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

“I had my Chemistry exam yesterday and my Statistics exam today. I was surprised that I wasn't worried about the chem one, but I was a bit for the stats one. They both went better than expected. I was especially proud of my knowledge of aqueous solutions, and even helped some people out before the exam. I wanted to thank you because I have improved not only in my knowledge but in my study habits!”

Alex, November 2013
Year 13, Chemistry & Statistics

“Hello Melanie,

Thank you for your email and for the great tutorials you provide. I have improved a lot in the sciences because the extra help I received over the years. I had very excellent tutors, it was worth the price and I am happy I found AHeadStart.

Once again thank you!”

Ariam, January 2016
Year 13, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics

“The tutoring is excellent and the regular communication from AHeadStart to check up and make sure it is going well is very good.”

Alex, January 2016
Year 13, Calculus

"I would really like to thank AHeadStart tutoring as i had been to other tuition over other years and had felt that it didn't feel I had gained anything from this but form the tutoring and help you gave to me I felt I had grasped the subject better and it gave me more confidence in my ability which prepared me better for my exams."

Emily, December 2009
Year 13, Level 3 Physics

"Hi Melanie. I got excellence in NCEA! I also got e in mechanics and biology and e endorsement in maths. I’m so happy! Thank you so much for the help you gave me this year."

Ellen, January 2012
Year 11, Mathematics & Science

“I think that without the tuition I received, I wouldn't have been able to get the grades that I did. For example, through tuition, I learned how to write NCEA answers in a concise way. This helped me to save time on the exam and gave me extra time at the end to re-check all of my answers.”

Ellen, January 2014
Year 13, Level 3 Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics

“I contacted AHeadStart to get some extra support for my son about a month prior to NCEA exams. He is a capable student but finds some aspects of English difficult. In 4 or 5 sessions he worked alongside Paula and gained valuable knowledge about completing English exam papers. He was very pleased to get English endorsed with excellence and so were his parents!!.”

Isaac’s mother Jenny, January 2014
Year 11, English

"I wanted 2 say thank you because all of my results were good and I’m extremely grateful for all the help the tutors gave me XD."

Soliana, January 2012
Year 12, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"I learnt how to take a question and work through it simply and correctly. I was taught how to properly use the formulas given, to understand and answer selected questions. I was taught the information which I needed to know for the exam which I had not been properly taught."

Danielle, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Physics

“The most helpful thing about tutoring is when I don't get something my tutor will explain it in another way until I understand it. It is also useful to be able to ask as many questions as you want to.

In chemistry I found it really useful to be able to have someone explain directly a concept I didn't understand in class. I enjoyed eventually feeling confident with chemistry!”

Laura, January 2014
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry & Mathematics

“Tutoring from AHeadStart is well worth it! I only went for 7 sessions but I gained lots of knowledge and confidence and achieved my goal of passing the MCAT with excellence.”

Lauren, January 2014
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics

“Just a note to thank you very much for all your help with supporting Daisy via Helena again this year. Daisy’s confidence and love of science due to Helena’s expert and engaging tuition has blossomed. From the Year 10 girl I called you about two years ago, starting to lose her understanding of concepts and needing support, to the confident Excellence level student we have now, has been a transformation. Daisy has always loved science and that love has grown ten-fold in the past two years. She managed to gain 100% Excellences in all her internals this year… not just for her 3 sciences but in all 6 subjects and is already way past the 50 Excellence credits needed for her Level 2 Excellence endorsement, and only 6 credits shy of gaining her second Gold Bar at St Margaret’s (70 E credits).

Many thanks once more. Please tell Helena that Daisy will be in touch with her when she gets her results in January!”

Daisy’s mother Lorelei, December 2015
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

“The tutor was able to help me directly in certain areas of a subject that I struggled with, e.g. certain questions, which allowed me to learn what I needed to rather than go over the same things over and over again. The books with the past NCEA papers were extremely helpful and convenient and they played a good role in this. I find most other tutors, even private, are not very good compared to the tutoring I've had here.”

Richard, January 2014
Year 12, Level 2 Biology, Chemistry & Physics

“Hi Melanie. Thank you for your amazing tutoring. I appreciated hugely.”

Laura, November 2014
Year 13, Statistics