Student Testimonials

"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

"Thanks for the tutoring, it was much appreciated and most helpful."

Tom Busler, November 2007
Year 13, Level 3 Calculus

"Daniel was great yesterday, I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. He went out of his way to make sure I understood things and I thought his style of tutoring was really suited to me and my learning style. Thank you for all your help."

Kitty, March 2012
Year 13, Chemistry & 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

“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

"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

"I did OK in my exams. I only got one of the three science papers, but I did do better than I expected and I've passed with 106 credits and I'm very proud of myself. Thanks for all your help. Without it I wouldn't have achieved as much as I did."

Lexie McKellar, 2007
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics and Science

“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

"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

“Hi Melanie! Just wanted to let you know I got merit in both Stats and Chem exams! Really happy and you helped me heaps so just wanted to say thanks. Now I’m off to Otago! Thanks again!”

Kim, January 2015
Year 13, Chemistry & Statistics

“I have achieved a Distinction in ICAS and a Year Seven maths award.
I have learnt many new strategies to help me in maths and I think that this is how I have achieved these awards.”

George, January 2016
Year 7, Mathematics

“Hi Melanie, tutorials have been going really well this term! I’ve found tutoring has been helping lots and Robert definitely knows what he’s talking about and can answer every question I have for him.”

Ruby, July 2014
Year 12, Biology & Mathematics

"[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

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

Laura, November 2014
Year 13, Statistics

"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

“We have been very happy with how it all went. Sarah was very patient and related really well with Nicole. She went into NCEA exams quite confident which is something I didn't think I would see. Previous to the meeting Sarah she would stress out at thoughts of any test.

She has managed over 80 credits already without even relying on credits from her external exams and is really proud of herself. I know Sarah thought there was always so much to get through in a session and felt rushed but she did a great job and we really appreciated her help.

I have recommended your business to a couple of friends with students heading into exams next year and will be in contact."

Nicole’s mother Alison, November 2013
Year 11 English, Mathematics & Science

“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

"I think my tuition helped me understand the basics of the topics [and] then learn how to put that understanding to use when given a question. Over all it helped me to understand what questions I was going to get asked and how to solve them the fastest way without making lots of silly mistakes."

Kate McDonald, December 2008
Year 13, Level 3 Statistics

"Briar was totally chuffed at her results and deservedly so. But the key for me was that it confirmed for her that she was quite capable of working through and understanding her maths, even though she had convinced herself that this was not possible. It seems to be a real issue for maths that so many students think that they are totally unable to comprehend the principles - you either like maths or you hate it and there seems to be no grey area in-between. So the credit really goes to you Melanie for getting Briar over that "useless at maths" label and giving her the chance to succeed - and she did so well! You have a great intuition for understanding how best to explain the subject."

Briar’s mother Cathie, January 2009
Year 12, Level 2 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

“I couldn't speak more highly of AHeadStart and my tutors, they were so friendly, so helpful and they both truly wanted me to succeed in English and Mathematics by continually giving me every opportunity to improve and prepare. Even in English when I first started tutoring in Level 1 - I went from getting 'achieved' in internals to suddenly getting 'Excellences' for the rest of the year and for Level 2 I received all Excellences for all of my internals and passed all of my exams.”

Mikayla, January 2016
Year 12, English & Mathematics

"[My son] found going over the specific areas that he didn't understand [helpful]...again the ability to personalise teaching to his specific learning needs."

Mother of student December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry

"I received my results for maths and have achieved all and also got two merits (in arithmetic and geometric sequences and non-linear graphs) :)  I would like to take lessons again this year. "

Donia Hend, January 2008
Year 12, Level 2 Mathematics