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How One Learner Moved from 45% to 72% in Maths

Close-up of a Grade 11 maths exercise book with worked algebra on the page, pencil, calculator and highlighter on a stud
Thabo started the year with 45% for Maths and a lot of worry. His parents brought him to our centre in Menlo Park in February. We began with a simple test to find the gaps, mostly in algebra and fractions. He came twice a week and did a set of questions every night. By June he was at 58%.
He stopped being scared of the paper once he saw his own mistakes were small and fixable. Pieter van der Merwe, Mathematics Tutor
In the final exam Thabo scored 72%. His secret was not talent. It was steady practice and asking questions.
A South African maths tutor standing beside a chalkboard holding an open textbook, with clear empty board space on the l
Close-up of a high-school study desk with past exam paper booklets, highlighters, a scientific calculator and a mug, sho

Find the gaps first

Thabo’s marks did not improve until we found what he had missed in earlier grades. A short diagnostic test showed weak spots in factorising and equations. We fixed those before touching new work.

Small wins build confidence

Each week he tracked his marks on a chart stuck above his desk. Seeing 45% become 52%, then 58%, made him want to keep going. His mother says homework evenings are much calmer now.

4 Comments

  1. I really enjoyed this post. My son has started using past papers every afternoon and his confidence in Maths is already much better.

  2. Very helpful advice for matric parents. The tips on planning study time and asking teachers the right questions made our evenings less stressful. Thank you!

  3. Clear and practical article. I shared it with my Grade 11 class group and we are already trying the revision timetable ideas before the November exams.

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