Very often science in high schools are taught in a certain way: a relaying of facts that seemingly just have to be memorised. While this may be a bit easier for the students to learn in the moment, it ends up inhibiting their ability to perform excellence in the subject area.

Because of how science is taught in highly school, most students approach it as if it’s a subject to memorise, not understand. They make very pretty formated notes, highlight key terms, and make flashcards from them. But, when the exam rolls around, and question requiring critical thinking rolls around, the student has no idea how to answer it. That’s because science isn’t about collecting facts – it’s about relating cause and effect at a fundamental level.

This is where effective tutoring makes a real difference. A strong science tutor doesn’t just give you the answers – they teach you how to approach problems logically.

Take enzyme denaturation, for example. Many students simply memorise, “High temperatures cause proteins to unfold.” While this is true, it actually doesn’t explain any sicence behind it, so a good tutor takes you deeper: they’ll explain how heat breaks hydrogen bonds, reshapes the molecular structures, therefore disrupts the active sites – suddenly, it’s not rote learning anymore. It’s cause-and-effect reasoning.

Once you shift from memorising to understanding mechanisms, science becomes predictable. You start recognising patterns, connecting concepts, and solving problems more confidently. That’s when grades improve – not through making massive notes documents and cramming it all, but through clarity.

If your current study routine involves staying up late surrounded by meticulusly crafted colour-coded notes, it might be time to rethink your approach. Science success comes from learning how to think, not just what to know – and the right tutor can teach you exactly that.

Oliver Fletcher