Not every student who needs tutoring is failing or falling behind. In fact, one of the most common types of learners we work with at First Education is the “almost there” student. These students are often capable, motivated and generally doing okay, but their results do not reflect the effort they are putting in. They might sit in the middle to upper range of the class and feel frustrated that they cannot break into consistently strong marks.

The challenge for these students is rarely a lack of intelligence or commitment. More often, it comes down to small gaps that have a big impact. In maths it might be shaky algebra skills or a tendency to rush and lose marks through avoidable errors. In English it might be writing that is clear but lacks depth, structure or strong evidence. In many subjects, the difference between an average response and a high scoring one is not the content but how the student communicates their understanding.

Another common issue is that “almost there” students often rely on familiar strategies that worked in earlier years. As school becomes more demanding, those methods stop being enough. They may memorise instead of practising application, revise passively instead of testing themselves or study hard but without a plan. They are working, but not in the most effective way.

Tutoring helps by identifying the specific reason a student is missing the next level. This could involve improving exam technique, learning how to unpack task verbs, using rubrics properly or building stronger paragraph structures. Once these students understand what markers are actually looking for, their progress becomes faster and far more consistent.

The most rewarding part is watching their confidence shift. “Almost there” students often start tutoring thinking they are simply not good enough. Once they see that success is built from skills, not luck, they become more willing to challenge themselves. With targeted support and refined strategies, many move from close to capable to consistently high achieving.

Freddie Le Vay