Frequently Asked Questions
Practical questions, clearly answered.
If anything is unclear, send an enquiry and I can confirm whether I can help.
Which curricula and subjects do you support?
I support IB Diploma Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Systems and Societies; IB MYP Science; GCSE and IGCSE Biology and Chemistry, including the Biology and Chemistry components of Combined or Coordinated Science; AS and A-Level Biology; and Ontario secondary science. If your course is not listed, send the examination board or programme with your enquiry and I can confirm whether I can help.
What does an online session involve?
Sessions are live and one-to-one. The student will be answering questions, explaining their thinking and working through problems rather than just listening. I adjust the explanation and level of support as needed. Lesson information and resources are kept together in the private Auxesis Portal.
How are sessions scheduled across time zones?
Sessions are arranged by appointment around the student’s time zone. When you enquire, send your country, time zone and preferred times. I will confirm the agreed local time and account for daylight-saving changes when they affect the schedule.
How often should sessions take place?
There is no single schedule that suits every student. Some benefit from regular weekly support; others need extra help around a particular assessment or period of the course. We will look at the student’s goals, current understanding, independent study and available time and decide what is useful.
What should a student prepare?
Whenever possible, tell me at least 48 hours before the session what you want to focus on. Add your questions and any school materials you want to use to the lesson’s planning record in the private Auxesis Portal in advance. If you have nothing specific to send, I can prepare suitable resources.
How are progress updates shared?
Lesson notes and next steps are available in the private Auxesis Portal. I can also publish monthly progress reports for parents and guardians there. Updates are adapted to the family rather than following a fixed schedule. Parents are welcome to contact me with questions, and I normally reply within 24 hours on business days, excluding Canadian statutory holidays.
How do payments and missed sessions work?
Regular tutoring is billed in monthly blocks. Payment for the next block is due two days before its first session, and new students pay their first block before tutoring begins. Payment can be made by PayPal or bank transfer. A session can be cancelled without charge with at least 7 days’ notice. With at least 12 hours’ notice but less than 7 days, it can be rescheduled within four weeks, subject to availability. Cancellations with less than 12 hours’ notice and no-shows are charged and cannot be made up.
What guidance is available for assessed work?
I can help a student understand an assessed task, ask questions that move their thinking forward and point out places where their reasoning or communication is unclear. The student makes the decisions and produces the final work. I do not write, rewrite or complete assessed work for them.
The next step
Let’s talk about the next step.
Tell me what the student is studying, what they would like to achieve and where things are getting difficult. Start with a conversation, then decide whether Auxesis feels like the right fit.