Do students need tutoring to succeed in the VCE?

[nisha]

Its a case of "Its cruel to be kind " in this situation.
If you can be bothered to get a tutor and getting ahead, it will only benefit you and your results in the long run...

I think I'm telling myself this, more than anyone else, since I have 11.5 hours of tutoring per week.

[chrysalis]

I've never once had tutoring so I can't say whether or not it would've helped, but I know that the very top scoring students from my school (including myself) did not receive tutoring.

Of course, tutoring can be extremely beneficial depending on the individual, but it's definitely not needed to succeed.

[nisha]

I've never once had tutoring so I can't say whether or not it would've helped, but I know that the very top scoring students from my school (including myself) did not recieve tutoring.

Of course, tutoring can be extremely beneficial depending on the individual, but it's definitely not needed to succeed.

Agreed

[Planck's constant]

I've never once had tutoring so I can't say whether or not it would've helped, but I know that the very top scoring students from my school (including myself) did not recieve tutoring.

Of course, tutoring can be extremely beneficial depending on the individual, but it's definitely not needed to succeed.

Usain Bolt is naturally talented.
This does not mean that all that Usain Bolt has to do is train and race.
He needs the right coach to tell him 'how to train and how to race' so that he can maximise his results.
If Usain Bolt thought that he does not 'need' a coach, that would be the height of arrogance.

Similarly, the right tutor can help even the most talented of students to improve.
At any rate, a tutor can accelerate the learning of even the most talented of students.
If a talented student thought that he is too smart for improvement, that would also be the height of ARROGANCE

[paulsterio]

But, argonaut, we all agree that talented students want to improve, the point being discussed is whether a tutor will help them improve. You can't compare someone who wants to improve with someone who doesn't

[nisha]

If a talented student thought that he is too smart for improvement, that would also be the height of ARROGANCE

+1. Never be overconfident. Bites you in the arse

[paulsterio]

You need to be confident, but not overconfident. Hmmmm, where's the line then? It's like cheating and bending the rules, there's got to be a point where a line is crossed?

[chrysalis]

Similarly, the right tutor can help even the most talented of students to improve.
At any rate, a tutor can accelerate the learning of even the most talented of students.
If a talented student thought that he is too smart for improvement, that would also be the height of ARROGANCE

Yes, I agree - of course tutors will assist to maximise success, but all I'm saying is that they are not an absolute necessity.

[Planck's constant]

But, argonaut, we all agree that talented students want to improve, the point being discussed is whether a tutor will help them improve. You can't compare someone who wants to improve with someone who doesn't

Yes, OK but I am challenging the attitude of some who claim 'I am beyond improvement, how can you improve perfection?'.
That's arrogance.
It is also untrue.

Because there is no way known, unless you are a freak of nature, you can get a top line result, eg a 50 in Mathematical Methods 3/4 as a Year 11 or a 50 in Latin as a Year 12, without any sort of tutoring/coaching/mentoring, call it what you like

[Special At Specialist]

10 years ago I'd say tutoring was very important for top scorers.
But nowadays, with all the free online material such as khan academy, youtube and wikipedia, I don't think that tutoring is necessary.

[Mariammm]

This debate is just going around in circles...
Can't we just agree that tutoring is not essential but can be useful to certain students to varying degrees
Moral of the story : if you want a tutor and feel like you will benefit, then get one
If you don't, then don't get one
And agronaut, you can improve on your own, without the help of a tutor - its not about arrogance, its about realism - if you know that by working hard through the content, doing practice exams etc. is enough, then why would you get a tutor?? You just have to be honest with yourself about how far you can get on your own (with your classroom teacher)
I think the best type of confidence is going into an exam, assured that you have done the best you possibly can, hope for the best but prepare for the worst
And there are many cases of perfect scores - even here on AN- on a subject with no tutoring

[paulsterio]

Of course, no one is perfect.

I doubt it though, I know a lot of people who got 50s without tutoring/coaching...etc. I, myself, got 49 in Methods without tuition, my friend managed to get a 50 without tuition. I also believe that Thushan managed to get 50s without tuition as well

And agronaut, you can improve on your own, without the help of a tutor - its not about arrogance, its about realism - if you know that by working hard through the content, doing practice exams etc. is enough, then why would you get a tutor?? You just have to be honest with yourself about how far you can get on your own (with your classroom teacher)

Yepp, that's right

[b^3]

This debate is just going around in circles...
Can't we just agree that tutoring is not essential but can be useful to certain students to varying degrees
Moral of the story : if you want a tutor and feel like you will benefit, then get one
If you don't, then don't get one
And agronaut, you can improve on your own, without the help of a tutor - its not about arrogance, its about realism - if you know that by working hard through the content, doing practice exams etc. is enough, then why would you get a tutor?? You just have to be honest with yourself about how far you can get on your own (with your classroom teacher)
I think the best type of confidence is going into an exam, assured that you have done the best you possibly can, hope for the best but prepare for the worst
And there are many cases of perfect scores - even here on AN- on a subject with no tutoring

+1 to the all of it and +2 to the bolded part.

[Planck's constant]

I also believe that Thushan managed to get 50s without tuition as well

You are going to have to ask him.
You should also not believe everything you are told.

I will make this additional point.
If your mum and dad manage every minute of your life, providing research and secreterial assistance and save you a lot of time from having to work things out and do them on your own, which gives you more time to study, then that is also a form of tutoring/mentoring/coaching

[paulsterio]

I'll remember to ask him

Anyways, but then there's the issue of the line, which seems to come up everywhere, so if your parents decide to do your chores for you so that you have more time to study, does that constitute tutoring/mentoring/coaching? if your parents buy books for you, is that tutoring/mentoring/coaching? if your older siblings give you their notes and helps you out every now and then is that tutoring/mentoring/coaching?