Appreciation

Appreciation Page

Every year, there'll be students and parents who wanted to give thanks to Thomas for his help to get through their examinations. As such, there are a lot of appreciation and gratitude expressed in the form of emails or Whatsapp messages or even small gifts. This is but a small sample of the appreciation shown by past students and their parents. For more up to date of testimonials and appreciation letters, do click on the link to the the flickr gallery here.

When I was secondary 3, my academic grades were not very good, in fact they were extremely bad to a point where I nearly had to retain that particular academic year. Due to some luck I managed to make it to the next year. However, the next year (secondary 4) was an extremely critical year for me as I was about to take my N levels. Knowing that I needed help, my worried mother decided it was best for me to enlist help from a private tutor. This was how I came under the tutelage of Thomas.

I started tuition under him back in November 2010, he was only coaching me in Sciences. I remembered back then my foundations for Science were so poor to a point where I was not even able to form a basic chemical equation. Thomas had a lot to do if he was going to help me make it past my N levels. During lessons, we would go through topic by topic from text books and writing out self-made notes as we go through the topics. These notes were extremely useful for me for revision, as it was much easier for me to study from these notes compared to the dull & wordy text books. Slowly, under his patient tutelage, I managed to improve tremendously in Sciences. Thomas is also a very good teacher in math, occasionally I would ask him some math questions if I was not able to solve them. Overtime, I felt that there were noticeable changes after I came into his tutelage.

In conclusion I felt that lessons with Thomas were very effective. He is a very knowledgeable and helpful teacher. But his greatest virtue as a teacher was his patience. As I was not the brightest student thus I was not able to catch things very quickly but Thomas did not mind that. Instead during lessons he would patiently explain to me to the key points and understanding of the lesson, he would also ensure that I am to to fully understand the outcome of the topics before the lesson ends.(he really wants his students to do well) Also despite being very strict in lessons, Thomas is also a very outgoing person, making lessons not boring and tedious at all.

I would not be the person I am today if I did not met him. Lastly I would also like to thank him for all his efforts and patience when I was under his tutelage. :) :) :)

Matthiew, Dunman Secondary School

This was my result at the end of my secondary 3 academic year. As you can see I did very poor in all areas in year, especially in Sciences and Additional Math.

With Thomas coaching, I was able to obtain a passing grade in my N levels. In addition, I managed to get an A for Sciences and E maths and a B for A maths.

With the satisfactory results from my N levels I decided continue tuition under him for my O levels. The results are show as followed.

I was recommended Thomas as a tutor by one of my friends after hearing good reviews about him. Back then I was in Sec 2 & my grades were mediocre. I found Math & Science pretty challenging as I could not grasp the concepts well. Ever since I contacted Thomas for help, I have never looked back and he has seen me through my JC days since. First and foremost, I would like to mention that Thomas is a very dedicated & excellent tutor. I still remember him making props to help his students visualise scientific measurement machinery and using them to give us a visual guide. His dedication ticked off us students and this definitely helped push me to work harder. His determination to help his students succeed is contagious for us students. Thomas also has very unique methods of delivering math & science concepts that are understandable for the newbies. He ensures that we grasp the concepts well before tackling questions. He subsequently drills us with many different questions that test our ability & help us internalise what we learnt. He is also very patient with his students & seeks to understand us before we understand him. He listens actively and tailors his methods to suit each student. Thomas has humility in his wisdom and intelligence and I cannot think of a greater way to describe what an excellent tutor he has been for me.

Most importantly, Thomas has been a father figure for me during my secondary & JC days. He was more than a fantastic tutor. He was always there to listen to my struggles in school, providing me advice on how to cope, giving me his own experiences & how he overcame them. This helped me a lot mentally as I felt more at ease and could focus more on my education. Thomas really understood me as a student and I think that is really important in a student-teacher relationship.

Things always looked bleak for me as I had big aspirations but came from a socially mediocre school & the chances of realising my dreams were low. Thomas definitely helped me grow as a person and as an intellect & I am very proud to say that he played a big part in me achieving my dreams. I am forever indebted to Thomas as he definitely played a big hand in helping me soar to greater heights.

If you are looking for a tutor that can potentially change your life, you have my full backing and support if you decide to choose Thomas. I did, and I never looked back since.

Marcel Scully
St. Patrick's School (Class of 2009), Victoria Junior College

Thomas is an amazing tutor who opened many doors for me at the end of a good 4 years under him. He ensured fantastic results for both my ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels and I could not be more pleased. I can still remember him teaching me ‘O’ level Additional Mathematics about a MONTH before the actual exams as I was still struggling to score. At the time he was only teaching me science (Chemistry/Physics) but still offered to help me in Mathematics. I am truly grateful for him as he ensured all A’s for the subjects he taught, especially for Mathematics which was over a short span of time. I then continued learning Mathematics under him in Junior College and never got less than an A for any exam.

It was a rocky start for me when I first began learning under Thomas, as I was a young teenager who did not know how to prioritize his studies. I was disinterested in studying, particularly because I felt the syllabus was too difficult. However, due to Thomas’s consistently clear and concise way of teaching, I was able to learn and understand my schoolwork better. I started looking forward to his lessons as I felt that I learnt much faster under him. Thomas is truly a natural when it comes to teaching, as he has the ability to explain complicated theories in the simplest of ways. He enjoys drawing his own diagrams to help bring the idea across better, which I find very useful. For Mathematics, he is able to generate his own questions for students to solve, which gives them more practice.

Besides academics, Thomas is also a great friend as you can talk to him about almost anything and everything. He was one of those people in my life that I could count on for good advice, even if it is not about studies. He knows a wide variety of things and always tries to provide good solutions for his students.

I regard Thomas very highly, as it is because of him that I have gotten where I am today. He taught me the importance of hard work and I carry it wherever I go these days. It is because of Thomas that I have greater confidence in my ability to do well. Due to my good results, I was able to get into my desired Junior College and subsequently, a reputable Medical School overseas. I cannot be more grateful to Thomas for giving me success in my education.

Derek Christian Verhoeven
St. Patrick's School, Catholic Junior College

I was first introduced to Thomas in secondary school by my brother, who told me he was a very good math tutor who helped him during his O levels. At that point in time, I was already being tutored by someone else, but I decided to give Thomas a shot. My brother was right, and I found myself understanding math concepts a lot better with Thomas as compared to my other tutor. His ability to simplify them by a variety of means makes lessons with him very interesting and engaging. Thomas’s dedication and willingness to teach and make sure we understand all that he’s taught us also pushed me to work harder to get better results. A very good quality that Thomas possesses is patience. He never got frustrated with me when I didn’t understand a chapter, he would always find a way to simplify it even more until I got it. After ensuring I understood the chapter, Thomas would drill me with question after question, with increasing difficulty, until I could use that concept to solve any other sums. What Thomas had taught me has stuck in my brain so well that now, in the army, math is the only subject I can remember well compared to all my other subjects.

Apart from his lessons, Thomas is also a great person to talk to as he listens intently to what you’re saying and always tries to find a solution to any problem you’re facing. He’s one of those people who I can talk about anything with, and because of that I actually looked forward to his lessons.

Being a child with dyspraxia, I was told from a young age that I was not going to do well for math. With the help of Thomas, I was able to get A’s for math for the ‘O’ levels and ‘A’ levels. For that, I hold Thomas in very high regard as he was able to help me overcome my condition and bring me one step closer to achieving my dreams. I will always be grateful to Thomas for helping me throughout my secondary and JC life.

I strongly encourage you choose as he is a gem of a person as well as a tutor who can work wonders with anyone. I guarantee you will not regret this decision.

Kevin Marc Verhoeven
St Patrick’s School, Catholic Junior College

Being from one of Thomas’s pioneer batch of students, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a tuition teacher who claimed to be able to teach multiple subjects. In secondary two, I was in desperate need of help as it was streaming year. After going through many tutors who didn’t seem to make the cut, at last I came across Thomas who at that time just happened to be a Google search with no credible reviews.

However, I decided to give him a go due to the fact that he has impressive academic achievements, the ability to teach many core subjects and charged reasonable fees. It was a gamble as it was during a crucial period. After the first few lessons, I was highly impressed with his textbook knowledge of the different subjects especially Mathematics and Science which definitely made my learning experience all that much smoother as compared to some of my previous tutors who were just mediocre. Thomas adopts a very standard approach to his teaching, no fancy gimmicks and very straightforward which proved to be very effective and efficient which I am pleased to admit is what got me into the Triple Science stream the following year.

However, to some his teaching may seem a bit fast paced but it is nothing to be worried about as he ensures his students will be able to grasp all critical concepts first before moving on to something new. Other than that Thomas is one of the best tutors I ever had who I proudly recommended my friends back in secondary school. All of them too were extremely pleased. He truly qualifies as a “Super tutor”!

Brendan Aw, St. Patrick's School

I had taken Maths tuition from Thomas in 2010 and 2011 for A Levels. He utilizes school and other guides effectively and definitely demonstrates sufficient mastery of content. He gives clear, practical explanations. There is adequate reinforcement provided by him (30 yr series qns). He maintains a friendly and respectful teacher-student relationship. I still keep in contact with him till date. The best part is how he makes me think of the whole process, so I learn, rather than just helping me figure out what the answer is.

Yash Timbadia, Catholic Junior College

Thomas taught me for the better part of my secondary school education, and he vitally contributed to my understanding of both physics and chemistry. I was struggling in both sciences before he began teaching me. Tuition with him is both interesting and enriching. He is able to explain complex questions and concepts in a very systematic and simple way. In fact, I have never came across a question that Thomas is unable to answer almost immediately and that definitely shows the amount of knowledge he has in those subjects. Also, he is very willing to help you out in other areas, be it setting a detailed timetable in the months leading to 'O' levels or making concise notes. From personal experience, I feel that tuition to Thomas is more than just a job, as he genuinely wants his students to do well. Thank you for the great help you were to me during my 'O' level days.

Alvinder Singh, ACS(I)

In my J2 year, I studied H2 Math under Thomas. It was the very last leg of the final semester before As, and my grade had been a consistent U for my entire JC life. My mother’s friend told me about him, so I decided to try it out even though it was so last minute.

I am glad that I went. Thomas was a dedicated tutor who would go to great lengths to ensure that his students understood a concept and that they would be able to solve problems by themselves during an exam. He taught well and maintained a professional but friendly attitude towards his students. While doing Math, I would often feel frustrated and hopeless, but Thomas was also very encouraging in that respect.

Overall, I would say that studying under him was instrumental to my jumping 5 grades for H2 Math for A Levels. (That being said, don’t leave tuition to last minute; it’s always better to integrate knowledge over a long period than to cram everything a month before the final exam.) I would recommend his services to anyone who is looking for a skilled tutor.

Emily Teoh, Pioneer Junior College

I have been taught by Thomas since I was primary 5 and he is still tutoring me in my second year of JC now.

Firstly, Thomas has been a great teacher and friend. He often goes beyond his call of duty as a tutor. Most importantly he teaches efficient and innovative problem solving skills which I've never learnt in school before. Up till now, I carry with me the many shortcuts that he taught and they have helped me to set a strong foundation in my H2 math and sciences.

With his help, I clinched a good score for my PSLE. Even for Olevels, I managed to score A1 for both emath and amath, as well as A2 for both pure physics and chemistry.

Also, despite having to summarize one full math or science chapter in only two hours or less, he is able to clearly explain concepts better than school teachers and he will only proceed to practice questions after making sure that I fully understood the chapter.

Lastly, Thomas's undying passion for teaching science has taught me to understand that there is more to learning than just excelling academically. He is definitely a great tutor to have.

Natalie Goh, Meridian Junior College

Thomas started teaching me since Secondary 1. He taught me both maths and science throughout my secondary school education.

From a C in Elementary Mathematics and Additional Mathematics, I've managed to scored A2 for both in my O'levels. Also, from a FAIL grade in physics, I've also managed to score A2 in O'levels.

Thomas managed to help me enjoy learning these subjects and he was one of the reason why I decided to pursue Chemical Engineering in SP now. It is a course that focus completely on maths and science knowledge. He exposed me to this course in Sec 4 and now I am actually doing well in it! (Thanks Thomas)

Learning through Thomas is really enjoyable and easy to understand. His passion for maths and science inspired me to engage myself with maths and science as well and I am really grateful for that. He is the best tutor I've had in my entire life!

Melody Goh
Temasek Secondary School

I've been a straight 'F' for failure student or a 'just pass' student for Math exams in secondary school. O’ levels proved that I was indeed an 'F' (failure) student in Math, despite my O’ level cert showing an 'E', which was equivalent to it being regarded as a fail grade. The E grade on my O’ level cert had me retake my Math, as a single subject, not once but twice. Retaking it for the first time ended up with me having the same grade E.

However, it was only until I was recommended to Thomas that I decided to give my Math one last try (third time).

The first few months of tuition was to ensure that my foundation was right, teaching me right from the very start, going through and practicing topics way back from Secondary 3 (Yes, it was a reaaally tough period). Thomas would always ensure that I'd grasped those foundation methods/formulas at the back of my hands, before anything else. And he always had a way of making me remember or memorize those formulas (No kidding, he really does have some secret Math formulas).

Along the way, Thomas gradually tried to build my confidence in Math through a variety of Math practices. He has always got a way of making you feel really confident and giving you a source of motivation, somehow after doing his Math worksheets.

As people always say, "With confidence, half the battle is won." Likewise, my Math-battle is half won. The last half belonged to all the practices done on TYS (Ten Year Series), worksheets prepared and scanned by Thomas, secret formulas (evidently proven).

After months of hard math-training, I was ready for my battle. This time around, my battle went rather smooth. Blessed by lady luck for the battle, I eventually passed my Math on my third try. It wasn't just a pass (C6/C5) on the O level cert but instead it was a B4.

I was more than proud of the success I got and the tremendous jump from an E grade to a grade of B4 in just a span of 9 months. Credit definitely goes to Thomas for instilling confidence and sticking through with me for the past few months of hardwork (we wasted a lot a lot of paper). Not forgetting, Thomas's renowned patience level. You can see others agreeing with me in the other testimonials.
Be sure to join Kungfu Cats Academy! Under Thomas's training, I guarantee you won't just be any typical (proven personally) "Kungfu Cat"! ;)

Jessica Siow, St Theresa's Convent

In secondary 4, I was studying in Anglo Chinese School (Independent) and was struggling with my Chemistry. I would either fail or just barely reach a C5 grade. However, with Thomas' help, I managed to improve from C5 to an A1 in 'O' levels!

Timothy, ACS(I)

A very good tutor. Explained concepts in the simplest form possible. Thomas told us all the tips, tricks and shortcuts to solving problems. He made my grades improve from a C in secondary 3 to an A in secondary 4 term 1.

Tashya,TKGS

Thomas has been one of the best tutors I’ve encountered. He was very dedicated throughout my whole O level journey and played a huge role in helping me achieve my desired results.

His teaching methods were different, unique and creative, which helped bring across concepts and ideas much easier. He used visual aids to help me understand such concepts. I still remember how he created a card game to help students understand Chemistry and had many hands on apparatus to aid his physics lessons. In such ways, Thomas is great at finding the best method to suit individual needs, while being engaging.

Most importantly, Thomas was more than a tutor to me. He was also like a friend as he was there for me personally and emotionally. He helped me grow as a person and a student by sharing his personal experiences and advice with me. He was someone that you could talk to about anything and can feel very comfortable around.

Even until today, Thomas is ever ready to help his students. Without hesitation, he happily gives his time to help me prepare for my A level examinations. He keeps in contact with his students and always wonders how they are doing in their studies.

Thomas had played a great part in helping me be one step closer to achieving my goals in life.

I recommend Thomas to anyone who is struggling to achieve their desired results and aims to excel in their exams.

Manuella Scully
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School, Meridian Junior College

I was recommended by a friend in 2007 to take H2 Chemistry tuition from Thomas as my grades were nothing near stellar. I greatly appreciate Thomas' efforts to start from scratch, teaching all the concepts which I had trouble grasping in school. I would definitely recommend him as he is warm and sincere with his teaching and tries his best to rectify any problems you may be having with a one to one approach. Becoming a part time tutor several years later myself, I am convinced that it doesn't take much to become a tutor but to be one with great patience, it is indeed remarkable :) two thumbs up!

Beatrice, Meridian Junior College

I took chemistry tuition for upper secondary under Thomas. He is a very patient tutor who not only ensures you get the right answers but also the concept behind it. He also introduces easy method to remember the concepts. It was an enjoyable experience being tutored by him. I see improvements in my chemistry with his help!

Elsie Tan, Ngee Ann Secondary School

Thomas has tutored me for a couple of years in both Science and Mathematics in secondary school. He helped me understand the concepts and would go over anything I was unsure of until I understood it. Each time he repeated the concept he would explain it in a different and creative way. I found it helpful as it helped me visualize things much better. Thomas finds ways to help his students find interest in what they are learning and alters his teaching to suit each student.

When I was struggling with Chemistry (SL) and decided to get a tutor, I asked Thomas if he could help me. As he did not really know much about the IB syllabus, he said he would take a look at what I had to learn and see if he could help me, and that if he could not he knew someone who could. He definitely wants to help his students, new or old, in whatever way he can, which to me shows a lot of passion for teaching.

I enjoy having tuition with him as he shows a lot of concern for your work, he would asks you about how you are doing for your other subjects and if he could help in any ways.

Thomas is a very patient, creative and an encouraging tutor. I would definitely recommend him as a tutor for anyone who is struggling and needs someone who will repeat something a million and one times till you get it.

Diane Elizabeth Anastasia Pereira
CHIJ Katong Convent, ACS International

In the few months that Thomas had tutored me in chemistry, it helped me understand the whole concept as compared to what I had learnt in school for a whole year. He was always very patient and encouraging & would look for different ways to make me understand. What I liked about his tuition sessions were that everything was very organised from his teaching down to writing notes for my reference and that he would share funny stories during the lesson as a little 'break'. I would definitely recommend his tuition services if you're doubting your academic abilities as he made chemistry bearable for me and I'm sure he would do the same for you!

Victoria Marie Teo, Saint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School

Thomas taught Maths and Combined Science during Secondary school and he had helped me in understanding the topic well and made my application on difficult questions easier. My grades have improved significantly with his help. Had been almost 12 years back and I appreciate his help, if not for him, I will not achieve what I have now.

Melvin Ho, St. Patrick's School

Thomas is a tutor with a great deal of dedication. His effective method of teaching helped me to develop a strong grasp of concepts and paced me well with the syllabus. Last but not least, Thomas is always friendly and approachable - he never gets tired answering all the questions you have!

Gladwin Lor, Temasek Junior College

From being hopelessly lost in physics lessons in my upper secondary school years and getting borderline passes or failing, I managed to score an A2 in my O levels examination. Thomas helped me understand physics better through his clear explanations and would patiently go through methods of answering or solving the question. My results improved gradually and I even cultivated an interest in the subject because he’d teach us how to apply our knowledge to novel situations in questions.

Amanda Chua, TKGS

Thomas taught me Chemistry and Mathematics for my O and A Levels. He is experienced and always dedicated in his teaching and used creative, engaging and effective methods to break down difficult concepts into manageable parts that were easy to apply and remember. He taught me to strive hard in my studies and was always patient with me, going through the questions repeatedly till I understood. His excellent teaching methods made learning fun and it helped me cultivate a genuine love for the subjects even till today. I am thankful beyond words for his teachings that has gotten be an A1 and A in both subjects and I would highly recommend him as a tuition teacher.

Debbie Yeo
Cedar Girls' Secondary School, Victoria Junior College

Thomas taught me from 2005-2006 in JC level mathematics. He's very approachable and has deep insight with mathematical concepts. He employs different pedagogies for specific topics. Under his tutelage, I have successfully qualified for university and graduated from NTU with 2nd class upper honors.

Alex Ang, Serangoon Junior College

Thomas has been a great tutor and friend, being that we share the same birthday, haha, he has helped me out heaps with math during my A levels period. From getting a C during CTs, I managed to attain an A in A levels. He is really passionate about teaching and it was an amazing experience.

Aisyah Yusoff, Victoria Junior College

Having received help from Mr Chang for about 2 years, I think that Mr Chang is extremely friendly and resourceful. This makes it easy for us students to approach him for academic help. I can ask him questions I have and regardless of how late I actually asked him, he wouldn't mind it at all and give me a reply. I can sense that he is genuinely a good teacher because he isn't profit driven as compared to many other tutors out there but truly cares about his students' progress, and this is what sets him apart from other tutors. He is willing to answer my doubts until I understand completely, and this just goes to show how patient he is. He has helped me a lot in many areas and I benefitted in many ways. It is great to have him as a teacher.

Cai Shi , River Valley High School