The Best O Level History Tuition in Singapore
Many History students struggle with the rigorous demands of the subject. History requires memorisation of a large chunk of content knowledge, good analytical skills, as well as good essay writing skills which are needed to structure a good essay according to the question.
With Tutor City’s large database of capable and dedicated History tutors, students will feel much more comfortable sitting for their History examinations. With additional guidance from a Tutor City History tutor, students will develop the necessary critical thinking skills to ace their exams.
Why do you need O Level History Tuition?
Achieving good grades in History requires students to spend time memorising History content and working on their essay writing skills. With good History grades, students can progress to their pre-university education in the institution of their choice. Furthermore, students who decide to take Humanities subjects in future will benefit from doing well in History.
The skills tested in History are transferable to other subjects, even though they are not related to the Humanities. Critical thinking and analysis is required for every other subject, as well as the presentation of answers in a coherent and concise manner. As such, by learning History, students will be able to hone their skills which are useful in other subjects in school and outside of school.
The Cost of O Level History Tuition
The average hourly fees for O Level History tuition ranges from $35 per hour to $100 per hour, depending on the tutor's qualifications, experience, and the level to teach.
Tuition Rates |
Part-Time |
Full-Time |
Ex/Current |
Secondary 1 |
$35 - $50 |
$55 - $65 |
$70 - $100 |
Secondary 2 |
$35 - $50 |
$55 - $65 |
$70 - $100 |
Secondary 3 |
$35 - $50 |
$60 - $70 |
$75 - $100 |
Secondary 4/5 |
$35 - $50 |
$60 - $70 |
$75 - $100 |
Outline of O Level History Tuition
European dominance and challenges
European interest and expansion in Southeast Asia
Impact of colonial rule on Southeast Asia
The World in Crisis
World Wars I and II
The Cold War
Decolonisation and emergence of nation-states
Hurdles Faced by O Level History Students
Issues answering the essay question
Many students face issues with answering the essay question they are asked during the exam, instead writing answers for the exam question they think they are being asked. Breaking down the exam question and answering it with relevant information is crucial to scoring well for a History exam, as merely regurgitating information without considering its relevance is not good.
Difficulty memorising the vast amount of content
Students of History may struggle with memorising the vast amount of content knowledge. There are many details to remember, from dates, significant events, and important people. It is difficult to condense these events into a smaller set of notes and students will need a clever way of memorising these facts. Students also need to be able to recall this content during the exam.
Difficulty analysing sources for Source-Based questions
Students may have difficulty analysing the sources for the Source-Based questions. Students need to have good skills of deduction and inference to draw the appropriate conclusions from the source and use it to answer the questions posed to them. Students need to know the content knowledge and relate them to the sources to be able to explain the context of the question.
Difficulty in structuring a History essay
A large part of any Humanities subject is being able to present one’s ideas in a coherent and concise manner. Students suffer from poor essay writing techniques such as rambling too much and going on other tangents which are irrelevant to the central thesis of the essay. Moreover, students may not know how to plan their essay well, resulting in a poor essay structure.
The Importance of Engaging an O Level History Tutor
Helping students improve their essay writing skills
Any subject in the Humanities will involve good essay writing skills. It goes without saying that students need to have good grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary in their essays. More importantly, students need to be able to plan their essay well so that their arguments are clear to the examiner. The essay needs to be structured properly such that it is clear and concise.
Helping students develop analytical skills
History often features source-based questions which requires students to observe characteristics about the source and draw the necessary inferences. Students must be sharply aware of the context in which the source takes place and they must be able to read between the lines instead of taking the information at face value. As such, students will require good analytical skills.
Allowing students to get regular practice
Students need to get regular practice writing essays as they must do so within a certain time constraint. Students will need to plan their essay, call to mind the relevant information, and then write the essay in such a way where it is clear to the examiner that all the points are being addressed. Students will need to practice regularly writing essays so they become more adept at addressing the question and stating their arguments in a streamlined manner within the time set.
Helping students memorise content knowledge
History is a subject which involves rote memorisation of a vast amount of content knowledge. Students need to remember the timeline of key events such as WWII and the Cold War, important historical figures, dates, and the significance and implications of events. Students may need creative ways to memorise this content so they can use it in their exams.
Good Qualities of an O Level History Tutor
Ability to hone students’ critical thinking skills
Students need to have good critical thinking skills to draw appropriate inferences from information they read and from the source-based exam questions they encounter. Critical skills need to be developed over time with practice, as students need to encounter different sources and be guided by their tutor as to whether their analysis is good. As such, a good tutor will be able to guide the student to analyse information and critique it in an academic manner.
Familiarity with History syllabus
Each examination system has a different syllabus with varying requirements. A History tutor must be familiar with the syllabus and what the student is going to need to master before sitting for their exams. As syllabi may be updated from time to time, the tutor must keep abreast of these changes so they do not contradict the information being taught to the student at school.
Good essay writing skills
Writing essays is a highly integral part of studying any Humanities subject. A good tutor will need to be proficient in writing essays as they need to convey their ideas to the examiner in a concise and coherent manner. It goes without saying that a good essay needs to have good grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Moreover, a good essay should have a clear structure and each paragraph should make one point the student wants to put forward.
Dedication and commitment
A key feature a tutor must have is to be dedicated and committed to teaching. A good tutor should show up for all the slots he has agreed to take on time. If the tutor cannot make it for the class, he should give advance notice and make up the slot so the parent can feel reassured that the student’s learning is not disrupted or compromised. It is also the tutor’s responsibility to make sure the student completes the work given before the tutoring session.
Testimonials from O Level History Students and their Parents
“Thank you for the prompt response from Benson in helping me find and secure a tutor for my son within a short time.”
- Chiao Lin Cheon
“Ben has been so helpful even during the weekend. He managed to find a proper tutor for my niece and my niece is very happy with the tutor so far. Once again, thank you very much Ben.”
- Julia Wu
Resources for O Level History
Learn about the Cold War here!
Learn about World War II here!
Engage a Tutor City O Level History Tutor today!
History students need to develop good analytical and critical thinking skills while being good at memorising large chunks of content. Additional guidance from a Tutor City tutor will benefit History students and they will certainly feel more confident sitting for their History exams!
Request for a Tutor City O Level History tutor here today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is O Level History hard?
History O Level students may find O Level History challenging because a vast amount of content must be memorised and then used in the proper context, in response to an essay question which requires high levels of analysis, inference, and logical reasoning.
What topics are in O Level history?
The topics in O Level History include: the impact of WWI, the rise of authoritarian regimes, WWII in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the Cold War, and the end of the Cold War.
How can I study smart for O Levels?
Students can study smart for O Levels by working backwards and looking at the sample papers for their final O Level exams. Then, students can look at the model answers to find out what degree of understanding and answering must be required from them and begin studying.
What grade is a fail in O Level?
Grades D7, E8 and F9 are considered failing grades.