GCSE Transformation: Student N’s Story

Read about Student N’s journey, as described by his mother. N attends Reading School, a top boys’ grammar school.

Proof of review is available on request

An image of Reading School. The building has dark red bricks, and is ornate with 2 spires, a vaulted chapel, and a tower. Cars are parked in front of it with white shirted students walking there too. A lawn can be seen in the foreground.

What made you contact Ankit?

We chose Ankit as an English tutor after he came highly recommended by a friend. At the time, my son, N, had achieved a Grade 5 in his Year 10 English mock exams. While his school teacher believed he had the potential to improve by acting on the detailed feedback he was receiving, we felt that some additional one-to-one support would help him reach his full potential.

What were your first impression of tutoring?

From the very first few sessions, it was clear that Ankit wasn’t simply teaching English—he was teaching my son how to approach GCSE English strategically and with confidence. N had weekly lessons with Ankit, and the improvement we saw in his next assessments was remarkable. More importantly, his confidence grew alongside his results. He became far more assured in analysing texts, structuring his responses, and applying exam techniques consistently.

How was tutoring tailored to N’s exam board?

One thing that particularly impressed us was how closely Ankit’s teaching methods aligned with those of N’s school teacher, who is an OCR specialist and has served on the exam board. This consistency meant that N wasn’t receiving conflicting advice; instead, the tutoring reinforced what he was learning at school and helped him truly master the skills needed to succeed.

When did you think tutoring had started to work?

The impact of Ankit’s teaching was evident in N’s results. He went from achieving a Grade 5 standard to consistently working at Grade 8/9 level in English Language. He scored 18/20 on his Never Let Me Go essay, and his Macbeth essays moved into the top band thanks to the intricate, high-level notes and detailed guidance that Ankit provided.

As N puts it, “The notes and strategies Ankit gave me completely changed how I approached essays. They helped me write with much more depth and confidence, and I could really see the difference in my marks.”

What makes this tutoring unique?

What really sets Ankit apart is his dedication. He genuinely cares about each student’s progress and puts a great deal of thought into every lesson. He was always patient, encouraging, and honest about where N needed to improve, while also recognising his strengths. It never felt like he was just delivering lessons—he was fully invested in helping N achieve the very best result he could.

How did this N’s progress make you feel as a parent?

As a parent, seeing that level of commitment gave me complete confidence that we had made the right decision. Choosing Ankit was one of the best investments we made in N’s GCSE preparation, and I have no hesitation in recommending him to any student who wants to improve their English.

Which students might be best suited to this tutoring?

I would recommend him to students aiming for Grades 8 and 9, as he has an exceptional understanding of what it takes to achieve the highest marks.