“Classes with Mr Liau always bring fresh insights that have never crossed my mind during my self-study or even during GP lessons in school.” ~ Jiwon, Victoria Junior College. Jiwon improved from S to A, and eventually topped his cohort for GP in JC2.
Track record
97% of our students scored ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades in 2021
90% of our students score ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades every year
Average improvement of three grades (i.e. D to A)
We produce top scorers every year
How we achieve it
Structured learning experience with ample hands-on practices
Interactive and engaging discussions for maximum intellectual stimulation
Individualised guidance and feedback
Detailed notes and supplementary materials for revision
All lessons personally conducted by Mr Liau
Mr Liau’s unique background
Invited author of the General Paper A-Level Ten Year Series Answer Key (2021-2022)
Deep professional experience as a former journalist with op-eds published locally and internationally in newspapers like The Guardian
Extensive eleven years teaching experience
Rich insights as the Hwa Chong HS/JC debate coach for four years (teams won ten championships)
Unique ability to captivate and intrigue as an award-winning intervarsity and JC debater (won four national championships)
How we make a difference
We break down complex ideas into simple concepts
We take a systematic approach to learning that equips students with essential examination skills and answering techniques
We prioritise hands-on experiential learning over didactic one-way lectures
We provide extensive notes for revision and exam preparation
How we make every online lesson a success
We partner students in the learning process, engaging them through discussions and hands-on exercises
We encourage questions and always give students time to share their own views, helping them develop their confidence as critical thinkers
We support each student individually and provide personalised feedback
Top Five Questions
Absolutely. Although GP is a H1 subject, it is often used by university admissions officers as an indicator of a student’s ability to cope with academic rigour and engage in interdisciplinary thinking—two of the most important requirements for success in higher education. Priority is thus always given to students who do well in GP.
In addition, a student’s GP grade is used in the computation of their Rank Points (RP). Students who score well in other subjects but poorly in GP risk being denied admission to the university of their choice because they have lower RP.
You may have heard of stories of students who either had to opt for a less competitive course or retake the A-Level examination as a private candidate.
A student’s GP grade does matter immensely.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to score an A. Only around 20% of students in Singapore do so every year. Students who are unable to perform consistently should not be surprised if they fail to score an A for the A-Level General Paper examination.
Here at GP Tuition, we strive to ensure that none of our students encounter such a situation.
In 2021, we achieved exceptional results with 97% of our students obtaining either an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ grade.
This was made possible through our structured and systematic approach to learning, the intellectual stimulation provided through interactive and engaging classes, and the close guidance and support we offer each student at the individual level.
General Paper is, by far, the most important subject for any JC student. Our lessons equip students with the ability to understand our world and navigate it intelligently. We train students to develop the thinking skills required in higher education and in their future careers.
Over the years, we have seen our students win top scholarships, enter top universities, and excel in fields like law and medicine.
Our students have also expressed an appreciation for how our lessons have helped them broaden their perspectives, develop a passion for learning about the world, and become more critical thinkers.
In short, General Paper is more than just an A-Level subject that students need to score well in. It provides crucial preparation for the future.
We help students achieve these goals by focusing on more than just short-term grades. Through interactive and thought-provoking discussions, we seek to develop our students’ ability to become better thinkers, not just top scorers.
While our GP lessons do give our students a competitive edge, not every student requires tuition.
For those who do, there are three main advantages.
First, students will be exposed to a wealth of knowledge through our lessons and learn how to tackle the GP paper in a structured and systematic manner. It is not possible to acquire the same knowledge independently with so many other subjects to study for. Our lessons help students save time that they can then spend focusing on other subjects.
Second, students will receive professional guidance and feedback from a former journalist and international op-ed writer. This is a rare opportunity.
Finally, students will receive one-to-one support to ensure that they are able to perform consistently and score well for the A Level examination.
Given the highly competitive nature of the A-Level GP examination, it is difficult to guarantee good results without professional support and guidance.
Yes, all classes are taught by Mr Liau.
We do not follow the practice of large commercial tuition centres where students are taught by a different teacher than advertised.
Here at My Mustard Seed, we guarantee that all classes will be taught by Mr Liau.
Students can reach out to him directly if they have any questions or require feedback on their assignments.
Mr Liau is the exclusive GP author for the academic book publisher Shing Lee and the invited author for the A-Level General Paper Answer Key (2021-2022). As a former journalist, Mr Liau wrote op-eds locally and internationally for publications like The Guardian. He has eleven years teaching experience and is certified in Online Teaching and Education by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Post-Graduate). He graduated with a degree in History from NTU. He is also a Hwa Chong Institution alumnus, and award-winning intervarsity and JC debater.
GP poses a unique challenge to educators. To excel, students must both be equipped with practical skills as well as with the ability to think and reason for themselves. Yet, these goals lie in tension with one another.
The formulaic approach pursued by some tuition centres works well in achieving the former goal but not in developing critical thinking skills. Such approaches are, moreover, extremely boring and arguably even harmful to the student’s intellectual development and personal growth.
Our GP classes seek to achieve a healthy balance between the two goals by relying on a structured curriculum, supplemented by thought-provoking discussions about important current affairs issues.
We believe that the best testament to our success lies in our students grades as well as the unvarnished feedback that they have given us in their testimonials.
In 2021, 97% of our students scored ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades for GP.
Every year, over the past five years, our 90% of our students scored ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades using this approach.
We have also succeeded in helping weaker students excel, with an average improvement of three grades (i.e. D to A).
Available Programmes
Ultimate Track Class
The Ultimate Track class is the main GP class. We cover all essential skills and concepts for GP in this class. The classes will include hands-on exercises, discussions, guided practices, notes, materials, examples and everything students need to get an A for GP.
Case Studies MasterClass
The Case Studies MasterClass focuses more on current affairs issues and key global events that are especially important for GP. The case study approach is interdisciplinary in nature and provides more room for non-exam-driven discussion and analysis. Notes will be provided as part of CSMC as well. Students who are unable to attend the Case Studies MasterClass for a particular week can watch the recording and read the notes on their own.
Pricing
Case Studies MasterClass
- 1 hour per week
- Extended
- Covers additional case studies in depth
- Explore important issues and engage in interdisciplinary learning
Ultimate Track
- 2 hours per week
- Core
- Covers all 55 core GP skills and essential concepts for Paper 1 and Paper 2
- Systematic approach with hands-on practices and interactive discussions
Combined Package
- 3 hours per week
- Core + Extended
- Includes both Ultimate Track and Case Studies MasterClass
- Most popular option
Free upgrade
Sign up by the end of 2022 for a free upgrade to the combined package.
$280/month for both Ultimate Track + Case Studies MasterClass.
Enjoy BONUS access to all recordings, notes and resources from the start of 2022.
Note: Fees in 2023 will be heavily discounted as well for existing students.
Discount for FAS students
Students on FAS may apply for a discounted fee. Basic proof will be required.
Please contact us for more details.
Schedule for 2022 and 2023
Last updated: 12 Nov 2022
- The Tues 8pm class will only start in Jan 2023.
- More slots will be made available in Dec 2022 and Jan 2023.
- Please contact us if you are unable to make it for any of the available slots. We will take your preferences into consideration when opening new classes.
- UT = Ultimate Track
- CSMC = Case Studies MasterClass
- Students who sign up for the combined package are entitled to one UT and one CSMC class per week.
Contact Us (Enquiries and Registration)
About Our Lessons
Lessons consist of a combination of short lectures, in-class discussions, and interactive exercises. We place heavy emphasis on student engagement and interaction because the studies have shown that students learn best when they are deeply invested in what they are learning. Students are also much more likely to develop an interest in the subject if they are active participants in their own learning rather than mere absorbers of information.
To facilitate student engagement and interaction, we make an effort that give each student an opportunity to participate in the discussion, whether verbally or in written form.
After classes, students are encouraged to clarify doubts and keep in close contact with Mr Liau.
We often see students struggle with essay writing but simply cannot figure out why. In most cases, the answer is quite simple: they have nothing meaningful to say. The first thing we like to tell students is to figure out what they want to say, then say it as simply as possible. Students are discouraged from blindly emulating the flowery prose of their more proficient peers. Instead, they should seek to develop an in-depth understanding of the topic and express their own views clearly and concisely. Our in-class discussions and essay planning exercises play a vital role here. Students will also receive extensive reading materials and comprehensive notes.
This is not to say that our focus is purely on content knowledge. If a student has good ideas but cannot articulate them, those ideas will be for naught. Every week, we encourage students to complete at least two paragraphs (or a full essay if possible). Mr Liau personally marks and provides feedback on all work that is submitted as part of the regular classes. Every month, we also devote some time to covering common writing errors.
Every lesson, we share deep insights on two or three major developments in the world to help students understand what they are reading in the news. We also discuss how students can use these insights in their essays. Ultimately, the goal of these discussions is to expose students to different viewpoints, provide them with mental tools to analyse the news, and encourage them to take an interest in current affairs.
Contrary to popular belief, GP is not just an English subject for JC students.
Content matters.
Cambridge examiners have made this abundantly clear. They award low grades to students who exhibit a poor understanding of the subject and fail to substantiate their arguments with robust evidence.
Those who cannot address differing viewpoints fare even worse. They receive failing grades because they are “unable to meet the basic requirement of this paper”. (Examiner Report, 2013)
It’s therefore no surprise that students score poorly when their scripts are filled with comments like: “lacks balance”, “weak argument” and “poor evidence”.
No matter how effusive a student’s language may be, he will not get a good grade. Cambridge has made that abundantly clear.
Memorising facts and statistics without understanding their context or knowing how to use them is actually worse than useless. It can be harmful because it instils a false sense of confidence. A student may think he is impressing the examiner when in fact he is merely frustrating him.
It is therefore important to build a solid conceptual framework first before students jump into the examples. To accomplish that, we often start with in in-depth discussions of pertinent case studies. Through these discussions, students may ask questions, clarify doubts and attempt to articulate their own understanding of the subject.
In addition to the class discussions, we provide content packages and comprehensive notes that are designed to expose students to popular arguments and examples. Through these content packages, students will also see how the evidence can be marshalled to support their arguments.
Arguments are central to all components of the GP paper. Paper 1 requires students to write an argumentative essay within 90 minutes. Paper 2 requires students to answer short questions about an argumentative essay (the passage), summarise the author’s arguments, and respond to them through the application question. Ultimately, GP is all about arguments.
Let’s be real. If there were truly some secret formula to instant success, schools would have taught it by now and you should have already heard about it.
Instead, the key to our success lies in our use of the age-old Socratic method. Through the painstaking process of asking and answering questions, we push our students to think for themselves and justify their ideas.
The studies support this. Our experience supports this. And our students’ results speak for themselves.
If you are unable to attend the lesson for the week, you can either attend another lesson in the same week or watch the recording. Any work that you submit will still be marked. You can also contact Mr Liau directly if you have any questions about the material that is covered in the recording.
In 2013, Cambridge examiners explicitly pointed out that GP is not a test of general knowledge. Students who receive poor grades despite their extensive use of examples should note that no amount of facts and statistics can make up for a poorly-developed argument.
The General Paper subject is primarily about the arguments. Cambridge examiners have made that abundantly clear. Students must argue, reason and persuade, not flood the examiner with details and lengthy descriptions.
This is the trickiest part about GP. Memorising model essays will not work. Neither will copying and pasting canned arguments. Because every question is different, every response must be unique. Within those 90 minutes, students must formulate and express their own arguments.
It is therefore important for students to learn how to use examples to support their points. This is why we teach students to focus on convincing the examiner with persuasive arguments, substantiated with strong examples, rather than on impressing readers with their depth of knowledge.
About Online Lessons
Our students have expressed an overwhelming preference for online classes for a few reasons:
- More alert in class because they are less exhausted from travelling
- Greater convenience and easier to fit into their busy schedules
- Instant marking and feedback can be provided online during classes
- Able to ask questions directly via text messaging in class
- Unique learning experience with Mr Liau
As such, we have remained 100% online since March 2020. We intend to continue with online classes for now.
In fact, our online classes have proven to be equally, if not more, effective. Students who attended online classes did well with 97% of them scoring an A or a B for the A-Level examination.
The materials will be uploaded to our Learning Management System. Students can access the notes and materials at any time, download them and even print them out. However, as there are a lot of notes and materials, we will not be printing them out for students.
During the class, all work is submitted and marked online using Google Docs. Students have generally found this to be a superior approach for their learning compared to using pen and paper, then taking photos of their work and uploading the photos.
Extensive notes are provided both in class and after class.
We have been conducting online classes since the end of 2019 and have pioneered innovative methods for keeping students engaged. As our classes are conducted live, students are kept on task by the teacher, Mr Liau.
All our students who took the A-Level exams in 2020 were taught online for almost the entire year. They outperformed previous cohorts. 97% of them attained ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades.
We have thus remained 100% online because our students have indicated a preference for our online lessons and because they have continued to achieve stellar results.