Why Confusion is the Starting Point for Real Growth in A-Level Maths

✨ The best teaching moments often start with confusion.

In my small groups, something happens time and time again.
I’ll pose a question to the class — something on integration, perhaps, or a subtle twist in coordinate geometry. One student hesitates, unsure of the answer. So I move on to another. Then another. And before long it becomes obvious: no one in the group really understands this concept.

Now, many people might see that as a problem. But for me, it’s my favourite moment.

Why? Because it tells me we’ve hit a key learning point.

The Hidden Gaps in Maths Learning

In school classrooms, with 25–30 students, it’s easy for gaps in understanding to go unnoticed. A teacher explains a concept, a few students nod along, and the class moves on. Meanwhile, several others are quietly left behind.

But in a small group, those gaps can’t hide. When I see the same blank expression repeated around the group, I know we’ve uncovered a concept that is:

• Often skimmed over in lessons because of time pressures.

• Misunderstood by many students because the explanation wasn’t broken down step by step.

• Essential to success — one of those building blocks that, if not grasped, weakens everything that follows.

And that’s where the magic happens.

From “I don’t get it” to “I can do this”

At that moment, the whole group leans in. They realise this is something they don’t know yet — and it’s reassuring to discover they’re not alone.

When I break the concept down slowly, carefully building from first principles, you can see the switch flip. Suddenly, eyes light up. Pens move faster. Confidence begins to grow.

It’s a shared moment of learning — a collective step forward.

👉 That’s where the growth happens.
👉 That’s how A and A* grades are built.

Not by avoiding difficulty, but by confronting it — together — with the right support.

Why Small Groups Work So Well

This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in small group teaching:

• Every voice is heard. No student can hide at the back of the room.

• Misunderstandings are uncovered quickly. If one student doesn’t get it, chances are others don’t either.

• Learning becomes collaborative. Students realise they’re not alone in their struggles, and that in itself is a huge confidence boost.

It’s a safe environment where students can admit “I don’t understand” — and know that it will be turned into a breakthrough rather than a setback.

A-Level Maths Success: Building from the Gaps

Parents often ask me what makes the difference between a B and an A*, or why some students “suddenly click” partway through Year 12.

The truth is simple: it’s not about piling on endless past papers. It’s about identifying and filling the gaps. And the best way to do that is in an environment where those gaps are noticed and addressed, not glossed over.

That’s exactly what happens in my Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 small groups.

Final Thought

Confusion is not the enemy of learning — it’s the starting point. Every time my students reach that collective “we don’t get this” moment, I know we’re on the brink of something powerful.

Because once the concept is understood, it’s no longer just knowledge. It’s confidence. And confidence is what carries students to their A and A* grades.

💡 If your child is in Year 12 or 13 and aiming for top grades in A-Level Maths, now is the perfect time to join one of my small group programmes.

Learn more about Guffick Tuition’s small groups ➝