The tutorial college is an approved centre for AQA, Edexcel,OCR and WJEC.

 We offer facilities for private candidates to sit examinations in November, January, May/June.

 The centre has a well equipped laboratory and provides facilities so that applicants can take science practical assessments here. You can be entered for Externally Marked Practical Assessment (EMPA) or Individual Skills Assignments (ISA) as part of the Controlled Test.

 Language oral examinations can also be taken at the tutorial college. Examiners can be appointed by MTC when they are available. Sometimes board-appointed examiners will visit our centre.

 The tutorial college provides a quiet environment for you to take your examinations. We provide a friendly environment and efficient service.

For further information regarding examinations:

 We accommodate for most subjects, if you have any enquiries about taking your examinations at the tutorial college please contact us on 01625 501440, or email office@experttutorials.co.uk.

These courses are perfect for students looking to complete a course in one year as they are primarily one to one or in small classes. The tutorial college provides a dynamic environment with a lot of interaction between student and tutor. Individual attention can be given throughout a lesson and therefore progress is rapid.

One year courses are intensive, and for those aiming to enter Medicine or Veterinary Science this course is ideal and will allow you to make fast progress.

Macclesfield Tutorial College believes that intensive teaching, a strong focus on examination practise and motivation are what students need to succeed.

If you would like any further information about taking a course in one year please contact the tutorial college.

The first step when reading your non-fiction text is to identify the genre, audience and purpose.

The genre is the type of text. In your examination this may be a newspaper article, a magazine, a website, an extract from a novel or a leaflet.  Looking at the type of document and identifying it will help you to think about the intended audience. The intended audience is also called the text receiver.

The audience is who the text is aimed at. The text producer always has an audience in mind. This affects the writing style as it must appeal to the reader. The writer also needs to be aware of tone and level of formality.

The purpose of the text is what the text wants you to do, and how the text makes you do it. The texts you will be asked to write about will be either to argue, persuade or advise.

What should you identify next in a non-fiction text?

One you have identified the genre, audience and purpose you then need to look at the language, information, style and tone.

When looking at language, look at whether the language is descriptive, informative or persuasive. Look at the language techniques used to create this effect such as alliteration, assonance, personification, rhetorical questions, hyperbole, metaphors and triadic structure.

Tone is linked to language. Think how you would read this document. The language techniques and specific lexis used are indicators of whether you would need a serious, angry or humorous tone of voice.

A persuasive text may use emotive language to make use feel angry or sad and empathise with the text. The writing may also use personal pronouns such as ‘you’ to directly address the reader. It is important to state why this technique has been used in this genre.

The information within a text can vary greatly. The information could be factual and use figures; a series of writer’s opinions or a combination of both fact and opinion.

The final step is to identify is the style. Is the text long with very few pictures, or is it written in short paragraphs with numerous pictures? Does it use bold heading? Are there bulleted lists? How has colour been used?

How to write academic essays

Writing ‘for and against’ an argument can be a difficult task. Providing a balanced discussion requires you to use evidence and reasons why each opinion has consequence. The type of argument is often concluded with the stronger argument.

What should your ‘for and against’ essay include?

Introduction

 The introduction sets the scene for the content of your essay. Here it is necessary to outline what your argument will consist of, including a couple of points that you will focus on. It is important however, that you do not make the argument sound simplistic.

Paragraph one

Make clear which argument you are beginning with. Use your strongest point first. Integrate quotes into your argument to show that your reason has relevance. Always explain your quotations.

Paragraph two

Begin by discussing your counter argument. Again use evidence to show why. Make it clear that this is a new idea and why you have different reasons why this argument is also significant.

Paragraph three

Link back to the points that were discussed in paragraphs one and two. Make reference to the title of your essay so that you are looking at both sides of the argument in a focused manner.

Paragraphs four and five

 Make your second points for and against. As you are reaching your conclusion begin to asses which argument is the strongest.

Conclusion

 Here you need to sum up your points. Again use reasons and evidence. Your conclusion needs to be sharp and clear to demonstrate to the examiner why you made this decision.

Make sure that your academic essay:

• Has a clear structure.
• That each point in well developed and makes use of evidence.
• Does not consist of two arguments. It must analyse both ‘for and against’ equally.

‘The Learn’d Astronomer’-Walt Whitman(1819-1892)

When I heard the learn’d astronomer,

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,

Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

The key to a great University interview is preparation. It may sound simple, but if you follow these few steps, it will give you the opportunity to show the University of your choice your potential.

What will be asked in your University interview?

The main focus of your interview will be from the content you have provided in your personal statement.

It is a good idea to read your personal statement before the interview so that you are prepared for any areas that the interviewer may select.

Other topics that they may include are:

• What are you strengths/weaknesses?
• What experiences have you encountered where you have had to show leadership?
• What are your hobbies or interests?

What topics should you prepare for your University Interview?

Before your University interview, find out about the place that you wish to study at. You could be asked why you wish to study at this particular institution and in what ways you could contribute to the University.

Make sure that you are confident in talking about the course you are applying for. Background research is essential as it shows that you are committed to your subject. You may be asked about developments in the field you wish to study. It is important that you are aware of these and have an opinion of them.

Take interest in the course you are applying for. Take a look at the prospectus and syllabus. It is important to say what aspects of the course you are looking forward to study and why they are of interest to you.

When being asked a question, answer it to your best ability. It is tempting to answer a question with everything you know on the subject, but try to be focused and concise to demonstrate your knowledge. If a subject comes up that you do not know the answer to, explain to the best of your ability and try to change the subject to something you are more confident in discussing.

A confident personality can be illustrated through your response. Create a strong argument that you are able to back up with facts. You will be given the opportunity to ask question, again preparation is essential.

Finally make sure that you:

• Know the name of the person interviewing you. Take a look at the University website to see which subject they specialise in.
• Dress appropriately
• Arrive in plenty of time so you are relaxed and can familiarise yourself with the location and find the room where your interview will take place.

Applying for University can be a daunting task. There are so many websites giving advice about what to include, or what to leave out in your personal statement, that it can leave you very confused about what makes a good Ucas application.

Writing the perfect personal statement for your Ucas application requires these few steps.

The main focus of your personal statement should be on the subject that you wish to study at University. You need to show why you are right for the course that you are applying for. Describe your academic achievements and how your A Levels have led you to make this decision. It is important to discuss what you found interesting and why this would make you a good candidate.

The reasons that you wish to study this course must be specific and focused. Take a look at the course description and mention areas that you are looking forward to studying. This not only shows that you have an interest in the subject, but have also taken the time to look at what the University of your choice is offering.

The topics that you mention in your Ucas application are likely to be the chosen subject of discussion in your interview. Make sure your personal statement reflects the areas that you feel confident discussing. Be truthful when discussing this topic, you don’t want to be caught out when being interviewed.

The personal statement also gives you the opportunity to talk about your extra-curricular hobbies and activities. It is important to demonstrate that you are a team player, that you are sociable and a well-rounded person. You can discuss sports, music, dramatic, artistic or scientific activities that you are involved in.

If you have done any work for charity, or voluntary work, it is important to include these activities. Activities that demonstrate responsibility show that you interact well with others.

When talking about yourself don’t make it too personal. The Ucas application needs to show the admissions tutor who you are, but it also needs to be formal in tone.

Ucas has proposed that from 2016, students should apply for their places at University once they have received their A Level grades, rather than applying with their predicted grades. This would dramatically change the application and entry process.

What are the benefits and cost of the Ucas proposal?

Ucas investigations have found that only 45% of predicted grades, which students used upon application. proved to be accurate. This finding suggests that some students are at a disadvantage as they may achieve grades beyond those which have been predicted.

This plan has been proposed by Mary Curnock Cook, the Ucas chief executive. If this proposal is accepted it would mean that students would be required to sit their examinations in July rather than August.

This new system is thought to give students a better opportunity, especially those of low income families who feel that they will not make the grade to apply to the top Universities.

However, there are concerns that pupils will not have enough time to consider which University to apply to. Students currently have from September to January to apply for examination through Ucas. Universities such asCambridge andOxford who interview each prospective candidate would have a limited time period in which to make the decision about each student’s application. Also Universities are concerned about the number of students who may apply and the number of applications that would need to be processed so close to the start of term.

Edward Thomas-(1878-1917)-‘Thaw’-

Over the land-freckled with snow half-thawed

The speculating rooks at their nests cawed

And saw from elm-tops, delicate as flowers of grass,

What we below could not see, Winter pass.

10 Interesting facts for the week-

1.P.G.Wodehouse’s ‘Jeeves andWooster’ first appeared together in the 1915 story- ‘Extricating Young Gussie’.

2.LiechtensteinandUzbekistanare double-landlocked countries(They are surrounded by other landlocked countries) 

3. Ganymede, one of the 63 known moons of Jupiter is the largest moon in the Solar System. At 3,269.9 miles in diameter, it is larger than the planet Mercury.

4.Canadahas the longest coastline in the World-164,988 miles, this is equal to 6 times the distance round the Earth at the Equator.

5.Gold is the most malleable and the most ductile metal.

6.Apollinaire, friend of Picasso, said that in the painting, ‘Woman On The Guitar’(1911), “Picasso was re-ordering the Universe”.

7.Pele scored 77 goals forBrazil. Domestically, he played forSantos(Brazilian team), 1956-74 and New York Cosmos, 1975-77.

8.The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”, ‘spy plane’, has a service  ceiling of over 70,000 feet. There have been 86 U2’s made, the first in1955.

9. After his death, Admiral Lord Nelson was brought back from the Battle of Trafalgar (October 21, 1805), in a barrel of brandy.

10.September,2011-Scientists atCERN, Geneva have announced they have discovered certain neutrinos that travel faster than the speed of light, thereby going totally against Einstein’s  Theory of Relativity. These results still have to be confirmed by the scientific community.

The Cosmic Calendar-

The Cosmic Calendar was popularized by Carl Sagan in his book and tv series, ‘Cosmos’. It is a time-line that reduces the history of the Universe to a single calendar year. It certainly gives an idea of the sheer immensity of time since the Big  Bang, 13.7 Billion Years ago, but before this was there an eternity before this, along with infinite space?.

1 JanuaryMidnight-The Big Bang

11 May- Milky Way (Our galaxy) Formed

1 September- Sun formed, then soon after,  the planets , including Earth.

21 September- Oldest-known rocks on Earth.

12 October-Photosynthesis first developed.

29 October- Oxygenation of the atmosphere.

8 November- Complex cells (eukaryotes) first appeared.

5 December-First Multicellular life.

14 December_ Simple animals

15 December- Fish appeared.

20December-Landplants.

21 December- Insects and seeds.

22 December-Amphibians.

23 December-Reptiles.

24 December-The first dinosaurs.

26 December-First Mammals

27 December-First Birds.

28 December- Dinosaurs became extinct.Flowering plants developed.

31 December-6:05- Apes appeared.

31 December-23:52-Anatomically modern humans.

31 December-23:59:59(The last second)-Everything in history since 1577.

Rising inflation is a problem for many countries in the world at the moment least not the United Kingdom. Western nations around world struggle for recovery after the effects of the 2008 financial crisis while economists debate on how to combat rising inflation.

But the question of what to do about rising inflation is an age old debate with economic theories being argued over from Ancient Greece to modern day China.

Rising Inflation in the UK

United Kingdom August 2011 inflation figures showed an increase to 4.5% with the Bank of England holding firm, for the moment, that Interest Rates should stay at a record low of 0.5%. Argument from some, is that inflation can be brought lower by higher interest rates. But the reluctance from the Bank of England to do so is brought on by the fact the UK debt to GDP is approaching the 70% mark, so to counter this the Government have brought in a period of high taxiation policies while trying to save in a effort to lower the national debt.

Bank of England are all to aware of the threat of rising inflation but by keeping interest rates low, a record low, they are allowing some relief for people in the face of high taxaition and a way to get relief on to the retail sector of the British economy.

Rising inflation has many negative effects on a countries economy. Food costs are higher, borrowing is higher and in some cases it can cause social unrest as shown in the Weimer Republic. But what are the causes…

Rising Inflation debate

Now is where the debate rages especially on the school of thought you take. Keynesian economists may well state that rising inflation is causes by rising demand stimulated by spending from the Government. Altenatively they will argue that a fall in production of goods can begin the effects of rising inflation. Keynesian economists will argue three things that can trigger inflation…

• Demand and pull inflation
• Cost-push inflation
• Built-in inflation

Monetarist economists will argue alternatively that inflation is due to the effects of the money supply and that grows or shrinks. Strongly they argue that Government spending will never control inflation.

Is it time for new economic theory to combat rising inflation?