Jessica

NOW TAKING ON STUDENTS
SUMMER PLACES AVAILABLE FOR A LEVEL BIOLOGY CATCH-UP – BOOST YOUR GRADES FOR UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS

My name is Dr Jessica Locker and I’m a lecturer in Biomedical Science. I specialise in explaining complex topics in a way that’s clear and easy to understand, and I have a strong understanding of the university application process.

I hold a PhD in Synthetic Biology from the University of Nottingham. Before becoming a lecturer, I worked in pharmaceutical microbiology at the University of Manchester, as well as in several biology-focused companies. I offer useful insight for students considering careers in life sciences, medicine or biomedical research.

Tutoring Experience

I’ve been tutoring A Level biology students for over 8 years across the AQA, OCR, and Eduqas exam boards. Students I’ve worked with have made strong progress, often improving by several grade boundaries, and have gone on to study a range of science-based subjects, including Medicine at Oxford and Nottingham.

I’ve developed a week-by-week support system tailored to the needs of each student, using revision guides, structured booklets, homework tasks, and plenty of practice with exam-style questions.

A Level Biology exams require more than just remembering facts – students need to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar scenarios, interpret data, and explain scientific ideas clearly. I help students develop these skills through regular, structured practice.

Tutoring Approach

Lessons begin with a set of short, targeted questions designed to check understanding and pinpoint weaker areas. These questions act as a springboard to guide the session. If a student struggles with a particular question, we use that to jump straight to the relevant section of a structured presentation-style revision guide. From there, we work through the topic together in a Q&A format, using the guide to support discussion and explain key points, before returning to the original question to check progress.

The overall structure ensures all topics are covered, but the pace is tailored to each student, allowing extra time for more difficult areas and reinforcing understanding where needed.

A key part of my approach is helping students master exam technique. This includes understanding exactly what exam questions are asking, recognising the keywords needed to gain marks, and learning how to structure answers in the way examiners expect. Regular past paper practice and marked homework help students develop confidence and accuracy.

Typical Lesson
- Start with short exam-style questions to check understanding
- Use structured revision guide to work through the topic in a Q&A format
- Return to initial questions to check progress
- Past paper questions practised together
- Homework set (usually exam-style questions)
- Extra resources (e.g. short videos, podcasts, or reading) recommended for context
- Review of homework at the start of the next session