Jack Dg
"Jack is a great teacher. He explains material in a way that's easy to understand."
English Literature A-Level Student
Academic Writing
English Language
English Literature
History
Philosophy
Religious Studies
University Applications
Academic History
February 2022 – Present: Doctoral Candidate of Philosophy, Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis, University of Amsterdam.
September 2019 – June 2021: Research Master’s Degree in Philosophy, Graduate School of Humanities, University of Amsterdam. Thesis awarded an 8.7 and graduated with an average grade of 8.44/First Class Honours.
September 2015 – February 2019: Liberal Arts & Sciences, Bachelor’s Degree, University College Groningen, University of Groningen. Graduated with a 3.83 GPA/First Class Honours and summa cum laude.
About Me
I am a PhD candidate of philosophy, with long-term experience tutoring privately. I come from Ireland but have been primarily educated in the Netherlands since third-level. I have been residing in the UK since October 2023 and presently am based in London. I love helping students unlock the ‘aha!’ moment, showing them how logical thinking can impact understanding of real-world problems. In terms of methodology, I generally focus on individualising sessions based on the student’s interests and abilities. When students are in exam years, it is rare, if ever, that I introduce material not from past papers, i.e. I focus on exam management and preparation. Finally, beyond getting to know the student, I aim to instil confidence in them and their ability to do well in the subject being tutored; this, to my mind, is vital for both the exam but also long-term development.
Recent tuition
IGCSE English Language (Edexcel)
I tutored this student (online/home-schooling) between October 2024 until the end of his exams in 2025. He was a high-achieving student in subjects other than English. His main difficult was the act of writing; he could articulate himself and his points well in conversation but struggled once a pen had to be used. I focused on essay-writing and even just short answer-writing techniques, teaching him how to maintain a coherent argument throughout. He achieved an 8 in the exam. He was homeschooled as he experienced emotionally based school avoidance two years prior to my meeting of him.
GCSE History (CCEA)
I tutored the student (St Columb’s College) between December 2023 until his exam in 2024. Despite being a good student in other subjects, he particularly struggled with translating his knowledge into written answers during history exams, so I tutored him in exam techniques and how obtain maximum marks in exams in relation to the marking scheme. He went on to obtain a 9.
IGCSE Religious Studies (Edexcel)
I tutored this student (Charterhouse) between November 2024 until his exam in 2025. He had recently been diagnosed with ADHD, and despite achieving good results in other subjects, he struggled with ensuring his answers stayed on track and did not include unnecessary information. I supported him through personalising the material as much as possible and doing the same for the structure of the session, offering regular breaks and a mix of activities to ensure maximal engagement throughout. He received a 9 in his exam.
A-Level Philosophy (AQA)
I tutored this student between January 2025 until his exam in 2025. She was a high-achieving student but wanted to obtain an A and had received a B* in her Winter exams. On my end, this meant ensuring she knew the course material deeply through repeated testing and practice of exam-based questions, along with introducing advanced writing tips. She achieved a 9 in A* in the exam, going on to study Philosophy at a top-tier university.
A-Level English Literature (AQA)
I tutored this student (St Columb’s College) between January 2024 until his exam later that year. The student was struggling with obtaining a B grade in English, which he needed to obtain entrance to her chosen university course. I primarily focused on his selected texts and exam management; he really struggled the day of an exam with anxiety and confidence. When we would practice during tutoring sessions, I would encourage him as much as possible. His exam-anxiety became a thing of the past, and he went on to receive a B* in his exam.
International Baccalaureate Sociology (IBO)
I tutored this student between October 2022 until her end-of-school exam in the subject in 2023. Her biggest problem was maximising time in the exam; when we first met, often she would finish a mock exam with only one section of the exam answered. I focused on reviewing marking schemes with her, showing her exactly what the exam board was expecting so she knew not to include additional fluff. We also spent time on time management, providing a break-down of how much time she should spend on each question based on the marks associated and her own ability. She went on to obtain a 6 in her final exam (IBO exams are marked 1-7, with 7 being the highest).
ESL Student (CEFR)
I tutored this (adult) student between September 2020 and September 2023. She came to me as an A2 level student, and left having obtained a C1 certificate. When her tuition began, she was living in a non-English speaking country. Now, she is not only living in the UK, she speaks English every day at work.
Hobbies
In my part-time, I love to run! At present, I am training for a half-marathon. I also volunteer once a week at a local primary school and read to, and with, children who are falling behind in literacy. I enjoy gardening, having joined a group based in a park local to me in South East London at the beginning of this year; it makes a change from having my nose in the books, and I feel like I have found a new home amidst the soil. I play some video games from time-to-time.
Testimonials
“My son really requires patience and the right chemistry with a teacher to learn well; if he doesn’t like you, he simply won’t engage. When Jack began tutoring my son, I was nervous but I had no need to be. My son would come out of the sessions with a smile on his face and keen to tackle the homework Jack had assigned. I think that what Jack does so well, especially for children who may have additional needs, is to get to know them to ensure comfort and understanding on both sides. I can recommend Jack whole-heartedly!”
Mother of iGCSE English Language Student
“Jack is a great teacher. He explains material in a way that’s easy to understand. When we first started working together, he knew that I loved The Lord of the Rings so he used references from this book to help me understand complex literary devices in my chosen texts. Jack also makes our lessons enjoyable by referring to recent events and my interests. He also creates a comfortable atmosphere for studying. I’m not afraid to make mistakes or ask questions, and I know that if I request something for our next lesson, Jack will come to class fully prepared.”
English Literature A-Level Student
“Jack is a brilliant teacher of philosophy and academic writing. I was struggling with assignments in my second year of a philosophy BA and spent several sessions with Jack to hone my writing. Upon submitting my first assignment with Jack’s advice at the forefront, I received my first First-Class Honours!”
Philosophy BA Student
