Frequently Asked QuestionsThe most common questions we get asked by teachers, parents and students are listed below:
Why does TSSM exist?
To facilitate the flow and application of knowledge. We have all heard that "practice makes perfect," and so we exist to give students that extra perfect practice that they cannot fully receive from school.
Most school teachers work hard to deliver the best for their students, but unfortunately, students only have access to one teacher for each subject. It is ineffective for students to study the same material over and over and to hear the same interpretations time and time again.
For this reason we can provide students with detailed learning material and an excellent presenter to offer another interpretation of the subject. This assists students to achieve better ATAR scores and examination grades.
How many students are there in each class?
We provide students with the smallest class sizes.
- All of our 11, 12 and 15 Week programs consist of 8 to 12 students per class.
- Our Summer School, Easter Holiday, Winter School and September Holiday programs are limited to 40 students per class.
- The only programs that are presented in lecture format are our Mid-year and End-of-Year exam revision programs, even these are limited to only 80 students per lecture, not auditoriums with over 300 students.
Are TSSM presenters qualified teachers?
Yes. All of our presenters are qualified teachers that specialise in teaching VCE. Our presenters are selected based on their communication skills, subject knowledge and their ability to simplify concepts for students. For more information click here.
How are TSSM classes conducted?
Our classes always provide students with a thorough review of each area of study as prescribed by the VCAA study design.
However, what makes TSSM different is that our students are given ample opportunity to ask questions during each program. The teacher covers all of the theory, using many different examples. Students are then instructed to complete questions on each section and the teacher provides students with feedback, offering better approaches to answering these examination style questions.
Do I receive study notes during each program?
Students receive comprehensive revision notes with every program. These study notes are a complete guide to the subject and are presented professionally, bound or in a folder. For more information click here.
Where are TSSM's programs held?
Our Melbourne programs are held at TSSM's VCE Center at Suite 1 Level 14, 474 Flinders Street in Melbourne. This is located on the corner of Flinders Street and Highlander Lane in Melbourne, opposite the Melbourne Aquarium.
Our Regional programs are currently held in Ballarat at The University of Ballarat, Mt. Helen & SMB Campuses; in Bendigo at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Senior Campus; and in Gippsland at Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Churchill. For more information click here.
Stay tuned for more regional areas in the future.
How can I get information regarding TSSM's programs posted to me?
By entering your contact details on our mailing list, you will be posted all updates and information regarding all of our VCE programs and resources. Join our mailing list now!
Why are TSSM's programs not cheap?
TSSM will provide you with longer and more detailed programs; better teachers; more comprehensive notes with multiple examples; one-to-one interaction; and the most important of all- the smallest class sizes.
In order to provide students with superior quality programs and service, a larger investment is required. TSSM will most definetly provide you with the best educational programs and service!
Why does TSSM test their teachers as part of their selection process?
How do you hire someone you have never spoken to before and have definitely never seen teach?
Hiring teachers based on their credentials does not work. And although contacting referees and conducting background checks is important, applicants tend to list people that will speak highly of them. For this reason we do not heavily rely on this process for selection.
We are concerned about each student's education and consequently we have implemented a perfect interview system, isolating applicants who can perform at their peak in an everyday classroom situation.
Our teachers are tested using examination papers specifically prepared for the interview process. These papers cannot be obtained outside of the interview process.
Upon testing the applicants, we were amazed at the low level of communication skills some teachers posessed and the lack of subject knowledge that they demonstrated. Some teachers have scored below 70% on our subject knowledge tests, and currently teach in expensive private schools!
Above all, our testing procedure isolates the teachers that possess superior communication skills and depth in their subject knowledge.
Can I purchase notes given out during programs, but not attend?
Our comprehensive material are only available to students who enrol in our programs. However if you have missed a program, please contact us to discuss your options.
Will I get an A+ if I attend TSSM's exam revision programs?
Our programs have been designed for students that are seeking that illustrious A+.
However, we are realistic and realise that not all students can receive an A+. Some students are extremely happy to achieve a B+ or a B grade for a particular subject. For this reason, our teachers are instructed to spend one-to-one time with each student to help them reach their academic goals.
Our programs will not be able to get a D grade student to an A+. A student's success is heavily dependant on the student themself. However a D grade student can definitely improve and get a better ATAR than they would have otherwise.
Our vision is "Helping VCE students be the best they can be." We will help you to achieve your best in each subject.
Does TSSM discount their programs?
Our programs are never discounted. Quality programs do not need to be discounted and for this reason the quality of our programs far surpasses the required investment.
Why is TSSM the only service provider that provides parents and students with special offers?
At TSSM, we like to reward our clients. Those who are quick to enrol are entitled to our special offers which include:
- Our 3 for 2 offer.
- Our Group offer.
Regularly visit our site to stay current with all of our offers.
Is TSSM the only educational institution that offers parents and students a written guarantee?
Yes. Not only do we offer a written guarantee, but we are the only educational service provider that confidently publishes it on all of our advertising material, in a clear and easy to read fashion.
On the rare ocassion (statistically 0.1802% of students) that a student feels that they did not benefit from our programs, our written guarantee applies:
We want you to tell us if we don't deliver and we'll insist on giving you a complete refund - and any service free on your next visit.
We spend every ounce of effort in aquiring the best for our students by being able to provide students with the most superior VCE programs.
Please note that no refunds will be issued under our guarantee for our 11, 12 and 15 Week Programs unless we are notified of the request prior to the cut off date. Please see course brochure for the exact cut off date.
Why is TSSM the best educational service provider available?
TSSM is a fairly new educational institution and has built a reputation for being a modern and innovative examination revision provider.
We are willing to accept change and continue to enhance our programs. We have closely studied the industry and have propelled our VCE programs beyond that of any other educational institution. We are very excited about this progress and wish to share it with as many of you as possible.
We realise that some methods can become dated, and often don't apply year after year. For this reason, we analyse the results of student evaluation forms and develop new and improved ways of creating programs that suit todays student.
We have mastered what other service providers have been trying to master for years. We have created more detail, more questions and we cover more subjects than any other educational institution in a fraction of the time.
So, why not invest time your and money with a company that is innovative in style and can respond to student concerns quickly?
Will I be able to ask questions during each educational program run by TSSM?
We agree that all questions must be asked and answered immediately. In fact we are the only educational service provider that will answer all students' questions during the program. Other providers expect students to wait for two or more hours until a scheduled break. Is it likely that a student remembers a question two hours later?
It is a well known psychological fact, that it is almost impossible to learn something new while the student's mind is subconciously focusing on an unanswered question. We do not wait until it suits our teachers, our teachers are instructed to answer questions immediately so that the student can move on and continue to learn.
Why doesn't TSSM squeeze all of their students into one huge auditorium instead of running a number of smaller classes?
It is a documented fact that smaller classes result in better and more focused learning. We consistently see current affairs programs insisting that smaller classes are needed, and that larger classes should be ruled out.
The ability of the teacher can be compromised by the size of the class. By this, we mean that an excellent teacher in an auditorium with 300 students cannot be nearly as effective as in a classroom with 40 students. This is a fact and seems quite obvious to most teachers and parents we talk to.
We have built a strong reputation as being the only service provider that is so focused on class sizes in order to ensure that students benefit from one-to-one interaction with the teacher.
Our testimonials will justify this.
How do I know if your testimonials have actually been written by real students?
We are convinced that we are the only educational service provider that publishes testimonials written by real students! How do we know this?
Our testimonials are stated with the student's full name (and the school they attend can be given upon your request). Each testimonial is completely authorised by the student themselves.
We publish genuine testimonials by genuine people. Any requests to see the hand written testimonials and authority we receive is more than welcomed.
Will the English Study Maps help me with my understanding of the text?
Yes. In fact it will help students explore many ideas within the text that students may not be able to do otherwise. For visual learners, it is even more effective as these students will be able to associate pictures and colours with different topics and themes of the text.
The Study Map is a must for visual learners and will increase their recall of important facts and will help them to link different ideas within the text. This will ensure a more thorough revision is achieved. For more information click here.
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