I am an experienced and successful Oxbridge mentor. My work includes support with the following stages of the application:

  • I help students to select the college that they want to apply to and research the admissions tutors, to ascertain their specialist areas.

  • I help students to set targets and deadlines for their application, balancing the need to cover written skills, wider reading, and their interview skills.

  • Students need to craft a journey of their critical reading development. I help advise about the best primary and secondary texts to read, and ensure students curate a reading list that reflects their genuine interests.

  • It is important that students develop a portfolio of wider reading and that they are supported in thinking deeply and critically about what they read. I have access to JSTOR, EMagazine, and critical reviews, which help to develop students’ thinking.

  • Students need to submit high quality written work and I help devise challenging titles for them to work on and talk through their planning. I am not allowed to proofread or edit what they write, as it has to be their own work, but I can teach them proofreading and editing skills for them to apply to their own work.

  • The ELAT is a challenging written exam, which needs careful preparation and practice. I work with students on developing their close analysis skills and crafting a mature, academic essay writing style.

  • Being interviewed by academics can be a daunting experience. With the right preparation and mindset, it should be an intellectually stimulating, even enjoyable, experience, where students can show off their passion and enthusiasm for their subject.

‘Dr Reeve-Tucker’s support enabled me to land into Band 1 for the Oxbridge ELAT exam and attend an interview at Oxford for English Literature. Her feedback on my ELAT was scrupulous and I found that I was able to work to a much higher standard after having written several essays for her. She supported me with my personal statement by helping me weave together several complex texts into a unique personal narrative, which helped me immensely in my interview, as well as the secondary literature that she helped me decrypt and use to my advantage.

Doing interview practice with her enabled me to structure my answers and supplement them with deeper, more refined analysis. She is immensely kind, attentive and her feedback was invaluable to my success across exams and university admissions.’

Amal

‘Hi Alice

I just wanted to tell you that I have received a place to read history at Christ Church Oxford!

As well as the fantastic support you have given in English over the years, I have also really benefited from speaking to you about it - you certainly made me feel good about it, and not too nervous!’

Seb

‘Hi Miss, I hope you have had a good start to the New Year :) and I thought I ought to tell you that ....

..... I GOT AN OFFER FROM OXFORD! 

I just wanted to be the first to let you know and thank you again for all the support, expertise and time you invested into the whole ordeal of the Oxford application process!’

Natasha