Focus Chemistry is privileged to have been graced by students from top IP schools such as Hwa Chong Institution, Victoria School, Dunman High School and River Valley High School.
Here’s what some of our students and their parents have to say about their experience with Focus Chemistry.
Focus Chemistry is privileged to have been graced by students from top IP schools such as Hwa Chong Institution, Victoria School, Dunman High School and River Valley High School.
Here’s what some of our students and their parents have to say about their experience with Focus Chemistry.
Mr.Khoo is a passionate, disciplined and very inspiring tutor .
He coached both my sons when they were Secondary as well as in JC. He is very thorough in teaching concepts, laying strong foundation and then making them solve challenging worksheets. My sons’ grades in Chemistry improved at least by 2 grades within months of going to his classes.
Chemistry was their strongest subject by the time of A levels.
Thank you Mr Khoo for your help all these years.
MOTHER OF ARAVIND AND ANIRUDH (BOTH A GRADES FOR H2 CHEMISTRY), RAFFLES JUNIOR COLLEGE AND ANDERSON SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE RESPECTIVELY
In just 5 months of tuition with Mr. Dion, my HL Chemistry grade jumped from a 3 in my common test to a 7 for IB. He made topics which I had initially feared and found impossible to understand, seem easy and manageable after a single lesson. He was also a massive help for my Chemistry IA, aiding me in polishing my methodology and analysis. I am so thankful for his help and highly recommend him to anyone who needs a little extra support in Chemistry. He truly is a gifted teacher and has made a huge impact on my academic journey.
7 POINTS, HL CHEMISTRY (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE INDEPENDENT
My daughter got a 4 in her HL Chemistry first year exams and was predicted a 5. We then engaged Dion in the summer before her final year. We also discovered she had a learning disorder during this time. Her knowledge of the subject was tenuous and after much discussion her school was adamant that the highest she could achieve was a 6.
Dion worked with her extensively and was extremely patient and sensitive to her new diagnosis. After sitting in on a few of their online sessions, I was particularly impressed to see that he didn’t just teach the answers. Dion would teach her how to get to the answers herself, no matter how long this took.
My daughter achieved a solid 7 in her final IB Chemistry HL results and came out more confident than ever before. I highly recommend Dion as a tutor, if your child is motivated it is a fantastic investment to their education.
PARENT OF ZARA FARUKI (MALBOROUGH COLLEGE MALAYSIA)(MAY 2022)
Gerald Koh (ASCI, IB SL and HL chem)
After attending Dion’s H2 Chemistry tuition, Gerald’s understanding for the subject deepened and he was able to tackle the exam questions more accurately through the clear and concise lessons provided.
Dion taught him the main focus of every topic with clarity and has emphasised the important pointers that were crucial in exams. Thank you so much Dion for helping him bring up his Chemistry standards!
Mr. Khoo is very passionate in teaching Chemistry. He is competent in teaching both JC (Chemistry) and Polytechnic (Chemical Engineering) levels. He coached my eldest daughter in Chemical Engineering modules and my younger daughter in JC Chemistry.
He is explicit with his explanations and uses a variety of teaching methodologies. He links topics with real-life situations and draws diagrams which enable better conceptual understanding. Mr. Khoo is a patient tutor as he guides pupils to derive answers and encourages them to use the shortest method instead of lengthy ones.
He is committed and expects very good results from his students.
Anita Kurup (SAJC, A grade in A lvls, H2 Chem)
Liana Kurup (SAJC, B grade in A lvls, H2 Chem)
Jaian Kurup (ACSI, A2 grade for O lvls)
Dion helped all our three children, both through ‘O’ level Chemistry and ‘A’ level (H2) chemistry. Our eldest daughter was having some difficulties in Organic Chemistry (H2 Chemistry in JC2). Within 6 months, she acquired a deeper understanding and has improved.
Our second child started classes with him in his 1st year in JC and our third child studied with him in the beginning of Sec 4. Dion’s classes helped them understand Chemistry concepts better and increased their interest in some key aspects of Chemistry. They began enjoying the subject, which led to our eldest daughter obtaining an A grade during her A levels.
Galvin Wee (AJC, A grade in A lvls H2 Chem)
Irin Wee (AJC, A grade in A lvls H2 Chem)
Dylan Wee (ACSI, A1 grade for O lvls)
Dion taught 3 of my kids Chemistry and helped them better understand the subject, beyond what their schools have taught them. They found his lessons interesting and they became confident in the subject. Needless to say, they aced their Chemistry exams. Thank you, Dion!
In just 5 months of tuition with Mr. Dion, my HL Chemistry grade jumped from a 3 in my common test to a 7 for IB. He made topics which I had initially feared and found impossible to understand, seem easy and manageable after a single lesson. He was also a massive help for my Chemistry IA, aiding me in polishing my methodology and analysis. I am so thankful for his help and highly recommend him to anyone who needs a little extra support in Chemistry. He truly is a gifted teacher and has made a huge impact on my academic journey.
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE INDEPENDENT
Throughout my time in Focus Chemistry, Mr. Khoo has always been an excellent and conscientious teacher. During lessons, not only does he cover topics extensively, while putting in effort to clarify any doubts, he fine tunes the teaching to what we need more help in, instead of going by a structured plan. The after lesson support he provided was extremely useful as well, being available day and night to answer any queries I have for either questions or the IA. The concise notes provided were also advantageous in my revision. Thanks to Mr. Khoo, my results have jumped from a Grade 4 to a Grade 7 for Chemistry HL.
IB HL Chemistry (7 points) (Nov 2023), St. Joseph Institution
Mr Daw Shyan is a teacher with many years of experience. When he tutored me for A Levels, he was immensely well-prepared in helping me prepare for the final A Level Chemistry exams. Mr Daw Shyan’s notes and materials are highly effective as a supplement to my school’s Chemistry notes, and he is an engaging, effective, and experienced Chemistry tutor.
H2 Chemistry (2022) National Junior College
Mr Khoo is a very warm teacher who does not hesitate to clarify doubts during and outside of lessons. His lessons are structured very well. I benefitted greatly from them due to his unique pedagogy. His splendid method of explaining difficult concepts is truly a lifesaver. His lessons are truly beneficial as he also recaps old concepts. He is also very resourceful because his materials were very helpful during my revision. I was exposed to sufficient difficult questions and this strengthened my confidence to do chemistry questions. By the time school examinations and A levels came I was more than ready to attempt them and I was sure that I was going to ace them. Not only does he teach content well, he also guides us with our revision. He constantly provides valuable opinions on how to revise effectively. Mr Khoo is surely one of the best in the game and I highly recommend you to join him.
H2 CHEMISTRY (2022) RAFFLES JUNIOR COLLEGE
I joined focus chemistry in the middle of my sec 4 year but the way that mr khoo explained concepts clearly gave me a good grasp on chemistry topics quickly. He laid out the facts in a way that made it easy for me to connect with numerous other chemistry topics. He also asked many questions which made us students think critically, sometimes beyond the syllabus, to solve problems. He showed me the practical side of chemistry, nurturing my love for the subject too.
O LEVELS PURE CHEMISTRY (A1 grade) (2022), METHODIST GIRL’S SCHOOL
I have always been struggling with Chemistry since Secondary 1 so I requested Chemistry tuition and went to Focus Chemistry.
Mr Dion Khoo can come off as quite headstrong and intimidating at first but he is just extremely passionate and enthusiastic about all things Chemistry. One thing I appreciate is that he is always open to questions and feedback. He encourages students to offer their opinion and ask questions even if the questions may seem elementary. He ensures that we understand the concept and ideas behind the theories and how they apply to real-life situations rather than just blankly memorising the theory alone. It is true that he also quizzes us to make sure we remember what we have learnt and how to apply it to application questions. Many thanks to Mr Dion Khoo for helping me!
O LEVELS PURE CHEMISTRY (A2 Grade) (2022), METHODIST GIRL’S SCHOOL
Mr Khoo was a very organised, detailed and focussed tutor who benefitted me a lot during my last year of IB HL chemistry. Before I came to him, I often would get 4s and 5s on my tests and assignments, and struggled to keep up with the more difficult topics in class. In particular, I was weak at conceptual understanding and calculations. However, through Mr Khoo’s methodical and clear explanations, I was able to raise my final grade to a 7. He took me step-by-step through harder topics using hand-drawn diagrams, and helped me identify exactly the areas I should put more effort in.
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), METHODIST LADIES COLLEGE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Focus Chemistry has been undeniably instrumental in my achievement of the highest grade in HL Chemistry. From the in-depth and crystal-clear teaching of the syllabus to the constructive feedback to my IA, Mr Dion’s support has been invaluable. Furthermore, his many years of experience in Chemistry education showed in the variety of ways of teaching, including visualisation with models, presentation of homework assignments on the white board, as well as the many analogies that helped me remember concepts and Organic Chemistry mechanisms. Truly, Mr Khoo is a veteran in the field of Chemistry instruction and education. Thank you Mr Khoo!
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), SINGAPORE SPORTS SCHOOL
Mr Dion is a very patient and kind teacher. He will always make sure that we understand our stuff before moving on. He also teaches more in depth as compared to our school teacher with the help of his own personal compiled notes. Before getting him as my tutor, I used to be getting a very low grade 5 for my chemistry but after attending his lesson, I have managed to improve my score to a very high grade 6 for my final IB exams.
For my EE and IA, when I was unable to choose my topic, he constantly gave me some idea to help me kick start my journey. Additionally, he also gives consultation whenever we are unable to move on such as not being able to understand why my experimental results had a deviation from my hypothesis.
Without Mr Khoo’s help, I don’t think I would be able to score a grade 6 for my chemistry nor would I been able to score a grade A for my EE
A GRADE FOR CHEMISTRY EXTENDED ESSAY; HL CHEMISTRY (6 POINTS) (NOV 2022), HWA CHONG INTERNATIONAL
Focus Chemistry was where I had gone for Chemistry tuition for my IB. I can confidently say that the lessons beneficial as Mr Dion was very thorough in his explanations and answered my doubts with schoolwork and practice questions attempted in class. He also guided me in my Chemistry EE and IA by suggesting topics to explore. After selecting the topic and carrying experiments with his help for the procedure, he supported me during the writing process and even marked my drafts which helped me improve them. Ultimately, Focus Chemistry and Mr Dion has helped me achieve my goal of a 7 in Chemistry HL and an A in my EE.
7 POINTS, GRADE A FOR CHEMISTRY EXTENDED ESSAY, HL CHEMISTRY (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE SCHOOL INDEPENDENT
Mr Khoo’s class has been highly beneficial for me due to his approach in teaching. He asks especially challenging questions topic by topic in order to broaden our thinking and expose gaps in our knowledge, making me both more interested in Chemistry and acutely aware of my shortcomings in the subject. Hence, i can only describe his teaching style as thorough and very well thought out. Being in his class certainly helped me go from scoring a 3 in year 6 mid year’s test to scoring a very stable 7 by the IB exam
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE SCHOOL INDEPENDENT
In just 5 months of tuition with Mr. Dion, my HL Chemistry grade jumped from a 3 in my common test to a 7 for IB. He made topics which I had initially feared and found impossible to understand, seem easy and manageable after a single lesson. He was also a massive help for my Chemistry IA, aiding me in polishing my methodology and analysis. I am so thankful for his help and highly recommend him to anyone who needs a little extra support in Chemistry. He truly is a gifted teacher and has made a huge impact on my academic journey.
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE SCHOOL INDEPENDENT
Mr Khoo is an experienced and excellent teacher. He is very clear and up to date with syllabus content, and is very knowledgeable on answering techniques. His lessons are very engaging and straightforward, making it much easier to understand difficult topics. I was only scoring 5 points before I joined his tuition centre. But he was able to prepare me well for the final IB exams that I was able to clinch a 7 point! I will definitely recommend Mr Khoo to whoever wants to improve in Chemistry! Definitely highly recommended!
VICTORIA LEONG,
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), ANGLO CHINESE SCHOOL INDEPENDENT
Focus Chemistry became a conducive environment for me to learn and relearn about topics in chemistry that I may have been unclear about even after being taught in school. Having a small class meant there was more space for me to ask questions or discuss complex questions. Having more notes and papers to refer to and practice on exposed me to a wider array of knowledge and questions which I felt greatly helped me during the IB examination. Before, I barely passed my examinations, even after going to other tuition centres. But with Mr Dion’s guidance and patience I was able to graduate with a 7 in chemistry.
EDLYN NADRA MOHAMMED SOPHIAN,
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), SINGAPORE SPORTS SCHOOL
Mr Dion teaches in an extremely clear and comprehensive manner. Having forgotten basic foundational concepts after taking a 9 month break from chemistry, I was worried I wouldn’t be on par with my peers. However, after a few lessons, I felt more confident in my abilities due to the way he simplified theories with analogies and was excited to see how my understandings of all the topics could be crystallised by him alongside my school’s lessons. The various practice questions we were given also covered the topics thoroughly in breadth and depth. His experience and advice certainly provided great ideas for the IA component. With all his help I was able to maintain a 7 grade throughout my 2 years in the diploma. Thank you Mr Khoo!
YONES YEW,
SL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), HWA CHONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
I started taking Mr Khoo’s classes in my first year of IB HL Chemistry as I was struggling to pass. Mr Khoo provides a wide database of practice questions and detailed notes for every topic covered in the syllabus, proving great help to me in my revision and general studies.
Mr Khoo is a flexible and adaptable teaching, always asking what his students would like to focus on for the next lesson so he can properly prepare and give lessons of the highest quality. He always ensures every student understands the topic taught and addresses any questions, no matter the complexity.
Mr Khoo also keeps his classroom engaging and fun by adding group work and usage of models into his teaching. This helps students to learn in different ways, accommodating to all type of learners.
Overall, Mr Khoo’s detailed lessons and determination to help all improved my score for HL Chemistry from a low 5 to a 7!
ALISON MACGREGOR,
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (NOV 2022), SOTA
I started taking Mr Khoo’s lessons in the summer after finishing my first year of IB chemistry. What urged me to do so was my disappointment in my final year 12 chemistry exam which was barely scraping a level 5. From his lessons, I realized that I had been frequently memorizing textbook information without understanding fundamental concepts essential for tackling different questions. Though I studied half of the syllabus at school in my first year, Mr Khoo went through the specimen with me from the first topic. He cleared my misconceptions and the gaps in my knowledge from all topics. I would present him with hard questions I was struggling with and he was willing to break them down for me completely. If I was unsure of the reasons behind a particular working, he was determined to clear my confusion. I particularly found it beneficial when he would test me with questions as it helped us uncover any areas of concern.
Mr Khoo was not only determined to help me perform better but was also very supportive and encouraging. He would reflect with me on past internal exams to examine my errors in calculations or flaws in explanations. The methods he uses to teach helps students develop a stronger understanding of every topic, making them easier to grasp and conceptualize than any online source or textbook I have seen. My final exam consisted of questions never encountered before but I relied on this strengthened understanding of concepts relevant to the chemistry syllabus. Successfully, I scored a 7 overall in IB Chemistry (exam-route), a score I would have never expected myself to achieve in the first year! As I have met my university requirements, I can now study neuroscience which is my area of interest in the STEM field at my top choice university. My lessons with Mr Khoo have contributed to this achievement and he has helped me become a better scientific thinker.
YURIKA NOUMI,
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (MAY 2022), TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL,2022
I definitely recommend Dion as a tutor as in my first year of IB I was getting grade 4s and grade 5s and only being predicted a 5 in my final exam. However, with Dion’s help I was able to improve my chemistry knowledge from a 4/5 to a solid 7 in only 10 months. By the end of it, my chemistry knowledge increased to such an extent that I was able to help my fellow students with exam questions. In the final exam, I was able to answer the questions confidently because I had a lot of practice with Dion in class, securing me a solid 7
ZARA FARUKI,
HL CHEMISTRY (7 POINTS) (MAY 2022), MALBOROUGH COLLEGE MALAYSIA
Mr Khoo’s lessons are not only fun but engaging. Initially, I found the lessons challenging as he would constantly quiz us on important concepts, especially those taught in the previous lessons, helping me better internalise the concepts. Over time, as my chemistry foundation improved, lessons did not get easier as he challenged us with out of syllabus questions, similar to those found in the A levels, better preparing us for As. Mr Khoo is also almost always online and ready to help with any questions that we may have. It is with this constant pushing and help of Mr Khoo that has allowed me to eventually attain that A. Thanks Mr Khoo!
MARCEL GOH,
H2 CHEMISTRY (A GRADE) (2022) HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
I am very grateful to study under Mr Dion, who I have found his teaching method more fruitful than my previous tuitions.
Teaching-wise, Mr Dion teaches students such as me to derive concepts and solve questions through reasoning, allowing us to be prepared for new complex questions should they appear, as opposed to previous tuition which relies more on memorising concepts which would not be as useful. This sort of skill taught is extremely useful as it allows us the flexibility to tackle questions using logic rather than memory work, which could prove to be more of an issue since students could lack the necessary skills to explain questions logically if they meet face a more complex question.
Knowledge-wise, Mr Dion is an expert in H2 Chemistry. For one, he is able to explain to us about present-day recognised concepts and correct any outdated ones that current teachers still emphasize on.
Mr Dion is also able to relate Chemistry concepts using real-world concepts to make topics more digestable. This is usually not present in most other lessons taught in my previous tuitions, and these concepts allowed me to relate back much easier during my exams while facing any difficult questions, allowing me to solve them more easily.
Mr Dion has been a great teacher and under him I have seen an improvement on my results compared to my first attempt under a different tuition centre (E grade) and I am truly grateful for it.
BRENDON,
H2 CHEMISTRY (B GRADE) (2022) PRIVATE CANDIDATE (PREVIOUSLY CATHOLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE)
Thank you Mr Daw Shyan for making lessons fun and engaging for me! I really struggled with Chemistry but Mr Daw Shyan has unique teaching methods and styles which made me truly understand the concept. I am glad that I have achieved good A Level results so I can attain a position at a local university. I highly recommend Mr Daw Shyan as a Chemistry tutor.
H2 Chemistry (2021) Nanyang Junior College
Mr Khoo has been my Chemistry saviour since secondary school. He is a diligent mentor that is well versed in everything chemistry, able to provide detailed yet easy to digest explanations for my questions. Being so experienced, he is able to point out areas to focus on during revision which greatly aided my studies.
Mr Khoo has been an amazing tutor and I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn under his care. Thank you, Mr Khoo!
A1, PURE CHEMISTRY (2020) MARIS STELLA HIGH SCHOOL A, H2 CHEMISTRY (2022) EUNOIA JUNIOR COLLEGE
I am incredibly grateful to Mr Daw Shyan for helping me overcome many challenges when studying for Chemistry A Levels. I had a tough time adapting to the increased workload and the academic rigour of the syllabus in Junior College, but Mr Daw Shyan encouraged me to keep going and keep my eyes on the final goal - the real A Levels exam. By revising with Mr Daw Shyan, I was able to get better at tackling the different permutations of the Chemistry exam papers even though my school kept throwing increasingly difficult questions at me.
H2 Chemistry (2020), Nanyang Junior College
I first joined Mr Khoo’s class in sec 3, halfway through 2019. I’ll never forget my first lesson (Stoichiometry and Mole Concept) and how intense it felt. At the time, I thought my Chemistry was pretty decent but Mr Khoo showed me otherwise. The challenging questions he constantly posed me made me realised I only memorised the content but never really understood what I was studying. While it frustrated me at first, Mr Khoo’s insistence on being able to understand a topic paid off in the long run; not only did my grades improve but I also enjoyed learning chemistry as a subject rather than it simply being a task from school.
Mr Khoo constantly challenging my understanding of each topic always kept me on my toes. More importantly, it almost eradicated any complacency I felt with Chemistry as Mr Khoo would somehow always know what I didn’t know. He made me always want to strive to do better and to perfect my understanding of Chemistry and its topics. Such consistency is shown with my results; only getting one B for chemistry in all my exams since sec 3 EOYs to my A levels, where I finished off with an A grade in H2 chemistry.
In my 12 years of education, Mr Khoo is, without a doubt, one of my best teachers. Not just for me but after being his student for 4 years, I could see how he would adapt and pace his teaching style for each student such that all will improve with a method that works for them. He simply wanted everyone to give their best and to always want to improve and to me, that’s what makes him such a great teacher.
A1, PURE CHEMISTRY (2020) ANGLO CHINESE SCHOOL (INDEPENDENT) A, H2 CHEMISTRY (2022) ANDERSON SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE
Mr Daw Shyan is an incredibly detailed tutor who facilitated my understanding of complex Chemistry concepts. With his help, I was able to complete my Chemistry IA on time, despite facing some challenges doing the experiments on my own. Juggling the many commitments of the IB Diploma was challenging, and sessions with Mr Daw Shyan helped me allocate time in my busy schedule to revise important concepts before the final IB exams rolled around.
IB Chemistry HL (2019) Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
Mr Khoo ensures that we not only understand Chemistry concepts well, but also apply them correctly. All these were done through his innovative and effective ways of translating difficult-to-grasp concepts to applications.
His lessons are very engaging and rarely boring. His questioning techniques make us inquisitive learners. Through his patient tutelage, my Chemistry grade improved from E to B in the A levels. Thank you Mr Khoo!
H2 Chemistry, B grade, SAJC (2017)
Mr. Dion Khoo’s explanations of concepts allow full and straightforward understanding of the subject. His teaching expertise and experience not only manifests itself in his crystal-clear lesson delivery, but also in his ability to recognise and help resolve difficulties which students may face. His clarification of my uncertainties and guidance in that one year leading up to my final exams has helped me to go further. As a result, I managed to achieve a grade 7 in HL Chemistry!
IB HL Chemistry (Grade 7) B GRADE (2017) ACSI
Ever since I started studying Pure Chemistry in Secondary 3, I have always struggled to grasp Chemistry concepts in school. After joining Focus Chemistry, my grade improved from a borderline pass in Secondary 3 to a distinction in both my preliminary and O Level examinations.
Mr. Khoo is a friendly and dedicated tutor who will go the extra mile to ensure all our doubts and questions have been clarified. He underscores the importance to understand Chemistry concepts instead of simply regurgitating formulas. For new topics that were challenging to understand in school, he was able to break them down so that they were easier to comprehend. Even after every lesson, he would give me a few challenging questions to try which greatly enhanced my understanding for Chemistry.
All in all, I would like to thank Mr. Khoo for teaching me and helping me improve my Chemistry grades tremendously! I would recommend him to anyone who needs help in improvement in Chemistry!
O Level Chemistry Grade 2 (2017) ACS Barker
While my Chemistry grades during my secondary school years weren’t the best, having Mr Khoo as my Chemistry tutor during my 2 years of JC has definitely allowed me to gain more interest and confidence in the subject.
The small class size allowed us to have more effective discussions, and we were hence given more attention and guidance when doubts rose. In addition, I felt that the uncommon and tough questions that Mr Khoo often brought up ensured that I had grounded all my basic concepts well and it trained me to be more flexible in the application of my knowledge in not only standard A level ten year series questions, but also the A level practical examination.
Overall, my learning experience with Mr Khoo was definitely very fruitful and without his teaching, my A grade would not have been possible!
A lvls H2 Chemistry (A grade) (2017) Duman High School
Having failed almost every Chemistry exam in JC up until J2, I have lost my entire confidence in that subject. I was not used to the lecture and tutorial teaching style in JC and I needed someone to guide me step by step. Through a friend’s recommendation, I sought help from Mr. Khoo right before prelims. In merely a month of tutoring, my grades went from an E to a C.
Mr. Khoo made a great effort to reinforce important Chemistry concepts and he ensured that I understood them thoroughly instead or merely memorising them. This is so that when I face problems that were slightly out of the box, I can still apply the concepts and solve those problems. He did this by constantly raising challenging questions amid tutoring, always encouraging me to focus and use the basic principles in solving various problems. He provided sufficient guidance while also expecting me to think independently. He also laid out patterns in the syllabus content so that I had an easier time grasping the concepts. especially those in Organic Chemistry.
His teaching was succinct yet comprehensive, moving at the pace that I needed. What I also found useful was the humorous analogies he made so I could better picture the problems. This also provided a good respite from the mentally demanding 2-hour class. He also taught me a lot of knowledge that were not in the syllabus but were undoubtedly useful in aiding my understanding of the content.
With Mr. Khoo’s help, I was able to rebuild my confidence in Chemistry. My interest for the subject grew and I was no longer afraid to attempt answering difficult questions to challenge myself. Gradually, my grades improved and in just 3 months, I managed to get an A for Chemistry in the A levels. Thank you, Mr. Khoo! I couldn’t have done it without your guidance.
A lvl Chemistry, Grade A (2016) Raffles Institution
Mr Khoo definitely helped me to gain a clear understanding of chemistry concepts and to also apply it to different things. More than sparking the interest to learn more, his exam smart skills and practices gave me more confidence to approach JC Chemistry. He is patient and is willing to go the extra mile to help you understand the roots of each topic and continues to expose you to different questions so as to be well prepared. Thank you Mr Khoo, for giving me the confidence and skills to ace my H2 Chemistry!
A lvl H2 Chemistry Grade A (2016) VJC
“I joined Mr Khoo's H2 Chemistry tuition in J2 after having seen my grades suffer despite having another tuition throughout J1. Being under an experienced tuition teacher meant that Mr Khoo was highly familiar with the syllabus and trends in question styles for both school examinations and the A levels itself.
His comprehensive compilation of questions divided by topics ensured full mastery of each topic before moving into a new one. Mr Khoo's lessons are very focused and are planned out systematically to follow the flow of lessons in our own schools as well. The small tuition groups ensured he was able to answer our individual queries and follow through with our progress. From getting an S grade in CT1 of J2 to C for prelims and finally an A for A levels, it was progress I could not have made without Mr Khoo's lessons which strike a balance between going through concepts and trying out as many questions of different styles for each topic!
I would definitely recommend Mr Khoo's classes to all juniors, especially those struggling with Chemistry, to be guaranteed results (with hard work, of course!)”
A lvl H2 Chemistry (grade A) (2016) VJC
“Before I joined Focus Chemistry, I found the subject very dull and complex. I found it hard to make connections between chapters and understand the fundamental concepts behind each mechanism there was to learn.
After joining focus chemistry, it made me understand and appreciate the concepts behind H2 chemistry much better. From an E in the common test, I jumped to a B during the A levels because of Focus Chemistry. Mr Khoo’s teaching style is focused and meticulous which is what I enjoy and has helped me overcome my fear of chemistry. Things like “degree of unsaturation” are not taught in school even though it is extremely helpful in H2 chemistry. Mr Khoo will teach his students many concepts that may be out of the syllabus but makes H2 chemistry much more simpler.
I am immensely grateful to him and I would recommend Focus Chemistry to everyone who struggles with chemistry.”
A lvl H2 Chemistry (grade B) (2016) PJC
Mr Khoo is a very knowledgeable and experienced tutor in Chemistry. I improved tremendously from a U grade to B grade under his guidance. His lessons are very well structured and the extra knowledge that he imparted to me was useful and relevant in the examinations. The special and tougher questions he gave in class help me deepen my understanding of the concepts. I would highly recommend anyone to join Mr Khoo’s class, as he is able to work wonders on your grades!
A lvl H2 Chemistry grade B (2016) PJC
“He is very good at making difficult concepts easy to understand.”
As a Poly student who did not take H1 or H2 Chemistry, my foundation in this subject is weaker compared to JC students who were well-trained for 2 years. Though I was a straight A student in the Polytechnic, I faced difficulty in certain Chemistry modules in my course.
The University Bridging Programme helped me fill up this gap. Besides revising core concepts learned in the Polytechnic, Dion did so much more. He covered many concepts beyond A levels and Polytechnic and explained concepts in such a detailed manner that I have never experienced.
The teaching materials he provided were adapted from the Universities (he has notes, tutorials and examination papers from NUS, NTU and even some overseas universities!). For example, I used to think that Kinetics was simple and was able to ace in them in Polytechnic. Last Sunday, when he explained heterogeneous catalysis with adsorption and reaction combined, I was in awe! He derived, from first principles, Langmuir adsorption isotherms of bimolecular reaction and ended with the famous Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation which was totally amazing!
Through all these kinetics and thermodynamics derivation, my Calculus have improved tremendously! There is no mistake in joining his class. I would encourage my juniors to join too!
Environmental Science (2015), University Bridging Programme – NUS
“He really knows his stuff!”
Having attended only a few lessons of Mr. Khoo’s Chemistry Bridging course (before writing this testimonial), I have already learned so much more than what I learned in my Poly days. This is also despite having taken advanced Organic Chemistry back in SP.
I began to appreciate and understand more the underlying principles behind each rule such as the Zaisev’s Rule. Mr. Khoo’s detailed explanation in every single concept is beyond reasonable. He is well-versed with the Chemistry content and can deliver his lessons clearly. Occasionally, he will bring in concepts from Quantum Physics, such as the Wave Theory and Shrodinger’s Equation to explain concepts like hybridisation and molecular orbital theory.
I look forward to subsequent lessons and I am confident that it will help me cope with my studies in NUS this year.
Chemistry (2015), University Bridging Programme – NUS
“From a U grade to a B grade in less than a year!”
During my time in YJC, I have always struggled with the fundamentals and concepts of Chemistry, constantly struggling to grasp Organic and Inorganic Chemistry during lessons. My examination results usually hovered around an “E” to “U” grade.
However, being tutored by Mr. Khoo during JC2 has been extraordinary for me, as I have managed to rack up my grades to a “B” for A Levels. His lessons are usually very well-rounded. It allows students to have a holistic understanding of the entire concept, unlike in lectures where teachers are consistently constrained by time restrictions.
During lessons, Mr. Khoo has consistently strived to win the interests of his students regarding Chemistry by showing live examples of current affairs and relating it with Chemistry concepts. His lessons are usually very interesting and engaging for me, where he always caters to the student’s learning ability whenever possible. He would often provide challenging questions for me to answer, and while there are times I am stunned by the question, I have to admit that his methodology really stimulates my thinking and my understanding of various concepts.
Overall, I am really grateful for his consistent efforts to help me appreciate Chemistry as a whole. To those who are struggling with Chemistry and are considering getting some assistance, I would highly recommend Mr. Khoo’s services. His lessons are carefully managed for his students, and I am confident to say that those under his guidance are sure to achieve stellar results in no time. Thanks a lot for your guidance, Mr. Khoo!
Grade B for A lvl Chemistry (2015) Yishun JC
“He answers my questions patiently and provides clear explanations”
The lessons taught by Mr. Dion Khoo were relevant and interesting.
Not only is he knowledgeable, he also possesses a strong passion for teaching. He has been teaching for more than twenty years, thus I strongly believe that he is very experienced in understanding the teaching needs for different students and in providing these to them.
On a regular basis, he would ask students to give feedback on his lessons as he constantly strives to provide the best for his students.
Whenever I am in doubt, he answers my questions patiently and provides a clear explanation. Under Mr. Dion Khoo, I have greatly benefitted from the Bridging Programme and learned many new things in the field of Chemical Engineering. I am deeply thankful to have met an excellent teacher like him!
Chemical Engineering (2014), University Bridging Programme – Singapore Institute of Technology
I decided to join the Chemistry University Bridging Programme as I wanted to refresh myself of all the basics that I have learned previously to prepare myself adequately for University. As I come from a Polytechnic background, I was worried that I will lose out as I did not learn the same things as those who went to Junior Colleges. Through this programme, I not only got to learn the stuff that was taught in ‘A’ levels but also got a taste of what to expect from University as well.
Mr. Khoo is a very engaging teacher; he explains the difficult concepts to us in a way that is easy for us to understand. He always gives us examples of the real applications in the industry so that we can better relate to what we are learning. He is very patient and is always more than willing to answer our questions and explain the concepts several times to ensure that we truly understand what we are learning. He also links the different concepts and ideas together to show us that everything that we learn is related in one way or another.
During our lessons, we are often given many questions that will challenge us to think out of the box. This benefitted me greatly as I am able to learn to think independently and try to apply the knowledge that I have learned to solve problems.
Chemical Engineering (2014), University Bridging Programme – Singapore Institute of Technology
“His favourite phrase: If you want to memorise, don’t go to a school; go to the Bird Park, that’s where they train parrots”
It was a long holiday before University started. Most of my friends had forgotten their basics. I was glad that I made the right choice to go for Mr. Khoo’s University Chemistry Bridging Programme. The programme builds up on what I was taught and covers things that are taught in Junior College and University. The notes were useful, and the exercises were challenging. Sometimes, we were given short quizzes at the start of our lessons.
During his lessons, he often asks questions where we have to come up with solutions on the spot. His teaching style is unique! Through his teaching, I was able to see the links between different topics and how the equation from a theory is actually derived from the equation in another theory. Through the derivation, we were able to understand better. Mr. Khoo always mentioned that understanding is better than memorising. Overall, I benefitted from the programme.
Chemical Engineering (2014), University Bridging Programme – Singapore Institute of Technology
“He makes us see the link between concepts…”
When I first started attending Mr. Khoo’s Chemistry lessons, I was shocked with the level of difficulty of the Chemistry questions that were being given to us. I could not do most, if not all of them. However, after 1 month of Chemistry tuition, all the questions became do-able.
Mr. Khoo’s teaching is very unique and clear. Before going in-depth into any topic, he would start off by explaining a simple concept related to the topic which was previously learnt, and he would slowly link it to the current topic that is to be discussed. He makes us see the links between concepts and I feel that this is the most important part of his teaching that makes it stand out from others.
The homework that is given to us at the end of every lesson was also gone through in detail.
First, he would go through the concept that is necessary to the questions and then he would follow it with a step-by-step approach on tackling the question. Mr. Khoo would project his train of thoughts on the board to make us see how a certain concept taught to us in class can be used to solve different kinds of questions.
Overall, I feel that attending Mr. Khoo’s Chemistry tuition not only helped me improve my foundation in Chemistry, but it also helped me look at concepts and questions in a different perspective. This is something that I have learned only by attending his tuition.
Chemical Engineering (2013), University Bridging Programme – Singapore Institute of Technology
“Mr. Khoo is able to bridge any starting level to the required level of competence.”
I am a student who had just finished his National Service and is awaiting matriculation in NUS.
Attending this Chemistry Bridging class have been one of the best decisions I have ever made in these few months. I’m sure that most guys like me would have long forgotten Math and Science concepts since our last exposure to them was a little more than 2 years ago.
Imagine going to University immediately with no memory or recollection of topics that we studied before – certainly the perfect recipe for disaster. Mr. Khoo makes his lessons engaging and mind-provoking, with each lesson promising to fill you up with full knowledge and understanding of the chapters.
Concepts are also commonly referenced to real-world engineering problems or practical applications, to show us how whatever we are studying will be of use in the future. In short, Mr. Khoo’s class is perfect for all ages and levels of education.
What is important aren’t the theoretical aspects, but rather, the way of thinking and studying that matters the most. In addition, even after getting an A grade in A level Chemistry, I found that there are more things I can learn from Mr. Khoo in each topic. This is simply amazing! Had I gotten Mr. Khoo as my tutor during my JC days, getting an A grade would have been a breeze!
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (2013) University Bridging Programme – NUS
“Mr. Khoo is both an engaging and educational teacher, and I give him 10/10!”
Initially not having confidence in Chemistry and convinced that I would get only a 5 in the subject, meeting Mr. Khoo was a much-needed intervention.
Unable to grasp Chemistry due to the quick paced lessons and unforgiving timetables, I often obtained either a 3 or a 4 on the subjects in my major exams. Even after having put in extra time in the subject, I did not seem to be improving as much as I’d wished.
Lessons with him not only improved my contextual knowledge, it also allowed me to see links between the topics in the subject. Mr. Khoo also never shies away from unconventional questions. He seeks to answer all questions to the best of his abilities. By learning from him, I have managed to understand Chemistry in a way I did not think was possible.
Within 6 months, I was confident about Chemistry and aimed for a 6 in my IB diploma. In the end, I obtained a 7. I have no regrets whatsoever receiving lessons from Mr. Khoo who is both an engaging and educational teacher. 10/10 would learn again.
IB HL Chemistry, Grade 7, (2013) Anglo Chinese School Independent
“My grades improved tremendously from just scraping through to pass to getting really good grades in tests.”
Mr. Khoo’s Chemistry classes taught me a lot of things that I haven’t learned from my own school. He taught us concepts that allow us to understand the subject clearer.
After every lesson, he also gives different challenging questions for us to try out and going through them has really helped me to strengthen my knowledge in the subject. After joining his class, my grades improved tremendously from just scraping through to pass to getting really good grades in tests.
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2013) Catholic JC
“I would definitely rate Mr. Khoo’s dedicated teaching a 10/10!”
Mr. Khoo’s teaching not only ensured that our Chemistry fundamentals were strong, it also stretched our thinking skills for higher order questions. He is also very resourceful in terms of providing difficult questions and has been able to solve questions upon request (even over the phone).
Furthermore, not only is he able to cross link chapters within Chemistry itself, but also link it with other subjects like Biology, Physics and even Mathematics. His in-depth teaching allowed me to score an A in Chemistry. I strongly urge students to start on his tuition early as it is very beneficial to have the fundamentals locked in strongly.
I would definitely rate Mr. Khoo’s dedicated teaching a 10/10!
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2013) Pioneer JC
“Improved from C grade to A grade!”
Dion’s Chemistry tuition is clear and easy to understand, allowing me to improve my grades significantly.
Furthermore, his broad understanding and knowledge on both the facts and applications of Chemistry made me grow a deeper interest on the subject. His teaching methods are engaging, refreshing and interesting, coupled with effective Chemistry techniques which one can easily apply in his/her daily work.
Thanks to his guidance and patience, I managed to improve my grades significantly over a short period of time and achieved a distinction for my H2 Chemistry in the A levels.
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2012) Anglo Chinese JC
“Improved from an E grade to A grade!”
Mr. Dion has been an exceptional tutor during my J2 years, helping me improve from an E grade to an A in the final A levels and prelims!
Most importantly, he emphasises on allowing students to understand Chemistry, and not just memorise formulas symbol for symbol.
I started appreciating Chemistry more since being under Dion’s engaging tutelage and my final A grade only testifies to that.
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2008) Hwa Chong Institution
“Dion’s teaching was instrumental in pulling my F in Chemistry all the way to an A for the ‘A’ level.”
His method of explaining was concise and clear, allowing me to remember the key points of the subject extremely well. By explaining the concepts behind what we were learning, he taught me how to see the bigger picture and how things are all related.
This led me to having a better understanding of certain ideas and not just blindly memorising content. He often encouraged me to think outside of the box and forced me to think of a solution to a problem on my own.
So, I thank him very much for his help in furthering my education and brightening my future.
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2007) Anglo Chinese JC
“It was no mistake joining this class.”
Joining this class have allowed my grades in Chemistry to improve from a borderline pass in year 1 to finally an A in the ‘A’ level examination.
Dion drills us students in each topic and breaks it down to a few simple parts, making it easier to understand. He also teaches us to answer the question, thereby giving more accurate responses in the exams.
Throughout the course of lessons, he gave evaluative comments on the work we submitted, and these criticisms helped me improve consistently. Besides this, his drills on speed work allowed me to complete my papers with enough time to spare for looking over the paper.
Overall, Dion really helped me with my revisions in Chemistry and it was no mistake joining this class.
A lvl Chemistry Grade A (2006) National JC