Frequently Asked Questions

A simple 'at-a-glance' list of questions that hopefully answers some of the queries you might have. Regardless, please do reach out to our Front Desk if you'd like any information about our classes, curriculum, and our centre.

01.Registration

Please reach out to us via WhatsApp, so that we can advise you on which level would be most suitable, and recommend available time slots. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to fill in our registration form first, the Front Desk will reach out to you via your preferred contact channel during office hours. 

Our equivalent of trial classes is our 3 lesson package, available for new students. We believe this approach allows parents and students to better evaluate our teaching methods and environment. A single trial lesson may not provide enough insight or meaningful professional feedback from our teachers. With three lessons, you can get a more comprehensive experience, allowing for a more accurate assessment of our program’s suitability and the quality of learning we provide.

Currently, we don’t offer standalone 1-1 tutoring. However, current students who want extra help with specific academic areas, or special preparations for competitions, application writing, or admission interviews may request for additional consultation sessions. These one-on-one sessions are chargeable at a per-hour rate, and offer focused, personalised support and are available for students seeking targeted guidance beyond our regular classes.

Yes, we do offer online classes through our learning management system, Cogito. Additionally, while most classes are held in person by default, students who can't attend onsite may request (preferably with a few hours notice) to join the lesson virtually. Recorded lessons are also generally available for students who are unable to find a suitable replacement lesson slot. If you’re interested in enrolling in an online class, please contact our Front Desk for more details and arrangements.

Yes, we can create a new class slot with a minimum of three students. This would, of course, be contingent on teacher and classroom availability. If you're interested in arranging a new class, please reach out to the Front Desk for further details and to discuss options!

Unfortunately, class slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, you can request to be added to the waiting list. If you’re looking for a specific time, we may be able to open a new class slot if enough students join the waitlist. If you prefer a particular teacher, please note that availability is unlikely to open up until the end of the term, and even then, it’s not guaranteed.

If you’re unsure which level to register for, we recommend checking out our curriculum page, where we list the suggested levels for different ages and streams. If the information seems confusing or if you have specific questions, feel free to reach out to us via WhatsApp. Our Front Desk team will be happy to advise you and help find the best fit for your needs!

If you can’t make it to a lesson, let us know as soon as possible, and we'll arrange for a replacement lesson in another time slot. We offer a variety of options for make-up classes, including online alternatives. In the event that attending a replacement session isn’t feasible, we can provide a recorded lesson for you to review at your convenience.

02.Classes

Over the years, we have found that for certain levels, student needs are fairly aligned, and consistent practice with a high-quality curriculum is more important than separating the levels. For the junior students, they tend to gain mastery more rapidly as they're exposed to the thought processes of the senior students; meanwhile, for the senior students the mastery they gained as junior students is enhanced through the practice of what has now become a familiar concept. 

 

This is, of course, not applicable to all levels - and when we find that student needs are diverging due to shifts in pedagogy and syllabi, we create new levels to ensure a fit between what we teach and what our students need. 

For our Associate and Specialist tier classes, we cap class sizes at 8 students per class. Head tier classes may go up to 10 students, whilst Director tier classes cap at 14 students per class. These caps are for general term classes, and do not apply to holiday programmes, lectures, and cohort classes. 

Cohort classes are an additional session during the June holidays that we feature as part of our standard curriculum. These classes allow our students more time to cover additional material and deepen their understanding of key skills. For each level, we offer a number of slots across the June holidays. These classes are charged at the Associate tier. 

We have a fairly robust replacement lesson policy. Message our Front Desk, and simply schedule a replacement lesson in another class within the same lesson week. Online options are also available for replacement lessons. In the worst case, a lesson recording can be provided if no suitable replacement slots are available. 

The lesson week for 2025 is from Wednesday to Tuesday the following week. This means that classes in all levels are on the same lesson and worksheet from Wednesday to Tuesday. 

Generally, if the public holiday falls on a weekday, Academia will be closed on that day. If the public holiday falls on a weekend, Academia will be closed on the Monday after. If your classes are affected by Academia's closure, the Front Desk will reach out to arrange for a replacement lesson. You may also reach out to arrange for a replacement lesson if you would like to be assured of your schedule in advance. A full list of Academia's school closures can be found under our term calendar tab on our schedules page.

Absolutely! You can find a schedule of our holiday programmes under the Holiday Programme tab on our schedules page

Not much. We usually don't have lessons or holiday programmes during term break. Teachers generally use the time to take a break and get ready for the upcoming term. We may still offer certain programmes that don't require our teaching staff, such as mock examinations. 

03.Curriculum

What makes Academia's curriculum unique is our commitment to constant refinement and innovation, using our high-quality in-house materials, tried-and-tested over the years. This curriculum is updated weekly, based on in-class feedback and current student needs. We view curriculum as our core technology, driven by a highly skilled development team dedicated to making learning accessible and effective. Our guiding principle is that a well-crafted curriculum should simplify the learning process and make even the toughest parts of the syllabus manageable for all students.

We cover all examinable components, aligning with the MOE and international syllabuses to ensure our students excel in exams. Beyond the school requirements, our curriculum incorporates the signature Singaporean Liberal Arts Programme, offering exposure to global topics and diverse perspectives. Lessons are writing-intensive, designed not only for exam success but also for holistic language development. For specific details on our programs, please visit our curriculum pages or contact our Front Desk for personalised guidance.

Yes, students who need more foundational practice or those who are more advanced sometimes enroll in levels different from our website's recommendations. We suggest trying a few lessons at both levels before making a final decision. If you're interested in exploring this option, please reach out to the Front Desk for further assistance.

All our primary classes follow the Global Gifted Programme, which integrates the Singapore gifted syllabus with enhanced literary exposure for intellectual rigor. This approach ensures that both Gifted and Mainstream students benefit from the curriculum, which promotes the development of advanced language skills. The combined learning environment helps all students build critical skills that provide significant advantages in their eventual PSLE examinations, as they engage in challenging content and diverse perspectives.

Yes, we do offer classes tailored for IB and IGCSE students, though they may not be explicitly listed on our schedule. Some classes naturally become IB or IGCSE-focused based on the composition of the students enrolled. Please reach out to our Front Desk for more information.

To some extent, yes. We're happy to review schoolwork, especially graded tests and exam papers, as this helps us understand our students' strengths and weaknesses better. However, we hesitate to mark external assignments, especially assessment books, as some materials may be unclear and badly-designed, requiring significant time and resources to evaluate. If you still wish to have external work marked, we offer this service for a nominal fee of $30 before GST per piece. This fee includes the extra effort and time involved in assessing unfamiliar material – and we take marking very seriously, with detailed comments and in-depth reviews.

Although our classes are skills-based and do not focus on specific literature texts, our teachers can certainly provide guidance on the text you’ve been assigned. Over the years, we’ve built a substantial database of materials covering various texts, so don’t hesitate to bring up questions with your teachers. If you need more in-depth assistance with your school text, you can also book a 1-1 consultation to focus specifically on it.

Our term classes cover all examinable components of their respective syllabuses, ensuring students are well-prepared for exams. Still, if you’d like more focus on a specific component, let your teacher know—they can provide extra practice materials tailored to your needs. For more in-depth assistance with a particular skill, you can also book a 1-1 consultation to receive targeted help on that component.

04.Fees

Apart from a one-time registration fee for new students, our term class fees cover everything. Additional fees only apply if you request extra services, such as 1-1 consultations, or the marking of external materials.

Yes, you can register for the 3-class package even if it's midway through the term. This package is meant to allow new students to try out our classes at any point during the term. Our lessons are structured to be self-contained, ensuring that students can join mid-term without feeling lost or confused.

In most cases, yes, you can try the 3-class package now and then enroll for the next term. The exception is if the class slot is fully subscribed or has a long waiting list. Please reach out to the Front Desk to check availability and secure your spot.

At the moment, we don’t have a formal referral program in place, though it’s something we're considering as many other centers offer it. We recommend checking with the Front Desk for any updates or special promotions that might be available - it never hurts to ask! 

Prorating term fees is challenging for several reasons. It disrupts the curriculum’s structure and continuity, fragmenting the student experience. Our fees are also based around full-term enrollment - and we can't release a slot for 1 or 2 lessons any more than a theater can sell a ticket for the last 10 minutes of a movie. Nevertheless, to accommodate students who travel, we offer a flexi-term option for Term 2 (Summer Holidays) and Term 4 (Winter Holidays). Under this arrangement, students attend some classes in-person but still receive materials and recorded lessons for the missed sessions, with in-person classes charged at a higher rate. Please contact the Front Desk for more details.

Fees are due before the first class of each term. If payment is late, an additional $50 late fee will apply. If fees remain overdue beyond a certain point, services will be suspended. Even if services are cut off, payment will still be required for any lessons that have already taken place. Please ensure timely payment to avoid disruptions to your classes.

Registration for next year's classes is on a first-come, first-served basis, and payment helps us confirm a commitment to the timeslot. Verbal confirmations can be unreliable, as they may not always be honored, potentially causing last-minute disruptions for our scheduling, and for other students. Early payment allows us to plan the schedule effectively for all enrolled students, ensuring a smooth start to the academic year.

05.Teachers

Academia’s teachers stand out because we start by hiring quality individuals who embody the energy, passion, and dedication needed to inspire future leaders. We envision the students they’ll need guide — students who will go on to attend top universities, excel in a myriad of complex fields, and do amazing things — and ask ourselves: can we trust this teacher to guide such students and help them achieve their potential? It’s not just about paper qualifications. It's the ability to connect with students and foster a positive classroom environment, and the commitment to teaching as a lifelong career. We then invest in rigorous training and mentorship to ensure they're fully prepared to inspire and elevate their students.

You’re welcome to ask, but please note that the Front Desk might not have all the details you’re looking for, or may be limited in what they can share due to privacy considerations. However, we're more than happy to arrange a call or meeting with the teacher, allowing you to ask any questions directly and get to know them better.

Regular parent-teacher meetings are not scheduled, but updates on your child's progress can be provided upon request. If you’d like to speak directly with the teacher, we're more than happy to schedule a meeting. Our teachers actively monitor students and will raise any concerns that arise during the learning process. If no issues are flagged, you can be confident that your child is progressing well.

The pricing tiers generally reflect the teacher's seniority and experience at Academia. Teachers in higher tiers have consistently demonstrated strong student outcomes and have earned the trust of students and parents. Despite the different tiers, the curriculum and teaching methods remain consistent across all classes. Clients who opt for senior teachers prioritise their years of experience and areas of specialisation. Our senior teachers also value the stable teaching environment that the company provides them with. Our teaching associates are younger and more energetic, bringing plenty of engagement and passion to the table. They relate to their students in a much more youthful manner. Despite the different tiers, the curriculum and teaching methods remain consistent across all classes. All of our teachers are selected for their competence, passion for education, and intellect. They go through the same structured weekly meetings and in-house discussion groups to align their lesson plans with the curriculum developed by Academia. Regardless of their experience prior to joining the firm, associates undergo extensive training in the Academia teaching style before leading their own classes, and many have interned with us before joining full-time. 

Directors are the most senior educators at Academia, and their classes are limited and fill up quickly. They often work with long-term students who appreciate their unique teaching style, building strong relationships based on mutual trust. Due to the high demand and personalised nature of Directors' classes, there are some restrictions. Each year, existing students are given priority to re-enroll before new slots are offered, and 3-class packages are not available for Directors' classes.

If your teacher falls sick on the day of your lesson, we will usually arrange for a cover teacher to take the class. If a cover teacher is not available, the Front Desk will contact you to make arrangements for a replacement lesson to ensure there is minimal disruption to your learning schedule.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that your teacher will teach 100% of your classes, as they may occasionally be unavailable due to illness, emergencies, or obligations like National Service. However, we do ensure that at least 9 out of 12 classes each term will be taught by your teacher or an instructor of the same tier. If this minimum is not met, for any classes below the minimum you will receive a credit for the difference in fees between your tier and the associate tier.

Co-teachers may be assigned to classes led by senior teachers to assist with class management and provide extra help to students who need individual support. These co-teachers have strong English backgrounds and are versed in our curriculum. Co-teachers may also lead certain parts of the lesson, allowing senior teachers to move around, check on students, evaluate their progress, and make necessary adjustments. This dynamic ensures that students receive both focused instruction and personalised guidance throughout the lesson.

06.Communication

Our Front Desk primarily communicates with parents and students via WhatsApp, and during office hours, responses are usually quick. Announcements are sent out through SMS to keep you informed of important updates, while invoices and other formal communications are delivered via email. 

Just bring your stationery, and maybe a jacket if you tend to get cold. Worksheets will be provided in class each week. If you need a little extra energy, feel free to grab a snack or drink from the fridge to help keep you focused during the lesson.

If you have questions, please direct them to our Front Desk. Academic queries will be forwarded to a level channel, where you’ll receive a balanced answer verified by multiple perspectives. This approach also helps us ensure that teachers don’t get overwhelmed with individual messages and can maintain a healthy work-life balance. We aim to provide comprehensive support while allowing our educators to focus on teaching and student well-being.

Consistent practice over time is crucial for improvement. Still, if you feel you're not progressing quickly enough, reach out to the Front Desk via WhatsApp to arrange a short review session with your teacher, or mention your concerns directly during class. Your teacher can assess your needs and provide additional practice materials tailored to specific areas where you may need extra support. 

At present, our Front Desk team is physically available only at our Upper Thomson locations: #01-15 Sin Ming Plaza and #B1-30 Thomson V Two. The Front Desk staff there will be able to assist you with any support requests, even if they concern other locations. For inquiries or assistance, please reach out during office hours, and they’ll be happy to help.

Please send your compliment or complaint to our Front Desk via WhatsApp. Our Front Desk team operates separately from the teaching staff and has processes in place to handle and forward such feedback appropriately, and where necessary, with utmost confidentiality. They will ensure that your message is handled and addressed effectively. 

While we appreciate the kind gestures, we do have some guidelines regarding gifts. Small, thoughtful tokens such as written notes and cards, and modest gifts are always welcome. However, we advise against giving expensive items, cash, or vouchers, as these may be seen by others as inappropriate. We do require that our teachers declare any gifts received. 

The end-of-term survey is a new initiative to gather feedback from students about their class experiences, including the topics and components they'd like more focus on. The survey link will be sent via SMS, and while participation is optional, your responses will help us improve the overall student learning experience. 

07.Transfer / Withdrawal / Suspension

Yes, a mid-term transfer to another class is possible as long as there is space available. If the new class is taught by a different tier of teacher, you may need to pay an additional fee to cover the difference in rates for the remaining classes in the term. Please reach out to the Front Desk to check availability and make the necessary arrangements.

Though rare, if a teacher leaves mid-term, another teacher will usually take over the class. In this situation, you'll have the option to transfer to a different class slot or withdraw with a refund for the remaining classes. If you stay in the current class, and the replacement teacher is from a lower tier, you will receive a credit for the difference in fees. If the new teacher is of a higher tier, no additional payment will be required for the rest of the term.

For graduating exam levels, term classes conclude once the major exams (PSLE, O-Levels, A-Levels, IB) are completed, as indicated on our term calendar. Following this, we offer optional exploratory and preparatory programmes for students advancing to Secondary 1 or JC 1, providing a head start on their next academic journey. These classes help ease the transition and prepare students for the challenges ahead.

Please notify us before the term ends if you wish to withdraw from classes, and we will process the request accordingly. Do note that our policies do not permit mid-term withdrawals. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our Front Desk.

We have a few processes in place for withdrawals, which is why the Front Desk has asked to schedule a call. They’ll check if there’s anything we can do to help, and as part of the process, we also arrange for the teacher to conduct a final review for the student. Additionally, we aim to gather feedback during withdrawals to understand if there’s anything we could have done better. The call is optional - please rest assured your withdrawal request will be processed regardless.

Your registration fee remains valid even after you withdraw from classes, and you are welcome to return at any time in the future. If you choose to re-enroll with us, you won’t need to pay the registration fee again.

If something serious has happened and you need to withdraw or suspend classes midterm, please contact our Front Desk and let us know the situation. Although our general policies preclude mid-term withdrawals, we understand that unexpected circumstances can arise, and we’ll do our best to find a suitable solution.

Yes, there are circumstances in which we may need to suspend or terminate a student’s participation in classes. This can occur if necessary to protect the health and safety of staff and students, such as in cases of contagious illness (e.g., hand, foot, and mouth disease). Additionally, suspension may be required if a student or parent exhibits inappropriate behavior, including intimidation, harassment, use of profane language, or other conduct that significantly disrupts the learning environment.

08.Other Notes

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Yes, we're more than happy to work with students on projects that build their portfolios.  Please reach out to the Front Desk. They will forward your message to the relevant team!

Absolutely - your teacher can help to review your application essay and provide feedback. Generally, this is not too onerous - however if you require significant and in-depth assistance, you can book a 1-1 consultation session. Our Front Desk will be more than happy to assist. 

We are working out a tiered scholarship programme for students who qualify for financial assistance. Stay tuned! 

Not to worry - classes will continue with the necessary safeguards, and will be moved online if required. 

Yes - but we will de-identify it by removing your name from the review, unless you have provided express consent otherwise. 

No, we won't. We will always ask for your permission before using any photos of you.