"I joined lessons with Dr Coomber quite late compared to other students in the tuition, joining only at the beginning of J2. I started with an S grade, struggling to grasp the concepts of the entire subject. I found it difficult to grapple with the basics and foundations of writing essays and answering techniques of short answer questions. In school, I would often just complete work and tests and end up failing without even know why I did so badly, and how to do better. After I started lessons, Dr Coomber quickly gave me very directed and specific advice as to how to improve my writing skills and what to do to work on them. Slowly I began to understand the reasons behind the marks I was receiving, and with the support and help of Dr Coomber, I began seeing gradual improvements in my grades.

Not only did I improve academically, I also grew to like the subject, one that I used to shun. I would gradually flip the Straits Times App to read the news, and also learnt to like reading and absorbing the current affairs from the notes given during lesson. This helped the learning process a lot. Dr Coomber was amazingly patient with us throughout the entire journey, and extremely humorous as well, making lessons fun and exciting. I never thought I would see such great improvement in a language subject in just 1 year, and would also never have imagined myself to enjoy it this much."

"Dr. Coomber is one of the best GP teachers I’ve learnt under. Over the course of his tuition, I found myself reading and writing about topics I never thought I would be interested in. My GP grades improved drastically after just a few lessons, as Dr Coomber provided me with targetted feedback for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Dr Coomber is unlike most other GP teachers - he goes the extra mile to help you develop your own perspective on contentious issues around the world today. By the end of his lessons, I found myself growing into a more well-informed global citizen. Not only is he a great educator, he has an excellent sense of humour as well. Thus, I never failed to look forward to his lessons even when GP wasn’t a subject I particularly enjoyed."

The A-Level General Paper curriculum increasingly places an emphasis on critical thinking - being able to critically analyse question, be it an essay or a comprehension question and answering based on the needs of the question. Dr Coomber is an adaptable and understanding teacher who makes it a point to assess every student that he has and to adapt his teaching style to meet the needs of the student. In doing so, Dr Coomber helps every student achieve their potential based on their current skillset while also expanding their skillset such that they are prepared to tackle and answer any question. Dr Coomber has been a wonderful mentor and any student will be lucky to be under his guidance.

Throughout my 2 years of GP lessons with Dr Coomber, he has always been patient and detailed in offering personal feedback and input. Be it explaining writing and answering techniques or equipping students with the content knowledge, Dr Coomber has always strived to help his students achieve both. He is always willing to go the extra mile to help students clarify misunderstandings or share ideas and ensures that each and every student comprehends and internalize each concept and idea. His attention to detail and updated, comprehensive essay notes and examples have truly made GP a much more enjoyable subject as it exposes me to endless possible essay topics and broaden my general knowledge, even allowing me to make sense of real world events and phenomenon. Through this, essay writing has not only become easier, but also much more intriguing as I explore countless perspectives and events, eventually choosing a few topics of interest to focus on. Furthermore, Dr Coomber greatly encourages in class participation, which is thought provoking and makes the subject much more interesting and encourages active, on the spot thinking, which has boosted my confidence and helped me with exam-style critical thinking as well. With his guidance, my GP has improved but more importantly, I have gained an interest in keeping myself updated with current affairs, which I believe is extremely meaningful, even beyond the academic curriculum.

Despite the brevity of my time with Dr Coomber, his nuanced and challenging lessons have proved to an invaluable resource in my preparation for the General Paper. His meticulousness in taking note of each of his students difficulties thoroughly impressed me and it was through this he was able to deepen our understanding of social issues and prompt us to be both sensitive and discerning. The essay packs that he crafted were not only easy to understand but also incredibly detailed which is testament to his in-depth knowledge of current affairs. His classes will most definitely be a great asset to all General Paper students, couldn’t have done it without you Dr Coomber!

Dr Coomber has been instrumental to my growth as a thinker and a learner. From the time I joined Academia in Secondary 3 to the day I sat for my A level GP paper, his tips and guidance have stuck with me. His patience and willingness to entertain seemingly silly ideas (that other teachers may have simply shut down) have made me feel seen, not just as a student but also as an individual with a unique perspective — because of this, I’ve felt empowered to further explore my intellectual interests and ask questions without fear of embarrassment. In terms of examination preparation, the guidelines and frameworks he provides simplify exam components, making them feel less mountainous and more doable — this, in turn, has bolstered my confidence and improved my performance tremendously. Overall, Dr Coomber has definitely played a major role in helping me develop crucial competencies, such as critical thinking and making cogent arguments  — these takeaways will follow and benefit me for the rest of my life.

I can say without a shadow of doubt that Dr Coomber is by far the best teacher I’ve ever had the privilege of learning from. He is extremely good at his job— his detailed essay packs and structured lessons speak for themselves, as do the nuanced and highly specific skill sets he teaches his students. Constantly aware of all his students’ strengths and weaknesses, he knows exactly how to help each and every one of them improve, as well as how to help them gain confidence in their own abilities. The resources he provides are incredibly useful, and the wide range of topics discussed in class allows students to explore areas that they would typically avoid, providing them with the broad worldview essential to excel at GP. Personally, Dr Coomber’s lessons were something I always looked forward to, for I always left feeling like I’d learnt something valuable, and improved as a student in one way or another— be it exploring a topic I was previously unfamiliar with, or gaining insight about something I knew well. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to learn from such a talented teacher, and for the fact that he sparked a genuine interest and love for the subject in me. I believe that learning with Dr Coomber is not simply something that keeps you well-equipped to tackle the GP A-levels, but also something that provides you awareness, skills and sensitivity of thought that will last you the rest of your life.

Dr Coomber is a patient, dedicated and extremely experienced teacher. His wealth of knowledge is remarkable and he is able to break down difficult concepts for me to understand and he has helped me to master the format of GP papers, as well as increased the breadth of my general knowledge and piqued a genuine interest in the subject of GP and the current affairs of the world. Not only did I gain valuable skills of writing through Dr Coomber's lessons, I also was able to change my perspective of the world and hone soft skills of communication and critical thinking. I enjoyed every single one of Dr Coomber's lessons and none of them were ever a bore, and truly looked forward to each of his classes. Thank you, Dr Coomber, for helping me to improve my GP grades from Cs and Ds to As, for teaching me patiently and caring about me as a person and going the extra mile to make summary notes and revision packages for us, which were very useful. I really appreciate you! Would highly recommend Dr Coomber to any student struggling with GP/English.