Student Success Stories: Real Results from Online Math Tutoring - 2018 and 2019
- Vasudha Uddavan
- Apr 19, 2019
- 5 min read
Looking back at 2018 and 2019, I'm proud of how much my students accomplished. Some skipped entire math courses through challenge exams, others moved into Honors programs, and many discovered confidence in mathematics for the first time. These student success stories remind me why I love tutoring.
I loved working with them, and many of them continued to thrive in the years that followed.
My students loved the classes and look forward to them. I am grateful and lucky to get a wonderful bunch of kids to tutor, coach and befriend. Here are some of the success stories of my students for 2018.
Student Success Stories of 2018
1. R skipped a year of Math by taking the challenge exam for Algebra 1. She was asked to take 2 more exams apart from her regular state test and her school exam, and came out in flying colours. The effort she put into ace those exams is highly commendable. She hated math and had trouble even with basic fractions when she started the year! At the end of the school year, she was teaching her friends. Way to go, R.
2. Vishnu took the challenge exam in his school to skip Geometry. He's now in 9th grade, doing Algebra 2 after clearing the Geometry challenge exam. Given that we honed his problem-solving skills in the previous year, this was not that difficult. The challenge was to stay motivated and work with Geometry throughout the year.
3. On a MOEMS test in W Elementary school, there were only 3 kids who had non-zero scores. All 3 of them were my students. We used to work on math competitions for 15-60 minutes per week, and that was enough for them to get well above their peers. You can see how much of a difference practicing math an hour a week can make!
4. L moved from 5th position in his school to 2nd position in the MOEMS competition. He scored either a 4 or a 5 out of 5 in all five of his MOEMS tests.
5. Krithika did well as usual and got placed in Honours Math in her school. She is no longer my student as she does not need my help anymore :) She can work independently.
6. When Devu started math classes with me, she had trouble with basic word problems. She needed help to figure out if she needed to multiply or divide. Within 4 months, she started working on competitions and now wants to move to the Honours math program in her school!
7. Going from B+ to A or A+ and being recommended for skipping Pre-Algebra in one month! Harshita started this school year in regular math. Her first test score was a B+. She started with me in October, and since then, she's maintained her grades as an A or A+. Within a month, her teacher suggested that she take an exam in the year-end to skip Pre-Algebra. This was done with one hour of tutoring per week.
8. When Aadhav, a second grader, started math classes with me, he had trouble with basic word problems and wasn't interested in math. He had trouble identifying what operations to perform to get the solution. Now he's learnt the proper techniques to handle the word problems.
His arithmetic skills have improved, and now he loves doing mental math. He wants more puzzles to do! He loves Sudokus and can solve a 5x5 Sudoku puzzle on his own.
9. Padma was a bright kid, but was denied Honours math in her school. She was great at solving routine problems but had trouble with problems that were challenging (and her school had a lot of those). We worked on her problem-solving skills throughout last year, after which she took a challenge exam and moved to Honours Algebra II. This year, she is in High Honours Pre-Calc. She loves it and, even with her hectic schedule, would not consider going to a lower level!
Student Success Stories of 2019
I was going to write this as a separate blog post, but it's more than halfway through 2020, and I still haven't gotten to it. From the latter half of 2019 till now has been the busiest period of my tutoring.
Some of my success stories:
Harshita skipped Pre-Algebra :) Her teacher suggested that she try it in October and gave her the syllabus in December. We started working in January for 2 hours a week for 4 months, and that was enough for her to pass the exam!
Vrishak skipped Algebra 1 by giving a challenge exam, too. He's now doing well in Geometry as well.
Aarav, an Australian student, got a distinction in AMC (Australian Mathematics Competition), which places him in the top 10% in the country or his state.
Viku and Devu got placed in advanced math in private schools. They both also wrote the ISEE without preparation and did really well. Preparing for math competitions really helps in these impromptu exams! When Devu started a year ago, she had trouble even telling time. She has come so far ahead now.
R moved up to advanced math level 2 this year. Last year, as you might have read above, she skipped Algebra 1 by giving a challenge exam.
Yasmin was homeschooling, and her math sessions with her dad always used to end in tears. Within a couple of months, she got confident, and she was able to do it by herself.
Update (2026): Years later, Yasmin's father shared this testimonial:
We met Ms. V. in 2019 when we moved abroad. Our oldest daughter was in 8th grade at the time, and we knew that math was a challenge for her. After three months of tutoring with Ms. V. we saw a significant difference. Our daughter’s love for math increased because her confidence increased. Now that same daughter is attending university. We reached out to Ms. V. again because our daughter was nervous about college classes. Once again, Ms. V worked her magic and our daughter did very well in her college math class. We are so grateful for Ms. V. She is always there to assist and provide advice for us.
Many of these students had gaps in their learning that were holding them back. Some had been told that math was "not their thing." Once those gaps were addressed and their confidence grew, they began to see themselves very differently.
While every student's journey is different, a common theme runs through these stories: confidence grows when students learn how to think rather than simply memorize procedures. Whether the goal is school math, honors placement, competition math, or overcoming math anxiety, the right support can make a remarkable difference.
During my years of tutoring students in the United States, I've occasionally met girls who had absorbed the message that math wasn't really for them. That always surprised me. In my experience, there is no evidence that girls are any less capable in mathematics than boys. Some of my strongest math students have been girls.
The beliefs children develop about themselves matter. When we tell girls that they are capable mathematicians, they are far more likely to approach challenges with confidence and persistence.
About Me
Hi, I’m Vasudha—though many of my students lovingly call me “Sudha Aunty.”
I’m an online math tutor passionate about helping students build confidence, strong problem-solving skills, and a genuine love for mathematics.
I work with students in grades 3–9, supporting both school math and competition math, including MOEMS, APSMO, AMC 8, MathCounts, Beast Academy, and AoPS.
My teaching philosophy is simple:
I don’t just teach students how to solve a problem—I teach them how to think.
As one parent shared: “She encourages creative problem-solving rather than rote practice.”
Another wrote: “She doesn’t just teach math—she teaches children how to think.”
And perhaps my favourite: “Math is fun, and I can handle it.”
That mindset shift is what I care about most.
If your child is ready to move beyond memorisation and become a more confident mathematical thinker, I’d love to help.
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