Times Edu Teacher
Mr Vu
Trung Hieu
Biology & Science · IGCSE, A Level, IBDP and AP
Formally trained in Biology Education in English, Mr Vu Trung Hieu teaches all four systems: IGCSE, A Level, IBDP and AP. He shows students how to explain mechanisms, use the right terms and handle practical questions to each system’s mark scheme.
Programmes taught
TIMES EDU
Mr Vu Trung Hieu
No portrait yet
Hanoi National University of Education
Biology Education in English
1:1 tutor for IGCSE and A Level since 2018
IGCSE, A Level, IBDP and AP
Bilingual teaching to exam standard
Faculty teaching contest, 2020–2021
VSTEP certificate, 2021
01 · Why Mr Hieu
Know it all,
still losing marks?
International Biology marks are lost when students know the content but don’t write it to standard.
‘Explain’ lacks the mechanism
‘Explain’ answers describe what happens, not the mechanism.
Nearly-right terms
Terms that are nearly right but not the words the mark scheme requires.
Control variables not stated
Practical answers fail to name the control variables.
Right subject · Each system’s standard
Mr Vu Trung Hieu is formally trained in Biology Education in English and teaches all four systems, IGCSE, A Level, IBDP and AP, so he follows each mark scheme closely.
02 · Key experience
Teaching Biology in English
One-to-one tutor since 2018, with experience teaching Biology, Checkpoint Science and IGCSE at Hanoi Adelaide School and Vinschool.
Four systems
Biology and Science
IGCSE Science, AS and A Level Biology, IB Biology and AP Biology.
2018 – present
One-to-one tutor
Exam preparation and science support for IGCSE and A Level students.
2021 – 2023
Hanoi Adelaide School
Biology and Checkpoint Science teacher
Taught national-curriculum Biology at upper secondary and Checkpoint Science at lower secondary; form tutor of dual-diploma class 10S1.
2021
Vinschool Education System
Cambridge Science teaching placement
Taught Checkpoint and IGCSE, guiding students along personal plans.
Formal training
Biology Education in English
Formally trained to teach Biology in English: teaching in English is his specialism, not an add-on.
Academic year 2020 – 2021
Second Prize, faculty teaching contest
An award in the faculty teaching contest, academic year 2020 to 2021.
03 · Teaching approach
Six principles in his lessons
Lesson format
One-to-one, bilingual lessons: core ideas explained in Vietnamese when needed, practice and answers in English to exam standard.
Explain the mechanism, don’t retell what happens.
If asked why an enzyme loses activity at high temperature, the answer must cover tertiary structure and the active site, not just say the enzyme stops working.
Use the exact terms the mark scheme requires.
Biology is marked strictly on wording. Nearly the right meaning with the wrong term still scores nothing. Students build a set of standard terms topic by topic.
Link concepts; don’t memorise in isolation.
Mind maps, flashcards and memory techniques connect topics, because exam questions often sit where two topics meet.
Learning through practicals and simulations.
Experiments, practical work and biology simulations build real understanding, not just memorised words. Practicals are always examined too: independent, dependent and control variables, and sources of error.
For students who struggle to focus: Active Learning.
Open questions and thinking tasks replace long lectures. Students respond constantly, so there is no room to drift off.
Analyse papers before practice.
Students learn to spot command words and the answer structure each system expects: Cambridge, IB and AP use three different sets of criteria.
04 · Qualifications
Biology Education in English
Trained at Hanoi National University of Education, with an exchange in Busan and a Natural Sciences teacher-training certificate.
Bachelor’s · 2016 – 2021
Biology Education in English
Hanoi National University of Education
Biology in English
Exchange · 2019 – 2020
Exchange study in Busan
Busan University of Foreign Studies (South Korea)
International study experience
Professional certificate
- Natural Sciences teacher training
2022
Language certificate
- VSTEP B2
2021
Teaching award
- Second Prize, faculty teaching contest
Academic year 2020 – 2021
- Taking IGCSE Biology or Coordinated Sciences and needing solid foundations.
- Taking AS or A Level Biology and aiming to push up to A and A*.
- Taking IB Biology, at SL or HL.
- Taking AP Biology; needs to follow scoring guidelines.
- In Cambridge lower secondary, preparing for Checkpoint Science.
- Knows the theory but loses marks on extended answers.
- Finds it hard to focus in traditional lessons and needs more interactive learning.
- Has just switched from the Vietnamese system and needs Biology vocabulary in English.
06 · Beyond the classroom
From Busan to volunteer teaching
Explaining a concept in many different ways until the learner understands.
Mr Hieu spent a year at Busan University of Foreign Studies and joined an international volunteer programme teaching English to Thai children aged 6 to 11.
Teaching young learners in another country, in a language that was neither side’s mother tongue, gave him patience and the ability to explain a concept in many different ways until the learner understands.
Book a lesson
One-to-one with Mr Hieu
Contact Times Edu to schedule lessons with Mr Hieu around the student’s curriculum and goals.
