Our Success Stories
Lucinda - Loreto Kirribilli
Lucinda came to us in a moment of stress: after completing her Year 12 trials, she was sitting on a 70 in English Advanced, not close enough to secure her dream of pursuing Law at UNSW. Despite being bright and hardworking, Lucinda’s writing wasn’t where it needed to be: she was confident in the content but struggled to express her ideas clearly in a sophisticated manner
Over the course of just three months in the lead up to the HSC exams, we worked intensively with Lucinda focusing on elevating essay structure and coherence, building a sophisticated writing voice and practising unseen questions under timed conditions. We worked on using advanced vocabulary and high level macro techniques to build sophisticated theses, pushing her writing into the Band 6 range.
By the time the HSC came around, she had transformed into a confident, capable writer, scoring over 90 in English Advanced, and an 98 ATAR, high enough to secure her dream spot at UNSW Law.
“I’m so happy with my results — I scored 90 in English! The tutoring really helped me improve my writing and exam technique, and the support I received made a huge difference. I couldn’t have done it without the guidance I got at Pinnacle. Highly recommend!”
Lachlan - The King’s School
When we first met Lachlan in Year 10, he was averaging in the 60% range for English: underperforming for his school and for his ability. He struggled with answering questions directly and completely, and lacked the advanced vocabulary and thematic depth needed for high-band essays.
Together, we focused on building analytical skills, developing essay structure, expanding his vocabulary, and exploring deeper thematic insights. We also worked on time management and study strategies to make his writing more focused and effective in the exam room
Within a single term, Lachlan’s results improved dramatically. He began scoring in the 80s, which earned him placement in English Advanced for Year 11. Now in Year 12, Lachlan consistently achieves A grades and scores in the 90s, on track to achieving a Band 6 in his HSC.
“I love tutoring so much, it’s my favourite thing ever. Alessia is an amazing tutor and really good at English. I would be really failing if it wasn’t for this place, get your kid here asap if you want them to get amazing marks” — Lochie, Year 12
Oliver - St Mary’s Cathedral
When Oliver first joined Pinnacle Learners in Year 11, English was his weakest subject. He understood the ideas and themes but struggled to structure his essays in a way that met all the criteria examiners were looking for. Writing responses felt confusing and inconsistent, and his marks reflected that - sitting in the 50s and 60s.
Over time, his tutor helped him break English down into something clear and manageable. Together they focused on how to structure a Band 6 essay - how to plan, write with purpose, and connect analysis back to the question. Once that clicked, everything else followed.
By the end of Year 11, Oliver’s effort and improvement were recognised when he received the Most Improved in English award. By the end of Year 12, he was in the top five of a highly competitive English cohort, consistently achieving marks in the 90s. Now, with strong results behind him, Oliver is one step closer to his goal of studying Commerce and Law at the University of Sydney.
“My son started tutoring with Pinnacle in year 11 when he was averaging 50's for English. By the start of Year 12, he was consistently achieving results in the 80s and 90s. The improvement has not been isolated to English alone. Through her method of teaching she has improved his ability to tackle all subjects in a more structured manner with positive results across almost every subject. He will now start his HSC with a confidence and ease that he would not have possessed otherwise. I cannot recommend Pinnacle highly enough.” — Donna, Oliver’s mum
Chris - St Mary’s Cathedral
Chris joined Pinnacle Learners at the start of Year 11, enrolled in English Standard. At the time, his marks were hovering between 50–60%, and his confidence was low. He often felt overwhelmed by English tasks and struggled to express his ideas clearly. Homework felt like a chore, and essay writing was a source of stress.
From the very first session, we focused not just on content, but on mindset. Together, we broke down essay structure in a way that made sense to him, showing him how to plan responses, develop arguments, and support ideas with evidence. We practised responses under timed conditions to build both fluency and exam stamina, giving Chris the tools to tackle questions methodically rather than feeling overwhelmed.
As his understanding of structure and analytical writing deepened, Chris’s confidence grew. He began to approach assignments with clarity, focus, and even enthusiasm. By the end of Year 11, this transformation was reflected in his results: he scored 90% in English and ranked 2nd in his cohort. More importantly, Chris had gained a sense of control and confidence in his abilities.
“Highly recommend Alessia for english tutoring!” — Chris, Year 12
What Families Are Saying
Real stories from students and parents we’ve supported
Alessia has been an amazing tutor for my son she's organised knows the content and gives me regular updates on his progress I would highly recommend as I have seen significant changes to his marks and his confidence. Thank you Alessia your absolutely fantastic.
Tanya, Year 11 Parent
My tutor Braden has been incredibly helpful as a Business studies tutor for Year 12 - clearly explaining content and making complex topics easier to understand. Beyond just tutoring, he’s also provided personalised study plans and schedules that have helped me stay organised across all my subjects.
Ellie, Year 12 Student
After experiencing a number of tutoring organisations with my 3 kids over the years it is very much what is the best personal fit for your child. My daughter was matched very well with Isabella and is thriving as a result. Isabella is an excellent English tutor and I would highly recommend her for improved confidence and results.
Suzanne, Year 11 Parent
Harry has been an amazing tutor. My son had a rapport with him on the very first lesson. Thank for looking after my son and for being so accommodating. His understanding and confidence in maths has grown. The only regret I have is that we didn't engage Pinnacle earlier. I highly recommend their services. Thanks again!
Alice, Year 12 Parent
Why Parents Choose Us
You want better results. We teach students how to write clearly, think critically and study smarter, boosting marks by 20% in 6 months
You want your child to feel confident. We teach students how to think, plan, and respond to questions— so they walk into class feeling prepared.
You want personalised help. With our 1:1 support, every lesson is tailored to your child’s needs: filling gaps, extending strengths, whist aligning with their school content & exams.
You want full-circle support. We cover more than just content — helping our students with time management, procrastination and creating study routines.
Our Impact in Numbers
1000+
92%
of our students improved their marks by 20% in 6 months
Hours spent helping Rozelle families boost their marks
97%
99.15
of parents say they would recommend us to a friend
Highest ATAR achieved by a Pinnacle student in 2024
