About us
A maths practice for students who want to progress from C → B → A.
SabyTorial is an Australian (Queensland) online tutoring practice run by a practising Brisbane-based high school maths teacher. Every class is taught personally, and every decision starts with what actually helps students learn.
Our mission
High-quality maths learning should be accessible to everyone.
Spending more doesn’t guarantee better teaching. What makes the difference is a teacher who explains clearly, plans carefully and sees exactly where a student needs help.
Too often, the students who fall behind in mathematics are not the students who lack ability. They are the students who never got the extra explanation, the second worked example, or the patient hour with someone who could see exactly where their understanding broke down.
We want to change how maths tuition works in Australia; no gimmicks, no barriers and serious, well-planned teaching offered at a price families can genuinely sustain across a whole year of schooling.
Our philosophy
Explicit, structured instruction, with nothing left implied.
Mission is why we teach. Philosophy is how we teach.
Concepts broken down from the basics: simple → complex
Teaching is explicit
Foundational gaps are identified while teaching
Support is targeted, not generic
Our foundational pillars
From understanding to confidence.
Six steps every student moves through, in order.
Step 1
Understand
Fluency and understanding start with simple, familiar questions.
Step 2
Practice
Maths is all about practice, and practice is what builds confidence.
Step 3
Question
Probing questions help you think for yourself instead of copying steps.
Step 4
Connect
Simple ideas are joined, step by step, into complex ones.
Step 5
Achieve
You solve challenging problems, often before you notice how far you've come.
Step 6
Believe
Seeing your own progress shows you maths is about learning, not talent.
Your teacher
Sabina Merchant
Master of Educational Studies (Math Major) · Senior Secondary Maths · Queensland Curriculum
I am passionate about teaching Queensland mathematics and committed to helping every student build confidence, overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
- Master of Educational Studies (Math Major)
- 18+ years teaching secondary mathematics
- Experience with the Queensland curriculum, the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
- Committed to explicit, evidence-informed teaching
- Research background in mathematics education
- Practising classroom teacher (South Brisbane school)
The teacher in me: who I am
I am a positive, approachable teacher. Teaching is my passion, and I genuinely find joy in those “lightbulb moments” when a student finally understands a concept.
I am organised, structured and highly explicit in my teaching. I break concepts down from the very beginning, starting with the basics and gradually building on them. For example, if I am teaching angles, I begin with a point, then move to a segment, a line and a ray, before explaining that two rays joined at a common vertex form an angle.
I believe in the traditional style of teaching and learning: writing on paper with pen, because writing helps students retain what they learn.
I am very professional, and certain that every student can learn math if they have the will and some level of love for the subject.
My teaching mantra: what I believe
- Simple → Complex: build understanding step by step, starting with simple familiar before moving to complex familiar.
- Every student can learn math when given the right support, guidance and opportunity.
- Teach from the beginning and never assume prior knowledge.
- Writing supports learning: recording working and reasoning helps students retain and deepen understanding.
- Be the bridge that fills the learning gaps, so no student feels that math is beyond their ability.
In my classroom
Whenever I solve a question, I ask my students how they think it should begin. At every step, I ask how they would solve it. I first work through the question using their approach, then show them simpler ways of reaching the same solution. When a student’s steps stop working, that is often when they learn the most.
I also like “What if?” questions. Once we have finished a question, I ask: what if the number is negative? What if this piece of information is not given? We work through their questions together and reach a solution.
Ready to build real confidence in Year 11 Maths?
Start with the free 3-minute Maths Readiness Check, or look at the program in detail.