As you apply for scholarships and/or entry into universities via Aptitude Based Admission, you may require a reference letter or two from your tutors. Here are some useful tips to keep in mind as you approach your tutors for the reference letter:

1. Make the request (from your tutors) early / now!

   • Your tutors are busy, and may not have the time to write a good referral for you at the last minute. It is common courtesy to give your tutor at least two weeks before the deadline.

   • If your teacher rejects your request, you will also have more time to approach other tutors.

2. Approach the correct tutor for the task!

   • If the letter is meant for entry into a specific discipline / industry, then it may be a good idea to approach a tutor who teaches a related subject.

   • If you are a CCA leader / CLC, and the letter is meant to demonstrate your soft skills and leadership capabilities, then you might want to approach your CCA teacher or CT.

3. Give your tutors a hand! This will help us write the perfect letter for you.

   • If a tutor has kindly agreed to write a letter for you, help him/her by providing him/her with a list of qualities you would like him/her to highlight, accompanied by concrete examples of how you have demonstrated those qualities in your interactions with him/her.

   • Having a draft of your personal statement ready will also be highly useful, as it will make your application more consistent

4. A reference letter is not an entitlement

   • The tutor has to make a professional judgment as to whether you are deserving of the letter. Even if the tutor agrees to write a letter for you, a mediocre letter may not help you in your application.