Online tutoring
Physics tutors
The most mathematical of the sciences and the one where students most often understand the concept and still lose the marks. Physics rewards precise definitions, correct units and the ability to turn a described situation into an equation.
- USD 20-40 per hour
- IGCSE
- A Level
- IB
- University
Who takes Physics, and who should
Students heading for engineering, medicine, computing or any physical science, and anyone whose grade is stuck a level below their apparent understanding, which is usually an exam-technique problem rather than a knowledge one.
Where students actually lose marks
These are the patterns we see repeatedly. None of them are about ability, and every one of them is trainable, which is why a diagnosis is worth more than a general offer of help.
- Definitions written loosely: the mark scheme wants specific words and awards nothing for the general idea
- Units and significant figures dropped, which costs marks on questions that were otherwise correct
- Difficulty converting a described scenario into the right equation, especially in multi-stage questions
- Required practicals and graph analysis treated as secondary, when they carry predictable and recoverable marks
Physics at each level
Physics at IGCSE and GCSE
Broad rather than deep: electricity, forces, waves, thermal and nuclear physics in two years. Electricity and the equations of motion cause the most difficulty, and much of the maths difficulty is really rearranging formulae under time pressure.
Physics at AS and A Level
A genuine step up, especially in mechanics, fields and quantum. The mathematics becomes a real barrier for students not also taking A Level Maths, and the extended written answers demand a precision most students have never been taught explicitly.
Physics at IB Diploma
The Internal Assessment is a substantial slice of the grade and is regularly rushed. HL adds significant depth in fields and thermodynamics; the data-booklet culture means the skill assessed is selection and application rather than recall.
Physics at University
First-year mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics assume mathematical fluency, particularly vector calculus and differential equations, that is rarely as solid as students expect. The physics is usually not the obstacle; the mathematics underneath it is.
What Physics tutoring costs
| Level | Typical years | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| IGCSE and GCSE | Years 10-11 | USD 20-28 |
| AS and A Level | Years 12-13 | USD 28-34 |
| IB Diploma | Years 12-13 | USD 30-36 |
| University | Undergraduate | USD 34-40 |
One-to-one, per 60-minute lesson, billed monthly against lessons actually taught. The same rates apply in every city we teach in, and the subject does not change the price. Paired and small-group rates are on the pricing page.
How lessons run
One-to-one over video with a shared whiteboard, so tutor and student work on the same page at the same time. Sixty minutes weekly as standard, twice weekly in the eight weeks before a paper.
Every session starts with marked work from the previous week, moves to the day's topic with a worked example, and ends with the student attempting a real past paper question while the tutor watches how they approach it. After it you get a written note from the tutor saying what was covered and what needs to happen next. The full process is here.
Physics: questions parents ask
My child understands physics but the grade does not show it. What is going on?
This is the most common pattern in the subject, and it is usually exam technique. Definitions must use specific wording, units and significant figures must be right, and extended answers must be structured. All three are trainable quickly, and none of them are about understanding physics better.
Does my child need A Level Maths to take A Level Physics?
It is not always a formal requirement but it is a significant advantage. The mathematical demand rises sharply at A Level, and students without Maths alongside it usually need deliberate support on the mathematical content specifically.
How important are the practical components?
More than students assume. Practical and graph-analysis questions appear reliably and the question types repeat across series, which makes them some of the most recoverable marks on the paper.