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Complete an application online which will be received by one of our dedicated Learning Advisors
Our experienced Learning Advisor will review your application, and match you with the most appropriate tutor based on your application
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Choose between top-performing recent graduates or qualified teachers. Either way, our matching process finds you a tutor based on subject, exam board, target grade and availability.
Top performing graduates who achieved top grades in the subject they teach.
Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer
Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors
First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked
Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.
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Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed
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Top performing graduates who achieved top grades in the subject they teach.
Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer
Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors
First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked
Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.
Quality assurance: trained and accredited teaching qualifications
Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed
Subject expertise: deep understanding of content and exam board requirements
Our team is a combination of GCSE graduates who sat these exams recently and qualified teachers with years of classroom and examining experience.

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Andra P graduated from Bocconi University with a BSc in International Economics and Management and is now beginning her Master’s in Management at London Business School. She achieved 9 A*s in her IGCSEs and has several years of tutoring experience, particularly in Mathematics, Economics and Geography.
Andra is familiar with the GCSE, IGCSE and A-Level curricula and focuses her tutoring on building strong subject knowledge alongside the exam skills students need to perform at their best. Her lessons place particular emphasis on breaking down difficult concepts, working through exam-style and past-paper questions, and developing effective problem-solving and revision strategies.
She adapts her teaching to each student’s level, syllabus and individual goals, with the aim of making lessons both rigorous and approachable. Andra believes that strong results come from a combination of clear understanding, consistent practice and confidence, and she works to ensure that students feel supported and increasingly independent in their learning.

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I am a highly experienced A level and GCSE teacher of 30 years experience. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, CAIE A-level and GCSE/IGCSE. I have been an A-level examiner and I have had great success in raising students' grades. For the past two years I have been teaching A-levels and International A-levels in Physics for two online schools and tutoring 1:1. I am a compassionate and outstanding teacher who can unpick any misunderstandings and coach students in the the skills and strategies to succeed. I am pleased to say whatever the ability of the student that I enjoy improving their grade beyond what they were expecting to achieve.

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Anuraj S is an experienced Physics tutor with over 7 years of teaching experience, specialising in GCSE and international secondary-school Physics. He has taught students across major exam boards including Pearson Edexcel, Edexcel International (IAL), AQA, OCR, and Cambridge International (CIE), helping students build strong conceptual understanding and achieve their academic goals.
He holds a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics, an Integrated M.Sc. in Physics from the Central University of Rajasthan, and a Bachelor of Education (Gold Medallist, 91%). His strong academic background allows him to explain challenging Physics concepts clearly and connect theory with practical, real-world applications.
Anuraj has extensive experience preparing GCSE students for both content and exam technique. He focuses on understanding the specification, command words, mark schemes, required practicals, mathematical skills, and exam-style questions. His lessons include systematic revision, past-paper practice, identifying common mistakes, and developing the structured approach needed to gain marks consistently.
His teaching style is patient, approachable, and highly adaptable. He first makes sure students genuinely understand the underlying concept before progressing to more challenging questions. Whether a student is struggling with the fundamentals or aiming for the highest grades, he tailors lessons to their individual needs and helps them become confident, independent Physics problem-solvers.

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Karim T is an accomplished English Language and Literature educator, English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist, and communication professional with a distinguished academic record and extensive experience in international secondary education. His professional expertise is particularly focused on IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level English Language and English as a Second Language, with a strong commitment to developing students’ linguistic accuracy, communication skills, academic writing, critical thinking, and confidence in using English effectively.
Karim earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Translation with a Minor in Communication from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), graduating Summa Cum Laude as the Valedictorian of his graduating class with a GPA of 3.72 (Excellent with Honors).
His academic excellence was established at an early stage. He graduated from Nefertari British International School under the IGCSE system with an outstanding 9 A*s, a result officially recognized by Egypt’s Central Coordination Office as equivalent to 100%, and graduated as the Valedictorian of his high school class. This achievement made Karim a two-time Valedictorian, having graduated first in both high school and university.
Professionally, Karim has developed substantial experience teaching English Language, English as a Second Language, and English Language & Literature within international secondary-school settings. His teaching experience encompasses students preparing for IGCSE and O-Level examinations, as well as advanced A-Level English Language study. He has worked extensively on developing students’ reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary, grammar, spoken communication, analytical skills, and ability to communicate effectively for both academic and real-world purposes.
Karim’s approach to IGCSE and O-Level English emphasizes building a secure foundation in language while developing the examination skills required for success. He supports students in mastering comprehension, directed writing, descriptive and narrative writing, summary skills, vocabulary, grammar, sentence construction, and effective written expression. Particular emphasis is placed on helping students understand how language choices influence meaning, tone, purpose, audience, and overall effectiveness.
At A-Level, Karim adopts a more sophisticated and analytical approach to English Language, guiding students toward advanced language analysis, discursive and argumentative writing, linguistic terminology, textual interpretation, and the ability to construct precise, coherent, and well-supported academic responses. He encourages students to move beyond simply identifying language features and instead develop the ability to explain how and why language choices create particular effects and meanings.
His experience also includes teaching within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, where he taught English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge. This background has further strengthened his ability to cultivate higher-order thinking, academic writing, independent inquiry, and sophisticated communication skills. He has successfully guided graduating Diploma Programme cohorts through demanding academic requirements while maintaining a broader focus on intellectual development and university readiness.
As an English as a Second Language educator, Karim places particular importance on helping learners become confident, accurate, and independent users of English. His instruction combines explicit language development with meaningful communication, enabling students to strengthen their grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while developing the confidence to use English in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.
Committed to continuous professional development, Karim has completed official International Baccalaureate Category 2 professional development workshops in Theory of Knowledge and English B, complementing his broader expertise in international English-language education.
Beyond teaching, Karim’s multidisciplinary background includes research and development, public speaking, strategic communication, and educational innovation. His academic training in translation and communication has given him a particularly strong understanding of language, audience, register, purpose, and effective communication—skills that directly inform his approach to English Language and ESL instruction.
Karim is driven by the belief that effective English education extends beyond examination preparation. His goal is to equip students with the language proficiency, analytical ability, academic confidence, and communication skills necessary to succeed in IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level examinations while preparing them for higher education and an increasingly interconnected global environment.

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Caleb A is a highly experienced and accomplished Advance Level Chemistry / Physics educator with over 30 years of international teaching experience across the United States, Qatar, China, Kenya and Ethiopia. He is currently teaching Advance Level Chemistry at a leading international school in New York, where he specializes in helping students achieve top results in one of the most challenging high school science programs.
Caleb holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Education and a Master of Science in Information Technology, and has previously served as Head of the Science Department at an international school in Qatar. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide range of curricula mainly A-Level, and IGCSE Chemistry and Physics, giving him a deep understanding of different exam systems and student needs.
Known for his clear explanations and structured approach, Caleb consistently helps students improve their understanding of complex concepts such as organic chemistry, energetics, and equilibrium. His students benefit from targeted exam preparation, data analysis skills, and problem-solving strategies that lead to measurable score improvements and increased confidence.
Caleb’s teaching style is student-centered and highly supportive. He adapts his lessons to suit individual learning styles, using real-world examples, guided practice, and exam-focused techniques to ensure progress in every session. He is passionate about helping students not only succeed academically but also develop a genuine interest in science.

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Anant is a tutor currently studying Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Having completed his GCSEs with exemplary results—securing 6 A*s across 8 subjects, including top marks in Additional Mathematics, Extended Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics—he possesses a deep, foundational mastery of the STEM and quantitative curricula. Beyond his own academics, Anant actively builds machine learning models, engages with top-tier quantitative finance firms like Citadel, and brings extensive experience mentoring peers through the rigors of A Level Mathematics and Computer Science. Specializing in GCSE and A Level Math and Computer Science, he uses patient, real-world analogies to break down complex technical jargon. Anant ensures his students feel completely supported, helping them move beyond rote memorization to build true conceptual understanding, exam confidence, and top-tier results.

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Over the last twenty years I have gained significant classroom and management experience at several State, Grammar and Independent Schools. I have been out of the classroom environment recently but continue to keep up to date with Education Policy and support students away from the school environment via home tutoring.
I am an experienced teacher with a passion towards my subject and have a great desire that all pupils across the ability range are inspired by Science; there is no greater job satisfaction for me than when that inspiration leads to students excelling in examinations or pursuing a career in medicine. As Head of Biology at Kingston Grammar School I managed a team of four experienced teachers- as well as being actively involved in the overall management of the Science department.
I was successful in improving both A-Level and GCSE results year on year. I was responsible for co-ordinating Community Service placements for students in the wider community. I also worked closely with Brunel University with their PGCE programme and was part of a team inspected by OFSTED and I was awarded as ‘outstanding’ in my mentoring work with PGCE students at Kingston Grammar.
Whilst my teaching specialism is Biology I have also taught Chemistry and Physics at key stage three, four and A Level. I have a broad knowledge of the science curriculum and how it fits in to schools academic policies and wider educational policies. I also have a good understanding of International Baccalaureate programs and Vocational courses. I have written schemes of work and working policies for a department as well as full risk assessments for practical work. I also have experience of intake of student new to a school be it a state school or an 11+ or Common Entrance at 13+. I have administered 11+ and 13+ examinations as well as being part of a team of interviewers assessing a student’s suitability for the school.

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I have over 15 years of experience tutoring Mathematics and more than 10 years teaching and tutoring Mathematics and Physics. I have taught IGCSE in the past and have extensive experience tutoring IGCSE and A-Level Mathematics and Physics, particularly with Cambridge International (CIE) and Pearson Edexcel. I help students strengthen their understanding of difficult concepts while also focusing heavily on exam technique, past-paper practice, mark schemes, and the way questions are structured. As an experienced international school teacher and examiner, I understand the importance of showing clear working and giving the precise answers examiners are looking for. I adapt my lessons to each student, whether they need help catching up, improving their grades, or preparing intensively for their final examinations.
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This is Dr. Salma W, a passionate educator with a strong foundation in science and education. I hold a MA degree from Liverpool John Moores University, a PGCE certification, and a MSc degree in Clinical Pharmacy from Al-Azhar University, Egypt. As a former IGCSE student myself, I excelled in multiple A-Level subjects, including physics, achieving very good grades, which gives me a firsthand understanding of the curriculum and what it takes to succeed. With around 10 years of experience teaching science and physics across British curricula, I have spent the past 4 years specializing in A-Level physics (CIE). I focus on building students' problem-solving skills, scientific thinking, and real-world application of concepts through engaging, inquiry-based learning. Having walked the same path my students are on, I continually adapt my methods to incorporate modern educational strategies, helping them develop critical thinking and research skills to prepare them for academic and career success.
The tutors you see here are just a selection from our team of hundreds of tutors, please contact our Learning Advisors to discuss tutoring options
GCSE Physics is where maths meets science. Most questions need a student to pick the right equation, rearrange it, convert the units and give a sensible answer, and then explain what the number means. A student who understands the ideas can still lose most of a calculation's marks through one unit slip, and a student who is confident with numbers can lose marks on explanations that need exact physics vocabulary. The course is also broad, running from forces and circuits to waves, radioactivity and space.
Other things that make it hard:
Our Physics tutors work from your board's own past papers, mark schemes and examiners' reports, so students learn exactly how calculations and explanations are credited. Sessions target where Physics marks are actually lost:
Every GCSE Physics specification tests the same progression: knowing the physics, applying it, and analysing and evaluating data and experimental evidence. On AQA, OCR, Edexcel and WJEC, the split is about 40% knowledge, 40% application and 20% analysis and evaluation, and OCR and WJEC state that at least 30% of the marks assess mathematical skills. Edexcel International uses the same broad 40/40/20 split. Cambridge puts 50% on knowledge with understanding, 30% on handling information and problem-solving and 20% on experimental skills, all examined in its practical paper, and OxfordAQA adds a fourth objective, selecting, describing and evaluating scientific procedures, worth about 10%. We work through past-paper questions objective by objective, so you can see which skill is costing you marks rather than just seeing a lower total.
Physics is assessed almost entirely by written exams. AQA, OCR, Edexcel and OxfordAQA set compulsory practicals, but the marks come from exam questions about them, and Edexcel International examines experimental skills in its two written papers. Cambridge examines practical skills in a paper of their own worth 20%: either Paper 5, a hands-on Practical Test, or Paper 6, a written Alternative to Practical. WJEC in Wales is the only board with a practical unit, worth 10%, carried out in school and marked by WJEC. Equations are handled differently too: for UK GCSE Physics in England, Ofqual has confirmed that an equations sheet comes with every paper, while Edexcel International lists relationships that students must recall. Most courses are linear, but WJEC is unitised and Edexcel International's modular 4XPH1 lets students sit and resit each unit separately.
Eight sections examined in two papers taken in the same series at the end of the course, in May/June or November. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are each 1 hour 30 minutes and 90 marks, worth 50% each, with structured and open questions, and either paper can assess any part of the specification. There are no tiers, and grades 9–1 are available to everyone.
OxfordAQA adds a fourth assessment objective, the ability to select, describe and evaluate scientific procedures, worth about 10% and weighted more heavily in Paper 2. It also includes topics such as safety in public transport and lenses and the eye, and its five required practicals, from force and extension for a spring to the V-I characteristics of a filament lamp, a diode and a resistor, are examined in the written papers. Sessions on this board practise procedure questions on every required practical and prepare both papers across the whole specification.
WJEC GCSE Physics is offered in Wales; Eduqas no longer offers a GCSE in Physics in England. The course is unitised. Unit 1 and Unit 2 are each a 1 hour 45 minute written exam worth 80 marks and 45% of the qualification, set at Foundation or Higher tier and sat in the summer series. Unit 3: Practical Assessment, worth 10% (30 marks), is untiered and takes place in school in the first half of the spring term, then is marked by WJEC. WJEC has said the current separate science GCSEs remain available until summer 2031.
Unit 1: Electricity, Energy and Waves
Unit 2: Forces, Space and Radioactivity
WJEC grades on the A* to G scale used in Wales, not 9 to 1, and states that at least 30% of the marks assess mathematical skills. Unit 3 has two sections: obtaining results in a group (6 marks) and individually analysing and evaluating them under supervision (24 marks). WJEC has amended Unit 3 for students starting the course in September 2026, to follow the practical approach of the new GCSE The Sciences (Double Award); Units 1 and 2 are unchanged. Sessions on this board prepare the analysis and evaluation section of Unit 3 as carefully as the written units.
Eight topics examined in two untiered papers taken in the same series at the end of the course, in June or November. Paper 1 (2 hours, 110 marks, 61.1%) assesses the core content. Paper 2 (1 hour 15 minutes, 70 marks, 38.9%) assesses all the content, including the bold statements with a P reference that go beyond the Science (Double Award). Every student sits the same papers, graded 9–1. Pearson also offers a modular version, 4XPH1, first examined in June 2025: two units, each 1 hour 40 minutes, 90 marks and 50%, that can be sat and resat in any order in June and November.
Edexcel International states that the physics relationships listed in its specification will not be provided in the exam, either as given or rearranged, so equations have to be learned. Paper 2 is the only paper that tests the P-referenced content, and practical investigations are written into the content as specification points in italics and examined in both papers. Sessions on this board drill the listed relationships until they are automatic and give the P-referenced content dedicated time.
Fifteen topics examined in two papers sat in May/June of the same year, both at Foundation or both at Higher tier. Paper 1 covers Topics 1–7 and Paper 2 covers Topic 1 and Topics 8–15. Each is a 1 hour 45 minute written exam worth 100 marks and 50% of the qualification, with multiple-choice, short-answer, calculation and extended open-response questions. Students must complete eight mandatory core practicals.
Topic 1, Key concepts of physics, is examined on both papers, so units, prefixes and standard form come up throughout. The specification lists the equations students are expected to recall, and its eight core practicals range from force, mass and acceleration with trolleys to the specific heat capacity of water and the extension of a spring. Sessions on this board build Topic 1 skills from the start and link each core practical to the questions set on it.
OCR offers two GCSE Physics specifications, and each school chooses one. Both are linear and tiered: students sit two papers at Foundation tier (grades 5–1) or two at Higher tier (grades 9–4), each 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks and 50% of the GCSE, all in the same May/June series. Practical skills are examined in the papers, and learners must complete at least eight practicals covering OCR's Practical Activity Groups. We match tutors to the specification code on your exam entry.
Physics A (Gateway Science) · J249
Physics B (Twenty First Century Science) · J259
On Gateway, the first paper of each tier covers Topics P1–P4 and the second covers Topics P5–P8, with P1–P4 assumed and synoptic questions included. Twenty First Century Science splits each tier into a Breadth paper of short-answer questions and a Depth paper with at least two 6-mark extended response questions, both drawing on all eight chapters. OCR states that at least 30% of the marks assess mathematical skills. Sessions on this board follow your specification's order and build calculation fluency topic by topic.
Eight topics plus a Key ideas section, examined in two papers sat at the end of the course. Paper 1 covers Topics 1–4 and Paper 2 covers Topics 5–8, and Paper 2 can also draw on energy changes and transfers from Energy and Electricity. Each paper is a 1 hour 45 minute written exam worth 100 marks and 50% of the GCSE, set at Foundation or Higher tier, with multiple-choice, structured, closed short-answer and open-response questions. Students carry out ten required practicals, and questions drawing on them count for at least 15% of the marks.
Space physics and two of the ten required practicals are in GCSE Physics only, not in AQA's Combined Science. AQA provides the Physics Equations Sheet as an insert with both papers in 2027, and under Ofqual's decision equations sheets continue for exams from 2028, when standard-demand questions that only ask students to write down an equation from the sheet will no longer be set. Sessions on this board practise using the sheet in multi-step problems and work through all ten required practicals.
Six topics, with Core content for all candidates and Supplement content for Extended candidates. Everyone sits three papers: a 45-minute paper of 40 multiple-choice questions (30%), a 1 hour 15 minute theory paper of short-answer and structured questions (80 marks, 50%) and a practical paper (40 marks, 20%). Core candidates take Papers 1 and 3 and Extended candidates take Papers 2 and 4. 0625 is graded A* to G and 0972 is graded 9 to 1. Exams run in June and November, with a March series in India for 0625. Cambridge has republished the syllabus for 2029 with no significant changes that affect teaching.
1 Motion, forces and energy
2 Thermal physics
3 Waves
4 Electricity and magnetism
5 Nuclear physics
6 Space physics
Cambridge examines practical skills directly. Paper 5 is a hands-on Practical Test in the laboratory (1 hour 15 minutes) and Paper 6 is a written Alternative to Practical (1 hour). Both test the same experimental skills, such as taking readings, plotting graphs and suggesting improvements, and both are worth 20%. Your school decides which one you sit. Sessions on this board give the practical paper regular timed practice alongside the theory.
Tell us the subject, exam board and target grade. A Learning Advisor reviews it the same day.
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Whichever tier you are entered for, we match you with a tutor who knows those papers and the grades they lead to. Not sure which tier is right? Your tutor will help you decide before entries close.
Foundation papers cover most of the same topics without the Higher-only content, and the highest grade available is a 5.
Higher papers add Higher-only content and open grades up to a 9, but on UK boards a result below a 3 is ungraded.
We teach Foundation and Higher for AQA, OCR, Edexcel and WJEC, Core and Extended for Cambridge IGCSE, and the untiered Edexcel International GCSE and OxfordAQA courses.
We have answers to your most frequently asked questions. Anything not answered here, please reach out to our team.
Yes. Our GCSE Physics tutors teach both tiers on AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC, and Core and Extended for Cambridge IGCSE. On Foundation, lessons secure the core topics and the required practicals. On Higher, they add the Higher-only content, such as momentum, and the six-mark extended answers that decide the top grades. If your child is between tiers, their tutor will help you choose before entries close.
On AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel, Foundation covers grades 1–5 and Higher covers 4–9. A Higher student who narrowly misses grade 4 can be given an allowed grade 3, but below that the result is U. In June 2026 the Higher grade 4 boundary was 67 out of 200 on AQA and 71 on Pearson Edexcel, so it pays to check where your mock marks sit against your own board. Anyone who needs a 6 or 7 for A-Level Physics has to sit Higher, while students working below grade 4 are usually safer on Foundation. On Cambridge IGCSE, Core is capped at grade C and Extended runs from A* to G, so a weaker Extended paper still earns a grade; Edexcel International GCSE is untiered. Schools usually decide the tier after mocks, so ask early. Sources: AQA and Pearson.
GCSE Physics means the UK specifications from AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel or WJEC, while IGCSE Physics means Cambridge IGCSE 0625 (0972 on the 9–1 scale) or Edexcel International GCSE 4PH1. The main differences are tiering and practical assessment. The UK GCSEs are tiered and examine required practicals inside the written papers; Edexcel International is untiered, so every grade is open to everyone; and Cambridge has Core and Extended papers plus a separate practical paper worth 20%. The core content of forces, energy, electricity, waves and atomic physics is very similar on all of them. Universities and sixth forms accept both. The UK GCSE is sat in May and June only, while Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel International GCSE also run a full November series, which suits students outside the UK and anyone who needs a resit. Read more about online IGCSE tutoring.
Each sixth form and college sets its own entry requirements, so check the prospectus of the one you're applying to. As a guide, most ask for at least a grade 6 in GCSE Physics, or 6-6 in Combined Science, for A-Level Physics, and selective schools often ask for a 7. Most also ask for a grade 6 or 7 in GCSE Maths, and many recommend taking A-Level Mathematics alongside, because A-Level Physics is heavily mathematical. You need the Higher tier, because Foundation caps the grade at 5. If you take Cambridge IGCSE on the A*–G scale, a grade A is broadly equivalent to a 7 and a C to a 4, the points that were aligned when the 9–1 scale was introduced (GOV.UK grading factsheets), so a requirement of grade 6 usually means a strong B. See A-Level Physics.
GCSE Physics tutoring with an academic tutor costs from $50 USD (£38) per hour, and packages save 5–15%, which suits steady weekly lessons through Years 10 and 11, then extra past paper sessions before mocks and the summer exams. Pay as you go is invoiced after each lesson, with no lock-in contracts. Professional tutors (qualified teachers and examiners) cost from $75 USD (£56) per hour. See pricing.
Late cancellations and no-shows are charged at half the lesson fee. That applies if you cancel less than one hour before the start time, or don't turn up. You can still change a session time whenever you need to, as long as you give your tutor notice.
Our academic tutors are high-achieving graduates and undergraduates who scored in the top band in Physics themselves, and our professional tutors are qualified teachers or examiners with 5+ years' experience. We accept only the top 5% of applicants. You are matched to a tutor who knows your board, so they can teach the equations you must recall or apply for your board, set out calculations the way examiners award method marks, and rehearse every required practical in your specification. Read more about our GCSE tutors and how we select tutors.
Lessons are one-to-one and online, with a tutor matched to GCSE Physics, your exam board and your target grade. Each session works on your weakest areas using past paper questions from your own board, whether that is AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel, Edexcel International GCSE or Cambridge IGCSE 0625. For Physics that usually means calculations set out with equation, substitution, rearrangement and units so that method marks are kept, unit conversions drilled until they are automatic, and six-mark explanations rewritten until each step is linked. See how it works or start with the student application.
Physics carries the most maths of the three sciences: at least 30% of the marks test maths skills, including rearranging equations, converting units and using standard form. Students who are comfortable with algebra usually find it logical, but those who are not lose marks quickly. The other challenge is explaining abstract ideas such as forces, fields and energy transfers in precise language, especially in six-mark questions and questions about the required practicals. Our online GCSE tutoring focuses on exactly those areas.
In summer 2026, 13.8% of GCSE Physics entries in England achieved a grade 9 and 45.9% achieved a 7 or above (JCQ), from 159,630 entries. Those figures reflect a strong cohort, because separate Physics is mostly taken in triple science sets. Internationally, 22.9% of Edexcel International GCSE Physics candidates achieved a 9 (provisional figures from Pearson), and 20.9% of Cambridge IGCSE Physics candidates achieved an A* (Cambridge). A 9 needs accurate multi-step calculations with units, and six-mark explanations that link cause and effect without gaps.
Grade boundaries are set after each exam series and change every year, so older figures are only a guide. In June 2026, AQA's Higher tier grade 9 boundary for Physics was 157 out of 200 (79%), and Pearson Edexcel's was 163 out of 200 (82%). Grade 4 on Higher needed 67 marks on AQA and 71 on Pearson Edexcel. Edexcel International GCSE 4PH1 set grade 9 at 138 out of 180 (77%), or 134 on the alternative R papers used in some time zones, and Cambridge IGCSE 0625's Extended A* threshold was 156 to 165 out of 200 (78–82%), depending on the paper variant. Sources: AQA, Pearson, Pearson International and Cambridge.
There is no coursework, but practical work is compulsory. On AQA you complete ten required practicals, on Pearson Edexcel eight core practicals and on OCR at least eight practical activities, and the written exams then ask about them, for example on method, variables, errors and results. Cambridge IGCSE examines practical skills in a separate paper worth 20%: either Paper 5, a hands-on Practical Test, or Paper 6, a written Alternative to Practical. WJEC in Wales has a practical unit worth 10%, carried out in school and marked by WJEC. See the Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 syllabus.
GCSE Physics is assessed by written exams, with no coursework. On AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel you sit two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes, each worth 50%, at either Foundation or Higher tier, all at the end of the course. Edexcel International GCSE 4PH1 is untiered, with a 2-hour Paper 1 (61.1%) and a 1 hour 15 minute Paper 2 (38.9%). Cambridge IGCSE 0625 sets a multiple-choice paper (30%), a theory paper (50%) and a practical paper (20%), at Core or Extended. For the UK GCSEs in England, an equations sheet is provided in every paper, while Edexcel International lists equations that students must recall. See the AQA specification.
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