GCSE physics, when the equations won’t stick
Physics is where a lot of capable students come unstuck, and it is rarely the ideas themselves. It is the calculations — picking the right equation, rearranging it, keeping the units straight under time pressure — and the required practicals, which turn up in the written papers whether or not they made sense in the lab. Get those two right and the grade follows.
One-to-one help is unusually effective in physics, because a tutor can watch how your child works through a problem and fix the exact step that keeps going wrong. Sessioned matches your child with a verified GCSE physics tutor for one-to-one online sessions, built around their exam board, their tier and the topics that are actually causing trouble.
What GCSE physics covers
All boards test the same core areas:
- Energy — stores, transfers, efficiency and power
- Electricity — circuits, current, potential difference and resistance
- Particle model of matter — density, internal energy and changes of state
- Atomic structure — radioactivity, half-life and nuclear radiation
- Forces — motion, Newton’s laws, momentum and stopping distances
- Waves — the wave equation, the electromagnetic spectrum, reflection and refraction
- Magnetism and electromagnetism — magnetic fields, motors and the generator effect
- Space physics — for students sitting separate (triple) physics
Students sit either Foundation tier (grades 1–5) or Higher tier (grades 4–9), and a set of required practicals runs alongside the theory.
Exam boards we cover
- AQA — Physics (8463) and Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)
- Edexcel / Pearson — Physics (1PH0) and Combined Science (1SC0)
- OCR — Gateway Science A: Physics (J249) and Combined Science A (J250)
- WJEC / Eduqas — for schools in Wales and some in England
The physics is shared, but the equation sheets and question styles differ by board. Tell us the board and whether it is combined or separate science, and we will match a tutor who teaches it every week. Physics also sits within GCSE combined science, and continues at A-Level.
What a session looks like
Sessions run one-to-one over video — 30, 60 or 90 minutes, whichever suits — with a shared whiteboard for working through calculations together.
A typical session:
- Review of the week’s homework or the past-paper questions that did not click
- Focused teaching on one topic or one skill — often the calculation method itself
- Exam-style questions on that topic, with mark-scheme thinking made explicit
- A short note on what was covered and what to practise before next time
Nobody is rushed. If rearranging equations needs three sessions, it gets three sessions.
Every tutor, properly vetted.
- Identity-checked — we verify who every tutor is before they can teach
- Qualification-checked — degrees and credentials evidenced, not self-declared
- DBS status on every profile — we verify Enhanced DBS certificates ourselves and label each tutor “DBS Verified” or “DBS on file”, so you can see it before you book
Your child never works with a stranger we haven’t vetted. That is the baseline, not an upgrade.
Clear pricing, no surprises
Tutors set their own rates and keep every penny. You pay the tutor’s rate plus a transparent 20% platform fee, shown in full before you book. No subscriptions, no upfront packages.
Frequently asked questions
My child is fine on the theory but freezes on calculations — can that be fixed? Yes, and it is common. Physics calculations follow a repeatable method — choose the right equation, rearrange it, keep the units straight — and a tutor drills that method with real exam questions until it becomes second nature.
Which equations does my child have to memorise? Some equations are provided on the exam equation sheet, but a number of key ones have to be recalled from memory. A tutor makes sure your child knows which is which and can apply them quickly under exam pressure.
How important are the required practicals? Very. There is no separate coursework at GCSE, so questions about the required practical methods and their results appear directly in the written papers. Understanding them matters for the exam, not just the lab.
Is combined science physics different from separate (triple) physics? The style of physics is the same. Separate (triple) physics goes further and adds extra content such as space physics. A tutor works to whichever your child is sitting, and can help you understand the difference.
Get matched with a GCSE physics tutor
Tell us your child’s exam board, tier and where physics is hurting. We will hand-match a tutor, and you can start with a single session — no ongoing commitment.