GCSE science: three subjects wearing one name
Science is really three subjects — biology, chemistry and physics — taught by different teachers, often with different textbooks, and examined in six separate papers. No wonder revision feels overwhelming, and no wonder one weak science can drag the whole grade down.
Sessioned matches your child with a verified science tutor for one-to-one online sessions, focused on the science — and the topics — where help is actually needed.
Combined or separate? Know which your child sits
- Combined Science — most students sit this. It covers all three sciences and counts as two GCSEs, examined in six shorter papers
- Separate sciences (“triple science”) — biology, chemistry and physics as three full GCSEs, with more content in each
This changes what revision should look like, so it is one of the first things a tutor will confirm.
What each science covers
- Biology — cells, organisation, infection, bioenergetics, ecology, inheritance
- Chemistry — atomic structure, bonding, quantitative chemistry, rates, organic chemistry
- Physics — energy, electricity, particles, forces, waves, magnetism
Across all three, two things decide grades: required practicals (examined in written papers) and maths skills — around 20% of combined science marks and up to 30% in physics involve calculation.
Exam boards we cover
- AQA — Combined Science: Trilogy, plus separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics; the most widely sat
- Edexcel — Combined Science and separate sciences
- OCR Gateway (A) and OCR 21st Century (B)
- WJEC / Eduqas
Board matters more in science than parents expect — practical requirements and equation sheets differ. Match to the board, not just the subject.
What a session looks like
Sessions run one-to-one over video, 30, 60 or 90 minutes.
A typical session:
- Pinpoint the topic causing trouble — often narrower than “chemistry”; usually something like moles calculations or electricity
- Teach it properly, with diagrams and models, not just definitions to memorise
- Apply it to exam-style questions, including the six-mark extended answers students fear most
- A short note home on what was covered and what to practise
One tutor can cover all three sciences at GCSE, or we can match a specialist for a single science — whichever fits.
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.
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 before you book.
Frequently asked questions
My daughter is fine in biology but lost in physics — can sessions cover just one science? Yes, and this is the most common request we see. Focusing every session on the weak science is usually the fastest route to a better overall result.
What are the six-mark questions and why do they matter? Every science paper includes extended-response questions marked for structure and scientific reasoning, not just facts. Students routinely drop most of these marks — and they are very coachable.
Does combined science limit A-Level options? Not automatically — most sixth forms accept strong combined science grades for science A-Levels, though policies vary by school. A tutor can help your child build the depth the transition demands either way.
Higher or Foundation tier in science? Same structure as maths: Foundation covers grades 1–5, Higher 4–9. Schools decide per science (or for combined as a whole), and a tutor can give you an informed view if it is under discussion.
Get matched with a GCSE science tutor
Tell us the exam board, whether it is combined or separate sciences, and which science is hurting. We will hand-match a tutor.