Chemistry tutoring: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What chemistry tutoring is

Chemistry tutoring explains atoms, bonding, reactions and stoichiometry, working through calculations and balancing equations with the student. Students and parents book it when a chemistry class moves into moles and reactions, before a unit test, or when a student can name the parts of an atom but cannot solve a problem.

Signs you need it

  • The student cannot balance a simple equation even after watching it done
  • Mole problems stall at the first conversion step, so every later step is wrong
  • The student memorizes the periodic table but cannot predict how two elements will bond
  • Limiting reactant and yield problems are confusing, and the student does not know what to do first
  • The course is moving fast and the student has gaps in algebra and unit conversions

What the pro does

  • Checks the student's algebra, unit conversions and understanding of atoms before the reactions start
  • Explains bonding with simple models and a clear reason for each type of bond
  • Works through balancing equations one element at a time, with a check at each step
  • Teaches mole problems as a chain of conversions, with units written at every step
  • Gives practice problems and reviews the steps the student took, with a focus on units and set-up

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • The level, such as high school chemistry, college general chemistry or organic chemistry
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • One-on-one tutoring versus a small group
  • How much calculation work versus concept teaching each session needs
  • Whether the tutor works from the course's textbook or their own materials

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and start date
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Whether practice problems and progress notes are included
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress with a parent or the student's teacher

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you check the algebra and unit conversions before you start the moles?
  • How do you teach balancing equations so the student can do it on a test?
  • How do you explain bonding so the student understands the reason for each type?
  • How do you handle a limiting reactant problem step by step?
  • Will you work from my child's textbook and the teacher's method?
  • If my child is under 18, have you passed a background check?
  • What should the student be able to solve after the first month?

Red flags

  • Teaches shortcuts with no units or set-up, so the student cannot check the answer
  • Does the calculations for the student rather than checking their steps
  • Promises a grade change without checking the student's skills
  • Does not ask about the course, the unit or the textbook the class uses

What you can do yourself

A student can write out every unit in a problem, practice balancing equations with a list of atoms on each side, and redo missed problems the next day. Many textbooks include worked examples for each type. Hire a tutor when mole problems keep breaking at the same step, when the student cannot predict bonding, or when a test covers reactions and stoichiometry together.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor chemistry privately. If the tutor works in a school or program, that program may have its own rules. Ask whether the tutor has a degree or teaching experience in chemistry, and check with your state or local licensing agency only if the tutoring is part of a program with its own requirements.

Chemistry tutoring questions

Why does my child do well on homework but fail the test?

Homework often gives the student the method. Tests mix the steps and ask for the set-up on a new problem. A tutor can have the student solve problems without the notes to find where the gap is.

Is algebra really that important for chemistry?

Yes. Most chemistry calculations use algebra, and unit conversions are the core of mole problems. A tutor can check those skills first so the chemistry is easier to follow.

Does my child need a calculator?

Check the course and the test rules. Many tests say which calculator is allowed. A tutor can practice with the calculator the test allows.

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