Physics tutoring: what to know

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

What physics tutoring is

Physics tutoring teaches motion, forces, energy and electricity, helping students set up problems, draw diagrams and apply the equations. Students and parents book it when a physics course starts with vectors and forces, before a test on circuits or energy, or when a student can plug numbers into a formula but cannot set up the problem.

Signs you need it

  • The student plugs numbers into formulas without drawing a diagram first
  • Force problems stall because the student does not know how to break a force into parts
  • Energy problems are confusing, and the student does not know when energy is conserved
  • Circuit problems feel like a random set of rules
  • The course is moving fast and the student has gaps in algebra and trigonometry that make the physics harder

What the pro does

  • Checks the student's algebra and basic vectors before the physics starts
  • Teaches each problem with a diagram and a list of what is known and what is asked
  • Works through force and motion problems step by step, with free-body diagrams
  • Teaches energy and conservation with simple examples before the harder problems
  • Practices circuits and set-up with the course's problems, and reviews the steps at the next session

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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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 physics, AP physics or a college course
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and whether diagrams are drawn live
  • One-on-one tutoring versus a small group
  • How much problem set-up 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, and what drawing tools are used
  • 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

  • How do you teach a student to set up a physics problem before they use an equation?
  • Do you use free-body diagrams, and how do you teach them?
  • How do you explain energy conservation so the student knows when to use it?
  • Will you work from my child's textbook and the teacher's method?
  • How do you handle circuit problems that mix series and parallel parts?
  • If my child is under 18, have you passed a background check?
  • What should the student be able to set up on their own after the first month?

Red flags

  • Teaches formulas without asking the student to draw the problem first
  • Does the problems for the student rather than checking their diagrams and 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 draw a diagram for every problem before writing an equation, list what is known and what is asked, and redo missed problems the next day. Many textbooks include worked examples. Hire a tutor when the student cannot set up a problem, when force or circuit problems keep going wrong, or when a test covers several units at once.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor physics 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 physics, and check with your state or local licensing agency only if the tutoring is part of a program with its own requirements.

Physics tutoring questions

Why is physics harder than math for my child?

Physics asks the student to turn a real situation into a diagram and an equation. A tutor can practice the set-up step on its own, which is where most students get stuck.

Does my child need to know calculus for physics?

It depends on the course. Introductory physics usually uses algebra and trigonometry, while some college courses use calculus. Ask the tutor what the course uses.

How can I help my child with physics at home?

Ask your child to draw the problem and explain it to you before they solve it. A tutor can help with the set-up and the harder topics.

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