Struggling with physics? A physics tutor can help you master key concepts, understand your homework and earn better exam scores. Explore your options with these 5 places to find a physics tutor.
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1. Your school
Check with your college’s academic success center to discover free tutoring options. Or, see if your school’s physics department has a list of recommended paid tutors.
Some schools even have web pages dedicated to physics tutoring resources.
For example, The Ohio State University provides free physics tutoring at multiple campus locations plus a list of graduate students who offer paid physics tutoring. The University of California at Berkley features a list of private physics tutors complete with profiles and contact information, and Stanford University has a tutoring center dedicated to physics.
If you’re a high school student (or parent), see if in-school or after school physics tutoring options are available. For example, your physics teacher might be available for extra help during study hall, or your school might offer an after school drop-in tutoring program staffed by teachers who can help with physics.
One major benefit is that professors, teachers and graduate students are familiar with the classes you’re taking, so they understand the material and can help you meet your instructor’s expectations.
School-provided tutoring is free, and you can expect to pay around $20 to $40/hour for private student tutoring.
2. Student, parent and teacher references
One of the best ways to find a physics tutor is also one of the simplest: ask professors at your college or teachers at your high school for recommendations. They often know which local tutors have helped other students, so they can recommend a tutor that suits your learning style and your classwork.
Other students and parents are likewise excellent referral sources. You probably know which students get good grades in physics so you can ask them (or their parents) if they see a tutor and who they recommend.
Personal references like these grant insights into tutor teaching styles, expectations, advantages and potential disadvantages. That information can help you evaluate options and identify the best fit.
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3. Local tutor search
You can use search tools and websites to find a local physics tutor, either for private 1-on-1 or group sessions. Options include:
Local tutoring companies
These companies offer private and group physics tutoring in your home or at their own facilities.
Some companies cater to local college students and offer course-specific tutoring, so their curricula align with the physics classes you’re taking. Examples include College Park Tutors, which services students at the University of Maryland, and Spartan Tutoring, which offers programs for students at Texas A&M University and Blinn College in Bryan and College Station, Texas.
If you’re a high school student, you can search for locally owned tutoring franchises and independent tutoring centers. Examples include Sylvan Learning and Huntington Learning Centers.
Expect to pay between $10 and $50/hour for group tutoring services and anywhere from $30 to $150+/hour for private tutors and tutoring companies, depending on the tutor’s experience, education level and your course level.
Tutor matching services
These websites match you to local, 1-on-1 private tutors according to your subject, course level, learning style and tutor experience and credentials. Many let you set an hourly price range to help you find a tutor who fits into your budget.
Some sites are dedicated to tutoring, while others include tutoring within a broad range of provider specialties. Expect to pay between $30 and $150+/hour for a private tutor. Options include:
- Wyzant
- Tutor Matching Service
- HeyTutor
- Preply
- Outschool
- Care.com
- Thumbtack
- University Tutor
- Tutors.com
Online search
In addition, you can search for local physics tutors on Google and other search engines. Try these keywords:
- Physics tutor near me
- [YOUR SCHOOL] physics tutor
- [YOUR CITY] physics tutor
- [YOUR SCHOOL] physics tutoring service
- [YOUR CITY] physics tutoring service
- [YOUR SCHOOL] physics tutoring center
- [YOUR CITY] physics tutoring center
- [YOUR SCHOOL] college physics tutor
- [YOUR CITY] college physics tutor
- [YOUR SCHOOL] high school physics tutor
- [YOUR CITY] high school physics tutor
- [YOUR SCHOOL] AP physics tutor
- [YOUR CITY] AP physics tutor
4. Online physics tutors
Online physics tutors teach through virtual classrooms that feature whiteboards and live video chat. That makes it easy to connect with your tutor via any device, from desktop and laptop computers to tablets and mobile phones.
These sites work like in-person tutoring services, except everything is done online. They typically match you to a tutor according to your need and education level as well as tutor experience, credentials and reviews.
Many offer multiple tutoring options, while some specialize in just one type:
- Private: 1-on-1 virtual sessions with your tutor (fees typically range between $20 to $150+/hour)
- Group: Small group virtual sessions at discount prices (typically between $10 to $50/hour)
- On demand: Instant, 24/7 homework help (expect to pay a monthly fee for a set number of sessions, often around $10 to $40/month OR to pay by the minute, typically around $1/minute)
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Some websites choose your tutor for you and have standardized rates; others let you choose which tutors you’d like to work with (rates can vary, depending on the site).
Find online physics tutors on these websites:
- Finding Physics
- The Online Physics Tutor
- Wyzant
- Varsity Tutors
- TutorMe
- Preply
- Skooli
- HeyTutor
- eTutorWorld
- TutorEye
- The Princeton Review
- Smarthinking by Pearson
Find on demand physics tutoring on these sites:
5. Social media
You can also find physics tutors on social media sites like Facebook and Reddit. Browse existing discussions or ask your peers for recommendations – which lends valuable social proof you’re making the right decision before you hire a tutor. Options include:
- Local or college-specific forums and Facebook groups
- r/Tutor
- r/Physics
- r/PhysicsStudents
- r/AskPhysics