GCSE Physics tutors
21 UK tutors who teach Physics at GCSE. £15–£175/hr · median £40
Physics in the UK runs from Key Stage 3 fundamentals through GCSE (combined or triple), A-level, and Pre-U. Tutoring most often unsticks the same places: vectors and resolving forces, circuits beyond ohmic components, the maths step-up at A-level (calculus, logs, small-angle approximations), and the long-form practical and 'explain' questions that lose marks on phrasing. Boards diverge: AQA, OCR A, OCR B (Advancing Physics), Edexcel and CIE differ on required practicals, formula sheets and synoptic emphasis. For Oxbridge or PAT/ENGAA-track candidates, look for tutors who teach beyond the spec into problem-solving.
GCSE physics carries the heaviest maths load of the three sciences. Ofqual sets the assessment weighting for mathematical skills at 30 per cent, against 20 in chemistry and 10 in biology, and it is usually the maths rather than the physics that costs marks. Rearranging equations and handling standard form come up repeatedly. An equation sheet is provided, and following the March 2026 Ofqual decision it stays for the remaining life of the current specification, so the skill being tested is choosing the right equation rather than recalling it. Required practicals are assessed in the written papers, which catches out students who ran the experiment but never learned to write about the method or the sources of error.
GCSEs are sat in Year 11 (age 15-16), with most students taking 8-10 subjects. They're the main UK school qualification at 16: the 9-1 graded exams that drive sixth-form admission, apprenticeship eligibility, and (via maths and English at grade 4 or 5) university and many job prerequisites. Tutoring demand peaks here. The biggest grade gains tend to come from exam-paper technique rather than further content. Students often know more than they show. Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, WJEC, CIE) diverge on content and assessment, so tutor familiarity with the specific spec is meaningful in most subjects.
91.6% got grade 4 or above in 2026 across the UK (JCQ). Exam boards, dates and past papers
Dr Nayim P.
Cambridge Maths graduate | 10 years’ experience | A-level, IB, Further Maths, STEP & admissions | Students to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard
- Maths
- Further Maths
- Physics
Luke P.
Friendly GCSE Maths and Science tutor, 10+ years of experience. Experienced in helping students with neurodiversity and SEN, ADHD and ASD.
- Maths
- Combined Science
- Science
- +4 more
- SpLD
- Autism
- ADHD & EF
- +1 more
Joseph M.
Qualified teacher with a first class master's in physics from Cambridge University and eight years' experience as a classroom teacher.
- Physics
- Further Maths
- Maths
- +9 more
About the GCSE Physics exam
Which exam board?
Your child's school will know which board they sit.
AQA · 8463 Specification
Exam dates, summer 2027
- Tuesday, 25 May 2027 Paper 1, morning
- Friday, 18 June 2027 Paper 2, morning
Past papers, June 2025
Higher tier
- Paper 1 Question paper Mark scheme Examiners' report Insert
- Paper 2 Question paper Mark scheme Examiners' report Insert
Foundation tier
- Paper 1 Question paper Mark scheme Examiners' report Insert
- Paper 2 Question paper Mark scheme Examiners' report Insert
Grade boundaries, every series
Grade boundaries
| Series | Tier | Grade 4 | Grade 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Higher | 67/200 34% | 128/200 64% |
| June 2026 | Foundation | 126/200 63% | Not on this tier |
| June 2025 | Higher | 70/200 35% | 126/200 63% |
| June 2025 | Foundation | 131/200 66% | Not on this tier |
The total marks needed across all the papers. From AQA GCSE grade boundaries, June 2026 and AQA GCSE grade boundaries, June 2025.
How students do
Share of UK entries who got grade 4 or above, and who got grade 7 or above, all boards.
- 2019 90.9%·44%
- 2020 96.2%·53.1%
- 2021 95.3%·55.6%
- 2022 93.8%·50.6%
- 2023 90.2%·43.4%
- 2024 90.3%·44.2%
- 2025 90.9%·45.2%
- 2026 91.6%·46.1%
2020 and 2021 were teacher-assessed grades, which is why they run higher. All ages, including students resitting. From GCSE (full course) results summer, all UK candidates.
Read up before you book
Plain-English guides
About Physics
What Physics covers across UK levels, where tutoring usually helps, and what to look for in a tutor.
About GCSE
Year groups, exam timing, and how GCSE fits into the UK qualification ladder.
Exam boards
AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA (now Qualifications Scotland) and Cambridge International: what each is known for.
Also explore