Choosing a tutor · 20 July 2026 · 5 min read
How to choose an online IGCSE Physics tutor: a parent’s checklist
Updated 25 September 2026
The best online IGCSE Physics tutor for a student is one who teaches the correct qualification, explains clearly and offers a workable routine for practice and feedback. Start with those checks before comparing promotional claims or prices.
This guide is published by Dr Desouky Physics Academy, which offers Physics tuition. Use the same questions when comparing our classes with any other provider.
Identify the qualification before choosing a tutor
Cambridge IGCSE Physics and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics are different qualifications. Even within Edexcel, linear and modular routes have different assessment arrangements. Share the qualification code from a school document or paper cover; ‘IGCSE’ alone is not enough.
Ask the tutor to explain what your child is preparing for and which resources match the course. A lesson sample should show an idea being explained, a worked problem and a chance for the student to attempt a question. Our free exam board finder can help you identify the course first.
Check practical preparation for your board
Cambridge IGCSE Physics has a practical test route and an Alternative to Practical route. Paper 6 is relevant to the latter; it is not the name of a practical paper for every IGCSE student. Ask which component the school has entered and how the tutor prepares the required skills.
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics assesses practical knowledge and experimental skills through written examinations. Ask about planning, variables, measurements, graphs and evaluation in the context of the student’s actual papers. Neither reading notes nor watching a demonstration is a substitute for the practical experience specified by the course.
Read result evidence with the right questions
A result screenshot illustrates an individual outcome. A testimonial describes that student’s or parent’s experience. Neither, by itself, establishes the percentage of an entire cohort that earned a grade.
For any advertised success rate, ask which qualification, years and students it covers. Our student-results page separates IGCSE and A-Level historical figures from selected individual examples. Compare the teaching support with your child’s needs; an earlier student’s grade does not guarantee the same outcome.
Compare the whole lesson offer
Check lesson length, group size, timetable, catch-up arrangements and communication before deciding whether a price offers value. Ask what happens when a student misses a topic or cannot complete the homework.
At Dr Desouky Physics Academy, live online group sessions cost AED 150 for 90 minutes. Groups have around 20 students, and enrolled group students receive session recordings to help them catch up. Parents are kept informed and can contact Dr Desouky with questions. Timetables differ by exam board; confirm the current group directly.
Questions to send before joining
A useful first message includes the exam board, course level, intended exam session and a short description of the topics causing difficulty.
- —Which qualification and paper route does this group follow?
- —What are the current days, times and time zone?
- —How is student work checked, and how should a student ask for help?
- —How do recordings work if a class is missed?
- —What are the fees and joining arrangements for the chosen format?
Questions, explained
Choose a question for a direct answer, then explore the explanation and supporting resources. Each answer has its own link to save or share.
What should my child be able to do after a useful sample Physics lesson?
They should be able to explain one new idea or solve a related question with less help than before. Ask them to show the reasoning on a fresh example, rather than only whether the teacher seemed clear. This checks whether the explanation led to usable understanding.
For example, after a lesson on moments, change the force or distance and ask the student to explain how balance changes. A good discussion can also reveal which prerequisite still needs work. One lesson does not predict an exam grade, but it can show whether the teacher notices confusion, adapts an explanation and gives the student time to think.
How should parents compare tutors' advertised success rates?
Check which qualification, grade threshold, years and students the rate covers. An IGCSE A* percentage cannot be treated as an A-Level A* percentage. Selected result screenshots and testimonials are useful individual examples, but they do not independently establish a whole-cohort success rate.
Ask whether the figure includes everyone enrolled, only exam entrants or a selected group, and whether it refers to a recent cohort or a longer teaching history. Also consider the student's starting point and the support received elsewhere. The academy's results page separates its reported historical IGCSE and A-Level figures and shows individual feedback. Use evidence to inform questions about fit, rather than treating a past percentage as a guarantee for your child.
What information should I send when asking about IGCSE Physics tuition?
Send the qualification code, intended exam session, current year group and the main difficulty. A recent marked question is more informative than a grade alone. Include whether you want in-person lessons in Abu Dhabi or live online tuition, so the academy can discuss the appropriate group.
A useful message might say: 'Cambridge 0625 Extended, taking Paper 6; I can calculate moments but struggle to explain equilibrium.' That identifies both the entry route and a learning need. The academy's timetables differ by board, so confirm the current days, times and joining arrangements directly. You do not need to publish a child's personal documents to ask a course question.