Choosing a tutor · 2 June 2026 · 6 min
Does online tutoring work for physics? Choosing the right format
Updated 10 September 2026
Parents often ask whether online lessons can work for a subject like physics. I teach both in person and online, and the useful question is which format will help this student participate, practise and get feedback consistently.
Online lessons can work well when students participate, practise and receive feedback. In-person lessons can offer the same structure with a shared classroom. My students can choose in-person tuition in Abu Dhabi or live online groups, depending on what fits their needs.
What the results say
The student-results page includes individual outcomes and student feedback. Those examples can help you assess the teaching, but they are not a controlled comparison of online and in-person lessons. Choose a format that suits the student’s concentration, travel and timetable, then check the quality of explanations, practice and feedback.
Where online genuinely wins
Online lessons remove the journey to class and make it easier for students in different cities to join the same group. Notes, solutions and homework remain available between lessons. Direct WhatsApp support can help students when they get stuck between sessions; that support also complements my in-person physics lessons in Abu Dhabi. The best format depends on the student and the teaching support around each lesson.
The format is neutral. The structure is everything.
Where online fails
Passive formats. Recorded videos without accountability, giant webinar classes where the student is a viewer count, courses with no homework loop. Online magnifies whatever structure exists — strong systems get stronger, and nothing gets nothing. A disengaged student in a passive online course will drift faster than in any classroom, because nobody is watching.
The checklist that makes it work
Live sessions, not recordings. A teacher who knows every student by name. Homework after every session, checked and returned. Regular exams under time. Direct access to the teacher between sessions. Board-specific materials. With those six in place, geography stops mattering — my groups hold students from four countries at once, sitting the same exams with the same preparation. Without them, choose in-person, or better: choose differently.