Online GCSE Maths tutor for Foundation and Higher tier
Whichever exam board your child sits, we teach both tiers. Your child gets to grips with the thinking behind each method, then applies it to exam questions.
- per hour (GBP)
- From £25
- per hour (GBP)
- Free assessment call, the first step
- 15 minutes
- Free assessment call, the first step
- Per lesson, one-to-one on Microsoft Teams
- 1 hour
- Per lesson, one-to-one on Microsoft Teams
- Foundation and Higher, both taught
- Two tiers
- Foundation and Higher, both taught
What your child can study in GCSE Maths
Your child can work at either GCSE tier:
- Foundation Tier
- Higher Tier
Subject to tutor availability, we also teach GCSE Statistics and AQA’s Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics.
Boards our tutors teach
- AQA
- Pearson Edexcel
- OCR
- Eduqas
- Cambridge IGCSE
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE
We also work with international students sitting IGCSE, following the specification and board they are entered for. That includes Cambridge IGCSE and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE, whenever we have a tutor who is a suitable match.
GCSE Maths exams, board by board
Every major UK exam board is covered for GCSE Maths. The table sets out how each one examines the subject, taken from its own specification.
GCSE Mathematics
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE Mathematics (8300) | Three papers of 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each. Paper 1 is non-calculator; Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Mathematics (1MA1) | Three papers of 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each. Paper 1 is non-calculator; a calculator is allowed for Papers 2 and 3. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| OCR GCSE (9–1) Mathematics (J560) | Three papers of 1 hour 30 minutes and 100 marks each, one of them non-calculator. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| WJEC Eduqas GCSE Mathematics | Two components of 2 hours 15 minutes and 120 marks each: one non-calculator, one calculator-allowed. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
International GCSE
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) | Core: Papers 1 (non-calculator) and 3 (calculator), 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each. Extended: Papers 2 (non-calculator) and 4 (calculator), 2 hours and 100 marks each. | Core grades C–G; Extended grades A*–E |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1) | Two papers of 2 hours and 100 marks each; a calculator may be used. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
Further Mathematics and Statistics
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics (8365) | A Level 2 qualification, not a GCSE. Two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 80 marks: one non-calculator, one calculator. | Untiered; grades 5–9 |
| AQA GCSE Statistics (8382) | Two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 80 marks each; a calculator may be used. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Statistics (1ST0) | Two papers of 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each; a scientific calculator may be used. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
AQA GCSE Mathematics is linear, so a student sits all of their exams in one series: November or May/June.
Taken from each board’s published specification, which every exam name links to. Specifications change from time to time, so check the one your child’s school follows.
Common sticking points
- Algebra, including working with expressions
- Quadratics
- Simultaneous equations
- Algebraic fractions
- Ratio and proportion
- Indices and surds
- Trigonometry
- Geometry, including circle theorems
- Probability
- Statistics
- Problems that take several steps
- Using known methods on unfamiliar exam questions
Marks also slip away through weak exam technique: too little working shown, a question misread, or reasoning that is not explained clearly.
Our approach to GCSE Maths
Method before memory
Your child learns the reasoning behind each method, so they are not relying on a list of remembered steps.
From worked example to working alone
A topic starts with explanation and worked examples, followed by guided practice. After that your child tackles exam questions by themselves, with every step of a solution laid out clearly.
Building towards the real exam
The further your child gets, the more each lesson leans on past-paper and exam-style questions, so applying maths in exam conditions becomes familiar.
GCSE Maths: what parents tell us
- GCSE Maths
“My daughter has grown so much in confidence with Maths. The lessons are well structured, and difficult topics are explained in a way she can actually understand. We've been really pleased with her progress.”
Sarah M., Parent of a Year 11 student
- GCSE Maths
“My son struggled with algebra and more complex exam questions, but the tutoring has really helped him understand the methods behind the answers. He is much more confident tackling questions independently now.”
Asad H., Parent of a Year 11 student
- GCSE Maths
“We were looking for extra Maths support ahead of GCSEs, particularly with geometry and problem-solving. The lessons have been clear, structured and tailored to the areas my daughter finds difficult. We're very happy with the support.”
Ranj P., Parent of a Year 10 student
Real reviews, shared with each reviewer’s permission. Read how we check them. Results vary by individual. Outcomes depend on attendance, effort, homework completion and exam conditions. No grades are guaranteed.
Find the right GCSE Maths tutor
Free 15-minute assessment call. We reply within 24 hours.
Your child’s tutor
- Your child gets one tutor, matched to them from our team, who teaches all of their lessons.
- Every tutor teaches in their own specialism and has relevant academic and/or teaching experience.
- Every tutor holds an Enhanced DBS certificate with a Children’s Barred List check.
With a team of maths tutors to draw on, we can match your child by exam board, tier, year group and availability. Exact times come down to each tutor’s timetable.
What lessons look like
How long, and how often
Each lesson is an hour long.
Most students take a lesson or two each week, and some may need more as their exams get close. Together we set a timetable that fits your child’s goals, the times they are free and the rest of their workload.
We teach 09:00–21:00 UK time (Europe/London), seven days a week.
On Microsoft Teams
Lessons are on Microsoft Teams. Your child’s tutor explains ideas on the Teams whiteboard, shares their screen for worked examples, and goes through questions with your child. We do not record lessons.
Homework and practice
After each lesson the tutor usually sets 15–30 minutes of homework. That could be exam questions, a worksheet, practice questions, a short recall task or work that reinforces the lesson.
The amount can go up or down once we have talked it over with you both. The tutor reviews what comes back and decides from it what to revisit.
What we teach from
What tutors teach from:
- Past papers
- Questions and materials published by the exam boards
- Learning resources found online
- Resources from Virtus Academy, when they help
- Worksheets and materials your child’s tutor creates
- Anything else that suits the specification and level your child is working at
Materials are picked to fit the exam board and tier your child is sitting, and the areas they most need to work on.
Keeping you in the picture
You get updates on progress, as often as suits you and your child. An update can include:
- Topics covered so far
- Strengths they are showing
- Where more practice is needed
- Whether homework is getting done
- How their exam preparation and technique are coming along
- What comes next
What it costs, and the free call first
We set the rate by what your child needs: where they are now, the grade they are aiming for and how much needs teaching again. It is confirmed after the free assessment call.
Every price is in pounds sterling (GBP), and payments are made in GBP.
During the free call, which lasts 15 minutes, we learn how things stand for your child today and what they are hoping for. We cover:
- Which year they are in, and the level they are working at
- Which subject, and which exam board
- Tier (Foundation or Higher), if the subject has tiers
- What comes easily, and what they struggle with
- Results from recent tests or exams, if you have them to hand
- The grades and exam goals they are aiming for
- How they learn best
- When they are free, and how many lessons would suit them
Not sure where your child needs help? The call is there to pin down where tutoring will make the biggest difference.
Questions about GCSE Maths
Should my child sit the Higher tier?
That depends on their current level, the grade they are aiming for and their plans after GCSE. We can explain both tiers to you and help you choose.
What if my child has fallen behind?
We can help. First we pinpoint the gaps, then cover the earlier topics your child needs, and only then start on the GCSE content they are studying now.
Do you teach Foundation tier as well as Higher?
We do: both tiers, for every major UK exam board.
Are past papers part of the lessons?
Yes. Along with exam-style questions, they matter a great deal for GCSE preparation, and more so as the exam approaches.
How much homework should we expect?
Typically 15–30 minutes, adjusted to suit your child and their school workload.
For lessons, cancellations and payment in general, see our FAQs page.
Free revision material
Virtus Academy is a free GCSE resources site run by the same owner, publishing revision worksheets. Its GCSE Maths pages are below.
Find the right GCSE Maths tutor
Free 15-minute assessment call. We reply within 24 hours.