Online GCSE Science tutor for Combined and Triple Science
Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or Combined Science. Each science is taught by a tutor who specialises in it, with exam technique built into the teaching.
- 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
- Every science, both routes
- Combined or Triple
- Every science, both routes
What your child can study in GCSE Science
Your child can study any of these with us:
- Combined Science
- GCSE Biology
- GCSE Chemistry
- GCSE Physics
Wherever a specification is tiered, Foundation and Higher are both taught.
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 Science exams, board by board
Our science tutors cover the specifications of every major UK exam board. Each board’s own specification sets out its science exams, summarised here.
Combined Science
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) | Six papers, two each in biology, chemistry and physics, of 1 hour 15 minutes and 70 marks each. 21 required practicals. | Foundation and Higher tier |
| AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy (8465) | Four papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each. 21 required practicals. | Foundation and Higher tier |
| Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Combined Science (1SC0) | Six papers of 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks each. | A double grade from 9–9 to 1–1; Foundation 1–1 to 5–5, Higher 4–4 to 9–9 |
| OCR Gateway Science Combined Science A (J250) | Six papers per tier of 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks each. Worth two GCSEs. | Foundation 1–1 to 5–5; Higher 4–4 to 9–9 |
| OCR Twenty First Century Science Combined Science B (J260) | Four papers per tier of 1 hour 45 minutes. Worth two GCSEs. | Foundation 1–1 to 5–5; Higher 4–4 to 9–9 |
| WJEC Eduqas GCSE Combined Science | Four components of 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks each. | Foundation 1–1 to 5–5; Higher 4–4 to 9–9 |
Biology, Chemistry and Physics
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Chemistry (8462), Physics (8463) | Two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each. Required practicals: ten in Biology, eight in Chemistry and in Physics. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Biology (1BI0), Chemistry (1CH0), Physics (1PH0) | Two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 100 marks each. Eight core practicals in each subject. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| OCR Gateway Science Biology A (J247), Chemistry A (J248), Physics A (J249) | Two papers per tier of 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks each. At least eight practicals. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
| WJEC Eduqas GCSE Biology | Component 1: 2 hours 15 minutes, 120 marks. Component 2: 1 hour 15 minutes, 60 marks. | Foundation tier grades 1–5; Higher tier grades 4–9 |
International GCSE
| Exam | Papers and assessment | Tiers and grading |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610), Chemistry (0620), Physics (0625) | A multiple-choice paper (45 minutes) and a theory paper (1 hour 15 minutes), plus either a Practical Test or an Alternative to Practical paper. | Core grades C–G; Extended grades A*–G |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1), Chemistry (4CH1), Physics (4PH1) | Paper 1: 2 hours, 110 marks. Paper 2: 1 hour 15 minutes, 70 marks. Experimental skills are assessed in the written exams. | Untiered; grades 9–1 |
There is no separate assessment of the required practicals: they are examined through questions in the written papers. On AQA and OCR, practical skills carry at least 15% of the marks.
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
Biology
- Cell biology and organisation
- Inheritance and genetics
- Ecology
- Required practicals
- Longer written answers
- Using knowledge in unfamiliar contexts
Chemistry
- Structure and bonding
- Chemical equations
- Calculations in quantitative chemistry
- Electrolysis
- Organic chemistry
- Required practicals
- Applying what they know to unfamiliar reactions
Physics
- Energy
- Electricity
- Waves
- Motion and forces
- Using equations, including rearranging them
- Calculations with several steps
- Required practicals
- Using maths skills in unfamiliar situations
Across all three, the parts that cause most trouble are often questions needing a long answer, the meaning of command words, and using knowledge rather than simply recalling it.
Our approach to GCSE Science
Content and technique in one lesson
Your child learns the subject and how to tackle the exam at the same time: the content itself, how to work out what a question wants, and how to shape an answer to match its command word.
Varied practice
Expect diagrams and worked calculations, scenarios built around practicals, questions from past papers, and targeted practice at recalling key facts.
GCSE Science: what parents tell us
- GCSE Science
“The tutoring has made a real difference to my son's understanding of Biology and Chemistry. He feels much more prepared for his exams and is far more confident asking questions.”
James P., Parent of a Year 10 student
- GCSE Physics
“My daughter needed help connecting the topics in GCSE Physics and remembering how to apply the equations. The sessions have made the content easier to understand, and she managed to ace her exams.”
Mark E., Parent of a Year 11 student
- GCSE Science
“Thought my son was going to fail his science gcses but he did really well. thank you for the support, definitely reccomend”
Rachel T., 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 Science 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.
Between them, our science tutors teach Combined Science and each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Who is free comes down to the subject, the exam board and 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.
Required practicals, online
Tutors explain each practical and show it through diagrams, videos and other visuals, worked-through experiment scenarios and questions in the style of the exam. Your child comes away knowing why the practical is done, which variables matter, what equipment and method it uses, the safety points, what the results show, where errors creep in, and how to analyse and evaluate it.
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 Science
Is Triple Science needed to study science at A-level?
Not always. Each sixth form and college sets its own entry requirements, so check what the courses on your child’s list ask for. Taking Combined Science does not rule out studying science later, as long as your child meets those requirements.
Is Triple Science a lot harder?
There is more content to get through, so it suits a student who can handle a bigger workload. Whether that is your child comes down to their interests, how they are doing now and their plans for later.
Do you have tutors for each science?
Yes. We have Biology, Chemistry and Physics specialists, plus tutors for Combined Science.
Are required practicals covered?
Yes. Lessons cover each required practical, and the exam questions written about them.
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 Science pages are below.
- GCSE Combined ScienceWorksheets for revision, plus a topic guide spanning all three sciences.
- GCSE BiologyTopics from cell biology and organisation through infection and response, bioenergetics and homeostasis, to inheritance and ecology.
- GCSE ChemistryTopics from atomic structure and bonding through quantitative chemistry and chemical changes, to organic chemistry and analysis.
- GCSE PhysicsTopics from energy and electricity through the particle model, atomic structure, forces and waves, to magnetism and space physics.
Deciding between Combined and Triple Science? Read Combined science or triple science: it is not about ambition.
Find the right GCSE Science tutor
Free 15-minute assessment call. We reply within 24 hours.