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There are so many different reasons why you might want to enlist the help of a tutor. Whether you’re:
- Looking to improve your marks in your physics classes;
- Trying to get better at the numerical elements of physics, such as the formulae;
- Need some extra motivation to study; or
- Want to improve your overall academic performance,
A physics tutor can be really beneficial.
Although there are lots of wonderful reasons to study physics, many students that study physics find that the numerical elements of the subject can be challenging, whether that’s due to the number of formulae that you need to know, or the nature or complexity of certain topics.
Consequently, such students can find it very helpful to enlist the help of a physics tutor that can also help them improve their overall skills in maths.
This has a double benefit, as not only should the extra tuition in maths help you to improve in physics, but it may also help you to do better in your maths classes. Seeing as it is quite common for physics A-Level students to also study maths or even further maths at A-Level, having a tutor that could help you improve in two subjects is a bonus.
While it can be difficult in the first instance to find a physics tutor, it’s equally difficult to know what price to pay for a good tutor. This article outlines how you should go about searching for a physics and maths tutor for a price that works for you.
Know What Kind Of Physics Tutor You Would Like
There are lots of physics tutors out there that offer academic tutoring, so it pays to have an idea in advance of the kind of tutor you’re looking for, as this could have an effect on the price you’ll end up paying for tuition.
When it comes to choosing a physics and maths tutor, there are a few general rules of thumb to go by:
The more experienced and qualified the instructor, the more expensive they are likely to be. A tutor that has a PhD in physics or is a university lecturer in the subject is much more likely to charge a higher rate for tuition than a student that is currently studying towards a physics or maths degree or has an undergraduate degree in the subject.
Tutors usually have different areas of expertise. It’s common to see tutors that market themselves as being able to teach particular areas, such as preparation for GCSE physics and maths exams, or to see tutors that specialise in helping students gain the confidence to do well during the course of their physics A-Level studies and improve their academic success more generally.
Getting a tutor that has had experience helping other students in a similar position to you can be very useful.
The more specific your tuition requirements, the higher your tuition costs may be. If you’re looking for a tutor to help with revision, for example, and revise general aspects of the physics syllabus, such as any topics with numerical elements including elements of algebra or calculus, then you may not pay as much as someone who has a specific reason why they want to make use of tutoring services, for example, to get ready for an upcoming exam.
The length of tuition could influence how much you pay. It depends on the tutor, but generally speaking, the longer your tuition lasts, the more you can expect to pay. However, bear in mind that your physics and maths tutor may also charge more for particularly intensive blocks of tuition, for example in the run-up to exams.
Have An Idea Of Your Budget Before Hiring A Physics And Maths Tutor
You don’t want to get to the point where you start tuition with a physics and maths tutor, only to find that you have to stop your lessons a few weeks in because you don’t have the budget to continue paying for lessons.
To avoid this happening, it’s best to have a frank discussion, both with yourself and your tutor so that they understand your budget allowances and are aware of your own limits and expectations financially. This should help both parties start tuition on the best foot, and hopefully will set lessons up to continue for as long as they need to.
Generally speaking, physics tutors tend to charge by the hour. Although rates for tutors may vary for a variety of factors, some of which have been outlined above, on average you may expect to pay between £15 and £30 for an hour of physics tuition.
Ideally, you should have an awareness of what you can afford to pay for tuition before hiring a tutor, and using the above range as a guideline may help you understand whether you have the funds to pay for a tutor.
Having said the above, there are ways that you can save on tuition and bring costs down, which is perfect for anyone on a tight budget or looking to get the best value tutor for their money.
Note: You can find an online Physics tutor on Superprof.
Tips To Save Money On Tuition
There are lots of different ways you might be able to save money on your tuition lessons, such as:
- Switching from in-person tuition to remote lessons;
- Having group tuition workshops rather than one on one lessons;
- Having shorter lessons, or having fewer than planned lessons; and
- Asking a tutor for a discount.
Let’s take a look at these budget-friendly ideas below.
Switching To Remote Lessons
The price a tutor charges can be influenced by where that tutor is located. For example, the average hourly cost of a tutor is likely to be higher in a city such as London compared to somewhere more rural, due to the higher cost of living.
As a result, it might cost less to have a tutor provide you with online tutoring in cities or towns where the cost of living is high, for example, because the tutor won’t have to travel to visit you. Remote online tutoring can still be very effective, and with the reliability of broadband and applications such as Skype, it’s never been easier to communicate with a tutor online.
Opting For Group Tuition
Anyone looking to save some money on their tuition costs may also want to consider choosing group tuition over other tuition methods. This is because, with group workshops, the cost of the tuition session can be split between the attendees, which can lead to cheaper lessons overall.
If you know of other people in your physics or maths classes who are interested in tutoring, then you should be able to find people willing to attend a group lesson without too much difficulty.
More than one physics and maths tutor offers group lessons, often at a discount!
Cutting Down The Number Of Lessons
As stated above, a private tutor usually charges by the hour. As a result, if you can reduce how long you spend with your tutor, then the cost of tuition should reduce. This might mean that you cut lessons down to 45 minutes instead of one hour, or you only schedule 6 weeks’ worth of tuition in rather than the 8 you would have ideally had.
Asking For A Discount
Although not every tutor will accept discounts, it doesn’t hurt to ask if a tutor is willing to work at a reduced rate. Ultimately, being upfront with a prospective tutor about your budget constraints will help you to find the right tutor for you at a price point you can afford.
Conclusion
Overall, when looking at how much you should pay for a physics and maths tutor, there are a lot of variables to think about, such as how much tuition you want, what you’d like to gain out of such supplemental instruction, whether you’d like remote, one on one tutoring, or group lessons, and how experienced the tutor is.
Once you have your budget in mind, the best thing that you can do is to consider the factors discussed above, and also take the time to shop around to find a tutor that’s right for you.
Superprof, for instance, has a wide network of both physics and maths tutors, with a range of experience levels that offer a selection of in-person, small group, and online-only learning options.
Looking through private tutoring sites such as Superprof should give you the best chance to browse between different tutors and ultimately select the best tutors that:
- Match your academic and financial needs;
- Can help you become more confident in your physics studies; and
- Can give you guidance and strategies to help you succeed during your exam.
If you found this useful, why not check out our blogs on taking physics courses and what kind of job you can do with a physics degree!
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