Online GCSE tutors for maths, English and science
An online GCSE tutor teaches you one to one over live video, working from your exam board's specification and past papers. FLN Tutors matches you with a maths, English or science specialist for AQA, Edexcel, OCR or WJEC, at Foundation or Higher tier.
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What we help with at GCSE level
- Maths (Foundation and Higher) and Further Maths
- Biology, chemistry and physics, Combined or separate sciences
- English language and literature, including set texts
- Computer science and business
- Exam technique, past papers and mark schemes
- Revision plans before mocks and the summer exams
What does an online GCSE tutor help with?
An online GCSE tutor works through the topics you find hardest and the question styles that carry the most marks. In maths that usually means algebra, ratio, geometry and problem-solving questions. In English language and literature it means reading and analysis questions, set texts and timed writing. In biology, chemistry and physics it means required practicals, calculations and six-mark extended answers.
Which exam board and tier are you on?
GCSE specifications differ between AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC, so tell us your board and tier when you book. In GCSE Maths, Foundation tier leads to grades 1 to 5 and Higher tier to grades 4 to 9, so your tier decides which topics you need. Your tutor teaches from that specification and uses its past papers and mark schemes.
How are GCSEs graded?
In England, GCSEs are graded 9 to 1, with 9 the highest grade. Grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 a strong pass. WJEC GCSEs taken in Wales and CCEA GCSEs in Northern Ireland use letter grades, so check which scale your qualification uses before you set a target grade.
How is GCSE Maths examined?
AQA and Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths are both assessed by three written papers of 1 hour 30 minutes and 80 marks each, taken at the same tier. Paper 1 is non-calculator and Papers 2 and 3 allow a calculator, so tutors practise mental and written methods as well as calculator questions.
When should you start GCSE tutoring?
Many students start in Year 10 to build the core topics, and others book a block of sessions in Year 11 before mocks and the summer exams. A single session also works well for one topic you are stuck on. Sessions are 60 minutes, online, and can be booked in the evenings and at weekends.
What happens in a GCSE session?
Before the session you send the topic, past-paper question or mock result you want to work on. The tutor explains the method step by step, you try exam-style questions while they check your working against the mark scheme, and you finish with a short list of what to practise before the next session.
Worked example: a Higher tier quadratic
Solve 2x² + 5x − 3 = 0. Look for two numbers that multiply to 2 × −3 = −6 and add to 5: these are 6 and −1. Split the middle term: 2x² + 6x − x − 3 = 0, so 2x(x + 3) − 1(x + 3) = 0, giving (2x − 1)(x + 3) = 0. So x = 1/2 or x = −3. Tutors show each line because the mark scheme gives method marks for the factorised form even if a final answer is wrong.
GCSE exam boards at a glance
Your board is printed on your exam entry and on past papers from your school.
| Board | Mainly taken in | Grading scale |
|---|---|---|
| AQA | England | 9 to 1 |
| Pearson Edexcel | England | 9 to 1 |
| OCR | England | 9 to 1 |
| Eduqas (WJEC) | England | 9 to 1 |
| WJEC | Wales | A* to G |
Example plan: GCSE Maths from grade 5 to grade 7
An example eight-week plan for a Higher tier student. Your tutor builds yours from your own mock results.
| Weeks | Focus | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | A full Higher past paper to find gaps, then algebra: expanding, factorising quadratics, rearranging formulae | Past-paper questions on each gap |
| 3 to 4 | Ratio, proportion and percentages, including reverse percentages and compound interest | Mixed exam questions, timed |
| 5 to 6 | Geometry: similar shapes, circle theorems, sine and cosine rules | Grade 6 and 7 questions |
| 7 to 8 | Graphs, simultaneous equations and probability trees | A full timed paper, marked against the mark scheme |
GCSE courses
Structured online courses by exam board, taught live by subject specialists.
Frequently asked questions
How does online GCSE tutoring work?
You book a live one-to-one video session with a subject specialist. Sessions are 60 minutes on Zoom or Google Meet. Beforehand you share the topics, homework or past-paper questions you want to cover, so the tutor can plan the session around your exam board and tier.
Which GCSE exam boards do you cover?
Our GCSE tutors and courses follow AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR and WJEC (including Eduqas) specifications. Tell us your board and tier when you book, and your tutor works from that specification, its past papers and its mark schemes, so your practice matches the real exam.
Can I take a GCSE course instead of live sessions?
Yes. There are structured GCSE courses for maths, the sciences, English, computer science and business, organised by exam board. See the course list on this page. Many students combine a course for the full specification with occasional live sessions for the topics they find hardest.
How much does an online GCSE tutor cost?
The price depends on the subject, level and how many sessions you book. You see the price for your request before you pay, and there is no charge until you accept it. Booking a block of sessions before mocks or exams lets you plan the full cost in advance.
Can a GCSE tutor help me move from Foundation to Higher tier?
Yes. The tutor first checks which Higher-only topics you have not covered, such as harder algebra, trigonometry and vectors in maths, then teaches them with exam-style questions. Your school makes the final tier entry, so share your mock results and your teacher's advice with your tutor.
What grade is a pass at GCSE?
In England, grade 4 is a standard pass and grade 5 is a strong pass on the 9 to 1 scale. Students who do not get at least a grade 4 in English and maths usually keep studying them after 16. A tutor can help you plan for the grade your next course asks for.
How many GCSE tutoring sessions will I need?
It depends on your starting point and target grade. One session can fix a single topic, while moving up a grade usually takes a regular weekly session over a term or more. Your tutor reviews your mock or test results in the first session and suggests a realistic plan.
Do you help with Combined Science and separate sciences?
Yes. Tutors cover GCSE Combined Science, which leads to two GCSE grades, and the separate biology, chemistry and physics GCSEs. Sessions focus on required practicals, calculations and longer written answers, using past papers from your board and the right tier.
Will my tutor use GCSE past papers and mark schemes?
Yes. Tutors use your board's past papers, specimen papers and mark schemes, so you learn how marks are given as well as the content. They show you where method marks are lost and how examiners expect answers to be set out for your specification.
Can I get help with GCSE English Literature set texts?
Yes. A tutor can work through your set texts and poetry anthology, including themes, characters, context and key quotations. They also practise timed essay planning so you can write a clear, well-structured answer in the exam for your board's question style.
Can I book GCSE tutoring just before my exams?
Yes. Many students book a short block of sessions in the weeks before mocks or the summer exams. Sessions then focus on your weakest topics, timed past-paper questions and exam technique, so you make the most of the time you have left before each paper.
Do you help students resitting GCSE maths or English?
Yes. Tutors help students preparing to resit GCSE maths or English language. In England there is a November exam series for these two subjects for students aged 16 or over, as well as the summer series, so ask your school or college which series you are entered for.
Can parents book GCSE tutoring for their child?
Yes. A parent or guardian can make the booking and share the exam board, tier and topics. Sessions are online, so your child joins from home, and you can agree with the tutor how progress will be shared after each session or block of sessions.
Will my tutor know my GCSE specification?
Yes. You are matched with a tutor for your subject, and they teach from your board's specification. If your school uses a less common board or route, mention it when you book so the tutor can prepare with the correct specification and papers before the first session.
When are GCSE exams and results?
Most GCSE exams are taken in May and June, and results are published in August. Your school confirms the exact dates for each paper on your exam timetable. Plan your tutoring back from your first paper so the hardest topics are covered well before exam season.
Other academic levels
Online GCSE tutoring and courses
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