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Award-Winning IB Physics SL Tutors

Kinjal

Certified Tutor

Kinjal

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Kinjal's other Tutor Subjects
IB Mathematics SL
IB Mathematics HL
IB Mathematical Studies SL
College Algebra

I am a graduate of Texas A&M University; I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology along with being a minor in Spanish. I also studied at Plano ISD in high school. As Plano ISD is recognized for its academic achievements and competitiveness, I have always been positively challenged by my curriculu...

Education

Texas A & M University-College Station

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1550
ACT
33
Dara

Certified Tutor

Dara

Bachelor of Science, Bioengineering
Dara's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
IB Mathematics SL
IB Mathematics HL
Arithmetic

I am applying to medical schools to attend Fall 2016 and I like to play basketball, go backpacking and volunteer with youth in my free time.

Education

Oregon State University

Bachelor of Science, Bioengineering

Test Scores
ACT
32
Kimberly

Certified Tutor

Kimberly

Bachelor's
Kimberly's other Tutor Subjects
7th-11th Grade math
7th-8th Grade Science
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I am a recent graduate of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Womens & Gender Studies. Having been a science nerd throughout high school, I knew that I would want to study biochemistry at university, but I also wanted to strengthen my writing, ...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Test Scores
SAT
1590
Lauren

Certified Tutor

10+ years

Lauren

Bachelors
Lauren's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra

I am tutoring someone who shares my passion for these subjects and wants that extra edge, or someone who is struggling with the concepts, I want to help students strive to be the most successful and thoughtful that they can possibly be.

Education

Brown University

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1560
Michelle

Certified Tutor

Michelle

Master of Arts, International Affairs
Michelle's other Tutor Subjects
IB Mathematics SL
IB Mathematics HL
IB Mathematical Studies SL
IB Further Mathematics HL

I am not someone who is satisfied when a student memorizes steps to solve a problem. I always want the student to understand what he/she is doing and why they are doing. This insight will make them a stronger, faster and better student, particularly in the field of mathematics. This brings the stude...

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Master of Arts, International Affairs

Pomona College

Bachelor in Arts, Mathematical Economics

Test Scores
SAT
1430
Remington

Certified Tutor

Remington

PHD, Physics
Remington's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade math
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
College Algebra

I am about to begin graduate school as a PhD Student in Condensed Matter Physics. I am currently working at an experimental physics lab at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Education

University of Chicago

PHD, Physics

University of Maryland

Bachelor in Arts, Psychology, Criminology

Nicole

Certified Tutor

Nicole

Bachelor of Science
Nicole's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade Reading
3rd-8th Grade Science
AP Calculus BC

I am very thorough in the material and diligently work, while being patient, to make sure each student is understanding the lessons because I know everyone has a unique way he/she processes and learns.

Education

Cornell University

Bachelor of Science

Zhenrui

Certified Tutor

Zhenrui

Bachelors, Electrical Engineering
Zhenrui's other Tutor Subjects
Multivariable Calculus
Calculus 3
Calculus 2
Calculus

I am a BS/MS student at Columbia University studying Electrical engineering and also following the premed curriculum. After my undergraduate, I hope to pursue an MD-PhD and work in a teaching/research hospital as a physician-engineer.

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York

Bachelors, Electrical Engineering

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1570
ACT
36
Abby

Certified Tutor

Abby

Bachelor's
Abby's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
IB Mathematics HL
IB Further Mathematics HL
College Algebra

I am a student at Arizona State University and Barrett the Honors College. I am pursuing a degree in chemical engineering and two minors in Spanish and mathematics. I plan on attending medical school upon graduation. I have been a tutor for nearly four years in multiple areas. Primarily, I have tuto...

Education

University

Bachelor's

Test Scores
ACT
32
Diptesh

Certified Tutor

Diptesh

Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry
Diptesh's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
IB Mathematics SL
IB Mathematical Studies SL
College Algebra

I am a pre-medical undergraduate at New York University studying Global Public Health with a concentration in Chemistry. I have been passionate about education since high school and have been teaching, tutoring, and mentoring students from grades 6-12 and college in a variety of subjects since! I sp...

Education

New York University

Bachelor of Science, Global Public Health & Chemistry

Test Scores
SAT
1520

Meet Our Expert Tutors

Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.

Micaela

Calculus Tutor • +54 Subjects

I am a great tutor, because I am able to craft and implement lesson plans designed for individual students, as well as facilitate group sessions. I have experience teaching Supplemental Instruction at Auburn University, where in addition to lecture materials, I provided study skills and academic success strategies to my students. I am a National Merit and National Hispanic Scholar, and I received a full Academic Presidential Scholarship plus stipends at Auburn. I consistently score well on standardized tests, and I am able to use and share my test-taking skills and strategies.

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Payal

12th Grade math Tutor • +122 Subjects

Hobbies: art, books, hiking, travel, reading, music, writing

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Rishi

AP Calculus AB Tutor • +45 Subjects

I am a graduate of New York University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a focus on Process Engineering. Currently, I am working towards higher education degrees and starting my career as an Engineer. Helping others to learn and understand material has always been a passion of mine. Immersing myself in a rigorous Engineering curriculum, I found myself working closely with peers and classmates in understanding the subject material. During my time at New York University, I served as a tutor for the Tutoring Center at the School of Engineering working with individuals and groups from a variety of subjects corresponding to Engineering, such as mathematics, physics, life sciences, with a primary focus on Chemical sciences and Chemical Engineering coursework. As a part of the University outreach program, I had the opportunity to work with high school students and provide tutoring after school for local high schools in the area with respect to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. I have a strong affinity for tutoring Math and Science materials. These subjects require strong problem solving skills. In my experience working with students in Standardized test preparation, we find the time spent on the Math portions to be the most enriching with results. T.H White once claimed 'Education is experience, and the essence of experience is self-reliance.' I hold similar values to T.H White with respect to the learning process. There is always something to learn, and the best way to accomplish this is to immerse one-self in the subject. Through continuous repetition and exposure, problem solving skills will be developed and we become more confident in handling the problems that we face. I also do not believe in the concept of failure, for mistakes we make can be used to learn and better ourselves. Outside of academia, I am a club soccer coach training and teaching the game to young children and adolescence. I enjoy keeping my brain and body active through puzzles, reading, exercise, and many sports specifically soccer and volleyball. I enjoy activities that induce progress, as I am always looking to better myself.

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Muhammed

12th Grade math Tutor • +69 Subjects

I am well prepared for the lecture. Before I step out of the classroom, I make sure that each student has understood the lecture to the best of his/her capacity. The ability to motivate students and stimulate their desire to learn is a critical quality of a talented teacher. Every student has different background, ability, and motivation. Identifying each student's need is essential for helping reach his/her potential. My teaching objective is to promote critical thinking, effective use of scientific information, asking relevant questions and approaching these questions in a methodological way, and working in a collaborative manner. To ease the learning process, it is essential to use multimedia and Internet resources as complementary tools for traditional blackboard and chalk teaching.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Students typically find circular motion, simple harmonic motion, and wave phenomena most challenging because they require visualizing abstract motion and understanding phase relationships. Thermodynamics concepts like entropy and the second law also trip up many students because they're counterintuitive. Additionally, the transition from kinematics to dynamics—especially applying Newton's laws in non-standard orientations and free-body diagram interpretation—causes significant difficulty. A tutor can break down these abstract concepts using real-world examples, animations, and step-by-step problem solving to build genuine understanding rather than memorization.

The Internal Assessment requires students to design experiments, collect data, analyze uncertainty, and draw conclusions—skills that go beyond solving textbook problems. A tutor can guide you through experimental design by helping you identify variables, control confounding factors, and choose appropriate measurement techniques. They can also help you understand how to calculate and interpret uncertainty (absolute, percentage, and propagated error), which is critical for the IA. Additionally, tutors can help you develop the scientific reasoning skills needed to explain why your results match or diverge from theoretical predictions, strengthening both your IA grade and your conceptual understanding.

IB Physics SL requires comfort with algebra, trigonometry, calculus concepts (derivatives and integrals), and vector mathematics—especially for topics like projectile motion, circular motion, and electromagnetic induction. Many students struggle with unit conversions, rearranging formulas, and applying calculus to physics (like understanding that acceleration is the derivative of velocity). A tutor can help you develop these skills in the physics context, showing you why the math matters rather than treating it as an isolated skill. This approach builds confidence and prevents mathematical gaps from blocking your understanding of core physics concepts.

IB Physics SL exams use specific command terms that require different types of responses: "Explain" demands you show cause-and-effect relationships and mechanisms; "Derive" requires you to start from fundamental principles and build to a result; "Discuss" asks you to evaluate multiple perspectives or trade-offs; and "Calculate" needs numerical answers with working shown. Many students lose marks by explaining when they should derive, or by providing calculations without physical reasoning. A tutor can help you recognize these terms, understand what each demands, and practice structuring answers that fully address the question—turning exam anxiety into strategic confidence.

IB Physics SL assesses both conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability, and they reinforce each other when developed together. Students often fall into the trap of memorizing formulas and plugging in numbers without understanding what's happening physically, which fails when exam questions ask them to apply concepts in unfamiliar contexts. A tutor helps you build conceptual understanding first—using diagrams, thought experiments, and real-world applications—then shows you how calculations test and deepen that understanding. This approach means you're not just solving problems; you're using problems as tools to verify and refine your mental models of how physics works.

Vectors appear throughout IB Physics SL—in kinematics (displacement, velocity, acceleration), forces, momentum, and electromagnetic fields—and many students struggle to visualize them or resolve them into components. The challenge is that vectors aren't just numbers; they have direction, and that direction matters for understanding motion and forces. A tutor can use diagrams, vector addition methods (tip-to-tail, component method), and physical demonstrations to help you build intuition about how vectors combine and interact. Once you can visualize what vectors represent physically, component resolution and dot/cross products become tools for solving problems rather than abstract mathematical operations.

Energy conservation is powerful but abstract—students often struggle to identify all forms of energy in a system (kinetic, potential, elastic, thermal, etc.) and recognize when energy is conserved versus dissipated. Common pitfalls include forgetting that friction and air resistance convert mechanical energy to heat, misidentifying the reference point for gravitational potential energy, or mixing up elastic potential energy with spring force. A tutor can help you develop a systematic approach: define your system clearly, identify all energy forms present, check whether external forces do work, and then apply conservation equations. This structured thinking transforms energy problems from confusing puzzles into logical applications of a fundamental principle.

Starting tutoring early in the course (within the first few months) allows you to build strong conceptual foundations and catch misconceptions before they compound. However, even students who start tutoring later in the year or during exam review can benefit significantly—tutors can help you identify weak topics, fill knowledge gaps, and practice exam-style questions under timed conditions. The ideal timeline depends on your current level: if you're struggling with fundamentals, starting early is crucial; if you're solid on concepts but need exam technique refinement, focused tutoring in the final months is highly effective. A tutor can assess where you stand and create a personalized plan regardless of when you start.

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