Award-Winning AP Physics Tutors serving Chicago, IL

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Steve
Certified AP Physics Tutor
Steve
BA University of Notre Dame
10+ Years Tutoring

A chemical and biomolecular engineering degree means Steve spent years applying thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electromagnetism to real systems — the same core principles that drive AP Physics 1 and 2. He's particularly sharp at teaching students how to connect free-body diagrams to Newton's laws and energy bar charts to conservation principles, building the kind of physical intuition the exam's qualitative questions demand. Rated 5.0 by students.

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Jonathan
Certified AP Physics Tutor
Jonathan
PhD University of Chicago • BA Vanderbilt University
10+ Years Tutoring

I am eager to help students wrestle with and master concepts in their math and physics classes. I have extensive experience tutoring students in both math and physics at the high school and college level in one on one and larger group settings. During my PhD I was awarded a teaching fellowship which allowed me to continue teaching while I continued to perform research and carry out my dissertation work.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Peter
BA Cornell University
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with Distinction in 2015. Since graduation, I was a physics/chemistry teacher and soccer coach at a private school in Virginia for a year, where I led the soccer team to an undefeated season. Before teaching and coaching professionally, I was a Teaching Assistant for the Cornell Math and Physics Departments, where I taught many subjects including calculus, mechanics, electromagnetism. Throughout my time at Cornell and as a teacher, I tutored subjects ranging from the SAT to AP Physics and Algebra II, which is where my true talents lie: in small group or one-on-one settings where I can give students the full attention they deserve and tailor my approach specifically to their learning styles. This is why I am now pursuing tutoring as a part-time occupation at Varsity Tutors. I embrace teaching all math and science subjects, especially physics and calculus, at both the college and high school level and will go above and beyond to make sure all of my students succeed, according to their definition of success. In my spare time, I enjoy playing league soccer, basketball, tennis and guitar, and also like to travel and see as much of the world as I can.

ACT Scores
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Certified AP Physics Tutor
La
BA Princeton University
8+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate of Princeton University's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. I am passionate about teaching and mentoring and have done so in multiple capacities over the last four years, including a fellowship during which I taught pre-algebraic math to a group of middle school students from traditionally underserved backgrounds in Saint Paul, MN. I love interacting with students and seeing them grow over the course of their studies. I'm ecstatic at the opportunity to learn alongside them as we venture into educational rabbit holes and uncover key concepts about math, science, and everything else.

ACT Scores
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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Sparsh
BA Vanderbilt University
8+ Years Tutoring

I am an incoming medical student at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. I graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I'm passionate about teaching STEM topics and making sure my students truly understand the material. I have 4 years experience teaching and tutoring elementary, middle, high school, and college students in STEM topics through a program called VSVS. Looking forward to meeting you!

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Maggie
BA University of Chicago
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a student at the University of Chicago majoring in mathematics & comparative human development. I sing in an acapella group, play violin, and on weekends I love to go for bike rides or long runs, see local theater and music performances, and explore the city of Chicago. Through my studies and bike rides and runs, I enjoy working hard and building personalized, step-by-step plans for pursuing the goals I set. Nonetheless, I also believe in the importance of having fun and finding enjoyment in my day-to-day life, which I do through music and geographic exploration. I believe that this enthusiasm, curiosity, and steady work ethic are the keys to achieving goals once thought impossible, and I hope to inspire such a mindset in the people with whom I work.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Evan
BA Harvard University • Current Grad Student, Statistics Harvard University
9+ Years Tutoring

I'm thrilled to work with anybody on any subjects of interest, reach out with any questions!

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SAT Scores
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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Thomas
BA University of Notre Dame
9+ Years Tutoring

I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. I received my Bachelor of Science in Physics. Next fall, I will begin pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Math and Physics make up the inner core of my expertise. However, I know what it takes to achieve high scores in all sections of standardized tests. I developed a passion for helping students achieve their academic goals after tutoring students in my mother's fifth grade classroom. This experience has also led me to tutor high school and college students. Therefore, I enjoy tutoring students of all ages and abilities. In my opinion, problem solving is a learned skill that is widely applicable in many areas of life. My tutoring philosophy is to develop students into better problem solvers while assisting them in particular courses or standardized tests. My hope is that by developing these fundamental problem solving skills they will eventually no longer need my help in future courses or standardized tests since they will have the necessary tools to succeed on their own.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Masooma
BA University of Illinois at Chicago
10+ Years Tutoring

I am currently a graduate student at the University of Chicago. I have been tutoring for over four years, with hundreds of hours of experience in various subjects. The reason I love being a tutor the most is because I can relate with my students. I myself once had to go through the same learning process for each subject that my students now face as well, and so I know what that feels like, and love to help guide others through it. Likewise, I truly understand where those confusions often lie, and--most importantly--how to best overcome those obstacles to reach the a proper understanding of the material at hand.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Elise
BA Massachusetts Institute of Technology
10+ Years Tutoring

I am a recent graduate of MIT. I will be pursuing a PhD in the fall and have some time off this summer. While at MIT, I came to really enjoy teaching.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Brian
MS Illinois Institute of Technology • BA Marquette University
6+ Years Tutoring

I am a bit of a nerd and play many table top board games.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Derick
BA Northeastern University
1+ Years Tutoring

I am a Northwestern University graduate and received my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics. I have an extensive background tutoring middle and high school students in Standardized Tests as well as helping incoming freshmen acclimate to the college environment as a Peer Advisor. Due to my concentration in STEM, I am well-adept in teaching Math and Physics, though am open to tutoring outside those subjects. I believe that working on one's education outside of regular school hours shows a strong initiative to learn, and I want to encourage this drive for learning in my students.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Sareen
Current Undergrad, Neuroscience and Psychology University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
10+ Years Tutoring

I'm currently a medical student at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. I graduated summa cum laude in April 2020 from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Neuroscience, B.S. with honors in Psychology, B.A. in French, minor in Chemistry and certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. I love teaching and tutoring people in topics of all kinds and have done so since freshman year of high school when I began working as a private tutor and a junior teacher at a local learning center. Working with students is a passion of mine since I love learning, teaching and getting to know new people as well. I believe education is an important part of life and strive to give all my students a solid foundation to the best of my ability.

ACT Scores
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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Kyle
BA University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1+ Years Tutoring

I'm extremely patient and will always take the time to ensure students understand the concepts in a way that is clear to them.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Grant
Current Undergrad Student, Mechanical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
6+ Years Tutoring

I am actively working in this area I have constant practice with the fundamentals of math and physics.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Zain
Current Undergrad Student, Computer Science University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
6+ Years Tutoring

I am a second-year student at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and I am in the College of Engineering. I am not exactly sure as to what I want to do after College, but I do know that I would like to do something that involves Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. In High School, I would teach/tutor elementary school students at a tutoring center in Chicago called Ivy Garden. I tutor many High School Math and Science subjects (including AP courses) as well as Math and Science test prep for the ACT. My favorite subjects to tutor are Calculus and Physics because they are applicable with many things in your daily life. I am inspired to tutor those who are struggling in Math and Science courses because people are very discouraged while studying these subjects and I feel that, with the proper instruction, not only will people get better at those subjects; but they will become more confident in themselves. I believe that understanding something conceptually is ten times more valuable than knowing how to use an equation and I like using real world examples when I am tutoring. On my free time I enjoy playing NBA 2K and actual basketball.

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Certified AP Physics Tutor
Nathan
PhD University of Notre Dame • MS University of Notre Dame
2+ Years Tutoring

I'm a friendly and dedicated tutor with a PhD in Physics from the University of Notre Dame and over five years of experience helping students at the middle school, high school, and college levels. I work with a wide range of subjects, including all levels of physics, algebra, calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics, and general problem-solving. My approach is straightforward: meet students where they are, explain ideas clearly, and work together through examples until everything clicks. I value building confidence just as much as building skills. Every student learns differently, so I adapt explanations to match the way they think. The most rewarding part of tutoring for me is seeing students go from "I'm stuck" to "I've got this." If you're looking for someone patient, supportive, and genuinely invested in your progress, I'd be happy to help.

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Testimonials

Because the right AP Physics tutor makes all the difference.

4.9

Average Session Rating – Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings

Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

Your customer interface is A+, being your agents or your site, The tutor you found for me is perfect, no formulas or canned lectures but easy flowing lecture addressing my needs. Congratulations for a job well done.

JA
Julio Aranovich
Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

Heejin has been very patient with me. I work a full time job sometimes even on the weekends. It has been a slow process with my Korean classes, but Heejin has been wonderful and patient.

AH
Angela Hussein
Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

My son has had many quality tutors through this convenient service, and he can hop on at any time of day to get support for a homework assignment or test. It's very convenient and effective.

TR
Tara R
Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

I've been working with my tutor for a few months now and the progress has been remarkable. The personalized attention and tailored lessons made all the difference compared to in-classroom learning.

MC
Michael Chen
Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

The flexibility of scheduling combined with the quality of instruction is unmatched. I can get help exactly when I need it, whether that's late at night or early in the morning before a test.

PP
Priya Patel
Worked with an AP Physics Tutor

My daughter went from dreading her sessions to looking forward to them. The tutor made the material engaging and built her confidence in ways I never thought possible. Highly recommend.

RW
Rebecca Williams

Frequently Asked Questions

AP Physics courses cover mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. The two main AP Physics exams are AP Physics 1 (algebra-based) and AP Physics 2 (algebra-based continuation), plus AP Physics C (calculus-based), which goes deeper into mechanics and electricity/magnetism. The curriculum emphasizes both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills, with heavy emphasis on free-response questions that require you to explain your reasoning and show your work.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you engage with tutoring. Students who work with tutors typically see gains by clarifying misconceptions, mastering problem-solving strategies, and practicing with actual AP exam questions. Many students jump from a 2 or 3 to a 4 or 5 within a few months of focused preparation, especially when they identify and target their weakest topic areas early.

The main hurdles are translating word problems into physics equations, understanding when to apply which concepts, and managing the time pressure of the exam. Many students struggle with free-response questions because they require clear explanations alongside calculations—you can't just show an answer. Additionally, the conceptual reasoning required in AP Physics is different from lower-level physics courses, so students often need help shifting their problem-solving approach.

Most students benefit from starting tutoring 3-4 months before the May exam, though this varies based on your current understanding. If you're struggling with foundational concepts, starting earlier (6 months out) gives you time to build a solid base before diving into practice exams and test-taking strategies. Even 6-8 weeks of consistent tutoring can help you identify weak areas and improve your approach to problem-solving.

Your first session focuses on assessment and goal-setting. A tutor will review your current understanding of key physics concepts, identify which topics are causing confusion, and learn about your test timeline and score goals. This helps create a personalized study plan that targets your specific weaknesses rather than reviewing material you already know well.

Practice tests are essential—they help you get comfortable with the exam format, practice pacing (you have 3 hours for 50+ questions), and identify which concepts you need to review. Taking full-length practice exams under timed conditions reveals whether your struggles are conceptual or timing-related. A tutor can review your practice test results to pinpoint patterns in your mistakes and adjust your study strategy accordingly.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or unsure about problem-solving strategies. Working through practice problems repeatedly builds confidence and automaticity, so you spend less mental energy on "how do I solve this?" and more on actually solving it. Tutors also help you develop a test-day strategy—like which questions to tackle first, how to manage your time, and techniques for staying calm when you encounter a difficult problem.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Chicago who specialize in AP Physics and understand the specific demands of the exam. You can describe your goals and challenges, and get matched with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your needs. Whether you're aiming for a 3 or a 5, or you need help with specific topics like circuits or kinematics, tutors can tailor their instruction to your goals.

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