AP Math and Physics Tutors for Students Aiming at a 5
An AP math or physics class is the first time many strong students hit a wall. The pace is college pace, and the course assumes every earlier skill is solid. We find the gap underneath first, then build toward the May exam. Every lesson is one-on-one and online, with a tutor who holds a degree in math, physics or engineering, not a college student.
“Sean worked with my son during the later half of the year for my son’s 12th grade AP Physics C course. The course was very difficult, but Sean was able to explain things in ways that made sense to my son…” — Greg D., Parent
- No credit card required
- Full Semester Guarantee
Meet computational physicist and Pokémon card competitor Jonathan Lupercio.
Research physicist turned tutor. Seven of his physics students so far have gone from an F to a B+ in half a semester. When he isn’t teaching, he’s usually on the road to a Pokémon card tournament.
Jonathan Lupercio
Jonathan earned his B.S. in Physics with a mathematics minor at Stony Brook University, where he worked as an undergraduate researcher in the Fernandez-Serra group on computational physics — simulating how physical systems behave, rather than reading about them.
He is the tutor we send when a semester is already going badly. Seven times now, a student has come to him failing physics and finished half a semester later with a B+. He teaches math, physics and chemistry at every level, along with SAT, ACT and Regents preparation, and he is the person for the student who can do the algebra but cannot picture what the system is doing — which is most students in physics, most of the time.
- B.S. Physics, Minor in Mathematics, Stony Brook University
- Undergraduate researcher, Fernandez-Serra group (computational physics)
- Physics department tutor, Stony Brook University
- Teaches math, physics, chemistry and test prep at all levels
- With Alexander Tutoring since 2020
The Alexander Difference
Passion + Purpose = Empowered
When math serves your student’s passion, it has purpose. When it has purpose, something remarkable happens — they become empowered to use education to achieve their dreams.
Personalized Matching = Student Passion
We start by learning what lights your student up — music, sports, art, science, anything. Then we match them with a tutor who shares that passion and shows them how math is the hidden engine behind the things they already love. When math serves something they care about, it stops being a chore.
“His high school teachers were great, but were not able to provide the depth and level of support that was needed… His grade went from a C- to an A- within the year. He is now averaging an A in a dual enrollment college algebra course, and planning to take college calculus next year.”
— Krystal M., Parent (Google)
Deep Understanding = Purpose
Most students survive math by memorizing formulas — until one curveball on the test sinks them. We teach the why behind every equation, deriving formulas and connecting them to the real world. When your student truly understands the math, they can solve anything a teacher throws at them.
Confidence First = Empowers Students
There’s no such thing as being ‘bad at math’ — only bad math experiences. A harsh teacher, embarrassment in class, one bad test — and suddenly your student decides they can’t do it. We rewrite that story. With a supportive tutor who believes in them, ‘I can’t’ becomes ‘I’ve got this.’
Everything changed for these families.
Sean worked with my son during the later half of the year for my son's 12th grade AP Physics C course. The course was very difficult, but Sean was able to explain things in ways that made sense to my son, and my son also enjoyed working with him and really felt he "clicked" as far as understanding him personally. My son further said that Sean was a "cool guy who made the tutoring sessions enjoyable" for what was a really tough class. Based upon my son's experience, I would highly recommend Sean to anyone needing a Physics tutor!
This is the Cadillac (or Tesla? Bentley?) of math/science tutors! Tyler helped my child survive AP Physics with a really poor high school teacher. Tyler taught underlying concepts, reinforced necessary Calc lessons, and diagnosed roadblocks before they became problems. He worked with a complicated schedule and was flexible. More importantly - when there were critical tests or problems, Sean and Tyler jumped in and did whatever was necessary to provide emergency Physics triage! As a result: our child learned that hard work, a tough attitude and commitment can get you through ( while several classmates blame the teacher and complain constantly.) And she loves them so much she declined summer vacation so she could spend the month before college starts reviewing Calc and learning to code. They are worth everything.
My daughter has been working with Jonathan from Alexander tutor. She's being tutored with AP Physics, and Jonathan has been such a great instructor. He has the best way in helping my daughters. He's very patient, very kind, very encouraging and always goes the extra mile to help my daughter. I have seen how she looks forward to tutoring with Jonathan and how her stress level has gone down towards the end of her 1st Junior semester! We are so appreciative for Alexander tutoring services. And so excited that my daughter was paired with such beautiful, compassionate and understanding human being, Mr. Jonathan! Thank you, Alexander Tutoring! Erica (0/21/2020)
Sean offers great tutoring. My son was a Senior in High School, and the AP physics had become very difficult for him. He had become very stressed, and his grades were getting worse at every tests. After starting tutoring with Sean, he started to feel more relax about physics, and had a good grade at his International Baccalaureate. Sean knew how to make him approach the tests in a more relax way. Sean's help was priceless. Thank you, Sean.
As a senior in high school, my son needed urgent help with his IB French Physics course. He had been struggling on and off with the course since his junior year. With only a month before his IB exams, he did not think he would pass the physics exam. Sean worked with us to find the right tutor for my son. In just 8 sessions, Tyler was able to clarify everything that was giving my son trouble, and he more than just passed his IB exam! Tyler is excellent! We do wish we would have found Sean and Tyler earlier. We highly recommend Tyler and Sean.
Alexander tutoring is the whole 9 yards in terms of providing student-centered tutoring for physics and math. Starting from making the right student to tutor match by considering personality and learning styles and focusing on the foundational concepts that establish cumulative learning. Our experience with Alexander Tutoring has been nothing short of excellent. In addition to understanding both physics and calculus concepts that have resulted in improved grades (an A in physics!), my daughter has gained a new found confidence and joy that comes from learning and comprehension. I can’t say enough about the individuals on the Alexander Tutoring team who make this possible every week! Thank you Rebecca (physics) Gerard (calculus), Sean and Jill!
When my daughter was looking to go beyond her middle school math class, we were fortunate to find Alexander Tutoring. My daughter worked weekly with her fantastic tutor, Jonathan, throughout 7th & 8th grade. He not only helped her fill in the gaps in Algebra I so that she was able to successfully place into Honors Algebra II for high school (her goal!), but was also super flexible and engaged with her in exploring advanced conceptual math (for example, venturing into trigonometry and calculus, and particularly quantum physics) The online platform, which she was apprehensive about at first, worked really well, and she always looked forward to going online for her tutoring sessions. We would absolutely continue with Jonathan in high school, and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Alexander Tutoring again to provide support for my younger daughter, who struggles with math, as she heads into middle school.
My daughter was feeling wholly defeated and distressed by her Honors Trig & AP Bio classes. To the point she was considering dropping her STEM-focused hopes for college. She started working with Rebecca and that changed everything. Rebecca identified challenges, shored up her foundational skills, and taught her methods and practices that she could build on. My daughter’s confidence and competency made a dramatic about-face, and her outcomes on both tests and transcript reflect that shift. She feels confident about the upcoming challenge of Physics and Statistics next year, knowing Rebecca, and her colleagues at Alexander Tutoring, are available to support her.
Alexander Physics and Math Tutoring has been a fantastic partner to us for two of our kids in high school physics and middle school math. Both kids agree the extra help and attention on their school material made a big difference, because the tutors who took the time to get to know them and how they best learn. We saw the results in their test results and, more importantly, in their positive attitudes toward these subjects that had previously caused them stress. Special kudos for Rebecca and Gerald!
Alexander Tutoring (AT) is a premium, high-end, math and physics tutoring service. We are extremely grateful to Sean Alexander and the AT staff for helping our de-motivated 16 year old son reverse his declining pre-calculus grade during the COVID-19 pandemic. AT was able to help our son improve by a full letter grade in just four weeks, and was worth every penny we invested in the process. The AT staff is very professional, high energy, friendly, and adaptable. We are delighted to be working with them to help our family continue to develop math and physics acumen. A+ service!
Alexander Math and Physics tutoring is truly a superior tutoring service. My daughter was really struggling with math and physics at the beginning of her Freshman year and after starting tutoring once a week her marks started improving immediately! By the end of the year, she achieved an A+ in physics and an A in math! Sean was not only excellent in working with my daughter, he was very organized, reliable and accommodating if I ever had to change the day, or get extra sessions for finals etc.. My daughter has more confidence going into Sophomore year and we couldn't be happier with this excellent tutoring service. This was an amazing success story and I very highly recommend this tutoring service to everyone!
We discovered Alexander Tutoring via a web search and decided to give it a try because of the rave reviews. We were not disappointed! Jonathan has been teaching our 2 kids Math and Physics and his teaching approach, patience and attentiveness has greatly improved their interest in and aptitude for the courses! Jonathan is always punctual. His patience with the children encourages them to ask questions and he diligently takes the time to explain. My wife and I were a bit concerned about the schedule of the classes, because of the time difference between Africa and the West Coast. However, Sean was flexible and committed to finding a time that worked for both parties. We are really delighted to have found Sean and his team!
Sean Alexander and his team are such kind, intelligent experts in their areas of mathematics and physics. At Gifted Support Center we have referred many families and they all report how much their children love working with their tutor/mentor. On a personal note, Albert was amazing in working with my son. I can't say enough praise for Sean and what he has created at Alexander Tutoring. Passionate individuals who truly love their field, and love teaching and inspiring children.
Jonathan is currently tutoring my son in eleventh-grade physics. Josiah has an A in Physics and more importantly, he feels he has a good grasp and confidence in the subject. Jonathan is patient and has a strong comprehension of physics. He's very adaptable and helpful when Josiah has a structured assignment or when they are practicing concepts. He is punctual for all their appointments and communicates before each meeting to make sure both parties are on the same page. Lastly, Jonathan is very respectful and always has a positive attitude.
My son, a chemistry major at Northeastern, has been tutored by Jonathan for about a year. When he met Jonathan, mid-semester, he was close to failing physics 2. He ended the semester with a B+! Now he is working with Jonathan on mastering physics 3. Jonathan helps him work through problems and provides a deep conceptual understanding. He is the key that has helped my son move from surviving to thriving!
Sean and his star teacher Jonathan are amazing. I was stuck in finding the right teacher to support my 7 years old son’s learning needs, who has unusual passion to quantum physics but only have poor primary school math knowledge. It’s almost mission impossible! But Jonathan did it! Can’t be happy more!
Set your kids up for success...the best advice one of my friends gave me was to start my son with Alexander Tutoring before he started his freshman year at an independent high school. My son was a progressive middle school and I was not really sure how he would fare with Physics and Algebra. Alexander tutoring was amazing in that Sean assured me that my timing was just right at the beginning of the school year and we engaged with Felix (my son's tutor) right away. My son and Felix meet on a weekly basis and even though..or more accurately because my son is getting As in both Physics and Math, we are keeping the tutoring going!
Sean and his team are great. I work at a school and have referred many students to him for math and physics, and sometimes for other sciences. He is a wonderful tutor, great with kids, willing to coordinate directly with teachers for maximum efficacy. Highest rating!
Alexander Tutoring is excellent. My daughter attends a very rigorous high school in SF and has worked with Tyler to solve problems in Physics, Chemistry and Algebra 2. He explains tough concepts through relatable and fun examples and she truly looks forward to their weekly sessions. He has also been flexible when other commitments required a time change or when she needed additional help before a test.
My daughter is a senior at high school and is doing honors Physics. She wants to enroll for the AP physics tests as well. During her classes at high school she was struggling with the physics,so we decided to ask Sean for help. Our daughter said that Sean can explain it very well and she was so relieved that she can understood much better the theory. It gave her a big push for her self esteem and that she will not fail in her honors class physics. Highly recommend Sean!
After SF public schools ended their honors math programs I was looking for a way for my 8th grader to qualify for high school honors Math. I am happy to report that Tyler at Alexander Math and Physics tutoring helped my son to test into Algebra 2 honors! His math grade in school went up to an A. Then when we told him he could stop tutoring with Tyler he didn't want to stop tutoring because he enjoyed what he was learning. Wow! My older son is now preparing for the Physics and Math subject tests and Alexander Tutoring is where we are going. I am so thankful to have advanced Math and Physics help for my kids.
Throughout my high school career, I haven't had a better tutor than the one I worked with through Alexander Tutoring. Physics has always been a difficult subject for me, but thanks to my tutor, Tyler McGoffin, it became very accessible. Tyler explained abstract concepts in simple terms, grounding them in the real world and enabling me to understand them. Tyler and I bonded very closely during our time together, and I came to see him not only as a tutor but as a friend. Alexander Tutoring provides fantastic services, and I know that anyone else who works with Tyler will be as happy as I am.
My high school son has been working with Olivia at Alexander Math & Physics Tutoring for about 7 months and it has been nothing less than phenomenal! My son's confidence in Math as well as his grades have drastically improved and we could not be happier!! Also, Sean and Olivia have both been incredibly flexible in their attempts to accommodate our busy schedules. We are very grateful to have discovered Alexander Math & Physics Tutoring!
Sean has been a great tutor for my daughter in both physics and math. I was really worried about my daughter tackling pre-calculus this year but Sean could always explain any new material in a way that she could understand and she ended up doing very well. I really liked how after each session Sean would email me and let me know how things were going.
This is the first time I've posted a Yelp review, and I hope it is not to our detriment as the word spreads! I have only good things to say about Alexander Tutoring for physics support. Sean Alexander, the founder (also a tutor), has two incredibly talented physics tutors, Olivia and Tyler. They are the BEST, making tough physics concepts comprehensible. Sean is personable, responsive, and accommodating with scheduling. He is also kind, fair, and generous. When Olivia ran just a few minutes late for the first session, Sean took 10 minutes off the hour; and when I asked if he had a referral program, he gave us a free session for referring a friend whose son is now benefiting from weekly physics sessions. He is open to feedback and sincerely wants to help. A rare breed.
My daughter took an intensive high school Physics course this summer and had to miss a few days of instruction due to a family commitment. She was so worried about falling behind in her course - but with the help of Alexander Tutoring and, specifically, Tyler, she had nothing to worry about. The owner of Alexander Tutoring, Sean, was so helpful in getting my daughter squared away with tutoring sessions even though we called him fairly last minute. And the tutor my daughter was assigned to, Tyler, was wonderful. He and my daughter had three sessions and she was right back on track in her course. She really enjoyed working with him and would highly recommend him to anyone needing help with Physics.
Desperate for some help with a challenging 9th grade physics class, we turned to Alexander Tutoring. Sean was very responsive and got my son set up right away with Tyler, tutor extraordinaire. Tyler is down to earth, extremely intelligent and was able to connect with my son on his level and make physics seem less daunting. It was worth the time and investment to turn things around and most importantly, give my son the confidence that he needed to face the challenge. Thank you, Alexander Tutoring! We'll definitely be back to take advantage of other programs they offer (like the SAT Master Class.)
Hands down, Alexander Tutoring is the best in the Bay Area. After trying other highly rated tutors with no success, we were relieved to find Alexander Tutoring. The director, Sean, spoke with me at length to assess my son's needs and pair him with the right tutor. He even met with my son's teacher to better understand his needs. My son was paired with Tyler and from the first meeting his interest and ability in math and physics have steadily improved. My son even took The coding course over the summer and is well on his way to designing his own game. I cannot recommend Alexander Tutoring highly enough.
AP Tutoring at a Glance
- Who teaches
- Mathematicians, physicists and engineers with degrees in their field, not college students. They know the AP free-response format and how it is scored. Meet the team.
- Courses
- AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics, AP Physics 1 and 2, and AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism.
- Format
- One-on-one and online, on a shared digital whiteboard. Lessons follow your student’s class all year, then shift to timed practice with released free-response questions before May.
- What it costs
- $895/month on Dedicated Tutor: a weekly one-on-one session, nightly office hours, monthly progress reports and direct tutor access. Two sessions a week on the Rocket Star Track, $1,745/month. See all plans.
- The first lesson
- Risk-free, with a skills assessment and a 30-day game plan that is yours to keep. If the match isn’t right, try another tutor at no cost.
- Results
- Dedicated Tutor and Rocket Star Track plans are backed by our Full Semester Guarantee: not satisfied at the end of the term, full refund. Our students have gone on to Stanford, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth and Cornell.
Why AP students stall
Most AP Calculus trouble isn’t calculus. It’s precalculus that never fully clicked: functions, trig and logarithms that the course now treats as automatic. A student can memorize every derivative rule and still have no idea what a derivative is, and the free-response questions are written to find exactly that.
AP Physics is the same story told differently. Most questions ask a student to reason about a system and explain it in words, not plug numbers into a formula. Students who were taught to hunt for the right equation freeze, because they think they need the whole solution before they write anything down.
So we work in order. Find the real gap, which is usually an earlier skill. Teach the idea until it makes sense, not just the procedure. Then practice the way the exam is scored, with released free-response questions and a review of every lost point.
What Our AP Tutors Cover
Our tutors teach the subject first and the exam second. On AP exams, the free-response questions reward students who can explain why, so understanding is what scores.
Courses: AP Precalculus · AP Calculus AB · AP Calculus BC · AP Statistics · AP Physics 1 · AP Physics 2 · AP Physics C: Mechanics · AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
AP Precalculus
- Polynomial and rational functions
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Trigonometric and polar functions
- Modeling with functions
- Function transformations and inverses
AP Calculus AB
- Limits and continuity
- Derivatives: definition and rules
- Implicit differentiation and related rates
- Optimization and curve analysis
- Integration and accumulation
- Differential equations and slope fields
AP Calculus BC
- Everything in AB, at a faster pace
- Parametric, polar and vector-valued functions
- Integration by parts and partial fractions
- Infinite sequences and series
- Taylor and Maclaurin series
AP Statistics
- Exploring one- and two-variable data
- Designing studies and sampling
- Probability and random variables
- Sampling distributions
- Confidence intervals and significance tests
- Chi-square and regression inference
AP Physics 1
- Kinematics
- Forces and translational dynamics
- Work, energy and power
- Linear momentum
- Torque and rotational motion
- Oscillations and fluids
AP Physics 2
- Thermodynamics
- Electric force, field and potential
- Electric circuits
- Magnetism and electromagnetic induction
- Geometric and physical optics
- Modern physics
AP Physics C: Mechanics
- Calculus-based kinematics and dynamics
- Work, energy and power
- Linear momentum and systems
- Rotational dynamics and angular momentum
- Oscillations
AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
- Electric fields and Gauss’s law
- Electric potential, conductors and capacitors
- Circuits, including RC circuits
- Magnetic fields and Ampère’s law
- Electromagnetic induction
AP Math and Physics, Course by Course
We tutor every AP math and physics course, from the first unit test in September through the exams in May. Each AP exam is scored 1 to 5, and many colleges grant credit or placement for a 4 or 5. Here is what each course asks of students and how we help.
AP Precalculus
Functions in every form: polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric. For many students this is the wall, the first math class where you actually have to study, and nobody ever taught them how. We rebuild the algebra underneath and teach students to see functions as one idea rather than a list of chapters. See pre-calculus tutoring.
AP Calculus AB and BC
AB covers limits, derivatives, integrals and differential equations. BC covers all of that plus parametric, polar and vector functions and infinite series, and reports an AB subscore. Students who memorize the rules without knowing what a derivative is struggle most on the free-response questions, so that is where we start. See AP Calculus tutoring.
AP Statistics
The most writing-heavy AP math exam. Students lose points not on arithmetic but on explanations: stating conditions, interpreting a confidence interval in context, writing a conclusion the way graders expect. We practice exactly that.
AP Physics 1 and 2
Algebra-based, and harder than their reputation, because most questions ask students to reason about a system and explain it. We teach students to start from the governing principle, such as conservation of energy or Newton’s second law, instead of hunting for an equation. See physics tutoring.
AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism
Two calculus-based courses, each with its own exam, and the closest thing in high school to a first-year engineering course. A student who is shaky in calculus stalls on the physics, so our tutors work on both in the same lesson.
2027 AP exam dates
Physics C: Mechanics on Monday, May 3. Physics 1 and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism on Wednesday, May 5. Physics 2 on Thursday, May 6. Calculus AB and BC on Monday, May 10. Precalculus and Statistics on Tuesday, May 11 (College Board). We plan backward from those dates, and spring lessons shift to timed practice with released free-response questions.
Choosing between AP and IB? See IB tutoring and our guide to AP math classes and exam formats.
AP Tutoring FAQ
How much does AP tutoring cost?
AP tutoring is part of our monthly plans. Dedicated Tutor is $895/month: a weekly one-on-one session, nightly office hours for homework help, monthly progress reports and direct tutor access between sessions. The Rocket Star Track adds a second weekly session for $1,745/month. No signup fee, no contract, cancel anytime. See all plans.
Which AP courses do you tutor?
AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Every tutor holds a degree in math, physics or engineering.
When are the 2027 AP math and physics exams?
AP Physics C: Mechanics is Monday, May 3. AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism are Wednesday, May 5. AP Physics 2 is Thursday, May 6. AP Calculus AB and BC are Monday, May 10. AP Precalculus and AP Statistics are Tuesday, May 11.
Should my student take AP Calculus AB or BC?
BC covers everything in AB plus parametric, polar and vector functions and infinite series, at a faster pace. A student whose precalculus is solid and who is heading toward engineering, physics or math is usually ready for BC. A student still shaky on functions and trig does better in AB, and does well.
Which AP Physics course should my student take?
Most students start with AP Physics 1, the algebra-based first-semester course. AP Physics 2 follows it. Students already taking or finished with calculus can take AP Physics C: Mechanics, and then Electricity and Magnetism, which are calculus-based and closest to what engineering programs teach.
When should my student start AP tutoring?
Early in the fall, when the first unit tests reveal the gaps from earlier courses and they are easiest to fix. Many families also start in the months before the May exams, when timed practice with released free-response questions matters most. Either way, the first lesson begins with a skills assessment.
How do online AP lessons work?
Your student and tutor work one-on-one on a shared digital whiteboard, and the tutor writes the math or physics in real time with a tablet and stylus. Lessons follow your student's class, homework and unit tests, and shift to timed exam practice in the spring.
Do you also tutor IB courses?
Yes. IB Math AA and AI and IB Physics, at SL and HL, including the internal assessment. See IB tutoring.
What if tutoring doesn't work?
Dedicated Tutor and Rocket Star Track plans are backed by our Full Semester Guarantee: if you're not satisfied at the end of the term, we refund every penny. Your first lesson is risk-free, so you can see how it works before you commit.
Related subjects: Calculus · Pre-Calculus · Physics · Math · IB · SAT & ACT · Plans and pricing
AP tutoring near you: lessons are online, and our city pages cover local schools and courses: San Francisco · San Jose · Oakland · San Mateo · Marin · Los Angeles · New York · Seattle · Austin · Houston · Dallas–Fort Worth · Chicago · Boston · Washington, DC · Denver
Related reading:
Official course information: AP exam dates · AP Physics 1 (College Board)
Most tutoring gets a student through Friday’s test. That’s not what we’re for.
Your student learns where every formula comes from, so an unfamiliar free-response question stops being a threat. They stop asking whether something will be on the exam and start asking why it works.
If it doesn’t work, you don’t pay. Period.
We’re so confident in our method that we guarantee your results for the entire semester. If you’re not satisfied at the end of the term, we’ll refund every penny. No fine print. No partial credits. A full refund.
No other tutoring company in the country offers this — because no other tutoring company gets results like ours.
- No credit card required
- Full Semester Guarantee
