Expert A-Level Chemistry Tutor

Turn Exam Anxiety into Confidence and Secure Your First-Choice University Place

Join the 94% of my A-Level students who achieve top A*/A grades, part of the 100% who secure A*-B results.

The A-Level Jump is a Common Hurdle

Many parents watch their bright, capable GCSE science student step into A-Level Chemistry, only to see their confidence plummet. The abrupt shift in complexity is jarring, and it’s common for mock results to become a source of intense anxiety. This isn’t a reflection of their ability, but a response to specific challenges within the curriculum:

  • The sudden jump to abstract and complex topics like organic reaction mechanisms and Gibbs free energy.
  • An overwhelming sheer volume of content that leaves even the most diligent students constantly playing catch-up.
  • Frustratingly stagnant grades despite countless hours of revision, leading to a drop in motivation and self-belief.
  • The fear that this single subject could derail their chances of studying competitive courses like Medicine or Engineering.

A Proven Process for University Success

Every successful outcome begins with an accurate diagnosis. Before creating a tuition plan, my first step is a comprehensive audit of your child’s specific challenges, using their mock exams, homework, and teacher reports to identify the precise root of the problem. This ensures every minute of our time is focused on what truly matters.

1. Plan: A Tailored Roadmap

We’ll build a focused revision plan around the specific structure of the AQA, CAIE, Edexcel or OCR exam board, creating a clear roadmap that identifies high-yield topics and strengthens weak areas before the final exams.

2. Do: Active Problem-Solving

We actively work through a vast bank of past paper questions specific to the exam board. This builds mastery of the exact command words and question styles students will face under pressure..

3. Review: Build Momentum

Through regular, marked assignments benchmarked against official A-Level grade boundaries, we track progress and eliminate surprises. This process is designed to reverse stagnant grades and restore academic self-belief.

4. Master: Secure Top Grades

We achieve mastery by building the critical synoptic links between Year 1 and Year 2 content that examiners look for when awarding the top A* grades needed for competitive university courses.

Gaining an Edge: Efficient A-Level Revision with AI

The sheer volume of the A-Level syllabus requires smart, efficient study methods.

I teach students how to leverage AI tools to create personalised revision aids, summarise complex topics, and generate targeted practice questions. This allows them to manage their workload more effectively and achieve a deeper level of understanding, giving them a competitive edge in their final exams.

Success Stories from A-Level Students and Parents

“The change was remarkable. Thomas went from a predicted B to achieving an A*…”

“Hi, I wanted to thank Carl for his incredible work with my son, Thomas. After a disappointing mock result, his confidence was low, and he was struggling to get to grips with challenging topics like thermodynamics and acids and bases. Carl’s sessions were focused and highly effective. He has a real talent for making complex concepts accessible and for teaching the exam techniques needed to tackle the difficult 6-marker questions. The change was remarkable. Thomas went from a predicted B to achieving an A*, a result that exceeded our expectations and secured his place to study Pharmacy at his first-choice university. Thank you!”

Dr Sarah L., parent of A-Level Chemistry student, AQA (Summer 2025)

“His lessons completely sorted me out, he just explains things in a way that makes sense…”

“Carl is a BRILLIANT tutor.

I was stuck on a B and really wanted the A, but the harder organic was a real struggle. His lessons completely sorted me out, he just explains things in a way that makes sense.

My exam technique for the multiple-choice section is so much better and now I feel totally ready for the real exams.

Feeling so much more confident about hitting that top grade, cheers Carl! 🔥”

[Note: delighted to report Tom achieved an A!]

Tom P., A-Level Chemistry student, AQA (Summer 2025)

“I achieved an A in chemistry…”

“Hi Carl,

I thought I would inform you that I achieved an A in chemistry – which was what I needed to get into university.

I am very close to the grade boundary so I am getting it remarked just for myself.

Thank you so much for all your help,

Best wishes,

Ella”

Ella S., A-Level Chemistry student, Edexcel (Summer 2024)

Your Expert for Top A-Level Grades:

A structured process is only as effective as the expert guiding it. My approach is built on a unique combination of deep academic knowledge, inside-the-system exam experience, and real-world industrial application.

As a PhD chemist and a qualified teacher, I have the foundational expertise. As an examiner, I have an insider’s understanding of what is required to achieve the top grades. But what truly makes the difference is the decade I spent as the founder and CEO of a process R&D company, working with global pharmaceutical clients. This experience allows me to move beyond textbook theory and show students why complex topics matter, connecting abstract concepts to tangible, real-world problems.

This blend of perspectives is the key to helping students build the deep, interconnected understanding needed to secure their A*.

  • Academic & Publishing Authority: PhD in Organic Chemistry and co-author of a Cambridge University Press A-Level Chemistry textbook.
  • Expert Examiner: Experienced exam marker – know the common mistakes students make and what separates good answers from A* responses.
  • Proven Results: Over 14,000 hours of one-to-one tuition delivered, with 95% of my A-Level students achieving A or A* grades.
  • Real-World Application: Former CEO of a chemistry R&D company

My ultimate goal is not just to teach the syllabus, but to build an independent, resilient learner who is fully prepared to excel at university and beyond.

My goal is not simply to help your child pass an exam; it is to replace their anxiety and frustration with the confidence and resilience of a student who is fully prepared for the challenges of a top-tier university.

Professional headshot of Dr Carl Thirsk, an expert A-Level, IB, and GCSE chemistry tutor.

Organic chemistry PhD

Qualified Teacher

Experienced Examiner

Former R&D CEO

Your A-Level Questions Answered

It’s a situation I see all the time, and I know it can cause a lot of worry for families.

It’s important to understand that the initial struggle isn’t a reflection of your child’s ability, rather, it’s a reflection of the course and its requirements. The leap from GCSE to A-Level is significant, despite the toughening up of the current GCSEs back in 2016. It’s a completely different way of learning, shifting from memory to application, which requires a completely different way of studying.

From my own experience as an examiner, the single biggest hurdle for students is applying what they know to completely new problems, especially ones that demand analytical thinking skills. That’s primarily what the exams are designed to test. My work focuses on closing that exact gap, rebuilding their understanding from the ground up and teaching them how to think critically. It’s how we turn that early wobble into real confidence and top A/A* grades.

There’s no sugarcoating it: A-Level Chemistry is one of the toughest subjects, and it has earned that reputation. The difficulty really comes from three places at once. First, the sheer amount of information students need to learn is huge. Second, the maths involved can be very demanding. And finally, many of the core ideas – since we’re dealing with atoms – are incredibly abstract and mostly invisible to students.

While it is a big challenge, it’s absolutely manageable with the right plan. The key is to approach it methodically. We break the syllabus into smaller, logical pieces, ensuring a student fully grasps one concept before we add the next. Then, we constantly practice applying that knowledge with exam-style questions until it becomes second nature.

A lot of students can love the concepts in Chemistry but really hit a wall when it comes to the maths. It’s a common roadblock. The problem often isn’t the calculation itself; it’s figuring out how to get there from a problem that is hidden by all the chemistry. It’s more of a translation issue than a maths one.

As a PhD chemist, this kind of problem-solving is second nature to me. My job is to make it second nature for them, too. I teach a straightforward, step-by-step method to pull these questions apart so we can find the path to the solution. We solidify the maths behind it all, and then we just practice with exam questions until the process is automatic. It’s how we turn a point of weakness into a real source of strength.

Organic chemistry has a fierce reputation for difficulty – I had a student whose teacher said it was the “A* killer”! The best way I’ve found to describe it is like learning a language; it has its own symbols, vocabulary, grammar, and a strict set of rules for how reactions behave.

The common mistake is trying to get by on pure memorisation, which is an approach that almost always fails. As a PhD organic chemist, I know the key is to understand the language and the logic first. We focus on why things happen, breaking down all the mechanisms into just a handful of core principles. By learning to recognise the patterns, the chaos becomes a logical, predictable system. This builds the confidence to tackle problems they haven’t even seen before.

I understand, this is a tough and stressful decision for any family to face.

First, it’s important to remember that the jump from GCSE is huge, so it’s incredibly common for students to struggle at the start. The key is figuring out the ‘why’. Is it that the subject genuinely isn’t the right fit, or is it just a temporary wobble caused by a few specific gaps in their understanding?

Before making a big decision that might affect future career paths, I always advise getting an expert opinion. More often than not, a few sessions focused on fixing those foundational issues can completely change everything. It can be all it takes to restore their confidence and get them back on track.

This is a question I get asked all the time.

The short answer is no, you don’t technically need A-Level Maths for A-Level Chemistry. However, I do recommend it. You absolutely must have a rock-solid grasp of Higher Tier GCSE Maths. You need to be confident rearranging equations, comfortable with logarithms (for things like pH), and good at interpreting graphs. Maths also teaches great problem-solving skills, which is critical for harder A-Level chemistry questions. The ability to reach into the mental filing cabinet and pull out the right equation and approach for a given problem is a skill that maths develops better than any other subject.

While taking A-Level Maths is certainly a help, it’s not a deal-breaker. I have a lot of experience helping students without it get top grades. We just make a point of focusing on the specific maths skills as they come up in the context of the chemistry.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is students just re-reading their notes. It feels productive, but it’s one of the least effective ways to revise.

True progress comes from active work: pulling information out of your brain and getting skilled at the exam itself. After 14,000 hours of one-to-one tuition, I’ve refined a system for this: Plan, Do, Review, Master. We create a clear plan and then focus relentlessly on doing past paper questions. This active problem-solving is what builds real mastery.

As an experienced examiner, I also know exactly how the papers are marked. I teach students how to dissect the most complex questions and frame their answers in a way that ticks every box on the mark scheme.

Choosing the right tutor is a big decision, and it goes beyond just finding a subject expert. You need a professional who has a history of getting results, knows your child’s specific exam board inside out, and has a clear, structured way of teaching.

Just as important is finding someone your child can actually build a relationship with. A good tutor will quickly figure out the root of the problem and create a plan tailored to fix it. I always tell parents to schedule a quick introductory call first. It’s the only way to get a real feel for their approach and to be sure they’re the right fit for your child.

Getting a grade that’s lower than expected is always tough, but a resit is often a very good option for getting university plans back on track.

The secret to a successful resit is to have a completely new strategy. Just going over the same notes and hoping for a better outcome rarely works. The first step must be to do a proper “post-mortem” on the first attempt to find out exactly what went wrong. Was it a few gaps in knowledge, exam technique, or managing the clock under pressure?

This is where my experience as an examiner is a huge advantage. I can go through their actual marked papers with them to build a new, targeted plan that focuses only on the things that will make a real difference to their grade.

The practical side of A-Level Chemistry is a huge part of the final grade. Although the experiments themselves are no longer directly assessed – the teacher simply confirms that requirements for awarding the Certificate of Practical Endorsement have been met – there are a lot of practical-based questions in the final written exams and they can be very difficult.

Schools do a great job with the hands-on part. Where students almost always lose marks, however, is on those written questions. They test the deeper understanding of why an experiment is designed a certain way, what can go wrong, and what the results actually mean. We focus heavily on this skill, working through past papers until a student is confident they can handle any experimental scenario that comes up.

Ready to Transform Your A-Level Grade?

The first step is a no-obligation consultation to discuss your specific needs and goals. Let’s build a plan for your success.