Transformative Physics Tutoring That Makes Mastery as Inevitable as Gravity

Physics is simple rules commanding complex phenomena — conservation of energy explains nearly everything you will ever see. Your student’s physics class probably never said that. Ours does, and then hands them a method so they always know how to start.

“My daughter was really struggling with math and physics at the beginning of her Freshman year… By the end of the year she achieved an A+ in physics and an A in math.” — Jacqueline S., Parent

Meet computational physicist and resident closer 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 — which is why, internally, we call him the Closer.

Jonathan Lupercio — Physics specialist, computational physics researcher. We call him the Closer: seven F-to-B+ turnarounds in half a semester, and counting.

Jonathan Lupercio

Physics Specialist · Computational Physics Research

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.

“Tyler helped my son test into Algebra 2 honors, and his math grade went up to an A. Then when we told him he could stop tutoring, he didn’t want to stop — he enjoyed what he was learning.”


— Alexandra N., Parent (Google)

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.’

“Being a straight A student, it was difficult to accept her lower grades and it affected her confidence… Within two sessions, my daughter felt more confident in Algebra and her test scores improved. She has gone from a D to a B+ and developed a genuine interest in math.”


— Diana G., Parent (Google)

Everything changed for these families.

ELEllen L.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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EKEmily K.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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JGJanelle G.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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AHAlex H.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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FFFr F.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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FFForrest F.Yelp review
★★★★★

Alexander Tutoring (AT) has been a godsend for our son who's been struggling in pre-calculus since COVID-19 kicked in. Our son's grades were on steep decline since the start of the school year. AT came in and was able to get our son up a full letter grade in just four weeks. They've been terrific to deal with; are extremely flexible, and are driven to help spread the languages of math & physics to the world (math is the language of the universe!). AT has gone far above and beyond on working with us to get our dispirited teenager back on track during this challenging pandemic. Thank you to Sean Alexander and the staff at Alexander Tutoring!

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JSJacqueline S.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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OAOlufemi A.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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ASAnn S.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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MDMalika D.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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NMNicola M.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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CCCat C.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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ECErica C.Google review
★★★★★

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)

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NVNoe V.Yelp review
★★★★★

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!

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MEMargo E.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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GBGrace B.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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BBrandtGoogle review
★★★★★

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!

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GDGreg D.Google review
★★★★★

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!

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ANAlexandra N.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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CCColombe C.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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DHDeanna H.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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SESeth E.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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LWLydia W.Yelp review
★★★★★

My daughter is a senior at highschool and is doing honors Physics.She wants to enroll for the AP physics tests as well.During her classes at highschool 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!

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SDSuzi D.Yelp review
★★★★★

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!

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JKJill K.Google review
★★★★★

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.

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JAJ. A.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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KWKristen W.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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EHElizabeth H.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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BCBridget C.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.)

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KNKaren N.Yelp review
★★★★★

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.

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AZAnn-Marie Z.Yelp review
★★★★★

My daughter took AP Physics 1/2 at Lowell this past year and needed a tutor. Sean arranged for Olivia to meet my daughter regularly over the semester. Olivia was very knowledgable and gave thorough explanations. Rather than lecturing, Olivia was able to teach by discussing concepts with my daughter. As a result, my daughter really gained an understanding of physics and did very well in the class. Excellent tutor!!! Thanks Olivia!!!

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MHMichael H.Yelp review
★★★★★

Tyler really helped my 14 year old son with his algebra and his physics this year. Dave was having significant math difficulties and I'm also not proficient in math (runs in family?lol) so I couldn't help, so we we referred by his school to Alexander. I can say that Tyler inspired a lot of confidence in the material and was instrumental in facilitating an improvement that we found to be satisfactory.If your child has issues with math, I am highly able to commend Alexander and Tyler to you for assistance.MikeSF

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JCJ C.Yelp review
★★★★★

Sean is a terrific tutor! He tutored my son on AP Physics 1 and 2. He is knowledgeable and articulate. My son initially felt a bit overwhelmed taking accelerated AP Physics as his first Physics class because it is very fast-paced with a great amount of homework and tests every week. Sean was able to put him on track in a very short time and sparked his interesting in Physics!

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GGGloria G.Google review
★★★★★

Sean is wonderful, he is able to communicate in such a way that our son gets it the first time around. I found Sean about 2 years ago when my husband and I struggled to understand Common Core as our son was having great difficulties understanding it. Sean did amazing work in getting our son to understand Common Core and soon our son was getting A's in Algebra. Last year, we returned to Sean to help prep for the High School Placement Test (HSPT) required as part of the admission into catholic high school. Sean not only successfully prepared our son for the HSPT, but also gave advice on taking the timed exam. This year, we returned to Sean as our son needed a little help in Geometry and Physics - Sean is simply a rock star! Thank you Sean for your effective communications and tutoring skills!

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KMKen M.Google review
★★★★★

Your in great care with Sean! He tutored my college sophomore son in Physics a few years ago with great success. Where is the the proof? In June (2016) my son graduated with a double major in Physics and Econ-Finance -Magna cum Laude at the University of San Francisco. And he did this while also commencing his graduate work as an MSFA in Finance his Senior year and is in the process of completing his graduate degree this December (2016). My son's own success is in large part due to his own determination, intellect, and perseverance; however, I am convinced that Sean played a critical role (at a critical time) in his academic career giving my son the confidence that he could do it! That confidence served as the platform from which my son build his academic standing! Sean is a good as they come.

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SPScott P.Google review
★★★★★

Sean is fantastic. Sean tutored our son in honors physics. Our son just completed 10th grade at a competitive high school in SF and just missed an A in the first term by a percentage point. Sean helped him improve his score in the second term to an A with plenty of room to spare. Yea Sean. Gifted teacher, communicator and good guy as well.

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AArtfanableGoogle review
★★★★★

Sean Alexander has provided my son with excellent tutoring in Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Honors Physics. Sean's personal attention, patience and experience have allowed my son to unlock great potential in sciences. My son was used to maintain decent grades although he had some difficulties with abstract subjects. Thanks to Sean's ability to pinpoint and focus on weaker areas, as well as to apply multiple real-life examples to problems, my son has developed a profound interest in these subjects, excelled in exams, and chosen, with true confidence, to focus on sciences in college.

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KPK P.Google review
★★★★★

Sean came highly recommended, and I'm happy to second that recommendation. In her first year of high school, my daughter was struggling with physics, and Sean was able to use his knowledge, skills, and patience to help her learn what she was not learning in class. I found Sean easy to communicate with, and my daughter enjoyed and greatly benefited from her studies with him.

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JCJanet C.Google review
★★★★★

My boys have really lucked out to have found Sean as their AP Physics B tutor. At first, I as a mother had doubts whether I should spend over 1.5 hours (round trip) on a weekday to commute to see Sean. We NEVER regretted that decision!!! Without a doubt, Sean is very knowledgeable on the subject matter. Just after the very first lesson, my boys' words were: "Sean can explain the concepts 2,000 times clearer...." and "it is worth the commute ..." I would like to differentiate that knowing Physics does not necessarily mean knowing how to teach Physics. Sean definitely knows how to communicate his knowledge so that my boys will understand and apply the concepts to their studies. Their average grades have consistently improved just after a few lessons. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND his services. HE IS WORTH IT!!!

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SLStacey L.Yelp review
★★★★★

Sean pulled my son up from the abyss last year in physics. There was no pulling teeth to get my son to go for sessions. This year, Sean was our pre-calc go-to. It was a really difficult class, and Sean was available for an emergency FaceTime session, and was also really responsive to my frequent inquiries. I recommend without reservation .

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GEGlenn E.Yelp review
★★★★★

Sean worked with my 9th grade daughter this year and helped her achieve good performance in both Physics and Geometry/Math. He was flexible and easy to work with and my daughter gained confidence and improved her grades consistently over the school term.

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LELaurie E.Yelp review
★★★★★

Sean is someone in whom you can trust your student's academic present and future! He helped our 11th Grade daughter tremendously so far this year, so that she has been able to pull a solid high A in a physics class where the teacher "does not" give A's. Most importantly though, Sean was able to establish a rapport with our daughter so that she could go deeper in her learning and further develop a passion for physics as she mastered the material and learned to feel an ownership of that mastery.

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WWWendy W.Yelp review
★★★★★

Sean tutored my son in AP Physics and did a lovely job. My son is gifted in math and in the sciences, but he was jumping into this as the only high school junior in a class of seniors. At the time my son had not completed a calculus class nor had he taken any regular physics prior to enrolling. Sean really helped him fill in any gaps he had. As a tutor Sean was patient, kind, and flexible. Sean can work well with both gifted and challenged kids. I recommend him highly.

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NKNicole K.Google review
★★★★★

My kids have historically not struggled with math but this year both (7th and 12th grade) hit a wall due to issues with teachers (teaching the subject for the first time) and concepts not being explained very clearly in class. I wasn’t sure where to turn to for help outside of school and was so relieved to find Alexander Tutoring! Not only was the team great to work with to match with a tutor and schedule a regular meeting day, and explaining everything very clearly along the way, but the tutors themselves have been fantastic. If you have teenagers then you’ll know how hard it is to get them to actually like working with an adult in school subjects, as in stay engaged and respect them. Both of my kids give a solid thumbs up and have gained a great sense of confidence for each of their math classes. And my son (12th grader) really appreciates the office hours and benefits greatly from working with Alexander tutors. We are considering adding on Physics tutoring as well to really deliver an edge in class for my son, and my daughter (7th grader) is now focused on getting ahead with Algebra 1! Thank you Alexander Tutoring!

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KBK B.Yelp review
★★★★★

Our son took some very challenging math and physics classes, with a mixed bag of teacher quality and support at his public high school....some teachers, were beyond outstanding, and some not very good at all. Understanding how important a solid grasp in math and physics would be, given our son's interest in engineering at the time, we decided to find a tutor that could support him along the way. We wanted to ensure he wouldn't suddenly fall behind and unravel his strong efforts to learn the material at school. Luckily, we found Alexander Tutoring. Sean Alexander was compiling a stellar team of tutors, carefully vetting each one. As a freshman in high school, our son was tutored by Nikki, who did a fantastic job supporting him through Geometry. Due to a scheduling conflict after that, our son was paired with Wilder, who tutored him for the remaining 3 years of high school math and physics. Over that time he took all of the highest level AP calculus, AP statistics, and AP physics classes and met with Wilder once a week.I can't thank Sean and Wilder enough for the exceptional experience and support our son received those last few years. Week after week, he looked forward to his tutoring sessions with Wilder, delving into particularly vexing problems that he could not work out on his own. Wilder's expertise was truly impressive, and his teaching approach was fantastic, not only shedding light on those confounding problems but also inspiring our son to continually learn more. That inspiration to elevate his understanding further, ultimately lead our son to a free MIT online program (not for credit, just to learn). The MIT test he took, indicated that his knowledge of the material was exceptionally high. He also received 5s on every AP calculus, statistics, and physics exam he took and performed very well on his university math and physics entrance exams where he tested into honors physics and an equally high level of math. Although our son is no longer terribly interested in engineering, he is still passionately interested in math and physics and I feel pretty confident that those subjects will play an important role in his future career. I can definitely thank Wilder and Alexander Tutoring for helping to develop and nurture our son's interest in those subjects. Rather than having a stressful experience with math and physics in high school, he grew to love them and now studies them simply because they are intellectually stimulating and "fun".

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NANettie A.Google review
★★★★★

We have lived in San Francisco for 14 years and my 3 children have attended public school. MOST of the time they have enjoyed great or fine teachers. When my daughter got to high school, the math teacher she had for Algebra 1 was not good. My daughter is curious and works hard. Math is not her favorite subject but she worked hard and still could not understand and got D & grades. As a parent, I’m not as concerned about grades. I want to know my children are making the effort they are capable of most of the time, showing up and trying. I also want them to learn and understand. Much of my high school math career was a total waste and I learned very little. If you don’t learn Algebra 1, it’s a hot mess as you don’t have the necessary foundation and once in calculus, if you make it that far, most mistakes are algebraic according to a principal we had with a PHD in Math. My daughter got another terrible teacher for Geometry. Even the school counselors would speak openly about this teacher being one of the worst in the School’s history. My daughter was trying hard and yet not understanding and getting terrible grades. After studying really hard for a test and feeling confident she understood, I remember watching her face fall one Saturday night as she checked her test grade and got a D. As a parent I didn’t know what to do Because we were watching Khan Academy videos and she was studying and still not understanding. My friend Laura told me about Sean Alexander tutoring and my daughter started with Olivia a few years ago. Immediate improvement in understanding and therefore grades. We had such a good experience with Olivia and Sean that we signed both of our teens up for the math intensive program in the summer of 2018. My kids went once a week with a tutor named Charlie to learn about algebra one and really focus on algebra basics. My daughter ended up getting a 700 on the Math portion of the SAT. She did take practice test and she did the tutoring with Alexander tutoring. She did not do any other test prep. She couldn’t believe she did better on the math portion than the language portion as she loves History and English. Our son was starting high school last fall and after his sisters experience with the math teachers, we wanted to get ahead of the issue and so he took the math intensive program just like his sister. Our son, like many do, struggles with focus and impulse control and I told this to Sean. Doing the summer intensive program relieved so much stress to the entire school year. We didn’t even do the tutoring during the school year. We tried to save money by doing online tutoring from Growing Stars (I think that is the name) and my kids thought it was boring and dreaded it and told me they really didn’t need the tutoring because what they had learned in the summer was caring them through in their classes. They both did fine all year. If you do you want to do the tutoring in the school year , I would sign up now and early because it does fill up. We took a risk and didn’t sign up because my kids felt confident they were going to be OK and they were. This summer my son, who will be a sophomore fall 2019, is meeting twice weekly with Felix. On Tuesday they meet at the library for physics and Thursday at the library for Geometry. I have learned that engaging your kids in the summer a little bit pays off a huge amount during the school year. My children do really well with the one on one tutoring and we have found it is a great investment. It’s not cheap because these are knowledgeable tutors and they have to pay SF rent too! We haven’t done any other test prep (because the free one at the high school for a day) and my daughter is doing really well on her ACT and SAT math scores but more importantly to me, she understands math! She is willing to sit and do all the practice tests on her own because math doesn’t intimidate her anymore. Like all of the tutors, Felix is exceptionally organized

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AAAmalia A.Google review
★★★★★

The solution to the problem with Physics is Alexander Tutoring. My son is a Junior at a rigorous private high school in San Francisco, his teachers are quite good, and my 16-year-old is studious. So, when he asked me to find him a tutor, and mind you this was the first time he ever asked me for a tutor, I knew it was the topic itself that was down right difficult and my son needed a skilled tutor who knew the method to the madness that is Physics. Alexander tutoring came highly recommended by the learning specialist at my son's high school, and after speaking with Sean Alexander it was clear to me why a learning specialist would recommend the tutors at Alexander tutoring. They are not just brainiacs with Science and Math degrees, they use a specific method to teach the students that is the key to opening up the mystery of solving a Physics problem. Equally important is that my son (the critical teenager) has found his tutor Wilder to be approachable, patient, and motivating. Wilder verified for my son that yes indeed these were tough Physics problems, but that he, Wilder, would teach him how to approach Physics problems using the Alexander method, and that my overwhelmed Junior could handle these problems--no problem:-) As a mother, it is so gratifying to see my son tackle this tough topic--the semester grades are not in yet, but so far my son is doing better and better with each test. More important, he no longer thinks that this kind of abstract scientific thought is beyond him. As an educator with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology , when I work with a student who is overwhelmed, over anxious, and struggling to learn, I understand that what is needed is to target the learning problem and apply a specific learning intervention tailor made for the learning problem. Alexander tutors get that and make a difference. One last thing of no little import--Sean answers his phone! He is at the ready when I call with a question, comment, thought, or concern. He communicates effectively, he responds actively, and he always follows through. Yes, the price is high, but my son is improving and I reckon he won't need tutoring indefinitely, so for right now it is well worth it.

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TMTherese M.Yelp review
★★★★★

My daughter began tutoring with Olivia in November of her senior year. She was very stressed in her AP Physics and AP Calculus classes and although she attended extra sessions her teachers provided, she became increasingly confused and behind in both subjects. I contacted Sean at Alexander Tutoring who talked with me to figure out which of his tutors might be the best match for my daughter's personality and her situation. My daughter takes a long time to warm to anyone however, very soon after she began tutoring with Olivia, her understanding of concepts improved. Olivia is very patient and an excellent teacher but what was even more helpful for my daughter was that Olivia was willing to dive deeper into a problem, patiently explain it different ways until my daughter understood it. More than once, my daughter told me "wow, I really thought that problem was more complicated than that, why doesn't everyone explain it like that!" Very quickly my daughter became immersed in the world of Calc and Physics and would go to Olivia prepared with questions of new concepts that she did not understand from that week's lessons. Not surprisingly, my daughter grades shot up and she ended the year very successfully however, this tutoring experience had a greater impact on my daughter than her grades. She told me she always thought she was really bad at math and now realizes that she is not bad at all, when she works at it, she can do very well. Her AP Calc teacher has been celebrating her accomplishments for several months now, giving her a big smile when handing back tests to using an unnamed student's work (my daughter's) to explain to the rest of the class how to do a problem. In the spring, my daughter was smiling as she told me she was paired with a girl in class, "the most brilliant girl in the class, near perfect SAT math score etc" to complete some calc problems. They were looking at a new problem and the girl said, "wait a minute, let me get my calculator" and my daughter answered "wait a minute, I've got this." When my daughter completed the problem without the use of a calculator, the girl looked at her with a open mouth and said "How did you do that!" So my daughter does feel more in control of her classes this year but she also feels more in control of her life, challenges are not nearly so intimidating. I can't thank Olivia enough for her patient, intuitive and thorough tutoring and to Sean for running such a responsive and efficient tutoring service that made such an impact on my daughter!

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YDYasmin D.Google review
★★★★★

Alexander Math & Physics Tutoring already came highly recommended to us by our son's teacher but I could not have imagined the impact Tyler had on our son. A junior in High School he was struggling with Physics adding a lot of anxiety and stress to his school days. Our son strives in a 1-1 environment and Sean took time to talk to us about our needs and matched our son with Tyler. Tyler has helped him tremendously, not only understanding and mastering the material but discovering his love for Physics and Math in the process. After the first session with Tyler he came home and could not stop talking about Physics--he could not wait for the next session. He felt that Tyler totally got how he his brain works and was amazed how things all of a sudden fell into place. Tyler will accompany our son through senior year, without a question. Last week our son came home from a Physics class literally jumping up and down. He had been able to explain a process in class as one of the only ones because Tyler had explained it to him in an interesting conversation they had the day before. Moments like these are precious in building the confidence needed to succeed. Tyler is not only our son's tutor but also his mentor. Sean and Tyler have been very accommodating to our schedule--even setting up skype sessions while we were traveling in Germany. Both were in contact with our son's teacher to make sure they understood what was expected in the class. We can very highly recommend Tyler and Sean and his team.

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MLMichelle L.Yelp review
★★★★★

Alexander tutoring has helped me tremendously. I was getting help from Sean for Calculus and he was always consistent with answering my questions and making sure that I understood the material. He taught me the importance of neatness when solving problems and that is not about how quickly you learn a subject but how much you've learned. Recently, I enrolled in a Physics class. I emailed Sean and ask for a tutoring session and he suggested I meet with Tyler. I see Tyler once a week and I am extremely grateful to have him and the alexander team by my side. When I first met with Tyler, I was nervous because I didn't even read the text before I saw him. Luckily for me, Tyler had a big /welcoming smile, patience, and had the physics textbook already installed in his mind LOL. He began by introducing topics then taught me how to approach and solve problems. His approach was perfect for me.What I love about this tutoring program is that they are not only knowledgeable in the subjects but they know exactly how to get you understand and learn the subject. When I first met Sean he had a huge smile. When I met with Tyler he had a huge smile. When I met his fiancé who also tutors!!! She had a huge smile. These are the type of people you want by your side. These wonderful people will help you succeed in your academic life if you let them. Education is one of the only things in life that cannot be taken away, why not get the best out of it through alexander tutoring?Thank you!

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PCPaul C.Google review
★★★★★

I highly reccommend Alexander Tutoring and Instructor Johnathan! My high school senior started work on the CA State Water Treatment licenses that require high school and college level math and physics. Instructor Johnathan has been professional, amiable, knowledgeable, patient, and able to explain the complex problems in terms she could understand. Hats off to Alexander Tutoring and Johnathan 😊

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IFIgor F.Google review
★★★★★

Highly recommend this tutoring for your math and physics needs. We needed them for our son twice for his pre calculus in high school when he was struggling and now when in college he needed some help with Calculus III. Each time they found a way to help him improve his grade significantly. Prices are very reasonable, definitely ask them about paying for package, it's chipper that way. I will definitely use them again in the future for our daughter who is freshman in High School now.

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EMEdila M.Yelp review
★★★★★

Alexander Mathematics and physics tutoring is an excellent way to help. My son is in the ninth grade and he was having a very difficult time in algebra, but since he started tutoring he has been doing much better. I can tell you that the tutors are very good, my son has a very good connection with his tutor because he is an excellent person, now my son has more confidence in himself.

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MDMatthew D.Google review
★★★★★

I am an adult looking to go back to school to study Physics. In preparation for that, I have been working with Alexander Sheynis on a variety of math topics. I am thoroughly pleased with my experience. Alexander is professional, always timely, communicative through e-mail and quick to understand my questions, where I might need additional help, etc. I have no hesitation in recommending Alexander Mathematics and Physics tutoring and can't imagine someone being unhappy with the service. It is not inexpensive, but I believe it has been worth every penny and would make the exact same decision over again.

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JHJustine H.Google review
★★★★★

I have had a great experience with them and would highly recommend them. My physics tutor, Johnathan Lupercio, was very attentive and helpful. He also had carefully thought-out lesson plans for me and was very patient with any sort of questions I had. Everyone who works here is also very friendly.

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JFJennifer F.Google review
★★★★★

My daughter was having a difficult time in honors physics and her work with the tutor we found through Alexander Tutoring helped her to bring her grade up by a full letter grade! The tutor she used was professional and extremely well qualified.

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JVJohn V.Google review
★★★★★

Georgia, thank you for your good work with Devin. He has become a more confident math and physics student and he appreciates your calm, positive vibe.

BCBerlina C.Google review
★★★★★

My daughter has been studying with Alexander Mathematics and Physics Tutoring since her Freshman year in High School, taking Algebra 2H. She has been working with Felix regularly during the past 2 school years. She is currently ending her Sophomore year and Felix works with her on her Geometry H & Chemistry H classes. She has also prepared for upcoming Math during the summer with Alexander (who is also excellent), and will be doing summer prep sessions again this summer. I consider Alexander Tutoring to be an essential part of our daughter’s academic success. She looks forward to and enjoys her tutoring sessions. She feels more confident as she approaches her work (in Math & Science) and takes comfort in knowing that if there is content that is more challenging or difficult to understand, she will have the opportunity to cover it with Felix. Scheduling is also very convenient online, and there are opportunities to add more sessions preparing for Finals. What I am most pleased with is that my daughter has a positive perception and relationship with Math & Science! She knows she can have success and that these subjects can be challenging but enjoyable. My daughter and I are truly grateful to Alexander Mathematics and Physics Tutoring. Looking forward to working on Precalculus and Physics next year.

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PMPeter M.Google review
★★★★☆

Alexander Tutors are a great resource. My son was struggling in a high school physics class and, with the help of Alexander Tutoring, was able to raise his grade significantly. The tutors are knowledgeable and great teachers.

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WCWhitney C.Google review
★★★★★

Thank you for helping Madison with physics. She has not only gained skills but her confidence as well. We feel so lucky to have your expertise.

Why physics students freeze

Students stall in physics because they think they need the whole solution before they write anything down. I do not know the whole solution either. I follow eight steps and trust that they will get me there — and that is exactly what we teach your student to do.

Then we fix what is actually broken, and it is almost always the same things. That gravity is not inherently negative; the coordinate system decides the sign. That acceleration due to gravity and force due to gravity are different things. That vectors add tip to tail, which is the whole meaning of components. We have heard “because gravity” a hundred times, and it is never the student’s fault — it is what happens when a class teaches formulas instead of systems.

And we give back what the curriculum cuts. Relativity. Quantum mechanics. That your relative velocity changes how your clock runs, that observing an experiment can change its outcome, that the atoms in your hand could in principle pass through a wall. Was any of that in your high school physics class? It is in ours.

What Our Physics Tutors Cover

Our tutors are physicists. Not math teachers who also cover physics — people who have done research in it. That difference shows up fastest in physics, where the gap between plugging into a formula and understanding a system is widest.

Courses: Conceptual Physics · Honors Physics · AP Physics 1 · AP Physics 2 · AP Physics C: Mechanics · AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism · IB Physics · College Physics I & II

Kinematics & Mechanics

  • Motion in one and two dimensions
  • Vectors and vector components
  • Projectile motion
  • Newton’s laws of motion
  • Forces, friction and free-body diagrams
  • Inclined planes and connected systems
  • Mass, weight and equilibrium
  • Work and the work-energy theorem
  • Kinetic and potential energy
  • Conservation of energy
  • Power
  • Impulse and momentum
  • Elastic and inelastic collisions
  • Center of mass
  • Angular position, velocity and acceleration
  • Circular motion and centripetal force
  • Torque
  • Moment of inertia
  • Angular momentum and its conservation
  • Rolling motion
  • Rotational kinetic energy
  • Simple harmonic motion
  • Springs, Hooke’s law and pendulums
  • Wave properties and wave speed
  • Superposition and interference
  • Standing waves and resonance
  • Sound and the Doppler effect
  • Reflection, refraction and Snell’s law
  • Lenses, mirrors and image formation
  • Diffraction and polarization
  • Electric charge and Coulomb’s law
  • Electric fields and field lines
  • Electric potential and potential energy
  • Capacitors and dielectrics
  • Current, resistance and Ohm’s law
  • Series and parallel circuits
  • Kirchhoff’s rules and RC circuits
  • Magnetic fields and magnetic force
  • Ampère’s law
  • Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law
  • Electromagnetic induction
  • Temperature and thermal expansion
  • Heat, specific heat and calorimetry
  • Heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation
  • The ideal gas law and kinetic theory
  • First and second laws of thermodynamics
  • Entropy
  • Thermodynamic cycles and engines
  • Fluid statics, buoyancy and Bernoulli’s principle
  • Special relativity
  • The photoelectric effect
  • Wave-particle duality
  • Atomic models and energy levels
  • Nuclear physics and radioactivity
  • Introduction to quantum mechanics
  • Calculus-based mechanics (AP Physics C)
  • Calculus-based electricity and magnetism (AP Physics C)
  • Derivations using integrals and differential equations
  • University Physics I and II coursework
  • Laboratory analysis and error propagation
What actually changes

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 a problem they’ve never seen stops being a threat. They stop asking whether something will be on the test and start asking why it works.

Watch: Physics Explained

The method, the concepts and the phenomena, taught the way we teach them in session.

The 8-step method for solving physics problems

The 8-Step Method for Solving Physics Problems

You do not need the whole solution before you start. You need eight steps and the trust to follow them.

Coordinate systems in physics

Coordinate Systems in Physics

Gravity is not inherently negative. Your coordinate system decides the sign.

Circular motion

Circular Motion

Centripetal force, and why it is not a force pushing outward.

Conservation of momentum

Conservation of Momentum

One of the few rules that explains nearly everything you will ever see.

Unit conversions

Unit Conversions

The skill that quietly costs students more exam marks than any concept.

Diffraction in action

Diffraction in Action

Ocean waves fanning out through a gap: simple rules, complex phenomena.

The Relativity Lectures

Nine sessions on the special theory of relativity, recorded in full and free to watch. Relative velocity changing how a clock runs is not on the high school syllabus. It is here.

Lectures on the special theory of relativity

Lectures on the Special Theory of Relativity

Where the series begins.

Relativity, day 2

Relativity, Day 2

Relativity, day 3

Relativity, Day 3

Relativity, day 4

Relativity, Day 4

Relativity, day 5

Relativity, Day 5

Relativity, day 6

Relativity, Day 6

Relativity, day 7

Relativity, Day 7

Relativity, day 8

Relativity, Day 8

Relativity, day 9

Relativity, Day 9

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.

The Universe Is Waiting

Your student has everything they need to succeed — they just need someone to show them. Book a risk-free lesson and see what happens when math finally clicks. No credit card. No commitment. Just one hour that could change everything.