AQA A-level
Chemistry tutoring
Get much better at AQA Chemistry, and perhaps even start to enjoy it.
I’m Dr Torben Smith. I have a PhD in organic chemistry and more than 20 years’ experience teaching A-level Chemistry, including many years as Head of Faculty and Course Leader at Bilborough Sixth Form College.
I now focus on one to one private tutoring. I deliberately work with a small number of students so I can prepare carefully for each lesson, follow their progress closely and provide support between sessions.
Based in Nottingham. Online tuition is my normal service, including for local students.
Please read the reviews in full.
Click Read more on the longer reviews — the previews cut quite a lot off.
My AQA results in 2025
All of my AQA tutees improved on their starting grade. My AQA resit students achieved A or A* and improved by two grades.
The full cohort includes students who began from a very low starting point.
What you get from my AQA tutoring
I use a lot of exam questions to see what you understand, where an answer goes wrong and what needs fixing before we move on.
Students start in very different places. Some mainly need harder questions and exam technique; others have gaps from Year 12 that make the later course much more difficult. We work from where you actually are.
A weekly one-to-one lesson
Normally an hour, sometimes a little longer when my timetable allows. We work through the chemistry and the details that matter when you put an answer on the page.
Question folders built around AQA
I put together topic folders using AQA questions plus useful questions from other boards where they make good preparation for AQA. That gives us a much larger pool of worthwhile practice than relying on one textbook or one set of past papers.
Help between lessons
If you get stuck, send me the question and your working. I can usually point you in the right direction without making you wait until the following week.
Extra practice and resources
Access to my online Chemistry practice platform is included, along with the extra questions and resources I use with my own tutees.
Exam technique and study approach
We also work on revision, timing, how to use mark schemes sensibly and how to avoid the recurring mistakes that cost marks. Some of that is useful well beyond Chemistry.
The fee
£200per hour
My normal support between lessons, resources and online practice are included.
I normally tutor students for one hour each week. You do not need to buy a long block of future lessons in advance.
Students do need to work between sessions as well.
Questions about tutoringA bit about me
I spent many years at Bilborough Sixth Form College in Nottingham, including as Head of Faculty and Course Leader. A-level Chemistry has been the focus of my teaching for more than two decades.
Chemistry is the school subject I tutor. Specialising lets me spend a slightly unreasonable amount of time on specifications, exam questions and the awkward little details that repeatedly cost marks.
More about meHow the online lessons work
We talk on Google Meet and write on a shared Miro board. I can put exam questions straight onto the board, see your working as it develops and bring in other questions or resources while we talk.
A tablet or drawing pad with a stylus is strongly recommended. A second screen is useful but not essential.
See the full setupCurrent availability
My regular timetable for 2026–27 was fully booked by mid August.
Students who can be flexible about lesson times may still be able to use cancellation slots, and I keep a waiting list for regular places that become available.
For 2027–28 I intend to work with around ten regular students and I am now taking enquiries for places from June 2027.
Get in touch
WhatsApp is usually easiest. Tell me which year you’re in and what you’d like help with.
Message me on WhatsAppWhatsApp, text or voice message07749 597452
Please check your spam folder if you’re waiting for an email reply.