Physics

Physics is one of the experimental sciences offered by the IB program in Hong Kong that is tutored at International Scholars Tuition. Along with Biology and Chemistry, Physics is required or recommended by most of the undergraduate engineering, mathematics, and science programs at the top universities. Our Physics tutors are able to help. At a young age, students should build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge by learning how to design experiments using scientific method, to evaluate data and evidence, and write complete answers using accurate terminology. At 11+ and 13+ Common Entrance in the UK, students should understand how light and sound travels, forces, electromagnets, electric circuits, the solar system, energy, motion, rotation, pressure, density, and waves; if they are to receive offers from the top UK independent boarding schools. No specific Physics knowledge is required for the top US boarding schools. As students progress to IGCSE, topics include, Newton’s Laws, efficiency, refraction, ultrasound, lenses, electromagnetic waves, atoms, nuclear radiation, life cycle of stars, and motors. At GCE A-Level, students who are planning to study Physics at university in Great Britain will be tutored in kinematics, dynamics, superposition, thermal properties, oscillations, capacitance, particle physics, and quantum physics. Students planning to study Physics in the United States should be prepared to take the Physics SAT Subject Test and the Physics AP. In addition to apply the major physics topics, students are also expected to use simple algebra, trigonometry, ratios, and proportion to laboratory experiments.

Physics Tutor, 2020 – present

Mr Giles Chambers, who holds a Master of Engineering (Hons) in Materials Science from the University of Oxford, joins IST as a Physics tutor. Materials Science is a solid-state physics degree, and as such he has been drilled in the first principles of the subject. With a combined knowledge of world-class tutoring environments, a track record of top-level exam performance, and a kind, responsive personality, Mr Chambers aims to encourage students’ natural abilities to flourish, growing into skills that are more than basic exam-passing techniques. For these reasons, his teaching style is suitable for any student at any stage of progress. He has tutoring experience in London, England and Lisbon, Portugal. As a student, for A-level and GCSE Physics, Gil achieved A*s.

Senior Physics Tutor, 2009 – present

Mr Daniel Chan has been tutoring Physics for IST since 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons.) in Chemistry from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Advanced) from the University of Sydney, Australia. He is in the final stages of his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

Since joining IST, Daniel has tutored students from the German Swiss International School (GSIS) doing the IGCSE exam which they learnt about wave theory, electromagnetism, electricity, Newton’s Laws of motions. He has also tutored a student from King George V School to prepare for Edexcel IGCSE exam, where he is studying topics like terminal velocity, electricity, thermal physics. To King’s Scholars from Eton College, Daniel has tutored on various IGCSE and A-Level topics, for example, nuclear fusion and fission, photoelectric effect and centripetal forces. To students from Marymount Secondary School, he has tutored Snell’s Law, lenses formula, thermometers and thermal physics based on the HKDSE syllabus. Daniel has tutored electromagnetism, quantum physics and materials to an AQA Physics A-Level student from Aiglon College, Switzerland, kinematics and mechanics to an AP Physics student at Berkshire School, USA, and thermodynamics and kinetic theory to an undergraduate Physics student at Syracuse University, USA. Daniel can offer essential exam technique and correct common mistakes made by students to improve their performance in the public exams.

Daniel tutored several students studying in the UK on their Edexcel IGCSE physics exam. A wide range of topics were taught, for instance, properties of waves, radiation, nuclear physics, Ohm’s Law, mains electricity. In addition, Daniel tutored students on the physics knowledge required in the Scientific Knowledge and Applications Paper of BioMedical Admission Test (BMAT).

Daniel tutored a university student for his admission test to transfer to medical school in Europe. He taught many topics at advanced level such as electric field, rotational mechanics, wave-particle duality, electromagnetic induction, simple harmonic motion and thermodynamics. Given the high standard of the exam, he covered both A-level and IB syllabus and went through many practice questions in order to make him fully prepare for his admission test.

In addition, Daniel , as part of IST’s Basic University Application Package, helped a student receive an offer and scholarship to study at Oxford by helping to prepare for the student for the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT), the personal statement, and interview.

Principal Physics Tutor, 2005 – present

Since 2005, Mr Don Ho has been a Physics tutor at IST. Don has tutored 13+ Common Entrance and IGCSE topics such as electrical circuits; reflection, refraction, and dispersion of waves; conduction, convection, and radiation; and Hooke’s Law and extension, and Boyle’s Law and pressure; to students from Eton College, Harrow School, Oundle School, and Island School. Don is the Principal of IST and can tutor students who are applying to boarding schools or universities in the UK or US. International Scholars Tuition School is a Registered UCAS Centre.

Physics Tutor, 2020

Mr Paribesh Khapung recently graduated with a First Class Master’s Degree in Physics from the University of Oxford. He is keen to draw from his own academic experiences and struggles and pass on this knowledge onto other students, so that they can have a successful academic career. In recognition of his academic performance, Mr Khapung was made a Scholar at his college at Oxford after his first year. Additionally, he was awarded a Finalist Scholarship as a result of his exam performance in his Finals. For his A-levels at Palmer’s College, Paribesh earned three A*s in Physics, Maths, and Further Maths, and a (1) in STEP Maths. At The Hathaway Academy, on his GCSEs, he achieved 7 A*s and 3 As.

His academic accomplishments have allowed him to hone in on the essential ingredients for a successful academic career. It very much influences his approach to tutoring.

Paribesh has worked with students (up to A Level) on a range of subjects: Maths, Science, English and Physics. He also has experience with preparing students for the 11+ (and 13+) Common Entrance Exams as well as for the PAT and university interviews. His students have been diverse in their background and academic ability. As such, he is able to approach tutoring each student with considerable flexibility. Indeed, he has found that building a rapport with students is an important part of making the whole process progress smoothly for both the student and the tutor.

Physics Tutor, 2019-2020

Miss Yenga Yan studied physics at the University of Cambridge as part of the natural science tripos, where she achieved an upper second class Bachelor of Arts and first class Master of Natural Sciences. During her undergraduate scientific training, Yenga studied topics such as Newtonian mechanics, electricity and circuits, gravitational and electromagnetic fields, and quantum and wave theory. At IST, Yenga hopes to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for physical sciences with students of diverse ages, preparing for different levels of examination. She has taught students from a number of recognised international secondary schools in Hong Kong such as West Island School, GSIS, Island School, and British International School (Kellett) and students from top boarding schools in the UK for example, Warwick School and Sherborne School. Her lessons follows the IGCSE, IB, or A-level syllabus closely and she has experience drawing on a range of interactive resources to engage the student’s interest and reinforce their understanding of physics to enhance examination performance.

For students preparing for IGCSE examinations, Yenga has provided guidance for topics which students frequently find challenging such as forces and motion, energy calculations, electrical circuit theory, magnetism and electromagnetism, refraction and reflection of light, radioactivity, and astrophysics. For IB students, Yenga has taught topics such as wave theory covering simple harmonic motion and principles of superposition, and radioactivity introducing her students to different subatomic particles and how to use the conservation of mass and energy in calculations.

Her lessons will include detailed explanations for fundamental concepts, demonstrations of example problems, and past exam paper practise prepared specifically to help students succeed in 11+ and 13+ common entrance exams, IGCSE, A-level, IB Diploma, the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT), the science sections of the ACT and BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), and up to first year university coursework.