Chemistry Tutoring in Sydney and Online
Short answer: Rubix Learning offers one-on-one chemistry tutoring for Years 11 and 12, at home across Sydney or online anywhere in Australia. Tutors cover HSC Chemistry and VCE Chemistry. In the 2025 HSC, 18 of the 23 students we tutored in chemistry (78%) got a Band 6. Lessons build understanding of the concepts, then accuracy with calculations and past papers. Chemistry tutoring costs $105 an hour online or $115 at home.
At a glance
- 78% Band 6 in chemistry: in the 2025 HSC, 18 of the 23 students we tutored in chemistry (78%) achieved a Band 6.
- HSC Chemistry and VCE Chemistry, plus QCE, SACE and WACE chemistry online.
- Years 7 to 10 science too, so students start Year 11 chemistry with strong foundations.
- $105 an hour online, $115 at home in Sydney (Years 11 and 12); Years 7 to 10 science is $95 online and $105 at home.
- Past papers built into lessons, so students are ready for the way HSC questions are asked.
- A summary after every lesson, and a detailed progress report every 10 lessons.
Chemistry courses we tutor
| Year level | What we tutor |
|---|---|
| Years 7 to 10 | Science, including the chemistry topics students need before Year 11 |
| Years 11 and 12, NSW | HSC Chemistry |
| Years 11 and 12, Victoria (online) | VCE Chemistry |
| Years 11 and 12, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia (online) | QCE, SACE and WACE chemistry, with tutors from those states |
HSC Chemistry: the course, the exam and where marks are lost
The Year 12 HSC Chemistry course has four modules, each worth about the same in the exam:
- Module 5: Equilibrium and Acid Reactions
- Module 6: Acid/base Reactions
- Module 7: Organic Chemistry
- Module 8: Applying Chemical Ideas
The exam: one 3-hour paper, plus 5 minutes reading time, worth 100 marks. Section I is 20 marks of multiple choice. Section II is 80 marks across 20 to 25 written questions, including at least two worth 7 to 9 marks. A data sheet, formulae sheet and periodic table are provided, and NESA-approved calculators are allowed (NESA).
NSW has a new Chemistry syllabus coming, but it doesn't affect current students: Year 11 starts it in 2028, and the first HSC exam under it is in 2029 (NSW Department of Education).
Where students most often lose marks
- Not doing enough past papers. HSC questions put familiar ideas in unfamiliar situations and mix modules together, especially in Module 8. Past HSC papers are the best way to get used to that, which is why Rubix tutors build them into lessons.
- Slips in calculations. Wrong units, mole ratios or significant figures can cost marks even when the method is right.
- Memorising instead of explaining. Questions on equilibrium and reactions ask students to explain cause and effect, not repeat a definition.
- Short answers to long questions. The 7 to 9 mark questions need a planned, detailed response, not a paragraph. Make sure you know NESA's directive verbs, such as "explain", "assess" and "evaluate", and what each one asks you to do. Our guide to HSC directive verbs explains them with examples.
VCE Chemistry
VCE Chemistry Units 3 and 4 finish with one written exam: multiple-choice questions, then short and extended answers. Students are given the VCAA's VCE Chemistry Data Book to use in the exam, and school-assessed coursework (SACs) in Units 3 and 4 also counts towards the study score. Past exams are on the VCAA website.
Rubix tutors VCE Chemistry online, and matches VCE students with former VCE students or tutors with VCE experience. See our online VCE tutoring page.
How chemistry lessons work
- The first lesson finds the gaps. Your tutor works out what's holding your child back: a concept that never clicked, calculations, or how to write longer answers.
- Understanding first. Tutors explain why reactions happen, not just what to memorise, so your child can handle unfamiliar questions.
- Lessons follow school. Tutors work through your child's current module, practical reports and assessment tasks, so every lesson helps with what's due next.
- Lots of past papers. Past HSC papers are a big part of lessons. As exams get closer, students do full papers under exam time.
- You stay in the loop. A written summary after every lesson, and a detailed report every 10 lessons.
Chemistry tutoring prices
Chemistry costs the same as every other subject.
| Per hour | Online | At home in Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Years 7 to 10 (science) | $95 | $105 |
| Years 11 and 12 (chemistry) | $105 | $115 |
There's no enrolment fee, and lessons are paid by the term. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't be charged for it, and if the first tutor isn't right, we'll trial a different tutor at no charge. See our tutoring prices page for the full details.
Why families choose Rubix
- Results. In the 2025 HSC, 18 of the 23 students Rubix tutored in chemistry (78%) got a Band 6. Across all subjects, 241 of 288 (84%) got a Band 6 or E4 in the subject they were tutored in.
- Experience. Rubix has tutored more than 3,100 students since 2021.
- Trained tutors. Every tutor is trained by founder Chris Tembeleski and completes Rubix's onboarding before teaching.
- Safety checked. Every Rubix tutor must hold a current Working With Children Check (a blue card in Queensland).
- Reviews. Rubix is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 95 Google reviews.
Chemistry tutoring: frequently asked questions
When should my child start chemistry tutoring?
Ideally at the start of Year 11. The Year 11 course teaches the calculations and ideas that Year 12 builds on, and school assessments make up half of each HSC mark, so every task counts.
Is HSC Chemistry hard?
It has a lot of content and many calculation questions, but students who understand the concepts and practise past papers do well. In the 2025 HSC, 18 of the 23 students Rubix tutored in chemistry (78%) got a Band 6.
Can you help with practical reports and depth studies?
Yes. Tutors help with any chemistry assessment task, including practical reports and depth studies, as well as tests and exams.
Do you tutor VCE Chemistry?
Yes. Rubix tutors VCE Chemistry online, with tutors who studied VCE themselves or have VCE experience.
Does chemistry tutoring work online?
Yes. Students work through questions with their tutor on screen and get feedback as they go. Because lessons are online, your child isn't limited to tutors who live nearby, so we can match them with the right chemistry tutor from our whole team.
How much does chemistry tutoring cost?
For Years 11 and 12, $105 an hour online or $115 at home in Sydney. There's no enrolment fee.
Book a chemistry lesson
Tell us your child's year level, course and goals, and we'll match them with the right chemistry tutor, at home in Sydney or online. If the first lesson isn't the right fit and you don't continue, you won't pay for it.