The right MYP Physics tutor understands how the IB Middle Years Programme assesses science, through criteria A to D, and teaches the physics content and investigation skills those criteria reward. MYP science is assessed very differently from IGCSE, so a tutor who only knows exam-board physics may miss what your child’s teacher is marking. This guide explains what to check, with notes for Hong Kong families, where demand for MYP tutors is especially high.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company. The checklist applies to any tutor.

Key takeaways

• MYP sciences are assessed against four criteria, each scored 0–8, combined into a grade of 1–7.
• Criteria B and C (designing investigations and processing data) are where many students lose marks.
• If your school uses MYP eAssessment in Year 5, the tutor should know the on-screen exam format.
• MYP Physics is also preparation for DP Physics, so maths fluency matters.

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How is MYP Physics assessed?

MYP Physics is assessed against the four MYP sciences criteria, using tasks your child’s school designs. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 8, and the four totals are converted to an MYP grade from 1 to 7.

Criterion	What it assesses	Typical tasks
A: Knowing and understanding	Physics knowledge, applying it to solve problems	Tests and quizzes
B: Inquiring and designing	Research questions, hypotheses, designing methods	Lab investigation planning
C: Processing and evaluating	Presenting and interpreting data, evaluating methods	Lab reports
D: Reflecting on the impacts of science	Science in society, ethics, applications	Research essays or presentations

The IB describes the programme on its Middle Years Programme pages. Your child’s school will also have task-specific clarifications for each assessment, which a tutor should read.

What should an MYP Physics tutor focus on?

An MYP Physics tutor should focus on the criteria where your child scores lowest, while making the physics itself secure.

• Criterion A: forces, energy, electricity, waves and the calculations behind them.
• Criterion B: writing a focused research question and a testable hypothesis with reasoning.
• Criterion C: drawing graphs, describing trends, and evaluating reliability and validity.
• Criterion D: structured writing on physics in real-world contexts, such as energy use.
• Maths skills: rearranging equations, units and graph gradients, which matter even more at DP.

You can browse MYP Physics tutors in Hong Kong or all IB MYP tutors.

How to choose an MYP Physics tutor

1. Ask for your child’s criterion scores on the last two or three tasks.
2. Identify the weakest criterion, often B or C.
3. Check the tutor’s MYP experience: do they know the criteria and command terms?
4. Book a trial lesson using a recent task and its feedback.
5. Ask how they support lab reports without writing them.
6. Plan ahead: in MYP 4–5, include eAssessment practice if your school uses it.

MYP vs IGCSE physics: why the tutor must know MYP

MYP Physics rewards inquiry, investigation and reflection alongside knowledge; IGCSE Physics is mainly a written exam on content and practical skills.

	IB MYP Physics	Cambridge IGCSE Physics
Assessment	Criteria A–D on school tasks; optional eAssessment	Written exam papers
Grades	1–7	A*–G or 9–1
Investigations	Central (criteria B and C)	Practical or alternative-to-practical paper
Reflection on science in society	Assessed (criterion D)	Not assessed separately

A tutor who teaches only IGCSE may focus on content and miss the investigation and reflection skills that make up half the MYP criteria.

Notes for Hong Kong families

Many international schools in Hong Kong teach the IB MYP, including several English Schools Foundation (ESF) secondary schools, so experienced MYP tutors are in demand, especially before eAssessment and DP subject choices. A few practical points:

• Timing: online lessons in Hong Kong time (HKT) avoid cross-harbour travel after school.
• eAssessment: MYP 5 students at participating schools sit on-screen exams; ask the school whether yours does.
• DP preparation: students planning DP Physics HL should secure maths skills in MYP 4–5.
• Language: if your child also studies in Chinese, a tutor who explains physics terms clearly in English helps with written criteria.

For a wider view of the city’s options, see our guide to IB tuition options in Hong Kong.

Getting started with a Tutopiya MYP Physics tutor

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online MYP tutoring, including MYP Physics and sciences.

• A tutor matched to your child’s MYP year and subject.
• A free trial lesson with no card required.
• Flexible monthly hours, from 4 a month per subject. Each tutor sets their own rate, and you see it before you book.
• Lessons in Hong Kong time, after school or at weekends.
• AI lesson analysis, with notes, flashcards and quiz questions from each lesson.

See our MYP curriculum page for other subjects.

Common mistakes

• Focusing only on criterion A → work on B and C, where marks are often lost.
• Using IGCSE materials only → practise MYP-style tasks and command terms.
• Hypotheses without reasoning → explain the physics behind each prediction.
• Graphs without analysis → describe trends and evaluate data quality.
• Ignoring maths → fix rearranging and units before DP.

Talk to us

For more on the MYP, read our ultimate guide to the IB MYP. If your child is moving on to the Diploma, see how to choose an IB Physics tutor. For a recommendation in Hong Kong, contact our team.

Summary: choose an MYP Physics tutor who knows criteria A to D, strengthens investigation and data skills as well as content, and prepares your child for eAssessment and DP Physics.

Frequently asked questions

What should an MYP Physics tutor know? +

They should understand the four MYP sciences criteria (knowing and understanding; inquiring and designing; processing and evaluating; reflecting on the impacts of science), how your school sets tasks against them, and the physics content your child is studying. If your school uses eAssessment, they should know that format too.

How is MYP Physics graded? +

Students are assessed against four criteria, A to D, each marked from 0 to 8. The criteria totals are combined into an MYP grade from 1 to 7. Teachers set tasks such as tests, lab investigations and reports that target specific criteria.

Can a tutor help with MYP Physics lab reports? +

Yes. A tutor can teach how to write a testable hypothesis, design a fair method, process data with graphs, and evaluate results, which are the skills criteria B and C reward. The report itself must be your child's own work.

Do Hong Kong students need an MYP Physics tutor? +

Not all. A tutor helps most when criterion scores are uneven, lab reports lose marks, maths skills hold physics back, or your child is preparing for DP Physics. Many Hong Kong families use online tutoring to fit lessons around busy school schedules.

Does Tutopiya offer MYP Physics tutors in Hong Kong? +

Yes. Tutopiya offers one-to-one online MYP Physics tutoring for students in Hong Kong and elsewhere, scheduled in Hong Kong time. The first trial lesson is free with no card required, and plans start from 4 hours a month per subject.

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