Online A-Level Economics Tutor | Tom Furber

Cambridge economics graduation photo

Hi, I’m Tom! I provide one-to-one online A-Level Economics tutoring for students across the UK, covering all major exam boards.

A-Level Economics is the focus of my tutoring and work developing student resources. I deliberately take on a limited number of students each year, so that I can allocate substantial time to each one within and outside of sessions. This includes preparing the sessions, reviewing school and tutorial work, creating practice tests, providing support between the sessions and more.

My tutoring concentrates on the areas that most often limit students’ economics grades: exam technique, gaps in content knowledge and real-world application.

6000+ hours

Tutoring and creating A-Level Economics resources.

Cambridge

Economics degree and a Master’s in Economic Research.

39

Tutoring reviews.

Former economist

Previously a civil service economist.

Proven results

Students improved from the start of tuition to the final 2026 exams by an average of 1.9 grades.

Recent student results include: A → A* · C → A · D → B · E → A.

Hear from parents

“Today I took my son to University where he will be studying Economics .. he achieved an A* … and Tom definitely helped him achieve this brilliant result.” 

“With Tom’s help she is now in top set in her class having unbelievable results in her tests…”

“His hard work outside the lessons marking homework and writing mock exams goes far above the levels of normal tutors.”

Price: £89 per session hour.

This includes preparation, marking and support outside of sessions.

Availability: Weekdays.

Afternoon and early evening slots are currently available as of September 2026.

Get in touch

Jump to:

Who is my A-Level Economics tutoring for?

Are you working at a C or D and aiming for an A or B?

→ Let’s work on course content, revising major topics such as trade, exchange rates, market power and government intervention.

→ Undertake exam technique and full question practice within and outside of sessions.

→ Practice questions and tests are set to assess progress towards your grade goal.

Are you unsure how to structure 25 mark questions and other essays?

→ Let me give you a structure you can use for 25 mark questions, such as the 6-paragraph structure I teach my students or the DECEL structure for evaluation points.

→ This can help you organise your essays, so you can focus more on writing an effective essay, than wasting time on structure.

Are you struggling with time management in economics exam scenarios?

→ Let’s cover how much time you should spend on each paragraph for the 25, 15 and 4 mark questions.

→ Timed practice within and outside of sessions can also help improve your timing.

Are you achieving an A or B but looking to reach the A*?

→ I will look at your work from school to figure out which exam technique or content errors can be fixed to improve your scores.

→ For difficult topics we can review the analysis and evaluation points at a high level.

→ Exam technique work and practice tests can also help to polish answers to reach the top grade.

Do you have weaknesses in the analysis, application or evaluation skills?

→ Let’s cover what an effective chain of analysis looks like. Extend microeconomic analysis by discussing stakeholder welfare and macroeconomic analysis with objectives.

→ Learn relevant real world examples and get a crash course in evaluation, including specific evaluation and example practice.

Would you like to start year 12 with a head start on your peers?

→ Let’s teach the course from scratch, including PPFs in microeconomics and AS-AD in macroeconomics.

→ Nail the course content and exam technique from an early stage to prepare for early school tests.

How I assess and improve students’ economics essays

When I review a student’s work, I look at the areas most likely to be holding back their marks:

Knowledge · Application · Analysis (including diagrams) · Evaluation · Essay structure and organisation · Time management.

Here is an example of how I would assess and improve a student’s paragraphs:

Question: Evaluate the effects of a tax on high-sugar drinks (25 marks).

Example student answer

An indirect tax on sugary drinks increases the cost of producing sugary drinks. This reduces the supply of sugary drinks. This makes it harder to consume sugary drinks. So consumers don’t buy as many sugary drinks, so consumers are healthier.

However, this depends on the price elasticity of demand (PED). If the PED is inelastic, consumers’ health will not improve.

Quick tutor comments

  • Knowledge: Good start. State it is a shift in supply. Refer to technical terms (market failure).
  • Application: Add a real world example (SDIL).
  • Analysis: Why is it harder? Refer to higher price + add diagram + extension with market failure.
  • Evaluation: Good choice of evaluation point.
  • Why is the PED inelastic for sugary drinks? Refer to habit formation or addictive properties.
  • Why would consumers’ health not improve? Consider how the PED undermines your previous analysis.

Why is this answer losing marks?

I would tell the student that the analysis and evaluation points have the right initial idea. However, the analysis chain is too short and needs extending. The use of a diagram may make it easier to discuss and extend analysis, including through market failure. Real world examples could be included, such as the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), facts about this, sugar consumption or NHS waiting lists.

For the evaluation, there also needs to be a quick chain of reasoning to explain the consequences of the PED being inelastic, in terms of the effect on equilibrium price or quantity. Why the PED is inelastic is another important detail.

Click for the A* version of these paragraphs.

An indirect tax on sugary drinks increases the cost of producing sugary drinks, as is the case with the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL). This taxed a set of drinks with a sugar concentration of at least 5g per 100ml. This reduces the supply of sugary drinks, shifting it left from S to S+tax in the diagram below. This leads to a rise in the equilibrium price of sugary drinks from p1 to p2, which reduces the incentive to consume sugary drinks. Indeed the consumer surplus falls by area p2EFp1 because of the SDIL increasing the price of sugary drinks, while producer surplus falls by area p1FGp3, creating an incentive for firms to reduce sugar concentrations in drinks below 5g per 100ml to avoid paying the tax. The equilibrium quantity falls from q1 to q2, so the consumption of sugary drinks falls. This all means that consumers are less likely to suffer sugar-related health problems, reducing the pressure on the National Health Service and bringing the waitlist down from 7.27 million people (as of June 2026). So there are more beds available for others who need emergency care. Thus the tax helps resolve the market failure of a negative externality from consuming sugary drinks, taking into account the external harm caused by sugary drinks.

Fall in consumer and producer surplus due to a sugary drinks tax in a supply and demand diagram.

However, this depends on the price elasticity of demand (PED). The PED for sugary drinks may be inelastic, as it may be a habit for consumers and hard to give up, even if the price rises. 84% of the UK population consumers a sugary snack each day, suggesting some habit formation. If the PED is inelastic, following the sugary drinks tax, the equilibrium quantity may not fall as much. So consumers’ health may not improve as much. So the market failure from the negative externality may remain and NHS waiting lists may not improve.

What changed?

Longer chain of reasoning without gaps · High-level diagram explained · Use of real world examples · Extended analysis to link to market failure · Evaluation that explains why demand may be price-inelastic · How price-inelastic demand may undermine the desired effect of the tax and the graphical analysis in more detail.

Extra notes for students aiming for an A*:

  • Counter-evaluation: How could you counter the evaluation point with the PED being inelastic? Might the PED vary over time or for different groups? This could be useful for a conclusion.
  • Edexcel: Another option to level up your diagram is to draw a tax-incidence diagram, showing and explaining the areas for consumer and producer incidence.
  • AQA: You could also draw a negative externality of consumption + tax diagram, showing the welfare gain from the tax by correcting the market failure.

The same exam technique principles I tutor are reflected in the model answers and other resources I create for A-Level Economics students. Here are more examples:

Edexcel A 2024 Paper 1 model answers → | AQA sugar tax 25 marker explained →

How my online A-Level Economics tutoring sessions work

Before the session, I prepare feedback on your schoolwork or tuition homework. This allows us to spend the session focussing on the areas in which you can gain the most marks.

My online tutoring sessions take place through Zoom. I use a shared document for making notes and a shared whiteboard app (Scribble Together) for drawing diagrams.

Here is what happens in a typical tutoring session:

  • In the first 10-15 minutes, we review your homework (or schoolwork for the first session). This gives a sense of what we need to work on during the session.
  • Next, we cover the course content or exam skills that you need to work on for 25-35 minutes.
    • This often builds on the challenges identified in homework.
    • I have honed my explanations of course content over thousands of tutoring hours and can personalise explanations for each student.
  • The next 10-15 minutes can be spent on practice and review.
    • This could involve working through an essay plan together or undertaking a timed practice paragraph (with coaching or independently) and then marking it live.
  • The final few minutes are allocated to setting a homework task and if time allows, discussing the takeaways from the session.

Here are examples of what the shared document and online whiteboard could look like:

A sample page from a shared document from an imaginary economics tuition session.
Screenshot of a whiteboard from an imaginary student's tuition session. This is what the whiteboard could look like during the session.

Sample shared document page

Sample whiteboard page

After the session, students attempt the homework task. This is then reviewed to check whether feedback is being implemented. Students can also ask me any questions outside of session time over email.

I put all the documents, whiteboards, homework tasks and other tuition-related documents in a shared folder. Each student gets their own shared folder for this purpose, which the student and parents can access outside of sessions.

This structure is varied and each session is uniquely planned to work on the challenges for each student. This includes:

  • More essay planning closer to exams and for A/A* students, where students already understand a vast majority of the course content.
  • A focus on topics that the student finds challenging, especially ahead of school tests. It’s important to confront difficult concepts head on rather than leaving them misunderstood.

How my economics tuition sessions can improve students’ grades →

Get in touch

What’s included in my economics tuition

As well as the weekly sessions with me, my economics tuition includes a lot more beyond the session:

  • Weekly setting of homework.
  • Homework is marked outside of sessions.
  • Session planning ahead of each session.
  • Preparing comments on students’ schoolwork and tests.
  • Setting and marking practice tests nearer mock tests or the final exams.
  • Regular updates to parents on session progress.
  • I am available outside of sessions over email for any questions from students and parents.
  • Support with UCAS applications for economics or related subjects.

The £89 session fee therefore covers significantly more than the live session hour. This includes all the preparation, feedback, marking and other support I put in outside of the session hour.

Tutoring pricing and how my tuition goes beyond the session hour →

How my tutoring is tailored to your exam board

Edexcel A: How to achieve level 4 KAA and level 3 evaluation for 25 markers · How to structure your 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15 mark questions · 4 mark questions · Paper 1,2 and 3 · Time management strategies specific to Edexcel A.

How I tutor Edexcel A Economics →

AQA: 25 mark questions · 15 and 9 mark questions · Use of data in 2 and 4 mark questions · Time management plans for Papers 1 and 2 · Multiple choice · Paper 3 tactics including the 10 mark data question.

How I tutor AQA Economics →

Other exam boards such as Edexcel B, Edexcel IAL, OCR, Eduqas, WJEC, CIE and IB Economics: I will spend time outside of sessions preparing practice questions and content revision sessions specifically for your exam board.

Read reviews from students and parents in their own words

These are direct quotes from students I have tutored for A-Level Economics or from their parents. Click the buttons to read the full reviews.

“His sessions were tailored, well-organised, comprehensive and effective.”

“Tom is an absolute lifesaver. He gave my daughter knowledge, confidence, exam technique and, I’d even suggest, a love of the subject that she’ll now be focussing on at uni. His sessions were tailored, well-organised, comprehensive and effective. We could not have been happier with the process from start to finish. My daughter found the sessions invaluable. This is how tutoring should be done – regular homework and, later, timed mock exam-style questions and papers set with answers thoroughly reviewed and detailed feedback provided. I have already recommended Tom to other parents (who were also delighted with their child’s progress) and would recommend him to anyone wanting their child to do better in Economics.” Angela, parent of an AQA Economics A-Level student.

“I saw significant improvement in my knowledge of content and essay writing technique.”

“Tom is an excellent Economics tutor who tailors every lesson to each student’s individual needs. His expertise shows through in-depth, well-organised class notes and constructive feedback on practice questions and essays. Beyond the A-Level syllabus, he’s always eager to discuss wider economic concepts and current affairs, which really helped develop my interest in the subject.

“Over the two years of the A-Level Economics course, I saw significant improvement in my knowledge of content and essay writing technique. Ultimately, this led me to achieve an A* in Economics, scoring 91% overall. I would highly recommend Tom to anyone looking for a dedicated and engaging economics tutor.” Mary, Edexcel A Economics A-Level student.

“… an improvement of 2 grades from the grades she was achieving at the start of her sessions.”

“Tom tutored my daughter Olivia in Economics for the 5 months leading up to her A-levels. At the start of this period, she was regularly achieving a C grade in her formal and informal tests. Being new to economics, she was finding it difficult to know how to revise and how to approach homework and exam questions. 

“Tom’ lessons really helped her around specific topics and he helped her find a framework for answering questions. He always came with a fully prepared lesson plan and followed up on previously set questions. 

“I think it is important to note that for a 1 hour paid tutoring session, you really do get much more; fully pre-prepared sessions, marked homework’s with suggests, marked practice papers, review of questions completed in college. 

“Ultimately, Olivia achieved a grade A in her Economics A’level, an improvement of 2 grades from the grades she was achieving at the start of her sessions. I really do think Tom was instrumental in this improvement and we would definitely recommend him to future students.” Andrea, parent of an AQA Economics A-Level student.

“After 3 months of guiding me, I managed to get an A* in the actual A Level!”

“I first came across Mr Furber’s notes and found them very helpful in consolidating all the content. I approached him for lessons after struggling in my mocks; prior to this, I would get 12/25 in my 25 markers! Mr Furber has been so useful in teaching me exam technique, on how to craft perfect conclusions, and helping me understand difficult topics like the financial market. After 3 months of guiding me, I managed to get an A* in the actual A Level! I’m so grateful, thank you so much!” Kay’ien, AQA Economics A-Level student.

“Tom puts real emphasis on exam practise and real-world examples which were key to improvement.”

Parent’s perspective: “Tom tutored my son Aidan for his A-Level Economics studies for around 6 months leading up to his exams in May/June 2026. Aidan was finding Economics the hardest of his three A-Levels and achieving B/C graded work at college. Tom was recommended to me by a friend whose daughter had also been struggling with her Economics. The tutoring Tom provided was excellent – he had weekly sessions with Aidan across that period providing homework tasks he always marked and provided very clear feedback on areas for improvement ahead of next week’s session. As a parent it was very helpful to be copied into the emails so I could see the tasks Aidan was being asked to complete and the feedback from Tom so I could add my own thoughts and encouragement. Aidan was galvanised by the tutoring not only in terms of steady progression in his marks but in terms of his level of interest in Economics. Aidan seemed to genuinely look forward to the sessions and he ended up deciding to pursue Economics at University. Throughout the process the marks Aidan got for his homework steadily improved – not dramatically but you could see progress was being made. When it got close to the exams Tom marked various practice papers Aidan attempted and gave super helpful feedback – again the marks kept improving which was encouraging for Aidan. Aidan ended up just missing an A* in the real exam but he was delighted with such a solid A grade and it was his highest mark across all his subjects. He is now off to Nottingham University to study Economics. Thanks Tom – you have been a fantastic tutor for Aidan and have helped inspire his passion for the subject.” Phil, Aidan’s father.

Student’s perspective: “Tom is an excellent tutor with outstanding knowledge that improved my economics knowledge and passion massively over my second year of A-Levels. His effort outside of sessions such as in-depth marking of exam questions and practise papers as well as preparing for the next session gave me the best possible chance of success. Tom puts real emphasis on exam practise and real-world examples which were key to improvement. Additionally, Tom was incredibly helpful in guiding my university application by giving me ways to stand out and structure my application. I would strongly recommend Tom!” Aidan, Edexcel A Economics A-Level student.

Full list of 39 economics tutoring reviews →

While one cannot guarantee a particular result for any student, I hope that you would find my tuition helpful too!

Hear me explain my tutoring

In this short video I explain how my tutoring works. This includes the importance of exam technique, how I make my sessions relevant to students and the extra preparation I put in outside of sessions.

Get in touch

Availability

Availability: As of September 2026, I have slots available on weekdays (afternoons and evenings). At the time of writing, these slots are available at UK times:

  • Tuesdays 5pm to 6pm and 6:20pm to 7:20pm.
  • Wednesdays 2pm to 3pm and 5pm to 6pm.
  • Thursdays 2pm to 3pm, 5pm to 6pm and 6:20pm to 7:20pm.

Please get in touch → for up-to-date availability.

Most of my students take weekly sessions on a long-term basis (6 months to 2 years). This is to maximise the impact of the tutoring sessions. However, I am happy to consider other arrangements.

About me

Image of Tom on travels in Austria. Some mountains (and clouds!) in the background.

Previously I studied Economics at Cambridge at undergraduate and Master’s level. Then I worked as a professional economist, while tutoring economics on the side. Owing to the demand for tutoring, I was fortunate to be able to quit my job to tutor economics students.

Nowadays, I tutor economics and make economics resources for A-Level students. These include model answers, practice papers and content notes, which have been used by thousands of students across the UK.

More about my experience and qualifications

Frequently asked questions

Do you offer in-person or online tutoring?

I only offer online tuition. This takes place over Zoom.

Do you offer a free trial? Do students have to commit to a minimum number of sessions?

I do not offer a free trial. Each session is fully paid. This ensures all parties bring their best effort to the tuition.

While I am looking for students interested in weekly sessions, you can cancel the tuition any time. There is no commitment.

Some parents do request an introductory 10-15 minute Zoom call for brief introductions, after a slot for weekly sessions has been agreed. I am naturally happy to offer this and do not charge for this.

Can you also help with my economics personal statement or university application?

I certainly can! I have a page on my site dedicated to economics university applications and have built up experience as a personal statement adviser. Support is available for personal statements and interviews for economics and related subjects. Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested.

I can also do this for joint honours courses (PPE, politics and economics, economics and history) or related courses (business, management, marketing).

Support for UK university applications to economics and related courses.

More information and resources for UK economics university applications.

Will you improve my A-Level Economics grade?

I will try my very best! Please do see the reviews for more information about students I have helped. I have had students go from a B to an A* and from a C to an A grade throughout the tutoring process, as mentioned in the case studies. I am determined to help students improve their economics grade.

I cannot guarantee a grade improvement for every single student. This is because other factors matter, including but not limited to student effort. That said, I will give it my all to help each of my tuition students improve.

I cannot afford individual tutoring but am still looking for help with A-Level Economics. Can you help?

Yes! It’s very important to me that all students can access help with their economics.

It is the very reason I started this website tfurber.com, which provides lots of free resources on A-Level Economics, particularly for the AQA and Edexcel A exam boards.

So, I would recommend four things:

  • Please use the free resources available on this website. They are meant for everyone and I have put a lot of time into producing them.
  • A small fraction of resources on this site are priced but at low prices. I am trying to bring down the price of resources over time. Please feel free to use these, or if you cannot afford them, I am happy to offer discounts for those who can prove free school meal status or equivalent.
  • I have also just started a YouTube channel. I am still very new to producing videos, so I am grateful for any constructive feedback. You’re welcome to check out the videos there too. The goal is to provide free economics education to even more students than the website could reach.
  • If you have a one-off question that isn’t answered anywhere, please feel free to email me at tomftutor@gmail.com. Subject to my time constraints, I’ll try to do my best to help.
Where / which schools do your students come from?

I mainly tutor students taking exams in the UK, such as A-Level Economics. On occasion I have tutored students based in other countries.

In terms of schools, I have tutored students from all sorts of schools. This includes students at:

  • State schools (comprehensive schools and grammar schools) across the UK;
  • Sixth form colleges from Brighton to Cambridge to Manchester;
  • Private schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s and Rugby;
  • UK universities such as Cambridge, LSE and Exeter;

as well as home-schooled students.

The two factors that my students have in common are 1) a desire to improve and 2) a willingness to put in the effort. I am willing to help students who meet these two conditions, no matter their school or background.

Get in touch!

To get in touch, please feel free to email me at tomftutor@gmail.com or to use the form below.

I will get back to you within 48 hours.

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About the author

Tom Furber

Helping economics students online since 2015. Previously an economist, I now provide economics resources on this site. I also tutor A Level (AQA and Edexcel) Economics as well as a few undergraduate economics students. Read more about me here.