Private Chemistry Tutoring — NYC, San Diego & Online
Expert one-on-one chemistry instruction from Dr. Stuart Donnelly, Oxford Ph.D. General chemistry, organic chemistry, AP, and beyond.
Chemistry Tutoring with Dr. Stuart Donnelly
Chemistry is one of the hardest subjects students face in high school and college. The right tutor makes the difference between confusion and clarity.
Dr. Stuart Donnelly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford. He brings over 20 years of private tutoring experience to every session. His deep knowledge of chemistry — from atomic structure to organic synthesis — means he can explain tough concepts in ways that actually make sense.
Every session is private and one-on-one, tailored to your specific course, textbook, and goals. Available in person in New York City and San Diego, or online via Zoom from anywhere.
Chemistry Topics We Cover
Dr. Donnelly provides expert instruction across every major area of chemistry.
General Chemistry
Covers atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, gases, solutions, acids and bases, equilibrium, and electrochemistry. Suitable for high school and college courses.
Organic Chemistry
Functional groups, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, synthesis strategies, and spectroscopy. Covers Orgo I and II at the college level.
Biochemistry
Amino acids, protein structure, enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways, lipid chemistry, and nucleic acids. Ideal for pre-med students and MCAT prep.
AP Chemistry
Covers all nine units of the AP Chemistry curriculum. Includes content review, lab-based question strategies, and free-response practice. Goal: score a 4 or 5.
ACT Science & Regents Chemistry
Prep for the optional ACT Science section (data reading and experimental design) and the New York chemistry Regents, including the new Physical Science: Chemistry exam. See ACT tutoring and AP & Regents tutoring.
MCAT Chemistry
Prep for the MCAT Chem/Phys section. Covers general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry in the passage-based format of the exam.
Our Chemistry Tutoring Approach
Dr. Donnelly’s teaching methodology breaks chemistry down into clear, logical steps.
Diagnostic & Custom Plan
Every student starts with an assessment of their current level and goals. Dr. Donnelly finds the specific gaps in your understanding and builds a targeted plan. No wasted time on topics you already know.
Conceptual Clarity
Chemistry is built on connected concepts. Dr. Donnelly focuses on real understanding, not memorisation. He uses analogies, visual models, and step-by-step walkthroughs to make abstract ideas click.
Exam-Ready Practice
Once concepts are solid, students move to intensive practice. Dr. Donnelly uses past exam questions and custom problem sets to build speed and accuracy under timed conditions.
What Our Chemistry Students Say
“Stuart's strategies were very helpful in tackling the MCAT passage based questions. After just a few meetings, I felt more confident approaching the exam. I just got my scores and I did very well!! I got a 518 overall/97th percentile (130 on chem/phys and bio, 127 on CARS, and 131 on psych/soc). Thanks for your help preparing!”
“Dr. Donnelly is patient and supportive and is clear when explaining questions that were challenging to me. He also urged me to work out questions on my own, which was extremely helpful. He created an atmosphere in which I looked forward to the challenge of each section on the practice tests, and I definitely felt more confident taking the test. If I need to prepare for another standardized test, I will definitely contact Dr. Donnelly.”
Chemistry Tutoring FAQs
Dr. Donnelly tutors all levels of chemistry, including high school general chemistry, honors chemistry, AP Chemistry, college-level general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and the chemistry tested on the New York Regents (Physical Science: Chemistry), the optional ACT Science section, and the MCAT.
Yes. Organic chemistry is one of Dr. Donnelly’s core areas of expertise. As an Oxford-trained scientist, he brings a deep understanding of reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, spectroscopy, and synthesis. He works with college students taking Orgo I and II as well as pre-med students preparing for the MCAT’s chemistry sections.
The number of sessions depends on your goals. Students preparing for a specific exam or final typically need 6 to 12 sessions. Those working through an entire course or preparing for the MCAT chemistry sections may need 15 to 25 sessions spread over several months. Dr. Donnelly will recommend a plan during your free consultation.
Yes. All chemistry tutoring is available online via Zoom. Online sessions use screen sharing, a digital whiteboard, and molecular visualisation tools for real-time problem solving. Many students find online sessions equally effective to in-person meetings.
Absolutely. Dr. Donnelly provides comprehensive AP Chemistry preparation covering all nine units of the AP curriculum, including atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, and electrochemistry. He teaches both the content and the exam-specific strategies needed to score a 4 or 5. The May 2027 AP Chemistry exam is hybrid digital: multiple-choice questions in the Bluebook app and free-response answers handwritten in a paper booklet. See 2027 AP exam dates.