Cato Hobsbawn
Methods & Physics tutor
Raw 50 Methods · Raw 46 Physics · 99.85 ATAR
Methods 1/2 · Methods 3/4 · Physics 3/4
VCE Maths & Science · Box Hill
Better VCE marks, in classes of 8 or fewer
Small-group Methods, Physics and Chemistry tutoring from recent top scorers — with booklets, practice SACs and help between classes.
$80/weekFirst week free
≈ $20 per hour of class in Year 12
≈ $20 per hour of class in Year 12
First week free, per subject. No payment details needed.
2026 VCE exams
- –Methods 1
Thu, 5 Nov - –Methods 2
Fri, 6 Nov - –Chemistry
Tue, 10 Nov - –Physics
Thu, 12 Nov
- 200+students taught
- 5,000+hours of tutoring
- Raw 40–50tutors' own study scores
- 8students max per class
Proven results
Real students, real improvements
Not just 99+ ATARs. Most families come to us when a subject isn't going well — here's what happened next.
SAC average 50% → 85%
★★★★★
“Ivan was an incredible chemistry tutor. Each lesson followed a booklet that related to topics on the study design, including questions as you go to test your understanding. In year 11, chemistry was my least favourite subject and I averaged 50%, but starting [with] Ivan at the beginning of year 12 helped me to improve immensely and I now sit at an 85% average!”
VCE Chemistry 3/4 · Google review
50% on first SAC → “huge improvements”
★★★★★
“Had Ivan tutored me for physics after I received 50% on my first SAC. Not only he was helpful and organised, he makes the subject so much more interesting to learn. And I have seen huge improvements in my results.”
VCE Physics 3/4 · Google review
Passed every SAC and subject in Year 12
★★★★★
“Ivan is an amazing tutor always helpful with a lot of resources and very knowledgeable on the topic. … Available whenever I needed help no matter what time. Throughout my year 12 studies he helped me improve and learn from my mistakes leading me to pass all my sacs and the subjects.”
Year 12 · Google review
Choose your subject
The subjects we teach
Year 12
Simple steps
How the free trial week works
- 01
Book in a minute
Under 60 seconds. No payment details.
- 02
We call you
Within one business day, to find the right class.
- 03
Free first week
A full week of class, booklet and help desk — on us.
- 04
Enrol if it fits
Only continue if your child wants to.
A week at Ascent
More than one class a week
- Lesson class
2-hour class, up to 8 students, taught from our booklet. - Homework booklet
Exam-style questions with full worked solutions. - Help desk + messaging
Book one-on-one help, or message your tutor when stuck. - Practice SACs
Marked under exam conditions before every school SAC.
First week free, per subject. No payment details needed.
Compare
How we compare
| Feature | Private tutor | Large centre | Ascent Academia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price shown up front | Varies | Often only after a call | Yes — $80/week VCE |
| Class size | 1 | Often 10–20 | Up to 8 |
| Course booklets and practice SACs | Depends on the tutor | Yes | Yes |
| Help between classes | Sometimes | Sometimes | Help desks + messaging |
| Free trial | Rarely | Sometimes | First week free, per subject |
Meet the founders
Started by recent VCE graduates
Ascent Academia was founded by Ivan Luong, Jessica Dam and Ryan Nguyen — high-achieving VCE graduates who remember exactly how hard Year 12 is. Every tutor scored 40+ in the subject they teach, and many scored 45+.
📷 45-second founders' video (coming)
Mahd Ansari
Methods tutor
Raw 40 Methods · 98.95 ATAR
Methods 1/2 · Methods 3/4
Liam Ryan
Methods tutor
Raw 44 Methods
Methods 1/2 · Methods 3/4
Tamanna Bharani
Chemistry tutor
Raw 45 Chemistry
Chemistry 3/4
Proven results
Happy students & parents
📷 Parent video review (vertical)
📷 Student video review (vertical)
📷 Student video review (vertical)
★★★★★
“I highly recommend Ivan for VCE Physics tuition! Ivan has a unique ability to break down difficult concepts into simpler, easy-to-understand explanations. … I was also provided with many resources and exam style questions from the very start of the year which was incredibly helpful as it made my final VCE Physics exam preparation less stressful.”
VCE Physics 3/4 · Google review
★★★★★
“Ivan was my chemistry and physics 3/4 tutor, wouldn’t have been able to do well in my exams without his consistent support and helpful resources. Definitely recommend this company if you’re looking to excel in VCE (much better than the big-name tutoring companies)”
VCE Chemistry & Physics 3/4 · Google review
★★★★★
“Ivan is an amazing and comprehensive tutor that really made a difference in my learning and motivated me to do well in chemistry. he provided so many resources that genuinely helped me …”
VCE Chemistry 3/4 · Google review
Pricing on the page
Simple weekly pricing
One weekly price per subject. No sign-up fee.
VCE subjects
Methods 1/2, Methods 3/4, Physics 3/4, Chemistry 3/4
$80/week
≈ $20 per hour of class in Year 12 (4 hours a week) · first week free
- Weekly 2-hour class, up to 8 students
- Lesson booklet + homework booklet with worked solutions
- Bookable one-on-one help desks
- Message your tutor between classes
- Practice SACs, trial exams and marking
- Class notes and recordings
- Year 12: weekly 2-hour application class for hard and separator-level questions, included
First week free, per subject. No payment details needed.
Pre-VCE Maths
Year 9 and Year 10 Mathematics
$70/week
≈ $35 per hour of class · first week free
- Weekly 2-hour class, up to 8 students
- Lesson booklet + homework booklet with worked solutions
- Bookable one-on-one help desks
- Message your tutor between classes
- Practice SACs, trial exams and marking
- Class notes and recordings
- Starts with a short pre-assessment so we know where to begin
First week free, per subject. No payment details needed.
Where we teach
Our Box Hill centre
Our Box Hill centre
HL1.28/847 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC 3128. Open in Google Maps
Parking: [TBC — add parking and public transport notes]
Taught in person
Every class is taught face to face, so tutors can check each student's working at the desk and fix mistakes on the spot. Easy to reach from Blackburn, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills, Balwyn, Doncaster, Burwood and Nunawading.
Not ready to book? Get the free Exam Survival Pack
Our tutors' plan for the last weeks before VCE exams: a 4-week revision planner, an exam-day checklist and reading-time strategy.
Free resources
Free from our tutors
Practice sets with worked solutions and plain-English guides — no booking needed.
Parents
The Parent’s Guide to VCE
How VCE works — SACs, study scores, scaling and the ATAR — and how to support your child without the stress.
- VCE explained in plain English
- Key dates for Year 11 and 12
- When to get extra help
Being finalised — sign up and we'll email it to you the day it's ready.
Students
Methods 3/4 Practice Set
10 Exam 1-style questions with full worked solutions, from our Methods booklets.
- 10 calculator-free questions
- Full worked solutions
- Marking notes
Being finalised — sign up and we'll email it to you the day it's ready.
Students
SAC Preparation Checklist
A one-page checklist for the week before every SAC, so nothing is left to the night before.
- 7-day countdown
- What to bring
- How to review a marked SAC
Being finalised — sign up and we'll email it to you the day it's ready.
FAQ
Questions parents ask
How does the free trial week work?
Book on this site in under a minute. We'll call you within one business day to find the right class, then your child attends a full week — lesson class, booklet and help desk — free. The free week is one week per subject. If it's not the right fit, you don't pay anything.
Do I need to enter payment details to book?
No. We only ask for payment details if you decide to continue after the free week.
How much does it cost?
VCE subjects are $80 a week and Pre-VCE Maths (Years 9–10) is $70 a week, for a 2-hour class each week. Year 12 students also get a 2-hour application class, so they have 4 hours of class a week — about $20 an hour (Year 11 about $40, Pre-VCE about $35), with booklets, homework, help desks and messaging included.
How big are the classes?
Up to 8 students. Small enough that the tutor checks every student's working during the lesson.
Who are the tutors?
Recent high-achieving VCE graduates who scored highly in the subject they teach — many with raw 40+ study scores and 99+ ATARs — led by our three co-founders.
Where are classes held?
At our centre at HL1.28/847 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill VIC 3128. All classes are taught in person.