How is IB different from A-level?

Three big differences. Breadth — IB requires study across six subject groups (Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, the Arts) rather than three subjects of choice. Workload — IB students typically have more contact hours, more written assessments, and more long-form coursework. Extras — Theory of Knowledge (an epistemology course), the Extended Essay (a 4,000-word independent research project), and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service hours) on top of the subject content.

What do HL and SL mean?

Higher Level and Standard Level. Each IB student takes three subjects at HL (more depth, more contact hours, more demanding assessment — broadly equivalent to A-level depth) and three at SL (less depth, but still a real qualification — broadly equivalent to AS-level). Universities pay close attention to HL subjects: a Medicine application would require Biology and Chemistry at HL, not SL. SL subjects round out the breadth of the diploma.

How does IB scoring work?

Each of the six subjects is graded out of 7, giving 42 maximum from subjects. The Theory of Knowledge essay and the Extended Essay together contribute up to 3 bonus points based on a matrix. So the total is out of 45. Students need at least 24 points with no failing conditions (no E grades, no more than one 3, no more than three 3s if HLs total 12+, etc.) to be awarded the diploma. 38-40 is the rough A-level AAA equivalent; 42+ is exceptional.

Do UK universities understand IB?

Yes — IB is well-established in the UK and most universities have specific IB offer ranges alongside A-level offer ranges. UCAS publishes equivalence tables, but each university sets its own offers. Russell Group offers in IB terms are typically 36-39 for competitive courses, with HL grade requirements (e.g. 'IB 38 with 666 at HL including Mathematics'). Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial typically ask 40-42.

How does IB tutoring differ from A-level tutoring?

Three things to look for. First, HL vs SL — make sure the tutor has taught the specific level (HL Maths Analysis & Approaches is a different beast from SL Mathematical Studies). Second, internal-assessment expertise — IB has substantial coursework (Internal Assessments) in most subjects which require specific format and conventions; tutors familiar with the IA structure save students weeks. Third, Extended Essay supervision support — many students benefit from a subject-specialist tutor for EE planning and feedback even though their school assigns a supervisor.

IB Diploma Tutoring Explained · HL/SL, TOK, Extended Essay

What the IB Diploma is

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year sixth-form qualification awarded by the IB Organization, headquartered in Geneva. It runs in over 5,500 schools worldwide. In the UK, the Diploma is offered by many independent schools and a smaller number of state sixth forms — typically schools that consciously chose the IB over A-level for its breadth and international portability.

The Diploma's distinguishing feature is that it's a single integrated qualification — not six independent subject grades the way A-levels are. Students must complete every component to be awarded the Diploma, and missing any single piece (a failing TOK essay, a missing CAS portfolio) means no Diploma is awarded even if all subject grades are strong.

The six subject groups

Students take exactly one subject from each of six groups:

Studies in Language and Literature — usually English Literature or English Language & Literature for native English speakers
Language Acquisition — a second language (French ab initio, Spanish B, Mandarin B, etc.)
Individuals and Societies — History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Business Management, Politics, etc.
Sciences — Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Environmental Systems and Societies, Sports Science, Design Technology
Mathematics — Maths Analysis & Approaches (more abstract / pure-leaning) or Maths Applications & Interpretation (more applied / data-leaning), each at HL or SL
The Arts — Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Dance, Film — OR a second subject from one of the other groups

Three of the six are taken at Higher Level (HL — broadly equivalent to A-level depth) and three at Standard Level (SL — broadly equivalent to AS-level). The HL/SL split is usually decided based on intended university course: pre-Medicine students take Biology and Chemistry HL; pre-Engineering students take Maths and Physics HL; pre-Humanities students take their target subjects (History, English Lit, etc.) HL.

The core: TOK, EE, CAS

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

An epistemology course: how we know what we know across different disciplines. Assessed through a 1,600-word essay (on prescribed titles set annually by the IB) and an oral presentation called the TOK Exhibition. TOK is genuinely intellectually demanding — students who engage with it well find it strengthens their wider thinking; students who treat it as a tick-box obligation often produce weak essays.

Extended Essay (EE)

A 4,000-word independent research essay on a topic the student chooses, supervised by a school-assigned subject specialist. The EE develops genuine research skills — choosing a research question, gathering primary or secondary sources, structuring an extended argument. Many students find the EE the most valuable thing they do at IB; some find it the most stressful.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

Not academically assessed, but mandatory. Students complete a portfolio of CAS experiences across the three strands — typically 18 months of activities documented against learning outcomes. Failure to complete CAS means no Diploma is awarded.

How scoring works

Each of the six subjects is graded 1-7 (7 highest) — total 42 from subjects. TOK and the Extended Essay together contribute up to 3 bonus points based on a matrix of their individual letter grades (A-E). So the maximum is 45.

Pass conditions for the Diploma are:

Total score ≥ 24 points
No subject graded 1
No more than two subjects graded 2 (or one 2 if HL totals fall short)
HL grades summed ≥ 12 (and SL grades summed ≥ 9 if you took 4HL/2SL)
TOK and EE not both graded E (the 'failing condition' on the matrix)
CAS completed

Approximate UK university equivalence:

IB 42+ ≈ A*A*A* / above
IB 38-40 ≈ AAA at A-level
IB 36-37 ≈ AAB
IB 32-35 ≈ BBB / ABB
IB 28-31 ≈ BCC / CCC
IB 24-27 ≈ Pass / DDD

What IB tutoring usually focuses on

HL subject-specialist depth

HL subjects are demanding — content equivalent to A-level depth, with assessments split across exam papers and substantial Internal Assessment coursework. Tutoring at HL is typically subject-mentor work: discussing nuance, fixing technique, building exam confidence. The tutor needs to know the specific HL subject, not just the broader subject area.

Internal Assessment (IA) support

Most IB subjects include an IA — an extended piece of coursework worth 20-25% of the subject grade. IAs have specific structural conventions (a Research Question, methodology section, evaluation, conclusions) that differ across subjects. Tutors familiar with IA conventions for the specific subject save students weeks of structural rework.

Extended Essay support

Schools assign EE supervisors but their availability varies. Many students benefit from additional EE coaching — typically with a subject-specialist tutor for the chosen EE subject. The tutor isn't writing the essay; they're sounding-board for the research question, feedback on draft sections, and teaching academic-essay technique.

TOK essay coaching

TOK is unfamiliar territory for most students — it's genuinely a philosophy course, distinct from the subjects they're more confident in. Tutors who specialise in TOK help students unpack the prescribed titles, understand the assessment criteria, and structure the essay around the IB's specific epistemological framing.

Maths AA vs AI clarification

IB Mathematics has two distinct courses (Analysis & Approaches; Applications & Interpretation), each at HL and SL — four maths courses in total. They cover meaningfully different content. AA leans more toward pure mathematics (proof, calculus, algebra); AI leans toward statistics, financial mathematics, and applied modelling. A tutor needs to be teaching the specific course, not generic 'IB Maths'.

Choosing an IB tutor

Confirm HL or SL — they're different qualifications.
Confirm the specific subject and course — Maths AA HL ≠ Maths AI HL, English Literature ≠ English Language & Literature.
Ask about IA experience — has the tutor coached students through IAs in this subject before?
For TOK or EE, find tutors who explicitly advertise the component — they're often a different (often older) cohort of tutors than HL-subject specialists.
School currency matters — the IB updates subject guides every 7 years (rotating across subjects); tutors who've taught the current syllabus iteration save time.

IB Diploma explained