Best IB Chinese Tuition in Singapore (2027): 11 Options Compared

The best IB Chinese tuition depends first on the course your child takes, then on HL or SL, then on where you live.

• Chinese B SL or ab initio, fee on the page: Elite Linguistic Academy runs groups of up to 6 in Chinatown from S$420 a month for four 1.5-hour lessons.
• Chinese B at HL, or Language A: Language and Literature online: Photon Academy near Fort Canning charges S$480 for four 1.5-hour group lessons.
• HL literary extract practice in the north: Ancourage Academy teaches DP1 and DP2 Chinese B in small groups in Bishan and Woodlands.
• One-to-one in any course: Mandarin Plus states S$60 to S$75 an hour.
• A local IB school student in the east: Yanzi Mandarin teaches IB Chinese at Katong in classes of up to 6.

All 11 providers name IB Chinese on their own pages. Only five give both a fee and the hours it buys, so only those five carry our hourly estimate.

Eleven IB Chinese providers compared

Ancourage is the only one of the 11 that shows a Google score with a reviewer count on its own page. Our hourly figure divides the published fee by the hours it buys, so it is our sum, not the centre's.

A one-to-one option: The Singapore Syllabus

This is our own home tuition service. It is not one of the 11 and is not ranked.

See our Chinese tuition page, our IB tuition page and our rates.

How we chose these providers

Four tests decided the list.

Twelve providers did not make it:

• IB Super, Edulab Academy, Mindlab International and Future Academy all teach IB subjects, but none lists IB Chinese.
• Tutopiya's Singapore page covers IGCSE Chinese, not the Diploma.
• One online IB Mandarin service is run from India, and one Mandarin school's domain now forwards to an unrelated site.
• Five Chinese centres, Tien Hsia and HAO among them, teach up to Secondary 4 or do not name IB on their own sites.

No centre paid to be listed here. The detail section is in alphabetical order.

The 11 providers in detail

Ancourage Academy

Ancourage runs separate DP1 and DP2 Chinese B (Mandarin) classes at SL and HL, at 2 hours a lesson with 3 to 6 students.

• Suits: a Chinese B student, SL or HL, living near Bishan or Woodlands who wants a small group that splits DP1 from DP2.
• May not suit: a Language A or ab initio student, as only Chinese B is listed, or a family that wants to see a fee before calling.

The DP1 page works through Paper 1 (one prompt chosen from three), Paper 2 listening and reading, and the Individual Oral across the five prescribed themes.

The DP2 page adds timed writing across text types, Paper 2 practice at speed and oral rehearsal, and notes that the oral is usually recorded between January and March of DP2. Its FAQ tells HL students to know their two literary works well enough to talk about any extract. Worksheets are included with no material fee.

Fees as published: not published for IB. The pricing page says fees vary by level, subject and group or one-to-one, sold in packages of 4, 12 or 24 lessons, with no registration fee. A deposit applies to some package types. The standard trial price is S$18 for a live 60-minute lesson.

Branches: Bishan Street 11, block 152, unit #01-215, a short walk from Bishan MRT by our reckoning. Woodlands Drive 44 at Vista Point, #02-16, closest to Woodlands South MRT in our view. Chinese B also runs online.

Website: ancourage.academy

Ask at the trial:

• Are DP2 students preparing for May or November in the same group?
• How many timed Paper 1 pieces are marked each month?
• For HL, will the tutor set oral practice on extracts from my child's own two works?

Elite Linguistic Academy (IBChinese.sg)

This language school runs IBChinese.sg as its IB and IGCSE Chinese arm, with a Chinese B SL class, an ab initio class and IGCSE 0523 and 0547 courses.

• Suits: an SL or ab initio student who wants a set weekly class in town or online, and a parent who likes a fee table.
• May not suit: an HL student or a Language A student, because neither course is listed on either site.

Its B SL page covers Paper 1 writing, Paper 2 reading and listening and the Individual Oral, at 1.5 hours a lesson, four lessons a month, in groups of up to 6.

Weekday slots run 5.30pm to 7pm or 7pm to 8.30pm, and Sunday slots run from 10am. The ab initio page says it suits students starting from zero and runs over 5 to 6 months. Its lead teacher, Ms Wendy, is described as having more than 20 years in IB and IGCSE Chinese. The centre states that more than 300 of its students reached grade 6 or above in IB Chinese.

Fees as published:

• IBChinese.sg lists S$420 to S$450 a month for a face-to-face group, S$360 to S$390 online, S$540 to S$600 for one-to-one face to face and S$450 to S$510 for one-to-one online, all for four 1.5-hour lessons.
• The B SL page on elitelinguistic.com lists S$450 group and S$600 one-to-one face to face, and S$390 and S$510 online.
• The two sites also differ on the trial: a 45-minute assessment at no charge on IBChinese.sg, or S$50 for 1.5 hours, deducted on enrolment, on elitelinguistic.com.
• Ask which applies.

Branches: 52 Chin Swee Road, #03-55, Chinatown, which the IB course page names as its only IB venue. The site says it has easy MRT access. The school also has a Bugis branch at 110 Middle Road. Online lessons run on Zoom.

Website: ibchinese.sg and elitelinguistic.com

Ask at the trial:

• Which fee table and trial terms apply to us?
• If my child moves to HL, is there a class, or only one-to-one?
• Is the class taught on the current guide or the one first examined in 2029?

Hua Yi Education

Hua Yi Education (华艺书院) has an IB Chinese page offering one-to-one mentoring for Chinese A at SL and HL, with tutors described as having more than 20 years of teaching.

• Suits: a strong or native Chinese reader in Language A who wants a tutor near home.
• May not suit: a Chinese B or ab initio student, as neither is named, or a family that wants a group class.

Tutors check listening, speaking, reading and writing before planning lessons. The page still uses the older course names A1 and A2, so it is worth asking which current course the tutor prepares students for: Language A: Literature or Language A: Language and Literature. With seven branches, it has the widest spread on this list.

Fees as published: not published. The page offers a single try-out session and says a tutor can be arranged within a day.

Branches: Jurong Green CC (Jurong West), 721 Clementi West Street 2 (West Coast), 2 Sin Ming Road (our note: Upper Thomson MRT), 733 Bukit Timah Road, Bukit Timah Plaza (our note: Beauty World MRT), Parkway Parade (our note: Marine Parade MRT) and 988 Upper Serangoon Road (our note: Kovan MRT).

Website: clas-huayi.com

Ask at the trial:

• Is the tutor teaching Literature or Language and Literature this year?
• Has the tutor marked an Individual Oral on the current criteria?
• Which branch can host the lessons, or will the tutor travel?

IB Lounge

IB Lounge is an IB-only studio.

• Suits: a Chinese B student who wants a recent IB graduate who sat the same papers.
• May not suit: a family that needs a fixed weekly class or an address to visit, as Mandarin is by request and no address is published.

The studio states that each tutor scored 40 points or more in the Diploma or a grade 7 at HL in the subject they teach. Its Language B page lists Mandarin "on request" at HL and SL and says every Language B tutor sat that exam and scored a 7. Lessons are one-to-one or in groups of up to 4, face to face in Singapore or online.

Fees as published: none on the site. Families pay for the opening lesson on its own and sign nothing, and there is no sign-up charge.

Branches: address not published, face to face in Singapore or online.

Website: iblounge.org

Ask at the trial:

• Is a Mandarin B tutor free in our time slot now?
• Did the tutor take Chinese B at HL, and which literary works?
• What is the hourly fee for one-to-one and for a group of 4?

Linda Mandarin

Linda Mandarin is an adult and children's Mandarin school whose IB and IGCSE page lists Chinese A, Chinese B at Higher and Standard level and Chinese ab initio.

• Suits: a student in any of the three courses who wants private coaching fitted around a busy timetable, especially one working near Tanjong Pagar.
• May not suit: a family that wants a low-cost group class, as the page sells only a coaching package.

Lessons are customised face-to-face coaching, and the student picks the venue, day and time. A trainer assesses speaking, listening, reading and writing before the course starts.

Fees as published: S$1,980 for a package of 20 hours, which is 10 lessons. A trial class is S$100 an hour.

Branches: 10 Anson Road, #22-07A, International Plaza (our note: Tanjong Pagar MRT).

Website: lindamandarin.com.sg

Ask at the trial:

• Who will teach the package, and has that trainer prepared students for the IB oral?
• Can lessons be held at our home?
• What happens to unused hours after the exam?

Mandarin Plus

Mandarin Plus says its IB Chinese programme is mainly for international school students.

• Suits: a student in any IB Chinese course who wants private lessons at a stated hourly price in the city.
• May not suit: a student who wants classmates to practise with, as the IB page prices private lessons only.

Its IB page covers Chinese A and B at HL and SL, including Literature and Language and Literature, plus Chinese ab initio and HL essay writing support. Teachers are described as native speakers who studied at university in China and hold a Master's or PhD from Singapore. Lessons are private, face to face or online.

Fees as published: S$75 and S$70 an hour on a 20-hour package, and S$65 and S$60 an hour on a 50-hour package. The page does not say which rate is face to face and which is online. A 30-minute trial is at no charge.

Branches: 16 Raffles Quay, Level 9. The site says it is next to Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and Telok Ayer MRT stations. Online lessons are offered.

Website: mandarinplus.com.sg

Ask at the trial:

• Which hourly rate is face to face and which is online?
• Can a 20-hour package be split between the oral and Paper 1?
• Does the HL essay support cover Language A only, or the B literary works too?

Photon Academy

Photon Academy is an IB-only centre with a separate Chinese team.

• Suits: a Chinese B HL student who wants a group in town, or a Language A student happy to learn online.
• May not suit: an ab initio beginner, as ab initio is not named, or a Language A student who wants face-to-face lessons.

It teaches Chinese B at SL and HL in person or online, and Chinese A: Language and Literature at SL and HL online only. Three tutors are named: Ms Sonia Chin, the IB Chinese coordinator, with CTCSOL certification and more than 10 years' experience, Mr Ray Lin, CTCSOL certified, and Ms Fanny Zheng, a Chinese Language and Literature graduate with more than 15 years' experience. Lessons are 1.5 hours and fees are prorated.

Fees as published: the Chinese page prices a block of four 1.5-hour lessons at S$480 in a group or S$600 one-to-one, says fees are prorated, and promises no hidden charges. A Chinese trial class can be booked, though its cost is not shown.

Branches: 5 Tank Road, #04-03 Nagarathar Building, which the site says is near Fort Canning MRT. Online classes are offered.

Website: ibtuition.sg

Ask at the trial:

• How many students are in the Chinese B HL group now?
• Which tutor takes HL, and can they set extracts from our school's literary works?
• Is the trial charged?

Quintessential Education

Quintessential Education is a large IB and IGCSE centre on Orchard Road that lists Chinese among its IB subjects.

• Suits: a family already using the centre for other IB subjects who wants one place and one fee pattern.
• May not suit: a student who needs a named Chinese specialist before signing up, since no Chinese tutor or course type is listed.

Groups have 3 to 6 students at 1 hour 45 minutes a week, and individual lessons are offered at three tutor grades. The IB page does not say whether Chinese is taught as B, Language A or ab initio, or at which level.

Fees as published: the same IB group rate covers every subject, S$530 for a month of four lessons lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. Private Chinese help is sold by tutor grade for a month of four 90-minute sessions: junior S$750, senior S$910, master S$980 to S$1,080. Nothing is said about a trial.

Branches: 545 Orchard Road, #14-06/09, Far East Shopping Centre (our note: Orchard MRT).

Website: qeducation.sg

Ask at the trial:

• Is there a Chinese B group running, or only individual lessons?
• Who teaches IB Chinese, and do they teach Language A as well?
• Is the group split by SL and HL?

Skylace Language School

Skylace is a Chinese language school whose course list includes "A Level and IB Chinese Support", focused on comprehension, writing, oral responses and confident expression.

• Suits: a local student in an IB school who wants exam-format Chinese practice from a school that also teaches younger siblings.
• May not suit: an international school student in ab initio or Language A, since the page does not name the IB course, or a parent who wants fees before a visit.

The course is built on the A Level and IB Diploma exam formats. Its A Level and IB page names the Waterloo Centre headquarters as the venue.

Fees as published: not published. Class size and lesson length are also not stated.

Branches: 261 Waterloo Street, #01-09, Waterloo Centre (our note: Bugis or Bencoolen MRT). A second centre is at Blk 158 Bukit Batok Street 11, which the IB page does not list.

Website: skylace.com.sg

Ask at the trial:

• Is the IB class Chinese B, and is it separate from the A Level students?
• How long is each lesson and how many students are in it?
• Does the oral practice follow the IB format rather than the A Level one?

Vision Chinese Academy

Vision Chinese Academy (文心书院) is a bilingual Chinese school with IB pages for the Diploma and for the younger MYP and PYP stages.

• Suits: a student near Orchard or Telok Ayer who wants Chinese A or B and may continue from MYP classes at the same school.
• May not suit: an ab initio student, as ab initio is not named, or a parent who wants a smaller group than 8.

Its IB Chinese page covers Chinese A (literature and text analysis) and Chinese B (language acquisition) at both HL and SL. Small-group classes take up to 8 students, and it also teaches online and in Kuala Lumpur.

Fees as published: not published. The booking button offers a trial at no charge.

Branches: 402 Orchard Road, #05-09 to #05-12, Delfi Orchard (our note: Orchard Boulevard MRT). 128A and 128B Telok Ayer Street (our note: Telok Ayer MRT). Online classes are offered.

Website: visionchinese.com

Ask at the trial:

• How many students are in the Diploma group, and are A and B students taught apart?
• Which campus runs the DP2 class?
• Does the group practise the Individual Oral every term?

Yanzi Mandarin

Yanzi Mandarin is a Chinese specialist whose programme list puts IB Chinese with A Level at its Junior College level, including Higher Chinese.

• Suits: a student at a local IB school who wants a Chinese-only centre in the east or around Bukit Timah.
• May not suit: an international school student in ab initio, since the IB course type is not named.

Classes are capped at 6, secondary lessons run 1.5 hours a week, and all programmes are also taught on Zoom. Fees are billed monthly in advance and prorated by attendance.

Fees as published: not published. The trial is charged at the prorated price of one lesson.

Branches: Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Road, #02-31 and #05-15 (our note: Tanjong Katong MRT). In Bukit Timah, the site gives two addresses, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Beauty World Plaza, so confirm which one before you go (our note: both are by Beauty World MRT). Online classes are offered.

Website: yanzimandarin.com

Ask at the trial:

• Is the IB group Chinese B, and does it sit for the November session with local IB schools?
• What is the monthly fee for the JC and IB class?
• Which Bukit Timah address runs it?

What does IB Chinese actually test?

IB Chinese is three different courses. A student takes one of them as their Group 1 or Group 2 language, and the choice is usually made by the school after a placement check.

One Hong Kong international school's course page adds that students who have studied Chinese to IGCSE level are not suited to ab initio. Both Group 2 courses are built on five prescribed themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organisation and sharing the planet.

How Chinese B and ab initio are assessed

What the IB briefs set:

Check the character figure your child's teacher uses. The ab initio brief sets two written tasks of 70 to 150 words each.

SL or HL in Chinese B. The papers are weighted the same at both levels. HL students study two literary works, write a longer Paper 1 answer, and talk about a literary extract in the oral instead of a picture. A student who reads Chinese novels for pleasure can usually manage HL. One who freezes on an unseen passage may score better at SL.

How Chinese A: Language and Literature is assessed

These figures come from the IB's Language A: language and literature guide, first assessment 2021. The SL Paper 2 share follows from the guide's statement that external work makes up 70% of the SL grade.

Which schools offer which course in Singapore

At St Joseph's Institution, the IB Diploma page lists Chinese A: Language and Literature at SL (by teacher recommendation), Chinese B at SL and HL and Mandarin ab initio at SL, all sat as November papers.

ACS (Independent) lists Chinese B and says a class runs only if enough students choose it. Many international schools sit in May instead, so ask the school which session your child is entered for. That decides when the oral must be recorded and when tuition should peak.

Key dates for the 2027 cohort

Schools that run the November session should confirm which guide their 2027 DP1 cohort follows, as the IB gives only the August 2027 start. For an overview of how IB compares with A-Levels, see our IGCSE vs O-Level, IB vs A-Level guide.

Centre, home tutor or online?

The group figures above come from the three group fees on this list that we could turn into an hourly cost. Private lessons on this list run from S$60 an hour at Mandarin Plus to about S$180 with Quintessential's master tutors.

IB Chinese tuition by area

IB Lounge does not publish an address. Most of the IB-only classes sit in the city, so families in the west, north and north-east will find more choice online or with a home tutor.

How to choose IB Chinese tuition