Our IB tuition and IB Maths tuition pages show how we match tutors by course and level.
Good IB tuition for 2027 starts from how the Diploma is scored: six subjects at 1 to 7, up to 3 bonus points from theory of knowledge (TOK) and the extended essay (EE), 45 in all, and a pass at 24 only if every other condition is met. HL and SL subjects earn the same points, but a student needs at least 12 points across HL subjects, so one weak HL grade can sink a 33-point total. In maths and the sciences, 20% of each grade is an internal assessment that a tutor must never write or edit. ACS (Independent), St. Joseph's Institution, SOTA and the Singapore Sports School sit the November exams, and the IB issues those results to schools on 16 December. One-to-one IB tuition on our pricing page runs from S$45 to S$130 an hour.
- HL subject 11 to 77 points
- HL subject 28 to 147 points
- HL subject 315 to 21at least 12 HL points in total
- SL subject 122 to 287 points
- SL subject 229 to 357 points
- SL subject 336 to 42at least 9 SL points in total
- TOK and EE43 to 450 to 3 bonus points
Source: IBO, DP passing criteria, updated 19 February 2026. The pass line is 24 points with every condition met.
The three core points come from a matrix that combines the TOK grade and the EE grade, each from A to E. CAS (creativity, activity, service) earns no points, but without it there is no diploma.
| EE grade | TOK A | TOK B | TOK C | TOK D | TOK E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Fails |
| B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Fails |
| C | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Fails |
| D | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Fails |
| E | Fails | Fails | Fails | Fails | Fails |
Two Ds earn nothing but still pass. An E in either fails the diploma.
Three candidates checked against the rules
Three made-up students show why the total is only the first check.
| Candidate A | Candidate B | Candidate C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HL grades | 4, 4, 3 | 6, 6, 5 | 7, 7, 6 |
| SL grades | 7, 7, 6 | 5, 4, 2 | 7, 6, 6 |
| TOK and EE | B and C, 2 points | C and C, 1 point | A and E |
| Total | 33 | 29 | 39 from subjects |
| HL points | 11 | 17 | 20 |
| SL points | 20 | 11 | 19 |
| Diploma? | No. HL points are under 12 | Yes. One grade 2 is allowed | No. An E in the EE fails |
Candidate A is the one tuition can rescue: one HL grade up from 3 to 4 clears it. Candidate B passes with fewer points. Candidate C shows the core matters as much as any exam.
SL and HL count the same but are different courses
| Point | Standard level (SL) | Higher level (HL) |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching hours | 150 | 240 |
| How many | Two or three of the six | Three or four of the six |
| Diploma minimum | 9 points across SL subjects, or 5 with only two SL | 12 points across HL subjects, best three count if four |
| Maths AA written exams | Papers 1 and 2, 3 hours | Papers 1, 2 and 3, 5 hours |
| Chemistry, Physics, Biology exams | 3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Internal assessment in maths and sciences | 20% | 20% |
Both levels use the same grade descriptors, but HL covers more ground. HL Maths AA adds a one-hour Paper 3 of two long problem-solving questions, worth 20%.
How much of each grade is coursework
From the IBO's subject briefs, for courses examined in 2027 and 2028:
| Course and first assessment | Internal assessment | SL | HL | The written papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths AA, 2021 | Mathematical exploration | 20% | 20% | No calculator in Paper 1. HL Paper 3 is 20% |
| Maths AI, 2021 | Mathematical exploration | 20% | 20% | Calculator allowed in every paper |
| Chemistry, 2025 | Scientific investigation, report of up to 3,000 words | 20% | 20% | Paper 1 (1A multiple choice, 1B data) 36%, Paper 2 44% |
| Physics, 2025 | Scientific investigation, up to 3,000 words | 20% | 20% | Paper 1 36%, Paper 2 44% |
| Biology, 2025 | Scientific investigation, up to 3,000 words | 20% | 20% | Paper 1 36%, Paper 2 44% |
| English A: language and literature, 2021 | Individual oral | 30% | 20% | Paper 1 unseen analysis 35%. HL essay 20% |
| TOK, 2022 | Exhibition of three objects | One third of the TOK grade | Essay on one of six prescribed titles, two thirds |
Teachers mark internal work and the IB moderates it. That 20% is earned over months, which is why the rules on outside help matter.
The two-year calendar at a Singapore IBDP school
- Year 5, DP1Six subjects beginThree or four at HL, from the school's combinations.
- DP1 to DP2Internal assessments and the TOK exhibitionThe school sets internal deadlines ahead of the IB's.
- DP1 to DP2Extended essay of up to 4,000 wordsThree reflection sessions with a supervisor, the last a 10 to 15 minute viva voce, and a 500-word reflective statement.
- November, Year 6Written examinationsACS (Independent), SJI, SOTA and the Singapore Sports School all sit the November session.
- 16 DecemberThe IB issues November results to schoolsThe school tells students how they receive them.
- May sessionExams in May, results from 6 JulyThe four international schools we checked sit in May.
| School | Type | IB Diploma since | Exam session | Maths listed in the IB directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | IP school | April 2005 | November | AA |
| St. Joseph's Institution | IP school | February 2012 | November | AA |
| School of the Arts, Singapore | Specialised independent school | July 2010 | November | AA and AI |
| Singapore Sports School | Specialised independent school | May 2013 | November | AA |
The directory lists current registrations, so check the school's own subject list too. SJI admits Sec 4 students mainly through the JAE, and SJI and the Singapore Sports School offer a three-year route for top athletes. International schools sitting in May include Dulwich College (Singapore), Stamford American International School, Tanglin Trust School and United World College of South East Asia. Methodist Girls' School IP students continue at ACS (Independent), as our IP schools list explains.
In February 2026 MOE said students in its IBDP schools "consistently performed better than the global candidature", and that there are no plans to add more schools.
Which syllabus your child is on in 2027 and 2028
- First exams for the current Maths AA and AI courses. A student starting DP1 in January 2027 sits these in November 2028
- 2021
- First exams for the new Maths AA and AI and the new Language B, first taught from August 2027
- May 2029
- First exams for the current Chemistry, Physics and Biology, with Papers 1A and 1B
- 2025
- First exams for the new extended essay, marked on five criteria including reflection
- May 2027
A tutor using pre-2025 science papers is teaching a structure that no longer exists. If DP1 starts in January 2028, ask the school which maths course applies.
Where a tutor earns the fee
- Maths AA HL Paper 1, no calculatorAlgebra and calculus by hand, timed, with marks for working shown
- Maths AA HL Paper 3Long unfamiliar problems, one part at a time, then to time
- Chemistry Paper 1B and data questionsReading unfamiliar data, uncertainties and experimental method
- Physics HL Paper 2Multi-step problems across topics, explained aloud before they are written
- Biology data-based questionsGraphs, variables and experimental design
- English A Paper 1 unseen textA repeatable way into an unseen non-literary text, written to time
- Chinese A or Chinese BRegular speaking and writing in the text types the course uses
Written papers are where tuition helps most. See also our IB Chemistry tuition page and IB Physics HL guide.
What a tutor may and may not do with the IA and EE
The IBO's academic integrity policy tells students to avoid non-permitted help "in the completion or editing of work", and it names private tutors in that list.
Help that stays inside the IB's rules, and help that does not
- FineTeach the skillsUncertainties, statistics, graphing and focusing a research question, on a different topic.
- FineExplain the criteriaSo your child can judge their own work against them.
- FineMark a practice investigationA mock exploration or lab report on another question.
- FineAnswer referencing questionsThe policy says students may ask teachers or tutors for guidance on referencing.
- Not allowedEdit the real draftWork heavily edited by a third party can be given zero marks for that component.
- Not allowedWrite any part of itWork produced by a third party can mean no grade for the subject, and then no diploma.
Questions that sort IB tutors
| Ask | A good answer includes |
|---|---|
| Which course and first-assessment year do you teach? | The current course, such as Chemistry first assessed in 2025 with Papers 1A and 1B |
| You mention IB examining. Which subject, paper and session? | Specific details, such as one HL paper in a recent session, and a way to check it, such as an IB email or contract shown with personal details hidden |
| How do you help with the IA? | Skills and practice on other topics, never the actual draft |
| Can I see a marked practice paper? | Marks set against the markscheme, with the error named and a fix shown |
Examining helps with markschemes but does not prove good teaching.
What IB tuition costs in 2027
From our pricing page, the same at home or online:
| Tutor type | Hourly rate, IB Diploma (DP1 to DP2) | Typical hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time or undergraduate | S$45 to S$60 | 1.5 to 2.5 |
| Full-time | S$65 to S$90 | 1.5 to 2.5 |
| Ex-MOE or NIE-trained | S$90 to S$130 | 1.5 to 2.5 |
IB HL usually sits in the upper half of its row. By our arithmetic, a full-time tutor at S$80 for 2 hours a week is S$160 a lesson, about S$693 a month.
Common questions
What score do you need to pass the IB Diploma?
At least 24 of 45, with no grade 1, 12 HL points, 9 SL points, no E in TOK or the EE, and CAS completed.
Does an HL grade count for more than an SL grade?
No. A 6 at either level adds 6 points, but the diploma needs at least 12 points across HL subjects.
Can a tutor help with the internal assessment?
A tutor can teach the skills and mark practice work on other topics. The IBO's policy names private tutors among the help students must not get with the work itself.
When do Singapore IB students get their results?
ACS (Independent), SJI, SOTA and the Singapore Sports School sit in November, and the IB issues those results to schools on 16 December.
Which IB maths do Singapore schools offer?
On 26 October 2026 the IB's directory listed Maths AA for ACS (Independent), SJI and the Singapore Sports School, and AA and AI for SOTA.
Is the IB changing in 2027?
The new extended essay is first assessed in May 2027. New Maths AA, Maths AI and Language B courses are first examined in May 2029.
Official sources
- IBO, DP passing criteria, updated 19 February 2026
- IBO, Understanding DP assessment, updated 6 October 2026
- IBO, Assessment FAQ, updated 19 February 2026
- IBO, DP curriculum, updated 3 August 2026
- IBO, subject briefs: Maths AA and Maths AI (2021), Chemistry, Physics and Biology (2025), English A (2021), TOK (2022), Extended essay (2027)
- IBO, Mathematics: analysis and approaches updates, updated 3 April 2026
- IBO, Language B updates
- IBO, Academic integrity policy, updated May 2026
- IBO school directory: ACS (Independent), St. Joseph's Institution, SOTA, Singapore Sports School, read 26 October 2026
- MOE, Review of International Baccalaureate programme and its extension to more mainstream schools, 25 February 2026
- MCCY, Diploma programme offerings at the Singapore Sports School, 2 March 2026
- St. Joseph's Institution, Admission to Junior College (IBDP), updated 7 September 2026
- St. Joseph's Institution, The SJI Education, read 26 October 2026
Written by Dion Tan, Chemistry & Science Tutor, The Singapore Syllabus. MSc (NUS), BSc Chemistry & Biological Chemistry (NTU) · 10 years' teaching experience. More about Dion
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