IB Chinese Tuition Singapore
IB Diploma Chinese: language A, language B and Mandarin ab initio
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No contract and no minimum number of lessons. The first lesson is a paid trial at the tutor's rate. Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead, or that lesson is charged.
- Typical rate
- S$45 to S$130/hr
- Your shortlist
- 2 to 4 tutors in 16h
- Wrong fit?
- Free re-match
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IB Chinese Tuition rates in Singapore
Hourly rates for IB and IGCSE, by type of tutor.
The same rates as a table
| Level | Part-time / undergrad | Full-time | Ex-MOE or NIE-trained |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB Diploma (DP1-DP2) / IGCSE | S$45-60/hr | S$65-90/hr | S$90-130/hr |
The final rate is set when you choose a tutor. See all tuition rates for 2027.
Common IB Chinese difficulties
IB Chinese students range from beginners to native speakers. The difficulties depend on the course, but these come up often.
Ab initio students know vocabulary in isolation but cannot use it in a full written task.
Language B writing uses the wrong text type, for example an essay where the task asked for a blog or a speech.
Listening scores trail reading, because Mandarin is heard only in Chinese lessons.
At HL, the individual oral is based on a literary extract, and students who have not reread the works struggle.
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Students in the wrong course, such as a native speaker in language B, lose time and motivation.
A tutor who knows the IB assessment model can work on each of these through the two years.
What IB Chinese lessons cover
Lessons follow your child's course, Mandarin ab initio, language B at SL or HL, or a language A course, and the school's choice of themes and texts.
Mandarin ab initio
A beginners' course at SL only, with four prescribed topics for each of the five themes.
Topics covered
- Daily routine, leisure, holidays and festivals
- Personal relationships and eating and drinking
- Transport, media and technology
- Neighbourhood, education and the workplace
- Short written tasks in set text types
- Characters and pinyin
Language B writing
Paper 1 is one writing task chosen from three, in an appropriate text type.
Topics covered
- Choosing the right text type
- Register for the audience
- Planning around the five themes
- Writing to length at SL and HL
- Accuracy in characters and grammar
Listening and reading
Paper 2 tests three audio passages and three written texts.
Topics covered
- Weekly listening on the themes
- Question types in the receptive paper
- Reading authentic texts such as articles and blogs
- Vocabulary by theme
- Timing across both sections
The individual oral
A presentation, a discussion with the teacher and a general conversation.
Topics covered
- Presenting on a visual stimulus at SL
- Presenting on a literary extract at HL
- The two literary works studied at HL
- Linking to another course theme
- Answering follow-up questions naturally
Mandarin ab initio, language B SL and language B HL
From the IB's course pages and the subject briefs for first assessment in 2029. The themes and the oral formats also apply to the current course.
Word counts and the 25% split are from the briefs for first assessment in 2029. Students sitting in 2027 or 2028 should check the current guide with their teacher.
| Part | Mandarin ab initio | Language B SL | Language B HL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Beginners with no or very limited experience | Students with some previous experience | Students with some previous experience, at a higher level |
| Level and hours | SL only, 150 hours | SL, 150 hours | HL, 240 hours |
| Paper 1, writing (25%) | Two tasks of 70 to 150 words, each chosen from three | One task of 250 to 400 words, chosen from three | One task of 450 to 600 words, chosen from three |
| Paper 2, listening and reading (50%) | Three audio passages and three written texts | Three audio passages and three written texts | Three audio passages and three written texts |
| Individual oral (25%) | Presentation on a visual stimulus, discussion, then a conversation | Same format as ab initio, on a visual stimulus linked to a theme | Presentation on a literary extract, discussion, then a conversation |
| Literature | None | None | Two literary works originally written in the target language |
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IBO, language B course page. Read the IBO page.
IBO, language ab initio course page. Read the IBO page.
IBO, language B subject brief, first assessment 2029. Open the brief.
IBO, language ab initio subject brief, first assessment 2029. Open the brief.
IBO, language A: literature course page. Read the IBO page.
Before you book an IB Chinese tutor
What IB families ask before starting.
| Question | For IB Chinese |
|---|---|
| Which tutor suits IB? | Choose a tutor who has taught the IB course your child takes and knows the individual oral. For HL, ask about experience with the literary works, which the profile may mention under experience. |
| What does it cost? | IB Chinese is in the IB Diploma and IGCSE band: S$45 to S$60 an hour with an undergraduate tutor, S$65 to S$90 with a full-time tutor and S$90 to S$130 with an ex-MOE teacher. A block of four 1.5-hour lessons with a full-time tutor is S$390 to S$540. |
| How does it start? | Tell us the course (ab initio, language B SL or HL, or language A), the school and whether your child is in DP1 or DP2. We send 2 to 4 tutor profiles within 16 hours. The first lesson is a paid trial at the tutor's hourly rate. |
| What are the terms? | No contract and no minimum, so lessons can follow the school's internal assessment dates. Cancel or move a lesson at least 24 hours ahead, or it is charged. If the fit is wrong, we re-match you free. |
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IB Chinese Tuition: a guide for parents
Every IB Diploma student must study at least one subject from group 2, language acquisition. The IB offers two acquisition courses. Mandarin ab initio is for beginners and runs at standard level only. Language B is for students with some previous experience of the language and runs at SL or HL, with HL students also studying two literary works originally written in the language. Both are built on five themes: identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organisation and sharing the planet. Native and near-native speakers may instead take Chinese as a language A course in group 1, if their school offers it.
Read the full guide
An IB Chinese tutor starts with the course and level, because the tasks differ. Ab initio students need everyday vocabulary, characters and confident short answers. Language B students write one longer piece in a set text type and prepare an individual oral, which at HL is based on an extract from a literary work. Lessons use the five themes so vocabulary is ready for any paper, and include regular listening, since listening is a full quarter of the grade in the newest course briefs. Lessons run at home or online and fit around internal assessment deadlines.
Take a language B Paper 1 task on the theme of sharing the planet: the school wants students to cut food waste in the canteen, and students may write a speech, a blog post or a poster text. Many students write a general essay about the environment and lose marks for ignoring the text type and audience. A tutor teaches your child to decide three things before writing: who the reader or listener is, what the text type looks like, and what the reader should do afterwards.
For a speech that means a greeting to the audience, a clear call to act, and a closing that thanks the listeners. At SL the new brief asks for 250 to 400 words, so the plan also fixes how many paragraphs fit.
Official syllabus: MOE Singapore · SEAB Singapore
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IB Chinese Tuition: frequently asked questions
Should my child take Mandarin ab initio or language B?
The IB says ab initio is for students with no prior experience of the language, or very limited experience, and it runs at SL only. Language B is for students with some previous experience and runs at SL or HL. A student who studied Chinese through primary school in Singapore usually has more than ab initio expects. The school decides placement, so ask early in DP1.
What is the difference between Chinese B SL and HL?
The IB describes three differences: more teaching hours at HL (240 against 150), a higher level of skill expected, and two literary works originally written in the target language studied at HL. The HL individual oral is based on an extract from one of those works, while the SL oral is based on a visual stimulus linked to a course theme.
Can a native speaker take Chinese as language A?
Language A courses are group 1 courses for students who study literature and texts in a language they know well. Language A: literature is offered in 55 languages and by special request in others, and language A: language and literature in 17. Both run at SL and HL with two essay papers, an oral and an HL essay of 1,200 to 1,500 words. Whether Chinese A runs depends on the school.
Is the IB changing language B and ab initio?
Yes. The IB has published new subject briefs for first assessment in 2029, so students whose final exams fall in 2029 or later follow them. In the new briefs, Paper 1 writing, listening, reading and the individual oral each count for 25%. Students sitting their exams in 2027 or 2028 follow the current course, so check with the school which guide applies.
How much does IB Chinese Tuition Singapore cost?
Rates run S$45 to S$130 an hour, depending on the tutor: undergraduate tutors at the lower end, ex-MOE teachers at the upper end. You pay only the hourly rate on your tutor's shortlist.
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