What an IB tutor actually needs to do
The IB Diploma is not one course — it’s six subjects at HL or SL, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS, all running in parallel for two years. A weekly hour of private tutoring can cover maybe one subject shallowly. What the Diploma actually demands is steady daily work across all six, marked against IB command terms and markbands so you know where you’re losing points before the examiner does.
That’s what Skoolskill is built for: an AI IB tutor on your phone that turns your own notes and past papers into 15-minute daily practice, scored the way the IB scores.
How the IB plan works
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| DP1 (term 1–2) | Foundational drilling per subject, learning command terms, building the habit |
| DP1 (term 3) | Internal Assessment planning — Maths IA, science labs, essay investigations |
| DP2 (term 1) | Past-paper sections by topic, EE drafting, TOK knowledge questions |
| DP2 (term 2) | Whole past papers, timed Paper 1/2/3, mock practice |
| Final weeks | Full mocks under exam conditions, error log, light review and sleep |
A student doing 15 minutes a day per priority subject from DP1 builds hundreds of hours of marked practice by the May or November session — far more than two years of weekly tutoring delivers.
The Diploma is scored out of 45
Six subjects at 7 points each gives 42, plus up to 3 points from the TOK-and-EE matrix. Most universities want 30–38; the most selective want 40+ with specific HL grades. The gap between a 5 and a 6 in an HL subject is usually built from consistent past-paper practice on the question types you keep getting wrong — exactly what daily drilling fixes.
- HL subjects carry a third paper and deeper content — these need the most daily time
- SL subjects still need regular upkeep so they don’t slip in the final months
- The core (TOK + EE) is worth up to 3 points that students routinely leave on the table
Mathematics: AA vs AI, HL and SL
The IB now splits maths into Analysis & Approaches (proof-heavy, for STEM and economics paths) and Applications & Interpretation (modelling and statistics). Skoolskill knows which route you’re on and which calculator paper you sit, and drills the specific question styles — non-calculator technique for AA, GDC-driven modelling for AI.
Comparison: IB tutor (private/agency) vs Skoolskill
| Private IB tutor | Skoolskill | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $40–$90 | Free or ~$0.20/day |
| Sessions/week | 1 (typical) | 7 × 15-min sessions |
| Subjects covered | Usually 1 | All six + core |
| Per year (1 subject) | $1,500–$3,500 | $0 or ~$84 |
| IA / EE support | Sometimes | Built in, integrity-safe |
When a human IB tutor still matters
- Language oral assessments (Individual Oral, Language B speaking) need a human examiner
- A subject you’re multiple grades behind in after changing schools mid-Diploma
- Exam stress and time-management coaching across a heavy six-subject load
- Specific learning differences that need tailored human support
Many IB students combine both: a human tutor occasionally for the hardest subject, Skoolskill daily for marked practice across all six.
Get started — free
- Create a free account — no credit card
- Tell us your six subjects, HL/SL levels and exam session
- Snap a photo of your notes or a past paper
- First session in under three minutes
Start free — free tier always available.