The IB Diploma Programme (DP) asks a lot of students in two short years: six subjects, an Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS, and coursework in almost every subject alongside final exams. It is no surprise that many DP families look for IB tutoring in Dubai at some point in the programme.
But the best IB tutors in Dubai are not simply the ones with the most impressive profiles. They are the ones who understand exactly how the IB awards marks, subject by subject, and can help a student turn that understanding into better work. This guide explains how the Diploma is scored, what to look for in an IB Math tutor and in Sciences and English specialists, and how to check that a tutor is working legally.
At a glance
- The IB Diploma is scored out of 45: up to 7 points in each of six subjects, plus up to 3 points from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.
- In IB Math and the Sciences, internal assessment is worth 20% of the final subject grade, so coursework support matters as much as exam practice.
- Since 2023, anyone offering private lessons in the UAE needs a free Private Teacher Work Permit.
How the IB Diploma Is Scored
Good tutoring starts with the scoring system, because it shows where marks are won and lost.
- Six subjects, each graded 1 to 7. Subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL), and both levels count equally towards the total. The maximum from subjects is 42 points.
- Up to 3 core points. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE) are each graded A to E and combined through the IB’s core points matrix to give between 0 and 3 points.
- CAS is required but not graded. Creativity, activity, service must be completed for the diploma to be awarded.
- 45 is the maximum; 24 is the minimum. A candidate needs at least 24 points, but the IB also sets failing conditions, such as an E in TOK or the EE, so reaching 24 alone does not guarantee the diploma.
Most subjects combine external exams with internally assessed coursework that is marked by the teacher and moderated by the IB. The full rules are on the IB’s Diploma Programme passing criteria page.
What the Best IB Tutors in Dubai Have in Common
Use this checklist when you compare tutors or tutoring providers.
- They know the current syllabus. IB subjects are revised on a cycle. The sciences, for example, moved to a new syllabus first assessed in May 2025. A tutor teaching from old materials can waste valuable time.
- They teach to the assessment criteria. Strong IB tutors explain how each paper and each piece of coursework is marked, and train students to meet those criteria, not just to understand the content.
- They support coursework within the rules. Internal assessments, the Extended Essay and TOK work must be the student’s own. A good tutor coaches research questions, structure and feedback cycles without writing the work.
- They specialise. An IB Math tutor in Dubai should know the difference between Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation, at both SL and HL. Science and English tutors should be equally specific.
- They plan, not just react. The best tutoring follows a plan built around school deadlines, mock exams and the May exam session, with regular progress checks.
- They hold a valid UAE tutoring permit or work through a licensed provider. See the section on tutor permits below.
- They offer a trial or consultation. A first session should show you how the tutor diagnoses gaps and plans next steps.
IB Math Tutor in Dubai: Choosing the Right Support for AA or AI
The IB offers two mathematics courses, each at SL and HL:
- Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) suits students who enjoy algebra, abstract reasoning and building mathematical arguments. Some university courses specify which IB Math course and level they accept, so check entry requirements before choosing.
- Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) focuses on mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, and includes functions and calculus. Technology is used throughout.
In both courses, external exams make up 80% of the final grade, and the remaining 20% comes from the mathematical exploration, an individual piece of written work that investigates an area of mathematics. The IB’s subject briefs for Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation set out the full structure.
What a good IB Math tutor should help with:
- Choosing the right course and level early, based on the student’s strengths and university plans
- Exam technique for each paper, including when technology is and is not allowed
- Choosing a workable topic for the exploration and understanding how it is marked
- Building fluency through past-paper practice under timed conditions
One point to note for younger students: the IB has published subject briefs for revised mathematics courses with first assessment in 2029, so students starting the DP in future years should check which version of the course they will follow.
IB Sciences Tutoring: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
The DP sciences moved to a new syllabus for first teaching in 2023 and first assessment in May 2025. If your child’s tutor is still using pre-2025 materials, ask how they have adapted.
How the sciences are assessed now:
- External exams: 80%. Two papers at both SL and HL.
- The scientific investigation: 20%. This is the internal assessment, an open-ended task in which the student gathers and analyses data to answer their own research question. It is marked by the teacher and moderated by the IB.
- The collaborative sciences project. This replaced the old Group 4 project. It is a required part of the course but does not count towards the final grade.
The IB’s Biology subject brief shows the structure in detail.
What a good IB Sciences tutor should help with:
- Concept understanding across the new themes, especially at HL
- Data-based questions, graph interpretation and calculations under time pressure
- Designing a focused research question for the scientific investigation and planning data collection and analysis
- Using past papers from the correct syllabus version
IB English Tutoring: Language A Assessments
The IB offers two English A courses: English A: Language and Literature and English A: Literature. Both are assessed through four components at HL and three at SL.
- Paper 1: guided analysis. An unseen text analysis exam. In Language and Literature, the texts are non-literary, such as speeches, advertisements or opinion pieces; in Literature, they are literary extracts. HL students analyse two texts.
- Paper 2: comparative essay. Students answer one of four questions by comparing two works they have studied. It counts for 35% of the grade at SL and 25% at HL.
- Individual oral. A 10-minute prepared oral followed by 5 minutes of teacher questions, connecting texts through a global issue. It is the only internally assessed component and counts for 30% at SL and 20% at HL.
- HL essay. HL students also write an essay of 1,200 to 1,500 words on one text, worth 20% of the HL grade.
What a good IB English tutor should help with:
- Building a fast, reliable method for analysing unseen texts
- Planning comparative arguments and choosing evidence from studied works
- Rehearsing the individual oral, including handling follow-up questions
- Developing the HL essay from a focused line of inquiry, without writing it for the student
One-to-One Tutoring vs IB Diploma Classes and Preparation Courses
There is no single right format. Many students combine more than one over the two years.
One-to-one IB tutoring works best when a student needs targeted help in a specific subject, wants feedback on coursework drafts, or is aiming to move from a 5 to a 6 or a 6 to a 7. Every minute is focused on that student’s gaps.
Small-group IB Diploma classes in Dubai suit students who learn well alongside peers and want regular, structured practice. They work best when the group shares the same subject, level and syllabus.
An IB preparation course in Dubai is usually time-bound, such as a revision programme before mocks or the May exams, or a bridge course before the DP begins. UniHawk’s IBDP Bridge Program, for example, helps students prepare for the transition into the Diploma.
Whichever format you choose, ask how progress will be measured and how the provider will communicate with you.
Check That Your IB Tutor Is Permitted to Teach
Since December 2023, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) and Ministry of Education have required anyone offering private lessons outside schools to hold a Private Teacher Work Permit. The permit is free, valid for two years and covers both online and in-person tutoring. Under the tutoring code of conduct, teachers may not privately tutor students from the schools where they work.
Before booking sessions, ask an independent tutor for their permit, or choose a provider that can confirm its tutors are properly authorised.
A Two-Year IB Support Plan
The most effective tutoring follows the shape of the Diploma itself. Exact deadlines vary by school, so map this plan onto your school’s calendar.
- Before DP1: confirm subject choices. Check the course and level each target university course requires, especially for Math. A bridge programme can help students moving from another curriculum.
- DP1, first term: build foundations. Secure the core concepts in HL subjects early, and set up good habits for notes and past-paper practice.
- DP1, second half: plan the coursework. Start thinking about research questions for the Math exploration, the science investigation and the Extended Essay, so that ideas are ready when school deadlines arrive.
- DP2, first term: coursework and core. In many schools, internal assessments, the Extended Essay and TOK work are finalised in DP2. Feedback from a tutor on structure and criteria, within IB rules, is most valuable here.
- DP2, mocks: diagnose and adjust. Use mock results to identify the subjects and papers where extra points are most realistic.
- DP2, spring: exam preparation. Focus on timed past papers from the current syllabus and on exam technique before the May exam session.
IB Tutoring in Dubai with UniHawk
UniHawk’s IB tutoring supports Diploma students across a wide range of subjects, including Math AA and Math AI, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Language and Literature, Economics, Business Management, Psychology and Computer Science, as well as French and Spanish. Support also covers the core: TOK, the Extended Essay and internal assessments.
- Flexible formats. Online, in-person or hybrid learning, with tutoring available in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
- Specialist tutors. Our IB tutors include subject specialists with Master’s degrees and PhDs, many with six to ten or more years of teaching experience.
- A plan for each student. Sessions follow a customised study plan built around the student’s subjects, school deadlines and target grades.
- Bridge support. Students joining the DP from another curriculum can start with the IBDP Bridge Program.
IB tutoring at UniHawk also connects with our wider support, including university admissions counselling, Profile Building and test preparation such as SAT and IELTS. Students in other curricula can explore AP tutoring, A Level tutoring and IGCSE tutoring.
Book a free consultation or enquire now to discuss your child’s IB subjects and goals.
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