Higher Level Math, Physics and Chemistry are some of the most demanding choices in the IB Diploma Programme (DP). They carry more content, longer exams and a major piece of coursework each, and they are often the subjects that university courses in engineering, medicine and the sciences look at most closely.
That is why many families look for IB tutoring in Abu Dhabi that goes beyond general homework help. This guide explains how HL Math, Physics and Chemistry are assessed, what the best IB tutors in Abu Dhabi do differently, how IB Diploma coaching compares with short IB exam prep courses, and how to check that a tutor is permitted to teach in the UAE.
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.
- HL Math has three exam papers plus a mathematical exploration worth 20% of the grade.
- HL Physics and HL Chemistry are assessed through two papers worth 80% and a scientific investigation worth 20%.
- Anyone offering private lessons in the UAE needs a free Private Teacher Work Permit.
How the IB Diploma Is Scored
- 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, up to a maximum of 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.
- 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. The IB also sets failing conditions, such as an E in TOK or the EE, so 24 points alone does not guarantee the diploma.
Because HL and SL grades carry the same weight, a strong grade in a demanding HL science or Math course is worth exactly as much as one in any other subject. The full rules are on the IB’s Diploma Programme passing criteria page.
Why HL Math, Physics and Chemistry Need Specialist Support
HL is not just “SL with more homework”. In the sciences, the IB recommends 150 teaching hours at SL and 240 at HL, and that extra time covers additional content and practical work. HL Math adds a third exam paper built around extended problem-solving.
These subjects also share a pattern that makes general tutoring less effective:
- Concepts build on each other. A gap in DP1 calculus or mechanics becomes a much bigger problem in DP2.
- Exams reward application, not recall. Data-based questions, unfamiliar contexts and multi-step problems test whether a student can use what they know.
- Coursework is worth 20%. The mathematical exploration and the scientific investigation can lift or lower a final grade, and both reward careful planning.
The IB’s Sciences subject brief for Biology shows the SL and HL teaching hours and the assessment model shared by the new science courses.
IB HL Math Tutoring: AA HL and AI HL
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.
- Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) focuses on mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, and includes functions and calculus, with technology used throughout.
Some university courses specify which IB Math course and level they accept, so check entry requirements before choosing.
How HL Math is assessed:
- Papers 1 and 2 cover the full syllabus, with short and extended-response questions.
- Paper 3 (HL only) is a one-hour paper with two compulsory extended-response problem-solving questions, worth 20% of the grade.
- The mathematical exploration is an individual piece of written work investigating an area of mathematics, also worth 20%.
The IB’s subject briefs for Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation set out the full structure.
What a good IB HL Math tutor should help with:
- Closing gaps in algebra, functions and calculus early in DP1
- Practising Paper 3-style extended problems, which reward structured reasoning over memorised methods
- Choosing a workable exploration topic and understanding how it is marked
- Timed past-paper practice from the current syllabus
IB Science Tutor in Abu Dhabi: HL Physics and HL Chemistry
The DP sciences moved to a new syllabus for first assessment in May 2025. The old option topics and Paper 3 were removed, so HL Physics and HL Chemistry students now sit two papers. If a tutor is still teaching from pre-2025 materials, ask how they have adapted.
How HL Physics and HL Chemistry are assessed:
- Paper 1 (2 hours at HL): 36%. Paper 1A is multiple choice and Paper 1B is data-based questions, taken together in one sitting.
- Paper 2 (2 hours 30 minutes at HL): 44%. Short-answer and extended-response questions covering SL and additional HL material.
- The scientific investigation: 20%. An open-ended task in which the student gathers and analyses data to answer their own research question, marked by the teacher and moderated by the IB.
- The collaborative sciences project. A required part of the course that replaced the old Group 4 project, but it does not count towards the final grade.
What a good IB science tutor should help with:
- HL Physics: building fluency with mathematical models, especially in mechanics and fields, and interpreting graphs and experimental data under time pressure
- HL Chemistry: connecting structure and reactivity, handling quantitative calculations accurately, and explaining mechanisms clearly in extended responses
- Both: designing a focused research question for the scientific investigation, and using past papers from the correct syllabus version
What the Best IB Tutors in Abu Dhabi Have in Common
When you compare options, look for these qualities:
- Subject depth at HL. Ask whether the tutor regularly teaches HL, not just SL, in the exact course your child takes.
- Current-syllabus knowledge. The sciences changed for May 2025 exams, and Math courses are also being revised, with new subject briefs published for first assessment in 2029. Materials should match the syllabus your child will be examined on.
- Teaching to the assessment criteria. The best IB tutors in Abu Dhabi show students how each paper and coursework component is marked, then train them to meet those criteria.
- Coursework support within the rules. Internal assessments and the Extended Essay must be the student’s own work. Good tutors coach research questions, structure and use of feedback without writing anything for the student.
- A clear plan. Sessions should follow a plan built around school deadlines, mocks and the May exam session, with regular progress checks shared with parents.
- A valid permit or a licensed provider. See the permit section below.
- A trial or consultation first. A first session should show how the tutor diagnoses gaps and plans next steps.
IB Diploma Coaching vs IB Exam Prep in Abu Dhabi
Many students combine ongoing support with focused preparation at key moments.
IB Diploma coaching is long-term, one-to-one support across the two years. It suits HL students who want to secure foundations early, plan coursework properly and keep steady progress in demanding subjects. It also lets a tutor see patterns over time, such as recurring errors in Paper 1 data questions or in calculus.
IB exam prep in Abu Dhabi is shorter and more intensive: revision before mocks, or a structured run-in to the May exams. It works best with timed past papers from the current syllabus and targeted work on the papers where the most points are available.
IB Diploma prep before the DP starts helps students who are joining from another curriculum or who want a head start on HL content. UniHawk’s IBDP Bridge Program is designed for this transition.
Whichever you choose, ask how progress will be measured and how often you will receive updates.
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 rules apply across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi. 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 Diploma Prep Plan for HL Students
Exact deadlines vary by school, so map this plan onto your school’s calendar.
- Before DP1: choose courses carefully. Confirm which Math course and level, and which sciences at HL, your target university courses expect.
- DP1, first term: secure the foundations. Close gaps in algebra, calculus, mechanics and chemical calculations before new content builds on them.
- DP1, second half: think about coursework. Start exploring ideas for the Math exploration and the scientific investigation so they are ready when school deadlines arrive.
- DP2, first term: finish coursework well. Use tutor feedback on structure and criteria, within IB rules, while internal assessments and the Extended Essay are being finalised.
- DP2, mocks: diagnose. Use mock results to find the papers and topics where extra points are most realistic, such as HL Math Paper 3 or science data-based questions.
- DP2, spring: IB exam prep. Focus on timed past papers from the current syllabus and on exam technique before the May exam session.
IB Tutoring in Abu Dhabi with UniHawk
UniHawk’s IB tutoring supports Diploma students in Math AA and Math AI, Physics and Chemistry, alongside Biology, English Language and Literature, Economics, Business Management, Psychology, Computer Science, French and Spanish. Support also covers TOK, the Extended Essay and internal assessments.
- Online, in-person or hybrid. Tutoring is available in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
- Specialist tutors. Our IB Math, Physics and Chemistry tutors include subject specialists with Master’s degrees and PhDs, many with seven 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.
- A smooth start. Students joining the DP from another curriculum can begin with the IBDP Bridge Program.
IB tutoring connects with UniHawk’s 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.
Visit us in Abu Dhabi. Our office is at Office 1402, 14th Floor, Salam HQ Building, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (+971 56 859 2259). See all locations on our locations page.
Book a free consultation or enquire now to discuss your child’s HL subjects and goals.
