Curriculum · IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)

    IB Diploma Programme Tutors

    Specialist one-to-one IB Diploma Programme tuition across Higher Level and Standard Level subjects, plus full TOK, Extended Essay, CAS and Internal Assessment support — for IB students in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Pakistan.

    Curriculum overview

    What this programme is — in plain English.

    The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year pre-university qualification taken by students aged 16–19 in over 5,500 schools across 160 countries. It is the dominant Year 12 / Year 13 curriculum in IB World Schools across the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, and a fast-growing choice in Saudi Arabia.

    IBDP students study six subjects (three Higher Level, three Standard Level) alongside three core requirements: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). The qualification is graded out of 45 and recognised by every Russell Group and Ivy League university for direct entry.

    Our IB Diploma tuition is delivered live, one-to-one, by IB-trained subject specialists who teach to the live IB Subject Guides and the May / November exam syllabuses.

    Who this is for

    Built around real student situations.

    DP1 (Year 12) students

    Building strong foundations in the first year of HL and SL subjects and starting their EE and IAs.

    DP2 (Year 13) students

    Targeting strong final grades, finishing Internal Assessments and Extended Essays, and applying to university.

    Predicted-grade boosters

    Students whose Year 12 predicted grades are below their target university offer.

    Re-take and gap-year candidates

    Sitting the November session to lift a grade.

    Subjects available

    Specialist tutors, every IB Diploma Programme subject.

    Group 1 — Studies in Language & Literature

    • English A: Language & Literature HL/SL
    • English A: Literature HL/SL
    • Arabic A HL/SL

    Group 2 — Language Acquisition

    • English B HL/SL
    • Arabic B HL/SL
    • French B HL/SL
    • Spanish ab initio

    Group 3 — Individuals & Societies

    • Economics HL/SL
    • Business Management HL/SL
    • History HL/SL
    • Psychology HL/SL
    • Global Politics HL/SL

    Group 4 — Sciences

    • Physics HL/SL
    • Chemistry HL/SL
    • Biology HL/SL
    • Computer Science HL/SL
    • Environmental Systems & Societies SL

    Group 5 — Mathematics

    • Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches HL/SL (AA)
    • Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation HL/SL (AI)

    Group 6 — The Arts

    • Visual Arts HL/SL

    Core

    • Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
    • Extended Essay (EE)
    • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

    Assessment structure

    • External examinations (May or November session)

      Each subject is assessed via 2–3 externally examined papers at the end of DP2. Most GCC and Pakistani students sit the May session.

    • Internal Assessments (IAs)

      Each subject includes an Internal Assessment (e.g., Maths IA, Sciences IA, History IA, English IO) marked internally and moderated by the IB.

    • TOK essay & exhibition

      Theory of Knowledge is assessed via a 1,600-word essay (external) and a TOK Exhibition (internal).

    • Extended Essay (EE)

      A 4,000-word independent research essay in a chosen subject, externally examined.

    Grading system

    • Out of 45

      Each of the six subjects scores 1–7. The TOK / EE matrix contributes up to 3 bonus points. The maximum total is 45; the minimum diploma pass is 24 with subject and core conditions.

    • Subject grade descriptors

      Each subject 1–7 grade maps to published descriptors. A 7 in HL Mathematics AA or HL Chemistry is widely viewed as A* equivalent.

    • University recognition

      Russell Group offers typically range 32–40 points; Oxbridge / Ivy League 38–42; competitive Medicine 38+ with specified HL grades.

    Examination format

    • Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3

      Most subjects use two or three papers — usually a calculation / structured paper, a longer extended-response paper, and (in HL) an additional synoptic paper.

    • Source-based papers (History, Global Politics)

      Group 3 subjects often include a source analysis paper alongside essay papers.

    • Coursework components

      Internal Assessments, the EE and TOK essay each carry 20–25% of the final grade depending on subject.

    Study challenges

    Where students actually struggle.

    These are the recurring patterns we see across hundreds of IB Diploma Programme students every year, drawn from real diagnostics rather than marketing claims.

    Breadth across six subjects

    Unlike A Level, IBDP students cannot drop weaker subjects. Maintaining six subjects to a strong 6 / 7 standard is the single hardest part of the diploma.

    Internal Assessment volume

    Six IAs, one EE and the TOK essay all fall in DP2 alongside mocks and final exams. Time management is the real test.

    Maths AA vs Maths AI choice

    Choosing between Analysis & Approaches and Applications & Interpretation — and HL vs SL — is one of the most consequential decisions of DP1.

    TOK & EE writing standards

    TOK and EE are unlike anything most students have written before. Without scaffolded coaching, students lose entire bonus points.

    How The Brilliant Brains supports IB Diploma Programme students

    One-to-one. Examiner-led. Built to your child.

    Six-subject load planning

    We help students sequence IAs, EE drafts and revision so DP2 does not implode in February.

    IB-trained subject specialists

    Our IB tutors teach to the current IB Subject Guides — including IB Mathematics AA / AI, IB Sciences, IB Economics, IB English, IB History and IB Languages.

    IA, EE and TOK coaching

    Line-by-line coaching on Internal Assessments, the Extended Essay and TOK essay — we coach drafts, never ghost-write.

    Predicted-grade rescue

    If predicted grades are below the target university offer, we run targeted six-week subject plans to lift the predicted grade.

    How it works

    A simple, structured path from first call to results.

    1. Step 1

      1. Free trial & diploma audit

      Meet the tutor and review your current six-subject profile, IA progress, EE topic and target diploma score.

    2. Step 2

      2. Personalised IB plan

      Subject-by-subject plan to May or November session, with IA / EE milestones.

    3. Step 3

      3. Weekly 1-to-1 lessons

      Same IB-trained tutor every week, recordings shared.

    4. Step 4

      4. Mocks, IA polish & final-exam prep

      Full timed mocks marked to IB standard, IA drafts reviewed, and a final-month plan to peak on exam day.

    GCC & Pakistan focus

    Tutoring families across the region.

    Lessons are scheduled in GST / AST around school exam calendars, with regional expertise in the international schools your child actually attends.

    United Arab Emirates

    Tutoring families across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah whose children attend GEMS, Taaleem, Bloom, Aldar Academies, Cranleigh, Dwight and Repton schools.

    Saudi Arabia

    Online lessons scheduled in AST for students in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam at British International, KAUST Schools, Jeddah Knowledge, Multinational Schools Riyadh and Misk schools.

    Qatar

    Doha-based students at Doha College, Compass International, Park House English School and ACS Doha International — taught around the Qatari school calendar.

    Kuwait, Bahrain & Oman

    Coverage across Kuwait City, Manama and Muscat for the UK, US and IB curriculum schools, with weekday-evening and weekend slots in GST / AST.

    Student success stories

    Outcomes, in our students' own words.

    "From a predicted 32 to a final 41 — King's College London Medicine offer met."
    — DP2 student, Abu Dhabi
    "HL Maths AA from a 4 to a 7 in six months. UCL Engineering offer secured."
    — DP2 student, Doha
    "Extended Essay coached from a draft C to a final A, plus three TOK points — Edinburgh offer reinstated."
    — DP2 student, Riyadh
    FAQ

    IB Diploma Programme — questions parents and students ask us.

    Where families take IB Diploma Programme with us

    Book a free IB Diploma trial lesson

    Meet an IB-trained tutor, audit your diploma profile, and walk away with a plan to your target IB score.

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