The role of a tutor in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme extends beyond simply teaching content. A good tutor guides students through a demanding curriculum, helping them understand concepts in a subject while teaching them not just what to memorise, but also how to think. Not every tutor will be able to meet what you as a student need to do well in the IB and score that 45! Here are 5 kinds of tutors you should avoid.
1. A Tutor That Doesn't Understand Your Syllabus Structure
Schools vary in how they teach their syllabus. A tutor that teaches independently of your school, without considering things like your existing workload and understanding other assignments is not one you should subscribe to.
Schools often have their own unique way of structuring and delivering the IB syllabus. While the content is the same across the program, the pace, emphasis, and approach to certain topics can differ significantly. For instance, one school might focus heavily on completing Internal Assessments early in the term, while another might space them out to coincide with related topics in the curriculum. Similarly, different teachers may interpret the syllabus slightly differently or adopt teaching styles that reflect their priorities, such as focusing more on theory or application.
A tutor who works independently of this context—ignoring your school’s specific approach—can create a disjointed learning experience. If they introduce topics too early or diverge too far from what your school is teaching, you might feel overwhelmed by the inconsistency. For example, they might spend time teaching you advanced concepts your school hasn’t covered yet, leaving you confused and anxious in your regular classes. Conversely, they might focus on content that’s already been taught and tested, wasting valuable time that could be spent reinforcing current topics or addressing areas of weakness.
2. A Tutor That Doesn't Individualise Their Approach
There are many tutors out there who believe the best way to learn is through whatever lesson plan they have prepared. This is untrue for the main reason that every student is different and requires an individualised approach, accounting for your strengths and weaknesses.
If you struggle with math, for example, and need someone to slow down and break things into manageable steps, a tutor might come along and tout his approach to problems as the best that there is without much care for your understanding of the content. A tutor who sticks to a rigid plan will overlook these needs. You could end up wasting time on things you’ve already mastered or, worse, falling further behind in areas where you need the most help.
What you really need is a tutor who listens to you, figures out where you’re stuck, and adapts their teaching to suit you. This is because the IB isn’t just about memorizing content; it’s about mastering skills like critical thinking, analysis, and application – Skills that are not just useful but necessary in every IB subject there is.
A good tutor also considers how you’re feeling. The IB can be overwhelming, and sometimes what you need most is someone who understands the pressure and helps you navigate it. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t just fail to teach you effectively—it can make you feel like you’re just another box to check on their list.
3. A Tutor That Doesn't Prepare Their Own Materials
Tutors relying solely on pre-made, worse yet - outdated materials may not provide students with the tools to excel. Effective tutoring requires crafting custom resources like tailored practice questions, model essays (at least the rough outlines), or IA feedback, that directly align with syllabus / school demands.
Effective tutors craft custom materials to address your individual needs and align with both the current syllabus and your school’s teaching. Tailored practice questions, for instance, target your specific weaknesses, helping you improve in areas where you’re struggling. Model essays or rough outlines give you clear examples of how to structure your work in ways that meet IB standards. Personalised IA feedback ensures that you’re meeting the assessment criteria while allowing your unique perspective to shine.
Additionally, custom materials show that the tutor has taken the time to understand the demands of the IB program and, more importantly, your personal learning journey. They demonstrate a level of care and expertise that pre-made materials simply can’t match. For example, if your school teaches TOK differently or expects a specific structure for IAs, a tutor creating resources just for you ensures that what you’re learning is both relevant and effective.
4. A Tutor Who Looks Solely at Grades
Grades are merely an indication of how well you have performed on a particular paper. While they are no doubt important in assessing your performance, they might not be the most reliable marker of your understanding.
Yes, if you score 90% on a paper about Energetics, it means that your understanding of the topic is probably sound. However, the meat of tutoring lies in exploring - The 10% that you got wrong, so that you understand where not to repeat your mistakes, and also the important parts of the 90% that you got correct. It sounds unnecessary to go through things that you’ve already gotten correct, but some IB graduates who have performed well would agree it further cements ones understanding of a concept, and helps them reinforce how they scored the full marks. Plus, it’s good to go through just in case the question was a fluke.
5. A Tutor Who Makes You Do Worksheets During Lessons
Lesson time with a tutor (or any time at all during the IB) is a resource that should prioritize active engagement and in-depth explanations, not repetitive tasks like doing worksheets. Completing worksheets during sessions can be a waste of this valuable time, as it often involves rote practice that you could do independently. Instead, a good tutor should use lessons for clarifying doubts, providing detailed feedback, and exploring challenging concepts collaboratively.
If tutors must go through worksheets, they should make it a guided practice that involves teaching the relevant concepts and solving example questions first so that when you try the question out for yourself, it’s a productive and meaningful exercise. Guided practice ensures that you’re not just completing questions blindly but actually understanding the underlying concepts and methods. This way, when you attempt a problem independently, you’re building on a solid foundation rather than guessing your way through. It transforms worksheets from a passive activity into an interactive learning experience, where each question reinforces what you’ve learned and boosts your confidence in applying it.
Choosing a good tutor for the IB Diploma Programme is crucial, as their guidance can significantly influence both academic performance and personal development. Avoiding tutors who lack syllabus knowledge, fail to personalize their approach, or misuse lesson time ensures a more enriching and supportive learning experience. Ultimately, the ideal tutor should inspire curiosity and confidence while helping you navigate the rigorous demands of the IB, for both chemistry and beyond.
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