IB English tutoring
IB English A rewards a sustained, precise argument about how texts work, under time pressure and out loud in the oral. Our tutors coach the analysis, structure and timing each component needs, while the writing stays the student's own.
One-to-one from $12 a class · billed in USD
Online - IB English A: Language and Literature, Literature
What every programme includes
- ✓ Paper 1: guided analysis of unseen texts
- ✓ Paper 2: the comparative essay on works studied
- ✓ Individual oral: global issue, extracts and delivery
- ✓ HL essay: a focused line of inquiry in 1,200-1,500 words
- ✓ Language and Literature and Literature courses
- ✓ Feedback on structure and argument, never ghost-writing
Lesson times in your time zone
Weekdays 3pm-9pm after school · Weekends 8am-8pm, your local time. Pick the slot when you book.
How IB English A: Language and Literature is assessed
At SL, Paper 1 (one analysis of an unseen text) and Paper 2 (a comparative essay, 1 hour 45 minutes) are worth 35% each, and the individual oral 30%. At HL, Paper 1 has two analyses in 2 hours 15 minutes (35%), Paper 2 is 25%, the individual oral 20% and the HL essay, 1,200 to 1,500 words on a line of inquiry of the student's choice, 20%.
The oral lasts 15 minutes: 10 minutes of the student's own talk on a global issue through an extract from a literary work and one from a non-literary body of work, then 5 minutes of teacher questions.
Where English marks are lost
The criteria reward argument over summary. Common problems:
- ✓ Paper 1 answers that describe a text instead of analysing its effects
- ✓ Paper 2 essays that discuss two works side by side without comparing them
- ✓ Orals that run out of material or lose the global issue
- ✓ Quotations without close analysis of language and structure
- ✓ HL essays with a topic but no clear line of inquiry
IB English A: Language and Literature assessment
| Component | SL | HL |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: guided textual analysis | 35% | 35% (two analyses, 2h 15m) |
| Paper 2: comparative essay (1h 45m) | 35% | 25% |
| Individual oral (15 minutes) | 30% | 20% |
| HL essay (1,200-1,500 words) | - | 20% |
Preparing for the individual oral
- 1
Four weeks before
Choose the global issue and the two extracts; test that each can carry ten minutes.
- 2
Three weeks before
Build a bullet outline, not a script, and rehearse against the criteria.
- 3
Two weeks before
Timed run-throughs with feedback on balance between the two texts.
- 4
Final week
Practise answering unexpected questions calmly.
Tutors for this programme
Stephen Mc Cormack
PGCE Primary(3-11), Cardiff Metropolitan University
15 yrs experience
AP · IB · SAT
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Abdi Musa
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, University of Washington Bothell
4 yrs experience
GCSE / A-Level (UK)
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FNFatima Noor
MA English Literature, Kinnaird College, Lahore
7 yrs experience
GCSE English · IELTS · School English
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What IB tutoring costs in Dubai and Hong Kong
IB, IGCSE and A-Level specialists in Dubai
AED 200-450+ an hour
Source: Bestimate: tutoring costs in Dubai, 2026Novice IB tutors in Hong Kong
HK$300-400 an hour
Source: GETUTOR (Hong Kong Tutors Association): IB tutoring pricesSenior IB tutors in Hong Kong
HK$600-800 an hour
Source: GETUTOR (Hong Kong Tutors Association): IB tutoring pricesEagleTeach, one-to-one online
From $12 a class
Billed in USD, converted at an approximate rate. Two free demo classes first.
Common questions
How long is the IB English individual oral?＋
15 minutes: 10 minutes of the student's presentation and 5 minutes of questions from the teacher.
How much is the HL essay worth?＋
20% of the HL grade. It is 1,200 to 1,500 words on a line of inquiry connected to a text or work studied.
Can a tutor write or edit my essay?＋
No. IB rules require the work to be the student's own. Tutors teach analysis and structure and give the kind of general feedback the rules allow.
Do you teach both Language and Literature and Literature?＋
Yes. The papers are similar in format, though Literature works only with literary texts.
How can my child improve Paper 1 quickly?＋
Timed practice on unseen texts with a fixed planning routine: identify the guiding question, select evidence, then argue about effects rather than summarise.
What makes a strong Paper 2 essay?＋
A clear comparative argument that runs through the whole essay, with each paragraph discussing both works.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 2026-10-02.
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