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IB Philosophy Tutoring & Prep Course

Pre-IB, Mid-IB and IB Revision Programmes

Short answer

The IB Philosophy course is one-to-one tutoring, taught live online: every lesson is 90 minutes.

A private group is for 3 or more friends who sign up together (the group programme is 30 hours per subject); there are no published start dates, and we agree the start date and lesson times with you.

In one-to-one tutoring, packages are from €85 a lesson.

IB Philosophy tutoring at SL and HL: the core theme Being Human, optional themes, the prescribed text, HL Paper 3 and the internal assessment.

One-to-one and small groups · Live online · IB syllabus

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From a TestPrep IB Philosophy HL private lesson — Paper 3: planning a response to an unseen text on the nature of philosophical activity
HL

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About the subject

IB Philosophy: what it covers and who it suits

IB Philosophy tutoring covers the core theme (Being Human), the optional theme(s) chosen by the school, and the prescribed text studied (e.g. Plato's Republic, Mill's On Liberty, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching). Paper 1 (theme essays plus stimulus), Paper 2 (prescribed text), HL Paper 3 (Philosophy and contemporary issues) and the Internal Assessment are all drilled in IB-specific style.

Your lessons are taught by Berat Korkut, Hazal Kurt, Mete Akın and Tuğçe Albayrak, who teach IB Philosophy.

  • Core theme (Being Human) plus optional themes mapped to the school's combination
  • Prescribed text close-reading drilled with passage-based questions
  • Argument analysis and counter-argument framing taught explicitly
Read more

IB Philosophy centres on philosophical inquiry, argument analysis and critical thinking, and demands deep intellectual engagement.

  • Philosophical argument analysis

    Applying premises, conclusions, validity and soundness.

  • Philosophical traditions

    A broad perspective from Ancient Greek to contemporary philosophy.

  • IA preparation

    Drawing a philosophical problem out of a non-philosophical stimulus and analysing it.

  • Essay writing

    Developing a philosophical thesis, defending it and evaluating counter-arguments.

IB Philosophy puts deep thinking and argumentation at the centre of the course, and suits students aiming at law, politics, ethics, academic philosophy or media.

Our lessons engage students with the great philosophers' ideas while helping them develop their own philosophical perspective.

Exam

IB Philosophy exam format

  • Paper 1

    SL: 105 min / HL: 150 minSL: 50% / HL: 40%

    Stimulus-based question on the core theme + optional theme essay(s): one at SL, two at HL

  • Paper 2

    60 minSL: 25% / HL: 20%

    Essay on the prescribed text

  • Paper 3

    75 minHL: 20%

    Philosophy and contemporary issues: response to an unseen text of about 800 words (HL only)

One-to-one IB tutoring

IB Philosophy Private Tutoring

Private IB lessons at HL or SL: the topics you find hardest, your Internal Assessment and Extended Essay, and technique for every paper. Lessons are live and online and fit around your school timetable.

  • A lesson plan built around your HL or SL course
  • Internal Assessment (IA) guidance and feedback
  • Extended Essay (EE) planning and feedback
  • TOK coaching and feedback
  • Past-paper practice marked against IB mark schemes
  • Scheduling that fits your school timetable

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell us your goal

    We start from your school syllabus, your exam date and the result you are aiming for.

  2. 2

    Your own plan

    We map out the lessons you need, unit by unit.

  3. 3

    Live one-to-one lessons

    Meet your tutor online at times that suit your week.

  4. 4

    Regular progress checks

    Homework and a short check after each lesson show how you are getting on.

Start one-to-one IB Philosophy

Per lesson in a package

From €85

Single lesson €90

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Right for you if you are aiming for a 6 or a 7, need help in one subject, or want support with your IA or EE.

Book one-to-one lessons

Before choosing a package, you can book one paid lesson.

Our IB tutors began teaching in 2018 or earlier.

AI Extended Essay feedback

IB Philosophy Extended Essay Grader

Get AI feedback on your Extended Essay against the IB criteria for your exam session: the new criteria (30 marks) from May 2027, and the 2018 criteria (34 marks) up to November 2026. You get detailed feedback on every criterion and an estimated A–E grade.

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Your exam session

The IB marks the Extended Essay against new criteria from the May 2027 session. If you sit your exams in November 2026 or earlier, your essay is marked against the 2018 criteria.

Type of review

How is the A–E grade estimated?

The IB sets the Extended Essay's grade boundaries again every session; there is no fixed table. So the estimate follows the grade descriptors the IB asks schools to use for predicted grades. The IB publishes your final grade at the end of the session.

IA support

IB Philosophy IA support

The Philosophy IA is a philosophical analysis of up to 2,000 words of a non-philosophical stimulus (a work of art, film or real event), worth 25% at SL and 20% at HL.

Where we support you through the IA

  1. 1Identifying a philosophical problem
  2. 2Applying philosophical concepts and arguments
  3. 3Critical analysis and evaluation
  4. 4Engaging different philosophical perspectives
  5. 5Original philosophical reasoning

IB Philosophy Camps

Structured Prep Camps for IB Philosophy

Three programmes for every stage of IB Philosophy, each run as a private group of three or more friends, on dates set with the group.

  • PRE-IB CAMP

    IB Philosophy: Pre-IB

    Build strong IB Philosophy foundations before starting IB1.

    • Core IB Philosophy concepts
    • Introduction to IB assessment criteria
    • Academic writing skills
    • Study and note-taking techniques

  • MID-IB CAMP

    IB Philosophy Mid-Year

    Consolidate your IB Philosophy knowledge at the end of IB1.

    • IB Philosophy IA preparation and planning
    • Year-1 topic review
    • Identifying knowledge gaps
    • Adapting to the exam format

  • FINAL CAMP

    IB Philosophy Final Revision

    An intensive IB Philosophy revision marathon before the May exams.

    • IB Philosophy full-syllabus review
    • 10+ years of past papers
    • Mock exams with detailed feedback
    • Strategies to maximise your score

  • 100% First-Lesson Money-Back Guarantee

    Not satisfied? Full refund, no questions asked.

    We do not offer free trial lessons. Payment is required before your first lesson.

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  • Flexible Billing

    Local cards welcome, instalments available.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken. Full terms

Included in lessons

Practice built into your IB Philosophy lessons

Every topic you cover in IB Philosophy is reinforced with question sets your tutor puts together for you. This programme has no separately sold question bank or practice test.

Mock exams included in the programme
  • Targeted questions on every topic
  • Practice sets built around your weak areas
  • Exam-style practice with past papers and mark schemes
  • Worked solutions and feedback on every question

Syllabus

IB Philosophy topics

IB Philosophy (first assessment 2025) is built on a compulsory core theme, optional themes and one prescribed text.

Topic names are the IB's own, from the current subject guide.

SLTopics shared by SL and HL

  • Core theme: Being human
  • Aesthetics
  • Epistemology
  • Ethics
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Philosophy of science
  • Political philosophy
  • Social philosophy

Core theme: Being human is compulsory; from the seven optional themes SL studies one and HL two, and both levels study one prescribed text. HL also studies Philosophy and contemporary issues.

HLHL only
  • Philosophy and contemporary issues
From a TestPrep IB Philosophy SL private lesson — the core theme Being Human: the mind-body problem, substance dualism and physicalism
SL

Approach

How we teach IB Philosophy

Study plan

  1. 1

    Phase 1 — Core theme

    Being Human

    • Personhood and identity
    • Self and others
    • Mind and body
  2. 2

    Phase 2 — Optional theme(s)

    School's chosen themes

    • Theme content with key thinkers
    • Stimulus-based essay frames
  3. 3

    Phase 3 — Prescribed text

    Close reading

    • Argument mapping of the prescribed text
    • Past-paper Paper 2
  4. 4

    Phase 4 — IA + HL Paper 3 + mock

    Coursework + papers

    • IA stimulus selection and drafting
    • HL Paper 3: responding to an unseen text on a contemporary issue
    • Past-paper Paper 1 essays

How lessons work

  • Argument before content

    We start with argument analysis (premise, conclusion, validity, objection) before any thinker, so students approach every philosopher with shared tools.

  • Counter-argument as a habit

    Top bands need engagement with the strongest objection. We make counter-argument a structural part of every essay, not an afterthought.

  • Coursework with academic integrity

    The IA is scaffolded but the final written work remains the student's own work.

Advice

IB Philosophy: common mistakes and study tips

  • MistakeEssays that explain a philosopher rather than argue.

    FixTop-band IB Philosophy essays argue — agree, disagree, qualify — with reasons, examples and counter-examples. Exposition alone caps the response.

  • MistakeIgnoring counter-arguments.

    FixExaminers explicitly reward responses that engage seriously with the strongest objection to the student's own view.

  • MistakePaper 2 answers without close reading of the text.

    FixPaper 2 marks textual engagement. Generic philosophy answers without quotation or paraphrase under-score.

  • MistakeStimulus questions with weak philosophical framing.

    FixStimulus essays still expect philosophical analysis (concepts, arguments, objections), not personal reflection.

  • MistakeIA without a clear philosophical issue.

    FixThe IA must engage a specific philosophical issue raised by a non-philosophical stimulus. Loose framing caps the rubric.

Ready to raise your IB Philosophy grade?

You can start one-to-one IB Philosophy lessons with a single lesson. Every package and price is on one page.

  • Live one-to-one lessons online
  • No package needed — book a single lesson
  • Lesson times that fit your school week
Chat on WhatsAppSee all pricesCall us: +44 7862 610215

You can also write to us through our contact page.

Other subjects

Related and other IB Diploma subjects

Often taken alongside this subject

All IB Diploma subjects

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FAQ

IB Philosophy Prep — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions students ask most about IB Philosophy preparation.

No. Strong reading and argumentative-writing habits are more important than prior philosophy coursework.

HL adds a second optional theme and the HL extension, Philosophy and contemporary issues, assessed in Paper 3. The prescribed text gets the same time at both levels.

Mark schemes reward clarity of argument, engagement with counter-arguments, accurate use of philosophical concepts, and structure.

HL students often book 50–80 hours across two years; SL less.

The money-back guarantee covers live lessons. If you are not satisfied after your first private lesson, we refund your payment in full. We do not offer free trial lessons. Payment is required before your first lesson.

You can cancel a lesson package at any time. Lessons already given are charged at the single-lesson price and the rest is refunded. The first-lesson guarantee applies on top.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken and are not refunded. A lesson that has not been paid for 3 hours before it starts is cancelled automatically.

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