IB Philosophy HL Tutoring
One-to-one online preparation for the Philosophy Higher Level syllabus
The hardest thing in IB Philosophy HL is meeting a text for the first time in the exam and having to draw a philosophical question out of it - memorised summaries of philosophers do not help. Ninety-minute sessions train you to build the counter-argument, cover the HL extension on the nature of doing philosophy, and settle your IA's starting point.
Quick Answer
The help most Philosophy HL students want is writing practice: each session ends with an essay plan that gets written up before the next one. Ten lessons usually sustain that cycle. We add a block at the start of IB 2 for the HL extension and the IA. Sessions are 90 minutes.
HL
Level
Fully Online
Format
90 min
Lesson length
€82 per 90 min one-to-one lesson
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Experienced in IB
Specialist Team
About IB Philosophy HL Tutoring
Our IB Philosophy HL tutoring programme offers detailed teaching that examines humanity's most fundamental questions with a systematic and analytical approach. We develop philosophical argumentation, critical thinking and essay writing skills.
The course covers the Core Theme (Being Human), Optional Themes (epistemology, moral philosophy, political philosophy, aesthetics, philosophy of mind) and the HL Extension (the detailed study of prescribed philosophers). The thought of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Mill and Nietzsche is analysed in depth.
The HL-specific Prescribed Texts study carries particular weight. The detailed analysis and interpretation of prescribed philosophical texts (for example Plato's Republic, Descartes' Meditations) is carried out. Our teachers provide expert guidance on text analysis and the evaluation of philosophical arguments.
Essay writing and philosophical argumentation are core focuses. Different answering techniques are taught for Paper 1 (the core theme and optional themes) and Paper 2 (the prescribed text). Our students develop skills in forming a thesis, evaluating counterarguments and writing a balanced conclusion.
For the Internal Assessment project, an independent study of a philosophical topic is carried out. We offer guidance aligned to the IB assessment criteria on choosing a research question, using philosophical sources, developing arguments and critical evaluation.
IB assessment experience
Lessons are, wherever possible, planned with teachers who have relevant subject experience and a strong command of the IB assessment criteria. For some subjects we can offer lessons with teachers who have IB Examiner experience; matching is done based on subject, level and teacher availability.
Syllabus Topics
Exam Papers
IB Philosophy HL Tutoring exam structure and focus areas
| Paper | Duration | Weighting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 2 hours | 40% | Core theme + 2 optional themes, 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 1 hour | 20% | Prescribed text essay, 1 hour |
| Paper 3 | 1 hour | 20% | HL extension - exploring philosophical activity, unseen text, 1 hour 15 minutes |
| IA | — | 20% | Internal Assessment - philosophical research |
Source: the assessment components and weightings on this page follow the IB Philosophy HL subject guide published by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Your school's IB coordinator can access the current session documents. ibo.org
About grade boundaries: According to the grade boundary documents the International Baccalaureate Organization publishes for each exam session, the total percentage needed for a 7 varies by subject, level and session in a band of roughly 55–85%. Your school's IB coordinator can access the relevant May/November Grade descriptors and boundaries document. In our one-to-one lessons we review the student's realistic grade range together using past-session boundaries and mock results.
IA / Written-Task Support
Where do one-to-one lessons provide support on the Internal Assessment and written tasks?
The stimulus must not be philosophical
The IA starts from non-philosophical material: a photograph, a scene from a film, a news item, an advert. A draft that takes a philosophical text as its starting point causes trouble from the outset. We sift candidate stimuli against that rule, then rank what remains by how open each is to a philosophical question.
One question out of the stimulus
A good image opens onto several questions at once, and students want to touch all of them. The word limit carries one. We keep the question most tightly bound to the material and let the others go.
The argument has to return to the stimulus
Most students set off from the material, write a philosophical summary and never come back to it. The link has to still be there at the end of the piece; it is the first thing we look for when reading a draft.
Sources that carry the argument
Reporting a philosopher's position earns nothing; you have to apply it to your own question and show where it falls short. We decide which source will do work in which paragraph before the writing starts.
The word limit and draft rounds
The limit is tight, so the introduction and the description of the stimulus should take up very little of the piece. Schools can usually give formal feedback on one draft; we read three times - at stimulus selection, at the skeleton of the argument, and on the full text. We do not write it for you.
Comparing Preparation Paths
The differences between self-study, group classes and one-to-one support for IB Philosophy HL Tutoring
| Preparation path | Pros | Limitations | Best for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working on your own |
|
| Wide readers who are comfortable writing. |
| School lessons and group courses |
|
| Students meeting philosophy for the first time. |
| One-to-one online lessons with us |
|
| Students who know the philosophers but cannot build the argument in an essay. |
Lesson packages
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund. Split 10 and 20-lesson packages across any subjects you like, with no expiry date.
Study Plan Framework
A typical 4-phase structure for IB Philosophy HL Tutoring in one-to-one lessons; adapted to the student's exam date.
The language of argument
weeks 1-4
- Separating thesis, justification and counter-argument
- Getting the difference between reporting a view and testing it onto the page
- Short argumentative paragraphs
Core and optional themes
weeks 5-12
- The concepts of the Being Human core theme
- The two optional themes your school selected
- An essay plan at the end of each topic
The prescribed text
4-6 weeks
- Rebuilding the text's argument in your own words
- Developing a counter-argument against the position it defends
- The structure of a Paper 2 essay
The Internal Assessment
4-5 weeks, set by your school's submission calendar
- Choosing the non-philosophical stimulus
- Drawing a single philosophical question out of it
- Rounds of draft feedback
HL extension and exam practice
the 8 weeks before the exam
- Working on the nature of philosophical activity
- Practice at drawing questions out of unseen texts
- Full-length past papers under timed conditions
This framework is a sample plan; it is customised for each student based on exam date, target grade and current level.
How One-to-One Lessons Work
The general structure of IB Philosophy HL Tutoring sessions
A memorised summary of a philosopher does not work in the exam
The marks come from applying a position to the argument the question wants and testing it against an objection - not from reporting it accurately. In the session we take your thesis first, then build the strongest objection to it ourselves; the defending is yours.
Every session ends with an essay plan
Writing a full essay every week shows you fewer question types than planning does. We write and argue over the plan in the session, and you write one full piece a week - which keeps the feedback on the thinking rather than the prose.
The Paper 3 text cannot be prepared in advance
The HL extension gives you an unseen text, and the subject is philosophical activity itself. There is no section to memorise; the only preparation that works is the habit of drawing a philosophical question out of a text you do not know. So we use new passages in every session.
A written progress report every two weeks
We share which themes were covered, what stage the IA is at and what comes next, in writing.
IA Grading Tool
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Where Students Struggle
Our experienced IB teachers guide you through overcoming these challenges.
Our Teaching Approach
IB-Focused Methodology
Work with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria inside out.
Where We Start
The first lesson sets the level, and the topic order follows from it.
The IA and the Exam
From the research question to the report, from past papers to mark schemes.
Past-Paper Focused
Real exam questions and mark scheme analysis.
Share before your first lesson
The information below helps the lesson plan focus on the student's real needs from the very first minutes.
- Target IB grade (e.g. 6 or 7) and exam date
- Current level: latest mock grade, predicted grade or weak topics
- School curriculum: the textbook used, IA / EE topic, deadline dates
- Study schedule: lessons per week, available days and time slots
Who Is This Program For?
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Features
- Drawing a philosophical question from an unseen text
- Practice in building the counter-argument
- The HL extension: the nature of doing philosophy
- An essay plan produced at the end of each session
- Moving from memorised summaries to real argument
- Choosing the starting point for your IA
- An extra block for the HL extension at the start of IB 2
Contact us for a lesson plan
Tell us your target grade, where you are now and when you sit the exam, and we will work out the weekly schedule with you.
Quick Info
Tutors who teach this course
- Tuğçe Albayrak
IB Felsefe HL Öğretmeni
- Berat Korkut
IB Felsefe HL Öğretmeni
Our tutors provide mentoring, structure suggestions and feedback during the IA / EE process. IB Courses does not write a student's IA or assignment for them.
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Let us work out where to start with IB Philosophy HL Tutoring
In a free consultation with our experienced IB teachers, let's decide together on the number of lessons and focus areas that fit your goals.
The consultation is free and non-binding. We do not guarantee a specific IB grade.