IB Philosophy SL Tutoring
One-to-one online preparation for the Philosophy Standard Level syllabus
The prescribed-text paper gives IB Philosophy SL students the most trouble: they have read it, but cannot restate the argument in their own words. In 90-minute sessions we ground the core-theme concepts in concrete examples, drill the thesis, counter-thesis and evaluation shape of a philosophy essay, and choose the stimulus your IA will start from.
Quick Answer
Philosophy SL support is usually booked for the prescribed-text paper, and eight to ten sessions cover a term. We set aside a separate lesson for the IA stimulus; the student writes the piece and we check the shape of the argument. Lessons are 90 minutes, one to one and online.
SL
Level
Fully Online
Format
90 min
Lesson length
€85 per 90 min one-to-one lesson
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund.
See packages and lower per-lesson rates
SLIB Specialists
Experienced Team
About IB Philosophy SL Tutoring
Our IB Philosophy SL programme develops philosophical thinking and analysis, with a steady focus on argument and essay writing.
The course covers the Core Theme (Being Human) and Optional Themes (epistemology, ethics, political philosophy). The thought of key philosophers is analysed.
Essay writing techniques are taught for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Skills in forming a thesis, developing arguments and evaluating counterarguments are built.
For the IA we guide the student's independent philosophical analysis against the IB assessment criteria.
Critical thinking and philosophical analysis skills are developed across all topics.
IB assessment experience
Lessons are planned with teachers who have relevant subject experience and a strong command of the IB assessment criteria. Matching is done by subject, level, the student's current standing and teacher availability.
Syllabus Topics
And what does the board look like at HL?
The same topics, taught at HL
HLExam Papers
IB Philosophy SL exam structure and focus areas
| Paper | Duration | Weighting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% | Core theme + 1 optional theme, 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 1 hour | 25% | Prescribed text essay, 1 hour |
| IA | — | 25% | Philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus, maximum 2,000 words |
Source: the assessment components and weightings on this page follow the IB Philosophy SL 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 help with 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. A draft that takes a philosophical text as its starting point causes trouble from the outset. We sift candidate stimuli against that rule first.
One question only
Good material 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 returns to the stimulus
Most students set off from the material, write a philosophical summary and never come back. The link has to still be there at the end; it is the first thing we look for in 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 does work in which paragraph before the writing starts.
The word limit and draft rounds
The introduction and the description of the stimulus should take up little of the piece. Schools can usually give formal feedback on one draft; we read three times – stimulus, skeleton, full text. We do not write it for you.
Comparing Preparation Paths
How self-study, group classes and one-to-one support compare for IB Philosophy SL
| Preparation path | Pros | Limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working on your own |
|
| Students used to arguing about what they read. |
| School lessons and group courses |
|
| Students meeting philosophy for the first time. |
| One-to-one online lessons with us |
|
| Students who have read the text but cannot build an argument in the 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 five-phase plan for IB Philosophy SL 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 theme
weeks 5-11
- Grounding the Being Human concepts in concrete examples
- The optional theme your school selected
- An essay plan at the end of each topic
The prescribed text
5-6 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
Exam practice
the 6 weeks before the exam
- Turning the essay plans into a bank
- Writing an essay inside the exam timing
- 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
How IB Philosophy SL sessions are structured
Understanding the text and building the argument are different jobs
What we see most at SL is a student who has read the prescribed text but cannot rebuild its argument in their own words under exam conditions. In the session we do not ask you to summarise it; we ask you to state the claim it defends in your own words, and then object to it.
We bring the objection
Forming a counter-argument means looking at your own thesis from outside, which is the hardest part of working alone. In the session you build the claim and we bring the strongest objection; the defending stays yours.
Every session ends with an essay plan
Planning shows you more question types than writing a full essay each week. We write and argue over the plan in the session and you write the full piece, which keeps the feedback on the thinking rather than the prose.
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 Grader
Evaluate your Internal Assessment report yourself. IA Grader for all subjects →
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IA Preparation Checklist
Check the key elements of your IA report before moving on to scoring.
0/13 completed
0%Focus
Knowledge
Critical Thinking
Investigation
Communication
Criterion-Based Scoring
Assess yourself on each criterion. Use the slider to set your score.
Focus and Significance
0/6The choice, focus and significance of the Philosophy research topic.
The topic is unclear or irrelevant.
Knowledge and Understanding
0/6Application of Philosophy concepts, theories and terminology.
No concepts or theories are used.
Critical Thinking
0/6Skill in analysis, evaluation, argument and synthesis.
No evidence of critical thinking.
Investigation
0/6Data collection, methodology and use of sources.
No research methodology.
Communication
0/4The structure and organisation of the report, its terminology and references.
The report has no structure.
Total IA Score
Areas for Improvement
Want feedback on your IA from a teacher?
Work one-to-one with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria and IA rubrics inside out, and strengthen your report with feedback on each criterion.
If you'd like personalised feedback on your IA from a teacher, you can work with one of our tutors. This tool produces an estimated score; it does not replace official IB assessment.
Where Students Struggle
Our experienced IB teachers help you get past each of them.
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, deadlines
- Study schedule: lessons per week, available days and time slots
Who Is This Programme For?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have studied philosophy before?
What is the difference between IB Philosophy SL and HL?
Is IB Philosophy tutoring online?
Programme Features
- Preparing for the prescribed text paper
- Rebuilding the argument in your own words
- Grounding core-theme concepts in concrete examples
- Thesis, counter-thesis and evaluation in the essay
- Choosing the stimulus material for the IA
- Eight to ten sessions cover a term
- You write the IA; we check the argument structure
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
- Hazal K.
IB Philosophy SL Teacher
- Mete A.
IB Philosophy SL Teacher
Our teachers are currently working in IB schools, so we cannot share their full surnames.
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.
Related IB Courses & Support
Other IB support often chosen alongside IB Philosophy SL
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Go to the IB English B SL Tutoring pageLet's work out where to start with IB Philosophy SL
On a free intro call with our experienced IB teachers, we'll decide together how many lessons you need and what to focus on.
The intro call is free and non-binding. We do not guarantee a specific IB grade.