IB Psychology HL Tutoring
One-to-one online preparation for the Psychology Higher Level syllabus
IB Psychology HL tutoring includes dedicated preparation for the HL-only source-based paper: reading an unfamiliar study summary and critiquing its methodology is a different skill from memorising studies. In 90-minute sessions we settle on a small set of studies you know thoroughly per approach, and shape the IA proposal together.
Quick Answer
Psychology HL support usually comes in two waves: a few sessions at the end of IB 1 to shape the IA research proposal, then a block of 10 to 20 lessons before the exams for the HL paper and essay planning. Sessions are 90 minutes and package hours can move to another subject.
HL
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
HLIB Specialists
Experienced Team
About IB Psychology HL Tutoring
Our IB Psychology HL programme covers the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. We examine the three core approaches (biological, cognitive and sociocultural) in depth. Our experienced IB teachers teach psychology research and theories in an accessible, exam-focused way.
The course covers the biological approach (the brain and behaviour, hormones, genetics), the cognitive approach (memory, decision-making, cognitive schemas) and the sociocultural approach (social identity, cultural dimensions, stereotypes). For each approach we study the key research in detail.
Under the new guide, first examined in May 2027, the former options (abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology and psychology of human relationships) have been replaced by four contexts shared by SL and HL: human development, health and well-being, human relationships, and learning and cognition. HL students also study the culture, technology and motivation extensions, which are assessed through source-based questions in Paper 3.
Research methods and ethics are covered in detail. The experimental method, observation, case study, correlation and qualitative research methods are taught through the class practicals. Under the new guide the Internal Assessment is a research proposal rather than a full experimental report: students write a research question, justify their methodology, address ethical issues and plan their data analysis.
Exam preparation is planned paper by paper, with different answer-writing techniques for Paper 1 (integration of concepts, content and contexts), Paper 2 (applying knowledge to research contexts and class practicals) and Paper 3 (HL extensions, source-based questions). Critical evaluation is one of the main things we work on.
Essay writing gets particular attention. We teach in detail how to build an argument and counter-argument, use research evidence, evaluate strengths and limitations, and write a conclusion. Students learn what IB examiners expect and how to write essays that score well.
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 SL?
The same topics, taught at SL
SLExam Papers
First exams 2027IB Psychology HL exam structure and focus areas
| Paper | Duration | Weighting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 25% | Integration of concepts, content and contexts – SAQs and ERQs, 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 1 hour 30 minutes | 25% | Applying concepts and content to research contexts, 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Paper 3 | 1 hour 45 minutes | 30% | HL extensions – four source-based questions, 1 hour 45 minutes |
| IA | — | 20% | Internal Assessment – research proposal |
Source: the assessment components and weightings on this page follow the IB Psychology HL subject guide published by the International Baccalaureate Organization (First exams 2027). 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?
Feasible even though it is never run
The proposal is never carried out, yet the method is expected to be something a school could genuinely run. A design resting on a sample you could not reach, or an instrument you do not have, loses marks even when it reads consistently. We go through the method once with only that question in mind.
Knowing the method of the study you build on
The proposal grows out of a study covered in class, and that study's design, sample and limitations are defended alongside your own. Knowing it by its finding is not enough here; before the choice is made we read its method section separately.
How the variables will be measured
You have to write concretely what you would do to measure something like anxiety, attention or memory: which task, how many trials, what scoring. Most students name the construct and move on; we build the operational definition together in the session.
An analysis plan that matches the design
Which test you choose depends on whether your design is independent groups or repeated measures. When those get mixed up the analysis plan contradicts the design, and a reader spots it immediately. We choose the test only after the design is fixed.
Putting the IA ahead of Paper 3
At HL the IA deadline lands in the same period as Paper 3 preparation, and the two do not run together. So we aim to finish the proposal at the end of IB 1. Ethical review goes through your school, so that calendar is not ours to set – and we do not write the text for you.
Comparing Preparation Paths
How self-study, group classes and one-to-one support compare for IB Psychology HL
| Preparation path | Pros | Limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working on your own |
|
| Students who read closely, take notes and keep to a revision routine. |
| School lessons and group courses |
|
| Students meeting the syllabus for the first time. |
| One-to-one online lessons with us |
|
| Students who know the studies but lose marks on Paper 3 and extended responses. |
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 Psychology HL in one-to-one lessons, adapted to the student's exam date.
Locating the loss
week 1
- We separate whether your answers lost marks on content or on the missing evaluation
- We count how many studies you know with their methodology, approach by approach
- The weighting of the programme follows from those two measurements
Approaches and contexts
weeks 2-7
- A small number of genuinely discussable studies for each of the three approaches
- Weighting the four contexts towards the ones your school teaches
- Noting each study's methodological limitation in the session it is covered
The HL extensions
weeks 8-12
- Relating culture, technology and motivation to the four contexts
- Source-based questions we write ourselves for this section
- Building the link between an extension and the core approach
The research proposal
4-5 sessions at the end of IB 1
- Choosing the study it builds on and settling the design
- Writing how each variable would be measured
- A final read before it goes to the school
Paper 3 and essay plans
the 8 weeks before the exam
- Critiquing methodology on study summaries you have not seen
- Drawing up ERQ plan skeletons for each context
- 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 Psychology HL sessions are structured
Paper 3 cannot be answered from memory
You meet the study summary in this paper for the first time in the exam, and the marks come from critiquing its methodology rather than recognising it: who the sample is, what the measure misses, how far the result generalises. In sessions we always work on summaries you do not know.
We write the questions for the HL extensions ourselves
First examinations for the culture, technology and motivation extensions are in May 2027, and option questions on old papers do not fit this section. Because what the IB has published is limited, we prepare the source-based questions ourselves.
Plan skeletons, not memorised answers
Building an ERQ plan from nothing eats a serious part of the exam hour. Before the exams we draw up skeletons showing which study attaches to which line of argument for each context. They are not answers to memorise; they are frames to fill according to the question asked.
A written progress report every two weeks
We share which approaches and extensions were covered, what stage the research proposal 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 Psychology research topic.
The topic is unclear or irrelevant.
Knowledge and Understanding
0/6Application of Psychology 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 any psychology background before starting HL?
Do your Psychology lessons help with essay writing?
Can you help with my Psychology IA?
Programme Features
- Critiquing method from the Paper 3 stimulus study
- A few well-known studies per approach rather than many
- Ethics and sampling critique
- Justifying the statistical test in the IA proposal
- Calibrating answer length between SAQ and ERQ
- Memorising study name, date and finding together
- A bank of essay plans built before the exam
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
- Aylin Ş.
IB Psychology HL Teacher
- Berk Y.
IB Psychology HL Teacher
- Naz Y.
IB Psychology HL 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.
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Go to the IB Maths HL Tutoring (AA and AI) pageLet's work out where to start with IB Psychology HL
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.