One-to-one IB (MYP and DP) study support
Support for the part of IB that is hard,
down to subject, level and type of task.
One-to-one support for students who are struggling with understanding content, planning assignments, exam preparation, or the writing and research process in MYP and DP.
At Petra we do not assume that any tutor can teach IB in the same way. We confirm the year, MYP or DP, the subject, HL or SL, the materials the school uses and the task that is hard right now, and whether a tutor is currently available, and introduce a tutor only where we can confirm a fit.
To begin, tell us the subject, year, MYP or DP, HL or SL, and one recent task that was difficult.
Who this is for
- MYP students finding it hard to keep up with assignments across several subjects, or with subject vocabulary in English
- DP students who want one-to-one work on a particular subject's content or exam preparation
- Families looking for a tutor who matches the HL or SL level
- Students unsure where to start with an essay, a report or an Internal Assessment
- Students who want feedback on thinking, structure and research process for TOK or the Extended Essay, on the basis that they do the writing themselves
- Students who want supplementary study alongside their school lessons and materials
MYP and DP are
considered separately.
Within IB, MYP and DP call for different support. First we confirm which of the two you want to talk about.
- MYP
MYP study support
In MYP it is not enough to memorise answers: students need to understand the subject, explain their own thinking and produce work that meets the task's conditions. After looking at the school's materials and recent tasks, we support the subjects we can cover with understanding content, subject vocabulary, reading, explanation, structuring answers and study planning.
We do not claim to cover MYP in general. We match the actual subject, year and task against the tutor's experience.
- DP
DP subject support
In DP, what is required and how it is assessed differs by subject, so the first thing we confirm is the subject and level. Where a subject has HL and SL, we confirm which one it is. For subjects such as Mathematics, English, Economics or the sciences, we introduce a tutor only where a fit with our tutors' actual subject and level can be confirmed at the time.
Content and assessment differ by subject, so we do not treat DP as a single whole.
In DP lessons, we think about school learning
and exam preparation separately.
Where we can confirm a fit for the subject and level, lessons might include the following.
Supporting school learning
- Sorting out lesson content and difficult concepts
- Reviewing school materials and class notes
- Practice questions and checking how to solve them
Supporting writing
- Feedback on the structure and logic of essays and written answers
Getting ready for exams
- Sorting out weak points and priorities before exams
- Analysing why past questions went wrong
For TOK, the Extended Essay and IA,
the student does the thinking and the writing.
For assessed work we help you sort out how to approach the question and how to proceed. We never produce the finished work.
- TOK
TOK support
In TOK, what matters is not being handed the right answer but sorting out how to approach the question, what evidence and examples to use, and how to compare different perspectives. Our support assumes the student thinks and writes for themselves, and covers breaking the question down, the structure of the argument, using examples, clarity of explanation and feedback on drafts. We do not produce finished work in the student's place.
- EE
Extended Essay support
We support the research and writing process: narrowing the topic, clarifying the research question, organising sources, planning chapters, the flow of the argument and where a draft can be improved. We do not write the research or the text for the student, or produce an assessed piece as a finished version. We work within the school's instructions and the IB's Academic Integrity, supporting the student's own research and writing.
- IA
Internal Assessment and other assessed tasks
For tasks the school assesses, such as the IA, we help only within what supports the student's own learning: understanding the requirements, planning, how to think about it, methods of analysis and limited feedback on drafts.
What Petra does not do
- Write submitted work in the student's place
- Produce finished answers or assessed tasks
- Fabricate data or references
- Suggest ways around the school's or the IB's rules
- Show a subject as available when a tutor's experience has not been confirmed
- Complete or certify CAS requirements
What we confirm
when matching a tutor
The question is not whether we cover IB, but whether a tutor fits this student's subject, level and task.
STEP 1
Programme and year
We confirm MYP or DP and the current year.
STEP 2
Subject and level
For DP, we confirm the exact subject, including HL or SL.
STEP 3
The current task
We ask about the unit that was hard recently, homework, essays, the exam scope and the school's instructions.
STEP 4
Tutor fit
We check subject knowledge, level, language, online or in person, location, times and whether they can continue. We do not choose a tutor by university name alone.
STEP 5
Trial and diagnosis
We look at a representative task together to see where understanding stops and which way of explaining suits the student.
STEP 6
Continuing plan
After the trial we sort out the subjects, units and task types to prioritise and what comes next. Regular lessons are set up after the family and the tutor have both confirmed their conditions.
Tutors' subjects and availability change over time. If we cannot confirm a tutor who fits your wishes, we will tell you so.
See how tutor matching works →Sharing progress with parents
At suitable moments we share specifically what was covered in a lesson, what went well and what to strengthen next. We record only what we have actually seen, and we make no unfounded assessments or promises of results.
See how lesson reports work →You may also want to read
Frequently asked questions
Questions we are often asked about IB study support.
Can you help with any IB subject?
No. We confirm the subject, year, HL or SL and the task, and the experience of the tutors we can currently offer, before replying.
Can you support both MYP and DP?
You can ask about either, but the same tutor will not necessarily cover everything. We check the fit subject by subject and level by level.
Can you help with TOK or the Extended Essay?
Yes: sorting out the question, planning the research, structure, logic and feedback on drafts, so that the student can think and write for themselves. We do not write for the student or produce submitted work.
Can you complete my Internal Assessment for me?
No. We can help with understanding the requirements, how to think about it, analysis and feedback for learning, but a tutor does not complete an assessed task.
Can you use my school's materials?
Yes. If you have the materials and tasks the school actually uses, it is easier to judge specifically what support is needed.
Are there tutors who can explain in Japanese?
If you need support in Japanese, we treat it as a condition for matching. Not every IB tutor can work in Japanese.
Do you offer online or in-person lessons?
Online widens the choice of tutors. In-person depends on the area, the times and how far the tutor can travel, and we confirm that before saying whether it is possible.
When IB feels difficult, it helps to look at
subject, level and task one at a time.
Once we confirm MYP or DP, the subject, HL or SL and a recent task that was difficult, it becomes clearer where support is needed. If you have a recent task, material or exam scope, even just one, send it to us and we will check whether we can offer support that fits the subject and level.
This page does not indicate accreditation, endorsement or affiliation by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).