Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of TOK is to encourage students to critically reflect on how knowledge is produced, evaluated, and applied across various disciplines. It challenges students to think beyond subject content, fostering an appreciation for different perspectives and the complexity of knowledge itself. TOK helps students become more aware of biases and assumptions in their own thinking and in the knowledge they encounter.

TOK is graded on a scale from A to E, with A being the highest. There are two assessments you complete. The TOK essay and TOK presentation. Your grade is determined by the TOK essay (67% of the total score) and the TOK exhibition/presentation (33% of the score). Along with the Extended Essay, it can contribute up to 3 additional points to a student’s total IB score.

Theory of Knowledge  is a course that encourages students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, question how we know what we know, and critically examine different knowledge claims. It forms a core part of the IB Diploma Programme, helping students develop critical thinking skills and connect knowledge across subjects through the TOK essay and presentation.

Your Extended Essay topic should be within a subject you're studying in the IB and something that genuinely interests you. But it can be anything! It can range from literature, science, history, or psychology, and should allow for deep research and analysis. Make sure it's focused and specific—like comparing two literary works, exploring the effects of a historical event, or investigating a scientific phenomenon. Choose a topic you’re passionate about and can explore within 4,000 words, while also meeting the IB's academic requirements.

Yes, the maximum word count for the Extended Essay is 4,000 words. However, it’s not mandatory to reach this limit, as quality is more important than length.

The IB Extended Essay (EE) is a core component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It’s an independent, self-directed research project that requires students to write a formal academic essay of up to 4,000 words. The essay allows students to investigate a topic of their choice within one of the IB subjects they are studying. It develops key skills in research, critical thinking, and academic writing, and is typically completed over a span of several months, with guidance from a supervisor. The EE contributes to the overall IB diploma score and is an important preparation for university-level research.

We have hundreds of eager and amazing tutors ready to go at any time. We try to get things turned around in 24-48 hours.

Because we offer online tutoring, we open our IB tutoring services to anyone in the world. However, the majoity of our tutors speak English. So we can only find tutors for students who are completing the IB in English.

Yes! Our tutors are IB specialists. They know exactly what it involves and how to succeed and most of them are IB graduates.

Stopping tutoring is super easy. There are no lock-in contracts or extra fees so you can stop whenever you would like. If you do decide to stop, please let us know so that we can update our records.

Before you begin tutoring, you will be asked to do two things:

1. Register to Teachworks - our tutoring management software where you can view all past sessions, upcoming sessions and your invoices/payments
2. Set up a direct debit with Stripe

If you do not want to set up a direct debit, please alert us and our Finance team will provide alternative payment options.

The major benefit of private tutoring is the personalised, one-on-one support. Our tutors are able to spend one-on-one time with you pinpointing specific areas of the IB curriculum where you may be struggling. While in school, teachers need to deal with 20+ students and it is rare to get any one-on-one time. With a private tutor, students can learn at their own pace, take time to explore new topics and ask as many questions as they want.

Whether you are a top achiever striving for the best marks or a student who is just looking to keep up, private tutoring with Top IB Tutors provides an intimate learning environment that builds confidence, promotes curiosity and improves grades.

We recommend that tutoring occurs once a week. This allows the tutor and the student to get to know each other well and form a bond. However, the frequency of tutoring is completely up to you. If you would prefer to have multiple sessions a week or just need a tutor once a month, that can also be arranged.

Once you have been matched with a tutor by one of our Operations Managers, your tutor will contact you. You will both decide on a time for the session and the tutor will send you a link to join. Depending on their personal preference, tutors may use various tools to deliver the tutoring session. Your tutor has been trained to deliver tutoring sessions vritually. Using a combination of software, they will ensure the teaching experience is great!

Our main focus is the Diploma Programme in the IB (Year 11 and 12). Within this programme we have IB tutors who can teach every subject including provide guidance for the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Internal Assessments. Moreover, our tutors are also equipped to tutor any younger year level subject as well. To view all subjects we teach, please visit our subject page.

At Top IB Tutors, we offer a first session satisfaction guarantee! This means if you are not happy with your first session, we will give you a 100% refund and find you another tutor. For full details on the first sessions satisfaction guarantee, you can read out terms and conditions here.

To start tutoring with Top IB Tutors, please fill out this form. One of our Operations Managers will receive and process it. They will get all the necessary details from you and then begin the process of finding the perfect tutor for you. Once that is complete, the tutor will reach out to you to organise your session.

Of course! Sometimes, the learning styles or the personalities of the tutor and the student do not match. In these instances, we will find you a replacement tutor right away. Moreover, we have a first session satisfaction guarantee. If you are not happy after the first session, we will give you a 100% refund and find you another tutor at no extra charge.

Our sessions are a flat $65 USD per hour. There are no hidden or other costs. No upfront payments either, just pay as you go. Further, if you want to purchase a package of lessons, we can give you a discount! For full details, please check out our pricing page.

We are a fully online operation, meaning you can get tutoring whenever and wherever you want. Our tutors have achieved the best marks in the IB, ensuring they can help you maximise your potential. We offer flexibility with no lock-in contracts and a convenient pay-as-you-go system, giving you full control over your tutoring experience. Students typically see results quickly, gaining confidence and improving their performance in a short amount of time.

Our tutors are a combination of professional IB tutors and recently graduated high school students that excelled in the IB. All our tutors are passionate educators and pride themselves on their knowledge in their chosen subjects. To become a tutor with us, all tutors go through a rigorous application and interview process to ensure we are only working with the best IB tutors.

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