IB DIPLOMA TUTORING
Expert IB English Tutors
in Hong Kong
Many Hong Kong international schools that offer the IB require students to take English to IB-level, whether English Literature, English Language & Literature studied at HL or SL. While each student has their own strengths and weaknesses, there are common struggles faced at IBDP that BartyED’s tutoring team are primed to support.
Common IBDP English challenges
Providing deep textual analysis
Most students find it a challenge to produce the “insightful” textual analysis required at IBDP. Our IB English tutors provide students with scaffolds to ensure quality, IBDP-style analysis every time.
Selecting a Global Issue (Individual Oral)
BartyED’s IB English tutors are adept at guiding students to present a Global Issue that demonstrates an awareness of both cause and consequence for an IO topic that is “significant, transnational and local”.
Unseen textual analysis (Paper 1)
In a BartyED IB English lesson, students will be encouraged to annotate independently, to time, an unseen Paper 1 text. Come exam day, this daunting task will no longer seem a challenge!
Adapting to unexpected Paper 2 questions
BartyED’s IB English tutors encourage students to think tactically about possible Paper 2 questions, and prepare arguments that can be adapted to show depth and insight into any topic.
BartyED ensures high-quality IB English tutoring
From our strict hiring process, through our comprehensive on-going tutor training, BartyED places a strong emphasis on teaching quality. Our reputation for rigour is at the heart of what we do.
3-phase hiring process
Our 3-phase hiring process consists of a structured interview with Jerome, a written exam across proposed subject areas, and an engagement session to assess teaching style.
A strong CV is not enough: candidates need to demonstrate strong subject knowledge, resilience and adaptability. We place our bar deliberately high in the full knowledge that most candidates will fail. Our students will benefit from the strong communication skills and pedagogical passion of the best applicants.
Rigorous training programme
Once hired, candidates undergo a six-month training programme to ensure deep subject and curriculum knowledge. This is conducted by our Heads of STEM and English/Humanities, and overseen by our Director of Studies.
The IB examiners know their own curriculum, so it's essential that we do, too. Our training programmes are designed to instil strong academic rigour, and consistent teaching across subjects.
On-going professional development
Whether in IBO-led workshops on the latest changes to the Extended Essay marking criteria, or knowledge sharing across the team in informal sessions to improve our support of SEN students, BartyED's IB tutors enjoy continued professional development.
International curricula like the IBDP, A-Levels and IGCSEs are subject to change and adaptation. It's essential for teaching quality that our IB tutors are ready and aware of all developments so we can maintain our exemplary support of all students.
THE BARTYED DIFFERENCE
Why BartyED for IB English Tutoring
IB English-specialist tutors
Our IB English tutors have studied English at Oxford, Warwick and ANU, among others. They bring a high quality of literary analysis into their IB tutoring that enables strong achievement.
Exam technique for English
IB English students are expected to know how to effectively annotate unseen texts, as well as write well-developed analytical commentaries. Our tutors foster a close awareness of exam technique.
Internal assessment support
From helping to design an outstanding Global Issue, to drafting the presentation, to practising both the delivery and teacher questions, BartyED's English tutors support students throughout the IO process.
Personally vetted by Jerome, our Managing Director
Every BartyED IB English tutor sits a supervised written exam reviewed personally by Jerome and Hannah, our Director of Studies, before joining the team. For English, this includes sitting a Paper 1 under timed conditions, and rigorous questioning on literary and rhetorical techniques.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Success stories
Our students have gone on to Oxford, Edinburgh, UCL, Duke, Brown, and Harvard.
How IB English Language and Literature are Graded
Language and Literature examines both literary and non-literary texts. It is graded across two external assessments, with the Individual Oral (IO) being the only Internal Assessment. In addition to Papers 1 and 2, HL students complete the Higher Level Essay. Combined, this results in a grade marked out of 7.
Paper 1: Guided Textual Analysis
35% of the overall grade, students write 1 essay responding to an unseen, non-literary text (1 hour 15 minutes).
35% of the overall grade, students write 2 essays responding to 2 unseen, non-literary texts (2 hours 15 minutes).
Paper 2: Comparative essay
35% of the overall grade, students write 1 essay responding to a general question and compare 2 texts studied in class (1 hour 45 minutes).
25% of the overall grade, students write 1 essay responding to a general question and compare 2 texts studied in class (1 hour 45 minutes).
Higher Level Essay
N/A, HL only.
20% of the overall grade, students submit an essay on either a non-literary or literary text studied in class. Externally assessed. Word count: 1,200 to 1,500.
Individual Oral
30% of the overall grade, selecting an extract from a literary and non-literary work and guided by a Global Issue, students deliver a 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of teacher questions (15 minutes).
20% of the overall grade, selecting an extract from a literary and non-literary work and guided by a Global Issue, students deliver a 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of teacher questions (15 minutes).
Total external / internal split
70% external, 30% internal.
80% external, 20% internal.
WHAT WE COVER
Explore other IB subjects we tutor
Applications & Interpretation (AI) SL/HL
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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about IB English tutoring with BartyED.
In English HL, students must also write a Higher Level Essay. In addition, HL students write 2 guided commentaries in Paper 1, rather than the single one required at SL.
The English Internal Assessment is the Individual Oral, a prepared oral presentation. It is marked out of 40, with equal weight placed on each of the marking criteria. BartyED’s team supports students at each stage in the process, from drafting and preparing the presentation, to responding to unexpected teacher questions.
IB examiners look for students who demonstrate understanding of their texts, appreciate authorial choices, employ good structure and appropriately academic language. High-achieving students produce insight in their analysis, and this must always be explained clearly and thoroughly in written responses. BartyED’s English tutors are highly experienced in supporting students as they develop these skills.
The English Individual Oral counts for 30% of the overall grade for SL, and 20% at HL.
The texts studied in IB English are frequently less complex or intimidating than in A-Level English. Having said that, A-Level English students have the advantage of only studying 3 to 4 subjects, meaning they have more time to devote to reading their texts.
In Language and Literature, students study both literary and non-literary texts such as advertisements, speeches, and infographics. IB English Literature focuses on literary text types only: poetry, prose, and drama.
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