Aim for a Level 7 with an Expert IB Chemistry Tutor
With more advanced concepts, coursework, and a demanding workload, IB chemistry is a challenging but highly rewarding option that paves the way into careers such as medicine, veterinary medicine, and many chemistry-related fields. As your tutor, I’m here to help you achieve success.
Better Understanding
Let’s get something out of the way first: IB chemistry (at Higher Level) is slightly more difficult than A Level for several reasons, as I’ve described here. The IB chemistry syllabus uniquely contains some advanced concepts that are not normally covered until university level, in addition to a higher proportion of difficult, synoptic exam questions. I tutor both A Level and IB chemistry and I’ve seen more A Level students struggle with IB questions than the other way around.
Getting a level 7 in IB chemistry requires exceptional understanding of the syllabus, together with the ability to apply concepts and skills to solve a range of problems. As an expert tutor with three chemistry degrees, I have a deep understanding of chemical phenomena and am skilled at explaining them so that all students can understand them.
Improved Exam Preparation
Engaging a tutor who is an experienced examiner can be the key to unlocking your academic potential and helping you reach success in exams. With my expertise and insight, I can provide targeted advice on how best to prepare for exams, enabling you to gain that extra edge over other candidates.
I can help improve your exam performance in three ways:
- Provide detailed feedback on answers to exam questions so that you know how to improve and score higher marks.
- Help identify areas of weakness and suggest strategies to overcome them.
- Design bespoke practise activities to develop specific skills needed for the exam (such as how to answer paper 1 multiple choice questions without a calculator).
I give all my IB students access to a complete set of questions by topic, and mock papers that can be used as part of exam preparation.
“Getting a level 7 in IB chemistry requires exceptional understanding of the syllabus, together with the ability to apply concepts and skills to solve a range of problems.”
“Just wanted to let you know that I got my results yesterday and got a 7!”
“Dear Carl,
I hope you have had a lovely new year. Just wanted to let you know that I got my results yesterday and got a 7! I’m so pleased. Thank you for all your help.
Best wishes,”
IB Chemistry student (HL), now studying veterinary medicine
“Engaging a tutor who is an experienced examiner can be the key to unlocking your academic potential and helping you reach success in exams.”
Stronger Problem-Solving Skills
Developing analytical skills is vital for success at IB chemistry. With better analytical skills, you can spot patterns in chemical reactions more quickly, work through multistep calculations more comfortably, and accurately interpret experimental data. Additionally, honing your analysis capabilities will help you make connections between different topics and give you a clearer idea of how to approach tough questions.
As an experienced IB chemistry tutor and examiner, I have built a comprehensive database of the most challenging ‘level 7’ exam questions. By going over these together in lessons, we can improve your ability to analyse complex information and break down complicated concepts into manageable steps so that you’ll feel confident when facing even the most difficult questions.
Time Management Skills
The IB Diploma timetable is hectic. Six subjects, the Extended Essay, Internal Assessments, TOK, and CAS are the reasons my IB chemistry students usually seem more stressed than my A Level students. To stay on top of the workload (and reduce your stress levels), managing your studies is essential. Unfortunately, teachers are often too busy teaching, planning lessons, and marking to devote time to teaching study skills, so students are often unsure of the best ways to study.
I can give you an easy-to-use, proven system for organising your studies so that you work smarter not harder. I can help you reliably assess your current understanding, identify, and prioritise weaknesses, and then select the best strategies to make improvements.
Here are some key benefits of collaborating with a tutor for improved time management:
- Professional guidance regarding proper study methods.
- Development of goal setting strategies.
- Assistance with scheduling tasks and activities.
- Improved prioritization abilities.
Having a knowledgeable mentor by your side allows you to understand the most effective ways of managing your time while studying and completing assignments. I can guide you through best practices when it comes to organising yourself and help you create achievable goals.
Personalised Attention and Support
Working one-on-one with an experienced tutor provides you with individualised instruction tailored to your learning needs and goals. Having personalised instruction allows any areas where you may need further help or clarification on concepts to be quickly identified. This can range from explanations of difficult topics, how to approach challenging problems, methods for taking notes, or even strategies for studying.
Here are some of the additional benefits associated with having personalised instructional support:
| Benefit | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifying Problem Areas | I can pinpoint gaps in understanding and prior knowledge needed for success | Identify patterns in incorrect answers which point towards misunderstandings of fundamental concepts |
| Improved Study Strategies | An outside perspective gives insight into effective study practices suitable for each student’s strength/weaknesses | Teaching notetaking skills as well as test prep strategies like active recall and concept mapping |
| Increased Confidence | Students become better equipped to take ownership over their own education | In addition to providing feedback on assignments and tests, tutors also function as mentors who build confidence and foster growth mindset attitudes |
Internal Assessment Support
I spent over 10 years in the chemical industry working on a diverse range of research projects, which gave me real-world experience of many areas of chemistry that will be familiar to you from the IB syllabus, including reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and organic synthesis. With an extensive research background and experience of writing and presenting scientific papers and research reports, I can support you with your Internal Assessment in several ways:
- Understanding what makes a good IA.
- Choosing a good IA and developing a Research Question
- Designing effective experiments
- Writing a high-scoring report
“I give all my IB students access to a complete set of questions by topic, and mock papers that can be used as part of exam preparation.”
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is IB chemistry harder than A level?
Yes, slightly – I have written about this here.
Is International Baccalaureate better than A Levels?
This is of course a subjective opinion, but I think the IB has a slight edge over A Levels. Through its coursework and assessments, you will learn to think critically and analytically, as well as develop research, writing, and communication skills. Additionally, you really need to be a self-motivated learner who can work independently and manage their own workloads to excel at the IB. These qualities and skills are valuable for university and beyond.
How can I prepare for the exams to achieve a Level 7 in IB Chemistry?
You should develop a study plan that covers all the topics but focuses on addressing any areas of weakness. Practising past paper questions is essential to get accustomed with the IB chemistry exam format and question types. Keep good notes (write them yourself, it helps embed understanding) and regularly review them before testing your understanding by doing practise questions. Establish a regular study routine and set realistic goals, and if you get stuck, seek help from teachers, tutors, mentors, friends, or family.
What are the key concepts that I need to understand to achieve a Level 7 in IB Chemistry?
Getting a level 7 needs mastery over the whole IB chemistry syllabus, so you really need to understand the whole syllabus. Gaps in your understanding will cost you marks in the exam if related questions come up, it’s as simple as that. If you’re looking for a list of topics that come up frequently and are worth a lot of marks, then organic chemistry, bonding and structure, acids and bases, and energetics are particularly important. Don’t forget about the mole, too – amount of substance calculations can be included in any question.
How can I improve my problem-solving skills to achieve a Level 7 in IB Chemistry?
You must ensure you master the basics first. Make sure you are well practised at writing formulae for common substances, writing equations for common reactions, writing ionic equations, and writing redox equations. Ensure you know the steps required for common calculations (yes, I know there are a lot!) and of course, make sure you have memorised all the mole equations. When answering harder questions, try to visualise the problem better by writing out relevant formulae and equations, and using diagrams to show key steps.
Doing challenging questions is one of the best ways to improve your problem-solving skills as it increases your higher-level thinking skills. You can find these by reading subject reports and looking for the highly discriminating questions.
What tips do you recommend to improve my performance in IB Chemistry exams?
Read the question twice to ensure you fully understand it before answering, underlining key facts and figures, and the command words. Pay attention to command words – if the question says, ‘State and explain…’, you need to do both of those things. Check the mark allocation and ensure you’ve included enough to score all available marks. Stick to the time limit (just over a minute per mark) and check your answers for careless mistakes, like missing units, incorrect number of significant figures, or answers that don’t make sense (such as the acid with a calculate pH of 10!)
What is a good IA topic?
Read my popular blog about this here.
What careers can IB chemistry lead to?
IB chemistry is required for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry. It also opens the door to pursue fields such as biochemistry, biomedical sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacology, forensics, and environmental science. Additionally, the analytical skills acquired from studying IB Chemistry are valuable in other professions that are not related to chemistry, including business and finance.