IBDP Math Tutor
IB Math Tutoring Experience
Vic started teaching IB Mathematics in 2009, when the IB syllabus was still under the previous curriculum. Over the years, he has taught students from various international schools and boarding schools, gaining extensive experience with both the old and current IB Mathematics syllabuses.
As the IB Diploma Programme became increasingly recognised worldwide, more universities across different countries began accepting IB results as part of their admission requirements. As a result, IB Mathematics has become one of the most important subjects for students preparing for university applications.
In 2020, when the IB Mathematics syllabus changed significantly with the introduction of the AA and AI pathways, Vic also transitioned from teaching at a large education institution, where he had taught for several years, to becoming a full-time private tutor. This allowed him to provide more personalised guidance and flexible learning support for students with different academic backgrounds and goals.
Over the years, numerous students taught by Vic have successfully completed the IB Diploma Programme and achieved strong mathematics results. Examples of students’ achievements can be found here:
Teaching the IB Mathematics Syllabus
One of the first questions many IB students ask is whether they should choose AA or AI, and whether HL or SL would be more suitable for their university plans and mathematical background. Different choices may significantly affect a student’s learning experience during the two years of the IB Diploma Programme.
The IB Mathematics syllabus is usually studied over two academic years. During the first year, many schools mainly focus on foundational topics such as sequences and series, functions, binomial expansion, trigonometry, and differentiation. In many cases, students who receive consistent support are able to progress faster than their school syllabus. This often gives students more time to consolidate difficult topics and build stronger confidence before entering the final examination stage.
During the summer holiday before the final IB year, students usually begin working on their Internal Assessment (IA), which is one of the most challenging components for many IB students. Therefore, Vic also helps students start planning and developing their IA projects during the summer holiday, allowing them to have more preparation time before the final year becomes more academically demanding.
In the first semester of the second year, students would usually complete most of the IB Mathematics syllabus. The remaining time before the final IB examinations can then be heavily focused on past paper practice, revision, and examination techniques, allowing students to become more familiar with IB-style questions and time management under exam conditions.
IB Mathematics Internal Assessment (IA)
The IB Mathematics IA is often one of the most challenging parts of the IB Diploma Programme for many students. Unlike regular mathematics exercises, the IA requires students to explore a mathematical idea independently and present it in a clear and structured manner.
One of the first difficulties students face is choosing a suitable research topic. Many students may have interesting ideas, but the topic also needs to be mathematically feasible, sufficiently personal, and manageable within the scope of the IB assessment criteria. Therefore, selecting an appropriate topic is already an important part of the IA process.
As many IB students have little experience writing mathematical research papers, they may also struggle with structuring the investigation, explaining mathematical reasoning clearly, or understanding the expectations of the IB marking criteria.
With experience guiding students through IB Mathematics IA projects over many years, Vic helps students refine their ideas into workable mathematical investigations while maintaining sufficient mathematical depth and personal engagement. He also provides guidance on mathematical presentation, structure, interpretation, and organisation, helping students approach the IA in a more systematic and manageable way.
With a Master’s degree in Financial Mathematics, Vic is also familiar with mathematical writing and research presentation, which allows him to provide students with additional guidance on communicating mathematical ideas clearly and effectively.
IB Examination Skills and Problem-Solving Techniques
Success in IB Mathematics is not determined only by whether a student understands the concepts. Many students lose marks because they are unfamiliar with the presentation style required in IB examinations or because they cannot complete questions efficiently within the time limit.
Calculator and non-calculator papers also require different approaches and strategies. Some students are mathematically capable, but their solutions may lack organisation and clarity, leading to unnecessary mistakes in longer and more complicated questions.
Therefore, lessons focus not only on mathematical knowledge, but also on helping students develop a clearer and more systematic approach to solving problems. Students learn how to interpret IB-style questions more efficiently, organise their working properly, and improve accuracy under examination conditions.
Extensive past paper practice is also an important part of preparation. By becoming familiar with IB question styles and common examination patterns, students are generally able to build stronger confidence and improve their performance before the final IB examinations.
You can also find video solutions to past IBDP math exam papers created by Vic below:
