IB DP2 Tutoring: Planning the Final Diploma Year
IB DP2 tutoring works best when it focuses on one or two subjects furthest from target, supports internal assessment skills within the rules, and builds steadily from predicted grades through mocks to the May exams. DP2 is the most demanding year of the Diploma: deadlines, university applications and exams all land at once. This guide explains how to plan the year and where a tutor helps most.
Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company that teaches IB Diploma subjects one-to-one.
Key takeaways
- Prioritise the subjects that matter most for targets and offers.
- Predicted grades are set early; strong autumn work matters.
- Tutors support IA skills but don’t do the work.
- A steady plan beats last-minute cramming.
What happens in DP2?
DP2 is the final year of the IB Diploma Programme, when students complete internal assessments, the Extended Essay and TOK, finish CAS, apply to university and sit final exams, usually in May. The Diploma is scored out of 45, with up to 3 points from TOK and the Extended Essay. See the IB Diploma Programme for an overview.
| Term | Typical focus |
|---|---|
| Autumn | IA drafts, Extended Essay completion, predicted grades, university applications |
| Winter | Mocks, TOK essay, remaining IA deadlines |
| Spring | Final revision, past papers |
| May | Final exams |
Where do DP2 students struggle?
The biggest problem in DP2 is competing deadlines, which leave little time for steady revision, so weaker subjects slip until mocks reveal the gap. Other common issues:
- HL content not fully secure from DP1;
- IAs drafted late;
- weak exam technique in Paper 1 and Paper 2 styles;
- stress around predicted grades.
Which subjects should be tutored?
| Priority | Why |
|---|---|
| Subject furthest from target | Biggest gain |
| HL subjects for university offers | Often conditions of offers |
| Maths AA or AI | Content-heavy, common weakness |
| Sciences with heavy content | Paper 2 depth |
How to plan DP2 tutoring: step by step
- List predicted and target grades for each subject.
- Note university offer requirements.
- Pick one or two subjects to tutor.
- Book a diagnostic trial lesson in the top priority.
- Plan lessons around deadlines and mocks.
- Review after mocks and adjust.
Browse our IB Diploma tutors, such as IB maths tutors and IB chemistry tutors.
A month-by-month DP2 plan
| Month | Tutoring focus |
|---|---|
| August–September | Diagnostics, secure DP1 HL content |
| October–November | IA skills, predicted-grade support |
| December–January | Mock preparation |
| February–March | Fix mock gaps, past papers |
| April | Timed papers and exam technique |
| May | Short, targeted sessions |
Supporting internal assessments
A tutor can explain IA criteria, teach analysis and evaluation skills, and discuss methods in general terms, but the IA must be the student’s own work. Our guide to IB internal assessment tutoring explains what’s allowed.
What does a good DP2 lesson look like?
- A quick check on deadlines.
- One weak topic taught.
- A past-paper question under time.
- Marking with the markscheme.
- A plan for the week.
How to tell tutoring is working
- mock grades closer to targets;
- deadlines met without crisis;
- timed papers completed;
- less stress as exams approach.
How parents can help
- keep a family calendar of deadlines;
- protect sleep and downtime;
- check in calmly after mocks;
- avoid adding new commitments in spring.
Questions to ask a DP2 tutor
- How will you prioritise topics in the time available?
- How do you support IA skills within the rules?
- How do you prepare students for May papers?
How much tutoring is enough?
One hour a week per tutored subject suits most students, increasing slightly before mocks and in April. More than that can crowd out IA and revision time.
Balancing the core: EE, TOK and CAS
The Extended Essay and TOK can add up to 3 Diploma points, and both have deadlines that usually fall in DP2, so they need a slot in the weekly plan rather than being squeezed in. A subject tutor won’t write either, but can help with general research and argument skills. CAS reflections should be kept up to date so they don’t pile up in spring. See our guides to an IB Extended Essay tutor and an IB TOK tutor.
University applications and predicted grades
Predicted grades are usually set in the autumn of DP2 for university applications, so strong work in September and October matters. Students applying to UK universities via UCAS, or to universities elsewhere, should check deadlines early and plan tutoring to support the subjects that matter most for their chosen courses.
When should DP2 tutoring start?
The best start is late in DP1 or at the very beginning of DP2, giving time to secure HL content before predicted grades are set. Starting after mocks still helps, but the focus narrows to exam technique.
How Tutopiya tutoring works
Tutopiya offers one-to-one online IB Diploma tutoring.
- A tutor matched to each subject and level.
- A free first trial lesson, with no card needed.
- From 4 hours a month per subject. Each tutor sets their own rate, shown before booking.
- AI lesson analysis gives a summary, flashcards and quiz questions after each lesson.
See our IB tuition page.
Common mistakes
- Tutoring every subject → focus on one or two.
- Starting after mocks → start in autumn.
- Neglecting IA deadlines → plan them first.
- Cramming in April → revise steadily.
Talk to us
For earlier stages, see IB DP1 tutoring and IB predicted grades tutoring. Or contact our team.
Summary: in DP2, tutor one or two priority subjects, support IA skills within the rules and follow a steady plan from predicted grades to May exams.
Frequently asked questions
Why is DP2 so demanding? +
DP2 combines internal assessment deadlines, the Extended Essay, TOK, CAS, university applications, mocks and final exams in one year. Time management becomes as important as subject knowledge.
When should DP2 tutoring start? +
Ideally at the start of DP2 or late in DP1, so tutoring can support predicted grades and deadlines rather than only exam revision.
Can a tutor help with internal assessments? +
A tutor can teach the skills and explain criteria, but the IA must be the student's own work. Follow your school's rules on outside help.
How many subjects should be tutored in DP2? +
Usually one or two: the subjects furthest from target grades or most important for university offers.
Does Tutopiya offer DP2 tutoring? +
Yes. Tutopiya offers one-to-one online IB Diploma tutoring across subjects. The first trial lesson is free with no card required.
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