Choose an MYP Individuals and Societies tutor who understands the four MYP criteria, teaches research and source-evaluation skills, and helps your child write balanced, well-supported arguments. Individuals and Societies combines history, geography and economics in an inquiry-based course, and many students find the skills harder than the content. This guide explains how I&S is assessed and how to choose a tutor.

Written by Tutopiya, an online tutoring company that teaches IB MYP subjects one-to-one.

Key takeaways

• I&S is assessed on four criteria, each scored 0 to 8.
• Investigating and thinking critically are the hardest criteria.
• Source evaluation and structured arguments lift grades.
• MYP skills prepare students for DP history, geography and economics.

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What is MYP Individuals and Societies?

MYP Individuals and Societies is an IB Middle Years Programme subject group that explores people, places, societies and economies through inquiry, research and critical thinking. Schools often teach it as integrated humanities, combining history, geography and economics. See the IB Middle Years Programme for the framework.

Criterion	What it assesses
A: Knowing and understanding	Subject terms and concepts
B: Investigating	Research questions, plans and sources
C: Communicating	Organisation and referencing
D: Thinking critically	Analysis, evaluation and argument

Where do students lose marks?

Most marks are lost on criteria B and D: research plans are vague, sources are used without evaluation, and arguments don’t weigh different perspectives. Other problems:

• unfocused research questions;
• missing or inconsistent referencing;
• description instead of analysis;
• conclusions not supported by evidence.

Signs your child needs an I&S tutor

• good knowledge but low criterion D scores;
• uncertain how to plan an investigation;
• teacher feedback asking for “evaluation”;
• low confidence in essays or reports.

How to choose an MYP I&S tutor: step by step

1. Share recent criterion scores and feedback.
2. Identify the weakest criterion.
3. Book a trial lesson on source evaluation or an argument.
4. Check the tutor knows MYP criteria and command terms.
5. Ask how they support research projects within school rules.
6. Agree a plan linked to assessment dates.

Browse our IB MYP tutors; we can match a humanities specialist.

What should a good I&S tutor offer?

What to check	Why it matters
MYP criteria knowledge	Shapes assessment
Research skills	Criterion B
Source evaluation	Criterion D
Writing structure	Criterion C
Subject breadth	History, geography and economics

What does a good lesson look like?

1. A short discussion of a topic or current issue.
2. Analysis of a source: origin, purpose, value, limitation.
3. Planning a short argument.
4. Writing a paragraph.
5. Feedback against the criterion.

How to evaluate a source

1. Who created it, and when?
2. Why was it created?
3. What does it show?
4. What are its limitations?
5. How useful is it for this question?

Building balanced arguments

A balanced I&S argument presents a claim, supports it with evidence, considers a different perspective and reaches a reasoned conclusion. A tutor can model this with short paragraphs and gradually build to full essays or reports.

When should students start?

Tutoring helps at any MYP year, but MYP 4 and 5 matter most for eAssessment (where the school takes part) and DP preparation.

How to tell tutoring is working

• higher criterion B and D scores;
• clearer research questions;
• sources evaluated, not just quoted;
• more confident written work.

How parents can help

• discuss news and history at home;
• ask “how do you know?” about claims;
• visit museums or places linked to topics.

Questions to ask an I&S tutor

1. Have you taught MYP Individuals and Societies?
2. How do you teach source evaluation?
3. How do you support research projects within the rules?

How much tutoring is enough?

One hour a week, or every other week, suits most MYP students.

A sample term plan

Weeks	Focus
1–2	Criterion review and diagnostic task
3–5	Source evaluation practice
6–8	Planning an investigation
9–10	Writing balanced arguments
11–12	Review before school assessments

Command terms in I&S

MYP command terms such as describe, explain, analyse, evaluate and justify tell students how deep their answer must go. Many lost marks come from describing when a task asks students to evaluate. A tutor can practise the same question with different command terms so the difference becomes clear.

How Tutopiya tutoring works

Tutopiya offers one-to-one online IB MYP tutoring.

• A tutor matched to I&S and your child’s MYP year.
• 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 MYP tuition page.

Common mistakes

• Quoting sources without evaluating → assess value and limitations.
• Vague research questions → narrow the focus.
• One-sided arguments → consider other views.
• Missing references → cite consistently.

Talk to us

For related advice, see MYP eAssessment tutoring and MYP to DP transition tutoring. Or contact our team.

Summary: choose an MYP I&S tutor who knows the four criteria and builds research, source evaluation and balanced argument skills.

Frequently asked questions

What is MYP Individuals and Societies? +

Individuals and Societies is one of the eight IB MYP subject groups. It covers history, geography, economics and related disciplines, often taught as an integrated humanities course, and develops inquiry, research and critical thinking.

How is MYP I&S assessed? +

Students are assessed against four criteria: knowing and understanding, investigating, communicating and thinking critically. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 8, and the totals convert to a final grade from 1 to 7.

Why do students struggle with I&S? +

Usually with the investigating and thinking critically criteria: planning research, evaluating sources and building balanced arguments. Content recall alone doesn't reach the top bands.

Can a tutor help with I&S research projects? +

A tutor can teach research and source-evaluation skills and explain the criteria, but the project itself must be the student's own work.

Does Tutopiya offer MYP Individuals and Societies tutors? +

Yes. Tutopiya offers one-to-one online IB MYP tutoring, including Individuals and Societies. The first trial lesson is free with no card required.

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