MR
Mr Robert Clarke, parent
June 2026
Verified
7Organic mechanisms were completely lost on my son until his IB Chemistry tutor rebuilt them from scratch. He went from a 4 to a 7 in his final exams.
IB Chemistry HL · Oxford
IB specialist tutoring
IB ChemistryTutoring
Expert 1-on-1 IB Chemistry tutoring for HL and SL. Master organic mechanisms, equilibrium, and the internal assessment — and reach Grade 6 or 7.
86%
reach Grade 6 or above
+1.8
average grade improvement
10+
years average tutor experience
Free
first lesson, no commitment
IB Chemistry HLIB Chemistry SLIB Chemistry HLIB Chemistry SLIB Chemistry HLIB Chemistry SL
Built around your exact paper, not generic tutoring.
We cover every major specification. Your tutor matches your board, tier, and mark-scheme language so every lesson points toward exam performance.
IB Chemistry HLHigher Level+
Three papers (1, 2, 3) and an Internal Assessment. HL extends the core with additional organic chemistry, energetics, and transition metal chemistry. Required for medicine, biochemistry, and chemistry at top universities.
IB Chemistry SLStandard Level+
Two papers and an Internal Assessment. Covers the core syllabus: stoichiometry, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids/bases, redox, and organic chemistry. Accepted by most science and health-related degree programmes.
IB Chemistry HL
Higher LevelThree papers (1, 2, 3) and an Internal Assessment. HL extends the core with additional organic chemistry, energetics, and transition metal chemistry. Required for medicine, biochemistry, and chemistry at top universities.
IB Chemistry SL
Standard LevelTwo papers and an Internal Assessment. Covers the core syllabus: stoichiometry, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids/bases, redox, and organic chemistry. Accepted by most science and health-related degree programmes.
Lesson flow
From confusion to calm, one lesson at a time.
Our tutors cover the new IB Chemistry syllabus (first assessed 2025) with particular focus on the calculations and mechanistic reasoning that separate Grade 6–7 students.
Step 1
Pinpoint the gaps
We start with recent marks, confidence blockers, and the exact exam board so sessions feel personal from lesson one.
Step 2
Teach the mark scheme
Tutors connect concepts to examiner language, worked examples, and the habits that turn knowledge into marks.
Step 3
Track the lift
Parents see what changed after each session: topics covered, next steps, and the grade trajectory we are building toward.
What we cover
A syllabus map students can actually follow.
1Structure — Atomic & Molecular+
Atomic theory, electron configuration, trends in the periodic table, ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR, hybridisation, and intermolecular forces. The foundation for all subsequent chemistry.
2Structure — Inorganic+
Transition metals, coordination chemistry, colour and magnetism, oxidation states, and qualitative analysis. HL extends to crystal field theory and ligand substitution.
3Reactivity — Energy+
Enthalpy changes, Hess's law, bond enthalpies, entropy, Gibbs free energy, and spontaneity. Essential for predicting whether reactions proceed and in which direction.
4Reactivity — Kinetics & Equilibrium+
Rate expressions, reaction mechanisms, activation energy, the equilibrium constant (Kc, Kp), Le Chatelier's principle, and acid-base equilibria (pH, Ka, buffer solutions).
5Reactivity — Organic+
Functional groups, nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, condensation and hydrolysis, benzene chemistry (HL), and multi-step synthesis. Mechanisms must be drawn accurately for full marks.
6Reactivity — Electrochemistry & Redox+
Redox reactions, galvanic and electrolytic cells, standard electrode potentials, Faraday's laws, and fuel cells. Electrochemistry questions appear in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
7Internal Assessment+
An individual investigation worth 20% of the final grade. We support the full process: designing a rigorous research question, writing the methodology, analysing results with appropriate statistics, and evaluating sources of error.
Structure — Atomic & Molecular
Atomic theory, electron configuration, trends in the periodic table, ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR, hybridisation, and intermolecular forces. The foundation for all subsequent chemistry.
Structure — Inorganic
Transition metals, coordination chemistry, colour and magnetism, oxidation states, and qualitative analysis. HL extends to crystal field theory and ligand substitution.
Reactivity — Energy
Enthalpy changes, Hess's law, bond enthalpies, entropy, Gibbs free energy, and spontaneity. Essential for predicting whether reactions proceed and in which direction.
Reactivity — Kinetics & Equilibrium
Rate expressions, reaction mechanisms, activation energy, the equilibrium constant (Kc, Kp), Le Chatelier's principle, and acid-base equilibria (pH, Ka, buffer solutions).
Reactivity — Organic
Functional groups, nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic addition, condensation and hydrolysis, benzene chemistry (HL), and multi-step synthesis. Mechanisms must be drawn accurately for full marks.
Reactivity — Electrochemistry & Redox
Redox reactions, galvanic and electrolytic cells, standard electrode potentials, Faraday's laws, and fuel cells. Electrochemistry questions appear in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Internal Assessment
An individual investigation worth 20% of the final grade. We support the full process: designing a rigorous research question, writing the methodology, analysing results with appropriate statistics, and evaluating sources of error.
+1.8
average grade improvement
Common blockers
Where students struggle, and how we fix it.
1Drawing organic mechanisms accurately+
Mechanisms in IB Chemistry require curly arrows, correct lone pairs, charges, and named intermediates. We build each mechanism from the electron pair movement rather than from memorisation — nucleophiles attack electrophiles, leaving groups depart, pi bonds open. Students who understand the logic can draw any mechanism from first principles.
2Equilibrium and Gibbs free energy calculations+
Multi-step thermodynamics and equilibrium calculations involve careful unit tracking and step-by-step logic. We practise a consistent method for each calculation type using real IB past-paper questions, addressing the most common errors: wrong sign conventions and unit conversion mistakes.
3Paper 3 — Data-based and HL extension questions+
Paper 3 contains a data-based section (for all students) and HL extension questions. The data section requires interpreting unfamiliar experimental results with scientific reasoning. We practise reading experimental graphs, identifying trends, and writing evaluative responses using past Paper 3 questions.
Real specialists
Meet tutors with examiner instincts.
Specialist tutors with board knowledge, strong academic backgrounds, and proven grade-improvement records.
IB Chemistry ExaminerDr Priya Kapoor
Imperial PhD Chemistry · IB Examiner
IB Chemistry HL and SL, A-Level Chemistry (all boards)
Avg +1.9 grade improvement
Organic Mechanisms SpecialistMr Daniel Osei
UCL MSc Chemistry
IB Chemistry HL, organic and physical chemistry
88% of students reach Grade 6+
IA SpecialistMs Elena Petrov
King's College London BSc Chemistry
IB Chemistry SL and HL, IGCSE Chemistry
Internal Assessment average: 20/24
Proof that feels close to home.
AS
Anna S., student
June 2026
Verified
6The data-based section of Paper 3 was where I always lost marks. Two sessions on interpreting unfamiliar experimental data made a huge difference.
IB Chemistry SL · Amsterdam
MS
Mrs Susan Wong, parent
June 2026
Verified
7Our daughter's IA was rejected by her school teacher as insufficiently rigorous. The tutor helped her redesign it properly. She achieved a 22 on her IA.
IB Chemistry HL · Hong Kong
Sarah M.
June 2026
Verified
Grade 4 → 6My daughter was struggling with IB Mathematics HL and had almost given up hope of getting a 7. After just two months of weekly sessions with her ComboTutors tut...
Parent of IB Student · London
James P.
June 2026
Verified
B → A*My son started tutoring for A-Level Physics about three months before his exams. His tutor was incredibly patient and broke down complex topics like electromagn...
Parent of A-Level Student · Manchester
Priya K.
June 2026
Verified
+2 GradesWe needed help with GCSE Science for my son who found chemistry particularly challenging. His tutor made the sessions engaging and relatable—using real-world ex...
Parent of GCSE Student · Birmingham
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98%
Student Improvement Rate
4.97
Average Rating
1,200+
Families Supported
Since 2020
Academic Excellence
Family trust
Why parents chose Combo.
Families usually want three things: a tutor their child respects, a plan that fits the real paper, and updates that make progress easy to follow.
Handpicked tutors
We shortlist tutors who know the curriculum, teach clearly, and can coach the exact exam habits that lift marks.
Top-university academics and exam-savvy specialists.
Clear weekly updates
Parents see what was covered, what improved, and what needs attention next, so progress never feels vague.
Structured feedback after every lesson block.
A plan built around your child's paper
Sessions are matched to the student's board, tier, topic gaps, and exam timeline instead of generic subject tutoring.
Board-specific support with a measurable target grade path.
Questions families ask before starting.
How does the new IB Chemistry syllabus (2023) differ from the old one?+
The new syllabus (first assessed May 2025) is restructured around two themes: Structure (atomic and molecular) and Reactivity (thermodynamics, kinetics, organic, electrochemistry). The content is broadly similar but the framing is more conceptually unified. All our tutors are trained on the new syllabus.
How important is the Internal Assessment?+
The IA is worth 20% of the final grade. A strong, independently designed investigation with careful data collection and analysis can anchor a Grade 7 even if exam performance is slightly below. We treat the IA as a major component and invest dedicated session time in it.
Do you cover Paper 3 data-based questions?+
Yes — the data-based section is one of the most learnable parts of IB Chemistry. We practise interpreting unfamiliar experimental results, writing precise evaluations, and responding to HL extension questions. Students who practise Paper 3 specifically tend to outperform their predictions.
Is IB Chemistry HL hard?+
IB Chemistry HL is one of the most demanding IB subjects. The HL extension covers additional organic chemistry, advanced kinetics, and transition metals. However, with systematic preparation — especially in mechanisms and calculations — Grade 6 and 7 are achievable for motivated students.
How does the new IB Chemistry syllabus (2023) differ from the old one?
The new syllabus (first assessed May 2025) is restructured around two themes: Structure (atomic and molecular) and Reactivity (thermodynamics, kinetics, organic, electrochemistry). The content is broadly similar but the framing is more conceptually unified. All our tutors are trained on the new syllabus.
How important is the Internal Assessment?
The IA is worth 20% of the final grade. A strong, independently designed investigation with careful data collection and analysis can anchor a Grade 7 even if exam performance is slightly below. We treat the IA as a major component and invest dedicated session time in it.
Do you cover Paper 3 data-based questions?
Yes — the data-based section is one of the most learnable parts of IB Chemistry. We practise interpreting unfamiliar experimental results, writing precise evaluations, and responding to HL extension questions. Students who practise Paper 3 specifically tend to outperform their predictions.
Is IB Chemistry HL hard?
IB Chemistry HL is one of the most demanding IB subjects. The HL extension covers additional organic chemistry, advanced kinetics, and transition metals. However, with systematic preparation — especially in mechanisms and calculations — Grade 6 and 7 are achievable for motivated students.
Ready to Excel in IB Chemistry?
Book a free consultation and we will match you with a specialist IB ib chemistry tutor who can make a real difference.