IB Chemistry,
calculation-heavy,
IA-critical.
IB DP Chemistry HL and SL — the 11-topic core plus HL-only organic chemistry, equilibria and transition metals. Specialist coaching on every paper plus full IA experimental design support.
The IB's central science. Essential for medicine, biomedical sciences and chemical engineering. Heavy on calculations and IA experimental design.
IB Chemistry is won or lost on the IA.
IB Chemistry is one of the most demanding Group 4 sciences. The content load is enormous, the calculations are unforgiving, and the IA demands a full experimental investigation with quantitative analysis and uncertainty propagation. Students who treat IB Chemistry like IGCSE scaled up get crushed.
The IA problem
The Internal Assessment is worth 20% of the grade — and the grade 7 criteria are specific and brutal. "The reaction rate increased" scores nothing. "The initial rate of reaction increased linearly with concentration up to 0.5 mol/dm³, with a gradient of 0.034 ± 0.004 mol/dm³/s" scores full marks. Teaching this writing style is the single biggest value Times Edu delivers.
HL or SL?
HL adds organic chemistry depth, transition metal chemistry, and additional equilibria content — plus longer exam papers. HL is effectively required for medicine at most universities. SL is sufficient for biological sciences and environmental programmes.
The full content we cover in 1:1 lessons.
Every Times Edu Chemistry mentor maps lessons directly to the official IB subject guide — nothing on the final exam is a surprise.
Stoichiometry
Moles, concentrations, percent yield, empirical formulas.
Atomic Structure & Bonding
Electron configuration, ionic, covalent, metallic bonding.
Periodicity
Group trends, reactivity, Period 3 chemistry.
Energetics & Kinetics
Enthalpy, rates of reaction, activation energy, Arrhenius.
Equilibrium & Acids/Bases
Kc, Kp, pH, Ka, buffer systems, titration curves.
Organic Chemistry
Mechanisms, stereochemistry, synthesis, IR, NMR spectroscopy.
Transition Metals
Complex ions, coordination, redox chemistry.
Internal Assessment
10-hour individual experimental investigation worth 20% of final grade.
Every paper and every IA, mapped.
IB assessment mixes exam papers with the Internal Assessment — and the IA is where most schools lose marks. Here is the full breakdown.
Multiple Choice
MCQ testing breadth of core and HL extension content.
Short + Extended
Structured questions with data analysis and extended response.
Data + Option
Experimental data questions plus one chosen option topic.
Internal Assessment
Individual experimental investigation with full written report.
Why even strong students lose IB points here.
These are the three traps we see most often in diagnostic sessions with new IB Diploma Chemistry students — and every one is fixable with focused coaching.
Weak IA exploration
Students who pick a generic topic ("the effect of temperature on rate") cap at grade 4 for Personal Engagement. We coach original, focused IA topics from week 1 of DP2.
Mole calculation errors
Multi-step stoichiometry questions appear on every paper and trip up even strong students. Weekly drilling is non-negotiable.
Organic mechanisms
Curly arrow mechanisms are worth 4–6 marks per HL Paper 2. Students who rush them lose most of the marks.
Across HL and SL.
My Chemistry IA went from a draft I hated to a final 23/24. My mentor spent three sessions just on the Evaluation criterion. That section alone added 6 marks.
What families always ask about IB Chemistry.
Have a specific question about your child's situation? Book a free 60-minute diagnostic and our IB specialist will answer every one.
Is IB Chemistry harder than A-Level Chemistry?
Different — not necessarily harder. IB has more content breadth and a mandatory 20% IA; A-Level has more exam weight and deeper mathematical content. Students strong at writing prefer IB; students strong at pure content recall prefer A-Level.
Is HL Chemistry required for medicine?
At most UK, Australian and Singapore medical schools, yes. The exception is some US programmes which accept SL Chemistry. Confirm with your target schools early.
Can you help rewrite an IA that has been marked low?
Yes — this is our most common starting point for Chemistry students. We rebuild the IA against the exact criteria over 4–6 sessions, typically lifting grades from 4 to 6/7 if there is still time to resubmit.
How do you handle the Options paper (Paper 3)?
We cover whichever option your child's school teaches — Materials, Biochemistry, Energy or Medicinal Chemistry. Most schools teach this in DP2 and we coach it alongside revision.
Ready to turn IB Chemistry into a full 7?
Your child's free 60-minute Chemistry diagnostic includes a full topic-by-topic gap analysis, a realistic grade prediction, an IA review and a personalised roadmap through to final May exams. Worth $60 — free for the first 50 families this intake.