IB Teacher of ToK, EE Supervisor, and Language and Literature HL/SL Teacher & Examiner. Holds Masters Degree in Educational Technology with 12+ Years of Teaching Experience, Tutor is available Morning time (Before Afternoon) Paris time.
1. Teach an array of approaches to literary analysis based on the assumption that literature is concerned with our conceptions, interpretations, and experiences of the world. 2. Teach an Epistemology course at the core of the IB Curriculum.
Teach a variety of approaches to literary analysis.
Teach 12th-grade college-level writing course in a variety of types of writing such as the argumentative paper, journals, portfolios, and the research paper.
Teach English writing, literature, grammar, and essay structure from 9th to 11th grade.
1. An epistemology course. 2. IB Theory of Knowledge. 3. Teach an Epistemology course addressing the nature of knowledge at the core of the IB Diploma Programme.
1. Supervise and guide 35 teachers and 400 students through the extended essay, achieving a 99% pass rate among graduating seniors. 2. Implemented ManageBAC to track multiple courses; use of software vastly improved communication between teachers and students. 3. Lead teacher-training series on Extended Essay requirements and college-level research paper development; trained students on writing a college-level research paper, including research question development, MLA and APA formats, citations, bibliography, footnotes, and table of contents.
1. Guided teachers in the use of software, selection of Learning Management System and tablet program. 2. Implement teaching strategies using a mixture of technologies.
MA, Educational Technology, 2012, Overseas Program (Dublin, Ireland, and Rouen, France)
Tisch School of the Arts 1996 BFA, Screenwriting & Film Production - Winner: Wallace Goebetz Prize (highest GPA)
In teaching, I use a lot of differentiated strategies but in tutoring 1-1, I want to instill confidence in my students through teaching simple and easy-to-remember reading and writing strategies. The goal is for my students to acquire the skills needed to do this work on their own in preparation for the final IB assessments.
Reading: Most of my students share a text or assignment they need help with ahead of the lesson. I will show specific and easy-to-remember approaches to language and visual analysis depending on the assignment. I will ask guiding questions about identifying characteristics of the text type, interpreting the language used in the text, the parts of a story, or the incorporation of images. I will share specific a specific techniques and that will help the student recognize specific word choices, common structures, and visual elements to become critical readers. Writing: My students share with me their writing and presentation assignments, and I work with them on structuring responses to an argumentative essay, a comparative essay, a research essay, or a single paragraph response to a theme or topic. I can also review and model the formal aspects of their writing, such as MLA and APA citation. Proofreading: Sometimes all you need is a review before you submit your work. I can suggest edits for grammar, spelling, citation (APA, MLA, and Chicago), formatting, paragraph structure, organization, and progression of ideas. ToK: Most of my ToK students work with me on the ToK Assessments, the Presentation (last examination 2021 cohort), the Exhibit (2022 cohort), or the ToK Essay. We will discuss the assessment and key concepts to include.
Great advice, very good subject knowledge.
she is a great teacher.
I'd give a 4.5-5. Everything went smooth, no waste of time, shows professionalism, helped me fix my exhibition in an hour. Looking forward to a next session.
My daughter found the session really helpful.
By IB ++tutor Birgitte J.
There are two types of assessments within the IB Diploma Programme (DP); Internal Assessment, commonly referenced as the IA, and External Assessments. The number of assessments vary depending on the subject area and whether you are in a Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) course.
The Internal Assessment (IA) Grading and IB Moderation
The IA is graded by your subject teacher based on specific IB grading criteria within the subject. Depending on the subject, the IA can be an oral performance, a portfolio, a lab report or essay
Examples of IAs:
How the Moderation of IAs work
The IA is assessed by your subject teacher and a random selection of student work is submitted to the IB for moderation to ensure global standards are maintained at IB schools across the world.
If the moderated sample group is consistent with the teacher’s grades on the assessment, the grade given by the subject teacher will stand. In instances where the subject teacher consistently grades above or below the Moderator, an external IB Examiner, it could potentially lower or increase the grade for the entire pool of students within the school in the given subject. For example, if your teacher consistently grades 2 points above the Moderator the Moderator’s grade will stand. In this way, the IB ensures a fair grading system of the IA.
Tips for Acing the IA
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How IB Plus Plus tutors can help you with the Internal Assessment
The External Assessments
External Assessment refers to the way the exam is graded by an IB Examiner instead of the subject teacher. IB Exams are uploaded to the International Baccalaureate Information System (IBIS) by the IB Coordinator at your school in the Senior year and grades are posted by the IB in July (July 6th for the 2021 Cohort).
Two types of External Assessments
Tips for preparing for the External Assessments
Tips for the Exam Room
Get a good night’s sleep, breathe and remind yourself that this too shall pass. Then enter the exam room as instructed and be aware of the following:
How IB Plus Plus tutors can prepare you for the External Assessments
Useful links
About the Author: Birgitte J.
The mere mention of a 4000-word research paper can make chills run down your spine. Where do you begin? What do you write? How do you organize all that you’ve learned into neat little paragraphs? How do you reference your sources in MLA, APA or Chicago? The process can feel daunting, and that’s why some instruction on how to do this goes a long way. Creating a road map for your research and writing is key to Extended Essay success. It may feel like punishment at first, but this is the exact same procedure you will follow for all your research papers in college, so knowing how to do this will prepare you well for university. To boot, a strong EE in a subject you want to pursue can serve as great discussion material for your college interview.
The IB Extended Essay is an 3500-4000 word research essay at the core of the IB Diploma Programme along with ToK and CAS. The essay is a requirement for achieving the Diploma and it is intended to be researched and completed independently by the student.
A subject area teacher from your IB school will serve as your supervisor and the help you receive can vary greatly depending on your individual supervisor’s workload, engagement and effort. Some schools assign a supervisor while in other schools the supervisor is recruited by the student. In either case, this is an important relationship and it is recommended that you check in with your supervisor regularly so you can receive all the help you will need.
The vast majority of IB schools assign a series of deadlines to facilitate the planning and writing process. For the May exam cohort, these deadlines commonly start in the Fall trimester of the Junior year and end with a complete final draft in the Spring of Senior year, leading up to the IB submission deadline in mid-February.
Most students go into the summer with a subject area, a research question, some research done, and perhaps a rough outline. The expectation is that you complete the written work over the summer and submit a thorough first draft upon return in your Senior year, including a citation system that emulates college-level research. The vast majority of IB students are not adequately prepared for this work going into the summer, which brings us to how IB Plus Plus Tutors can help at different stages of the process.
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This online version of the Extended Essay Guide is published by the IBO. The site is mainly intended for teachers and administrators but you can find all up-to-date materials that the IB has published to facilitate the Extended Essay in one place here.
This is an overview of the research essay you are about to embark on, including a brief description of key components such as the subject choices, word count, reflections, and Viva Voce (interview).
The IB provides additional specific guidance within each subject area, including options for approaches towards the subject. The subject-specific guidance is a short description of options and expectations within the subject and is a must-read before you embark on the essay.
If you are unsure what an essay in a specific subject should read like, this link provides several examples of student-submitted essays, including grades awarded by the IB. Be sure to read at least one EE in the subject of your choice to have a good understanding of what the expectations are within your subject area.
The essay is graded on 5 main criteria. This link contains the language describing the mark band for each criteria that the teacher will base the predicted grade on, and the examiner will provide the final IB grade on. Familiarize yourself with these criteria and review the language for the mark band before submitting your first draft.
This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the title and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.
This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question, or in the case of the world studies extended essay, the issue addressed and the two disciplinary perspectives applied, and additionally the way in which this knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through the use of appropriate terminology and concepts.
This criterion assesses the extent to which critical thinking skills have been used to analyse and evaluate the research undertaken.
This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.
This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s Reflections on planning and progress form.
Where the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Can Take You
By Birgitte J.
Why IB?
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is the most comprehensive internationally recognized college preparatory programme in the world. The college-level courses are taught in the last two years of high school and are held in high regard by college Admissions Directors for it’s rigid academic standards, particularly in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The universally recognized high standards of the programme has made it an attractive offering at high schools worldwide.
The International Baccalaureate Programme was established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968 and has been adopted by the majority of international schools around the world since the inception of the course. What sets the International Baccalaureate apart from other rigorous academic preparatory programs is the core of the program that connects the Areas of Knowledge from which the students select subjects.
Course Selection and the Core
Students choose 3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level subjects from six Areas of Knowledge. To complete the IB Diploma, students must also fulfill the three component requirements of the core curriculum; Theory of Knowledge (ToK), an Epistemology course connecting the Areas of Knowledge, the Extended Essay (EE), a 4000-word research essay, and Creativity, Action and Service (CAS), comprising of consistently documented extra-curricular activities through the duration of the programme.
Rigorous Assessment
What makes the IBDP attractive to colleges is the comprehensive organization of the programme comprising high standards in all subjects across the curriculum, and the way the assessments are structured to be externally moderated by independent IB Examiners. Assessments culminate in a combination of externally moderated Internal Assessments, from which student work is randomly selected and submitted anonymously, and External Assessments culminating in a traditional exam room setting at programme completion in the Senior year, in which schools are subject to random audits by the IB Organization every few years to ensure exam conditions are rigorously met. The External Assessments are also submitted to the IB anonymously to avoid local, cultural and racial biases for a fair and consistent grading system respected by higher learning institutions. In addition, grading by Junior Examiners is moderated by Senior Examiners in a system that verifies consistent grading across the curriculum.
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Benefits of being an IB Student in the University Application Process
The IB is structured as a comprehensive programme that focuses on capability in all Areas of Knowledge, ensuring that Diploma Programme graduates have mastered the skills necessary to succeed in college courses. Admissions officers are well aware of the rigor and capabilities required to complete the Diploma, and IB predicted grades are sent in along with school grades in the application process.
In the United States, some colleges award up to 30 college credits for high scores in IB courses, with more credits awarded for Higher Level courses than Standard Level courses. In addition to college credit, a high-achieving IB Diploma Candidate is also more likely to receive merit scholarships for their efforts in the IB Diploma Programme. All things being equal, when an IB Diploma candidate is evaluated against a non-IB candidate, the Diploma candidate will win the college spot. Students are most likely to keep their college acceptance based on predicted grades, even if the final IB grade falls well below prediction, however college credit depends on the IB grades awarded and merit scholarships could be lost if the predicted grade falls far below expectations.
In the UK, Universities also accept candidates based on IB predicted grades sent to the universities by the high school. However, UK Universities reserve the right to withdraw admittance to the university if the Diploma score falls several points below the predicted grade in the desired area of study. Please check IB Predicted grade requirements in the area of study before applying to specific programmes at schools in the UK.
1- Some schools allow select high-achieving students to take 4 Higher Level courses
2- Students must choose one subject from each Area of Knowledge, with the exception of the Arts. If the Arts is not chosen, two subjects must be chosen within Group 3 (Human Sciences) or Group 4 (Natural Sciences).
3-IB Exams are administered in May and November (mostly in the Southern Hemisphere)
4-A ‘predicted grade’ is the IB grade the teacher predicts the student will receive based on IB Internal Assessments. Accurate prediction is ensured through an external moderation process.
This Blog Post from IB ++ Tutors is Written By Birgitte J.
The class of 2022 marks the first cohort to engage with the radically changed new curriculum. We have taken the key component parts of the new ToK Exhibition from the ToK Guide (p. 39-43) for you to approach the assessment in a few easy steps.
The Exhibition is an Internal Assessment graded on this rubric of up to 10 marks. Students are required to “create an exhibition that explores how ToK manifests in the world around us”. This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course. The exhibition counts towards 33% of the students’ grade in the course. (The externally moderated Essay counts towards 67% of the students’ grade in the course). The exhibition is designed to be completed in the 1st year of the 2-Year Diploma Programme.
The new course is centered on the core theme of “Knowledge and the knower” encouraging you to reflect on yourselves as knowers and thinkers, and to consider the different communities of knowers to which we belong. In the course, your teacher also choses two optional themes from the following to focus on:
ToK Exhibition Component Parts and Requirements
Summary of the Step-by-Step Process for Completing the ToK Exhibition
Step 1
Select one IA prompt and three objects, or images of objects that show how the IA question manifests in the world around us. All three objects must be linked to the same prompt. IB recommends students “root their exhibition in one of the TOK themes (core or optional).
Step 2
Produce a single file containing their TOK exhibition, including the following:
real-world context, justifies each object’s inclusion in the exhibition and links to
the IA prompt (maximum 950 words)
Note: Teachers are permitted to provide feedback on one draft of this work but cannot edit a draft
Step 3
Schools have a variety of options for showcasing the exhibition
Choosing an Exhibition Object
Examples of appropriate exhibition objects can be found here
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Birgitte’s tips:
If you would like more detailed support in the development of your ToK Exhibition, we look forward to working with you!
By Birgitte J.
Ella, one of my IB Diploma Programme students, felt a lot of dread in anticipation of the IB Assessments in her Senior year. She described the sensation as a pit in her stomach, as if all the years of her international school education were insignificant in comparison to what lay ahead in this final year of her schooling.
Whether you are preparing to enter the 2-year IBDP or you are in your final year, you are not alone in feeling some pressure. We all need a little hand-holding sometimes, and as a tutor, I feel we have two roles, the most important being to help you gain confidence in your own strengths. You are enough, just as you are in this moment - you’ve got this! Our second role, likely the reason you came here to IB Plus Plus, is to get some help to improve the skills you need to be successful in the IB and have a professional set of eyes on the assessments you are preparing. We’ve got you!
There is no precedent for this year in your lifetime. Most of us have just come through some kind of online or hybrid version of learning, and some of you are still in this situation. As a result, you may have realized the value of having a tutor for the first time this year, but let it be known, the value of having a tutor is an asset not to be underestimated in any given year. Think of it this way; your lessons are tailored for you alone, and we’ll meet you exactly where you are at right now. We’ll work with you on the specific homework assignment you just got yesterday, we’ll work with you on your specific IB assessment. This is not a general overview, you will get a highly skilled professional, perhaps even an examiner, to talk you through every step of your specific assessment.
Complete this form and we’ll match you with a Tutor to help you master your EE!
1-1 tutoring is by far the most efficient way to prepare yourself for what lies ahead. We understand how demanding the IB is and we get right down to the business of getting the work done. We can’t promise that the cloud of anxiety that you feel looming over you will evaporate completely, but we sure can help. If you are working on an Internal Assessment, we can help you choose a focus, suggest an approach, make a plan and help you with the execution or just a final review. Wherever you are at, we’re happy to step in and lend you a helping hand. If you need support preparing for the IB exams, we can show you specific strategies for how to manage your time and provide you practice papers, graded student work and examiners’ comments for review. These strategies are invaluable in helping you gain confidence and be successful on the exams.
Finally, a word of encouragement; being successful on IB exams is not the end goal. The purpose of all your hard work is ultimately to become critical thinkers, compassionate and conscious human beings out in the world adulting on your own. The IBDP may help you get there but the process is different for everyone and that is why tutoring is by far the most personal, efficient and rewarding way to get you to that way of being in the world.
So, let’s get to it. Reach out, set up that first appointment and know that you will receive the support you need, wherever you are at this moment. We look forward to hearing from you!
Written by :Birgitte J.
Few of us are equally good at everything we try our hands at, and chances are there are some subjects you could use a little extra help with. This is especially true in the IB as you head into the Internal and External Assessments (IAs)[1], when an expert teacher or examiner can give you personalized attention tailored specifically to your needs. IB Plus Plus tutors are trained IB teachers and examiners, intimately familiar with the requirements for each assessment. Whether you need help to review and make suggestions on a first draft, or you want to systematically prepare for the External Assessments in a subject to help you build confidence, IB Plus Plus tutors are a valuable tool for you.
We will cater to your specific needs, while IB classroom teachers have a classroom full of students with different strengths and ‘weaknesses’. Although your teacher may prepare you well for assessments, there is only so much individual attention possible in this setting. When you work with a tutor, you get personal attention and advice on the specifics of your assessment. Your tutor can help you brainstorm a topic, advise on resources, aid you in structuring an outline or project, and help you understand how the examiner will grade you on the IB rubric. Whatever your specific needs are, we are here to help.
Single lessons or long term preparation?
A final look-over by a professional teacher or examiner of your first draft of an IB assessment is always useful, yet frequently the most efficient way to work with a tutor is to strategize ahead of time. IB Plus Plus tutors are teacher and examiners who understand what is required - we have taught the subject, we have read the Subject Reports[2] following each examination session, we have graded the assessments on the rubric and we have reviewed hundreds of assessments before we ever lay eyes on yours. We have years of experience and we are ready to explain how it works - that is our strength. How much time you want or need to put in with us, that is your choice.
Tutoring for the Internal Assessments
Some of you may only need a final look-over or a few suggestions, or you need your work graded on the rubric to get a better sense of what your final grade will be. However, most often your time is better spent preparing an assessment than fixing one that doesn’t sufficiently meet the requirements of the task. Therefore, our suggestion is first to plan ahead and prepare your Internal Assessment with a tutor to ensure your task meets the requirements, then perhaps get feedback again after you have completed your first draft. You have more control over the outcome of an internal assessment than an external one, so why not put in the time when you can?
Tutoring for Skills, Understanding and Preparing for the Final Exams
Many of you may need structured time with a tutor on a weekly, bi-weekly basis leading up to the IB Assessments. For example, you may need help to understand a difficult concept in Economics, Psychology, Physics or Biology. You may be worried about your skills on a particular task that you don’t don’t have much control over, such as analysis of a previously unseen text for the Paper 1 exam in Language and Literature.
Tutoring for the IB Core
You may need help coming up with the research question for your Extended Essay, identifying the main sections to organize your essay or finding reliable sources. You may need someone to explain the main concepts in Theory of Knowledge, brainstorm responses to the ToK essay question you have chosen, or help you with your thinking about the objects in the ToK Exhibition.
Tutoring to Make Up for Missed Lessons
When life throws you a curveball and you miss important instruction time, an IB Plus Plus tutor can walk you through the content, the skills or the material you missed. 1-1 tutoring is faster and more efficient than traditional classroom instructions and we can help you catch up to speed.
Whether you need only a few 1-1 lessons to review your IA or systematic tailored weekly lessons to build skills, understanding and confidence, private IB tutoring is always useful. Tutoring is a highly efficient and tailored way to address complicated subjects, tasks and assessments. The level of individualized support, guidance and attention you need is your choice.
What You Get With Private IB Tutoring
[1] Internal Assessments are graded by the teacher then externally moderated by an IB examiner, External Assessments are graded by a team of external examiners appointed by the IB.
[2] The IB Subject Reports are reports prepared by the IB after each examination session addressing overall performance in the subject and suggestions for improvements for teachers and students.
Written by: Birgitte J.
Your teacher will tell you to start early, and we concur! The IB Programme is a 2-year curriculum accumulating in two to three externally assessed exams in each course. The externally assessed exams are conducted at the end of the two years in May or November, depending on which hemisphere your school adheres to, and is a significant source of stress for students, but there are ways to prepare that can greatly improve your test day experience and outcome. Here are some general tips for how to lessen your stress and achieve the results you are hoping for:
1-Nerves may be the most common obstacle you can face on exam day. You know yourself best, but whatever normally helps you become and remain rested and calm, do that. Exercise, sleep, meditate, breathe, or relax in whatever way you have found works for you and if you don’t have any practice with calming your nerves, try out some techniques on test days in advance to see what works.
2-Start preparing early by practicing with past exams. Every teacher will say this and if you are being well-prepared in your school, you will have taken several practice tests, both as take-home assessments and in a controlled setting, such as your classroom, under the same conditions as the IB exam. Many IB Plus Plus tutors can provide you with previous years’ exams in your subjects to practice with and you will be graded on the same IB rubric the examiners are using. Some of IB Plus Plus tutors are also examiners, and we can explain to you in detail the specific subject requirements in each course.
3-Understand the expectations in your course syllabus for both content and skills heavy courses. What content do you need to be familiar with, for example, in your social studies or science course? Which skills do you need to successfully analyze a text in literature, or measure speed or distance in Physics? Know the syllabus and the specific texts you are required to know for your course. Review this in advance.
4-Be familiar with the specific requirements for each of your subject exams so that you are not surprised by anything the day of the exam, when you may already be feeling a little nervous. Page 4 and 8 lists the items needed for each subject exam, what is provided by the school, and what you have to bring yourself. Bring several of your own black and blue pens (red and green pens are not permitted) for your written exams. Pencils are generally only allowed for scrap paper or some of the multiple choice portions of your exams. The IB does not address erasable pens, a potential loop-hole, especially if you are a messy writer and you feel you need to erase and correct during the writing process. We also suggest you write on every other line (skip a line) on the lined paper exams to more easily edit, if needed, when you read through your exam towards the end.
5-Make sure you know the time allotted for each exam and pay close attention to your teacher’s recommendations about how to manage your time during the exam too, such as reading time, outlining, and recommended time for each section of your exam. This varies greatly depending on the subject. It may be useful to create a digital document or physical folder with specific exam recommendations for each of your SL and HL courses that you can review beforehand.
Keep in mind that it is completely normal to feel a little anxious on the day of the exam and during the IB exam period in general. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to familiarize yourself with your syllabus, the requirements, rubric and exam conditions and get some rest before the big day. You’ve got this!
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