One-to-one IB History tutoring for SL and HL students in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. Experienced History teachers and specialists with examiner experience work on source questions, timed essays, the HL regional option and the historical investigation, online in the evenings on Gulf time, from £58 (~285 AED) an hour.
We match History students on their school's topics as well as their level, so your tutor already knows the case studies you are revising.
Charles
IB specialist
IB History TutorAssistant Principal Examiner experienceSenior IA moderator25 years' IB teaching
I am an experienced and dedicated History educator with 29 years of classroom teaching experience, including 25 years specialising in IB Diploma Programme (DP) History. Over more than two decades as an IB examiner, I have gained exceptional insight into assessment standards and examination expectations. I currently serve as Assistant Principal Examiner for Paper 1, as well as senior moderator and examiner for the Internal Assessment and Paper 3.
I’m Ann, an IB History and ToK tutor. I have taught IB for over 35 years, which I know makes me sound old, but I promise you that I am young at heart. I was also an IB examiner last year. I have a flexible tutoring style and try to adapt this to the needs of the tutee. I focus on breaking down questions to help students see how command and key terms affect the type of response that scores well. I also practice the skill of choosing the right question in exams and planning and writing under pressure of time, as this can often be the difference between performing moderately or at a high level. I have a lot of experience taking students through the History IA and EE as well as theToK exhibition and essay. Outside of tutoring I love to travel as I have spent the last 30 years living and teaching in some really exciting countries such as Cambodia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Angola. I also love to paint and go hiking around Andalusia where I currently live. I hope that if you meet me you will find me to be positive, relaxed and knowledgable.
I'm Beth with IB teaching experience in international schools in Europe and the United States of over 15 years. I am also an examiner for the IB (since 2015) in History and Extended Essay.
Since 1995 I have been teaching IB History at Malmö Borgarskola. I have also worked as an IB Examiner, and furthermore given IB Exam preparatory courses for the Oxford Study Courses in Oxford and Cambridge, UK and in Boston, USA. Both at my school and working for the OSC I have all along been tutoring History students (Extended Essays, Internal Assessments).
I am a qualified and experienced IB MYP/DP History and Theory of Knowledge teacher. I have 20 years of teaching experience. I am also an IB History Extended Essay and Paper 2 examiner since 2010.
I’m Caterina, an IB graduate with 44 points, now studying International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. I achieved 7s in Higher Level History, Global Politics and English Language & Literature, and Standard Level Spanish B. I have been tutoring IB students for over three years. I teach History, Global Politics, English Language & Literature and Spanish B, as well as Italian ab initio and Italian B, as Italian is my mother tongue. I am also a research assistant at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), where I conduct policy research on Europe and the Americas. My teaching approach is exam-focused and practical. I incorporate past papers, clear strategies for command terms and mark schemes, and provide structured feedback. I also support IAs, the Extended Essay and TOK essays and presentations. I provide timed practice to build confidence and precision. Sessions are interactive and supportive, so students feel comfortable asking questions and shaping how we work together. Together, we will build a study plan tailored to your goals and learning style. Outside of tutoring, I enjoy theatre and film, and having lived in six countries, I try to offer a global perspective in our sessions.
“Mr. Hearsum was an incredibly dedicated teacher who provided me with targeted resources that really helped me prepare for HL History within a short period of time. I am incredibly grateful to have had a brilliant teacher like him!”
Tamanna N., studentHarrow International School Bengaluru · Class of 2026 · History
Grade 3 →to 6
“From the very first session, Miljan sought to break down the subject and to identify any difficulties my daughter had. He was always completely available and on hand to us. His lessons were fun and engaging.”
Shelly D., parentSt Andrews College · Class of 2026 · Physics
“My Tutor Filip was the smartest and nicest person I’ve ever met. I got behind more mathematical concepts in my 7 sessions than I did in 2 years at school!!”
IB History grades worldwide, and where our students finish
History is one of the harder group 3 subjects to score highly in: in May 2025 under 3% of candidates gained a 7 and about one in five reached a 6 or above, with a world average of 4.5. HL, taken by four out of five History students, averaged 4.4. Students who come to us average 5.0 and finish on 6.3.
IB History grade distribution, May 2025
IB History grade distribution, May 2025. Global average grade 4.5.
IB grade
Share of candidates
1
0.6%
2
5.7%
3
13.4%
4
28.6%
5
32%
6
16.9%
7
2.9%
0.6%
5.7%
13.4%
28.6%
32%
16.9%
2.9%
1234567
Share of graded candidates, SL and HL combined (46,481 students). Source: IB final statistical bulletin, May 2025.
Average grade lift after Lanterna tutoring
+1.3points
From a 5.0 average before tutoring to a 6.3 after tutoring with Lanterna.
The course
How IB History is examined for May 2027
IB History is assessed through two papers at SL, a third paper at HL, and a historical investigation written in class time. The current guide has been examined since 2017, and it is the version DP2 students sit in May 2027.
Paper 1, prescribed subject. Four questions on five sources from one of five prescribed subjects, such as the move to global war or rights and protest. One hour; it ends with a short essay weighing all the sources together.
Paper 2, world history topics. Two essays, each from a different topic out of twelve, from medieval dynasties to the Cold War and authoritarian states. One hour 30 minutes.
Paper 3, HL regional option. Three essays on one region of the world in 2 hours 30 minutes, the largest part of the HL grade at 35%.
The historical investigation. A 2,200-word piece on a question you choose, in three sections: evaluating two sources, the investigation itself, and a reflection on the historian's methods. Our guide to framing a History IA question is a good starting point.
A new course for DP1
The IB published a new History guide in February 2026. Schools began teaching it in August 2026 and it is first examined in 2028, so current DP1 students follow a different set of papers and themes. Pearson's overview of the new guide describes its focused and thematic studies.
SL or HL
IB History SL and HL compared
The difference is Paper 3. HL students study one region in depth and write three essays on it in one sitting, which is why the HL average is lower and why most of our HL lessons focus on essay planning under time pressure. SL students carry more weight on Paper 2 and the investigation.
Standard Level
History SL
Teaching hours
150 hours
Exams
Paper 1 (1 h) · Paper 2 (1 h 30)
Weighting
P1 30% · P2 45% · IA 25%
May 2025
9,253 candidates · average 4.7
Suits
Science and maths students who want a humanities subject
Higher Level
History HL
Teaching hours
240 hours
Exams
Paper 1 · Paper 2 · Paper 3 (regional option, 2 h 30)
Weighting
P1 20% · P2 25% · P3 35% · IA 20%
May 2025
37,228 candidates · average 4.4
Suits
Law, history, politics and international relations applicants
The investigation and the Extended Essay often fall in the same DP2 term, so plan both deadlines together if you write a History EE.
History in the UAE
IB History for students in the UAE
One of the four HL regional options is History of Africa and the Middle East, so a UAE student whose school teaches it writes Paper 3 essays on the modern history of the region they live in. The school, not the student, chooses the region, so check yours before buying revision guides.
The class of 2027 also arrives at its History papers with less practice than usual: the IB cancelled the May 2026 exams in the UAE, so few students have seen a real exam room. Timed essays at home under exam conditions close much of that gap.
Master your IB History IA with this ultimate guide. Get high-scoring topic ideas, structure advice, assessment criteria breakdown, and expert tips to avoid common pitfalls and achieve a 7.
Maximise your IB History study time with expert revision tips and strategy. Learn how to master essay practice and source analysis for Paper 1 and 2 exams.
Master IB History Paper 1 source analysis: Learn expert strategies, decode questions (Q1-Q3), use OPCVL for evaluation, and boost your mini-essay score.
How do I find an IB History tutor in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?+
Book a free consultation and tell us your prescribed subject, your two world history topics and, at HL, your regional option. Lanterna then matches you with a History tutor who has taught those topics, rather than a general humanities tutor who would be learning them alongside you. Lessons are online, so families in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah choose from the same pool.
Can a tutor help with my History IA without breaking IB rules?+
Yes. A tutor can help you narrow a question until it can be answered in 2,200 words, show you how to evaluate two sources for origin, purpose, value and limitation, and explain what the reflection section is really asking for. The IB's academic integrity rules mean the research, the argument and every sentence must be yours, and only your teacher comments on a draft. Our IA support page explains where that line sits.
My school teaches a topic my tutor has not covered. What happens?+
We match on topics before the first lesson, which is why the consultation asks for them. History schools choose very different combinations, from the Cold War and authoritarian states to medieval dynasties, so if your school has picked an unusual one we look for a tutor who has taught it and tell you honestly if the pool is small.
How much does IB History tutoring cost in the UAE?+
Lanterna's IB History lessons start at £58 (~285 AED) an hour, one-to-one and online, with a lower hourly rate on larger packages. Many students book a short run of lessons for one problem, such as Paper 1 timing or essay planning, rather than a full year, and we will suggest what fits in a consultation.
Is it too late to start History tutoring in DP2 for May 2027?+
No. Students who start after the January mocks can still improve, because History marks depend on technique as much as knowledge: a clear line of argument, specific evidence and timed planning. Starting before winter break, which runs from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, leaves more room for weekly timed essays before Ramadan, expected from about 8 February.
Do your tutors know the new History course that starts being examined in 2028?+
Schools began teaching the new guide in August 2026, so DP1 and DP2 students are now on different courses. When you book, tell us which one you take: DP2 students sitting in May 2027 stay on the current papers, and we match you with a tutor who teaches your version and its topics.
Free call · no obligation
Talk to our IB experts for free
You’ll talk to someone who’s supported thousands of IB students & parents and knows the deadlines, requirements, and common pitfalls.
We map your exact situation (grade, subjects, goals, deadlines) into a clear action plan you can follow immediately.
Clear up confusion about the IB, deadlines, subject choices, study strategy, IAs, exams and anything else.
Length
30 minutes
Where
Google Meet
Cost
Free
Soonest available
Prefer a different time? Every open time is listed below, week by week.
