IB Economics tutor online
Taught for IB.
At a glance
Our IB Economics tutors teach the Diploma Programme Economics course at SL and HL in live 1:1 or small-group online classes. Lessons cover microeconomics, macroeconomics and the global economy, with practice on extended-response essays, data-response questions and, for HL students, the policy paper, alongside guidance on the three-commentary internal assessment portfolio.
IB Economics key facts
| IB | IB Diploma Programme Economics, 4 papers/components (official syllabus) |
|---|---|
| May session series | Exams run from late April to May; results are released in early July. |
| November session series | Exams run in November; results are released in mid-December (16 December for the 2024 and 2025 sessions). |
| Topics covered | 12 syllabus topics, with past-paper practice |
| Lesson format | Live online, 1:1 (60 min) or small group (75 min); first class free |
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IB Economics suits students interested in how markets, governments and countries make decisions, and it supports degrees in economics, business, finance, politics, law, international relations and public policy. Many economics degrees value strong mathematics as much as prior economics, so the subject is often paired with Maths AA. The guide, first assessed in 2022, is built around four units: an introduction to economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics and the global economy, with HL adding further theoretical and quantitative material.
SL candidates sit Paper 1, an extended-response paper of 1 hour 15 minutes worth 30%, and Paper 2, a 1 hour 45 minute data-response paper worth 40%. HL candidates take the same two papers, weighted at 20% and 30%, plus Paper 3, a 1 hour 45 minute policy paper worth 30%. The internal assessment is a portfolio of three commentaries on news articles, contributing 30% at SL and 20% at HL, with each commentary linked to a key concept such as scarcity or sustainability.
Students who took IGCSE, GCSE or MYP economics or business arrive with useful vocabulary but rarely with practice in accurate diagrams and sustained evaluation. IB Economics expects essays to combine definitions, labelled diagrams, real-world examples and balanced judgement. Calculations in Paper 2, and policy recommendations in HL Paper 3, catch out students who only revise theory. We build a bank of current examples with each student and drill diagram drawing until it becomes quick and precise.
How is IB Economics examined?
IB Diploma Programme Economics
Official syllabus from IB| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: extended response | 1 hour 15 minutes | 25 | 30% SL / 20% HL |
| Paper 2: data response | 1 hour 45 minutes | 40 | 40% SL / 30% HL |
| Paper 3: policy paper (HL only) | 1 hour 45 minutes | 60 | 30% HL |
| Internal assessment: portfolio of three commentariesEach commentary analyses a news article and links to one of the key concepts. | – | 45 | 30% SL / 20% HL |
First assessment 2022. Teaching hours: 150 (SL) / 240 (HL). Key concepts: scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence and intervention.
May session series
Exams run from late April to May; results are released in early July.
November session series
Exams run in November; results are released in mid-December (16 December for the 2024 and 2025 sessions).
Plan your revision with our exam dates guide and where to find official past papers.
What topics are in IB Economics?
- 1
Unit 1: Introduction to economics
Defining scarcity and opportunity cost loosely, without reference to limited resources and choice.
- 2
Unit 2: Demand, supply and elasticities
Shifting a curve when a movement along it is required, or the reverse.
- 3
Unit 2: Government intervention in markets
Drawing price ceilings or floors on the wrong side of the equilibrium price.
- 4
Unit 2: Market failure
Placing the welfare loss triangle incorrectly on externality diagrams.
- 5
Unit 2: Market power and the theory of the firm (HL)
Mislabelling marginal revenue and average revenue curves in monopoly diagrams.
- 6
Unit 3: Measuring economic activity and aggregate demand and supply
Confusing real and nominal GDP, or short-run and long-run aggregate supply.
- 7
Unit 3: Macroeconomic objectives
Defining unemployment or inflation correctly but not evaluating their costs in context.
- 8
Unit 3: Demand-side and supply-side policies
Recommending a policy without considering time lags or unintended side effects.
- 9
Unit 4: International trade and exchange rates
Labelling exchange-rate diagrams with the wrong currency on each axis.
- 10
Unit 4: Balance of payments
Placing transactions in the wrong account of the balance of payments.
- 11
Unit 4: Sustainable development
Discussing development using only GDP figures instead of broader indicators.
- 12
Internal assessment: commentary portfolio
Choosing articles that do not link clearly to the selected key concept.
Not sure which fits? Chat on WhatsApp
How do our online Economics classes work?
Diagnostic
A short check of what your child already knows against the syllabus.
Topic teaching
Clear explanations on a shared whiteboard, one topic at a time.
Past-paper practice
Exam questions from your board, timed and marked to the mark scheme.
Feedback
What went well, what to fix and what to practise before next class.
How do you get top marks in IB Economics?
Define key terms at the start of each Paper 1 answer and keep definitions precise.
Draw large, fully labelled diagrams and explain every shift in your writing rather than leaving the diagram to speak for itself.
In Paper 2, show working for each calculation, including the formula used, so partial credit is possible.
Evaluate with specific considerations such as short run versus long run, the stakeholders affected and underlying assumptions.
Support essays with real, recent examples that name the country and the policy.
In HL Paper 3, state your policy recommendation clearly and justify it using the data provided.
How much does IB Economics tutoring cost?
Prices shown in US dollars
- Recommended
One-to-one
Fully personalised to your child
USD 35 / class
- 60-minute live classes at times you choose
- A plan built from a diagnostic of your child's gaps
- Past-paper practice marked against the mark scheme
- Progress notes for parents
Small group
Up to 6 students, 8 live classes a month
USD 10 / class
- 75-minute live classes, 8 per month
- Taught to your exam board and syllabus code
- Weekly past-paper questions with feedback
- Class recordings and notes
Intensive exam prep
12 one-to-one classes a month before exams
USD 32 / class
- Three 60-minute classes a week
- Timed past papers and full mock exams
- Topic-by-topic weak-spot drills
- Pack discount of 10% applied
Prices are per class unless shown per month: one-to-one classes are 60 minutes and group classes 75 minutes. Your trial class is free and doesn't turn into a paid plan by itself. Pricing FAQ
IB Economics FAQs
What is the IB Economics IA?
The IB Economics IA is a portfolio of three commentaries, each analysing a recent news article using economic theory and diagrams. It contributes 30% of the final grade at SL and 20% at HL. Each commentary links to a key concept, such as scarcity, efficiency, equity or sustainability. Choosing articles that allow clear analysis and evaluation is the first step towards a strong portfolio.
Should I take IB Economics HL or SL?
Take IB Economics HL if you plan to study economics or a closely related degree and enjoy quantitative analysis, but requirements vary, so check each university's published entry requirements. HL adds market power and theory of the firm content plus the policy-focused Paper 3. SL still covers all four units and suits students who want a sound grounding with a lighter workload.
Is IB Economics hard?
IB Economics is manageable for most students who keep up with diagrams, definitions and real-world examples, but it becomes hard when revision is left late. The main challenges are writing balanced evaluation under time pressure and handling calculations in the data-response paper. Reading economic news regularly makes essays easier, because you will already have examples ready to use.
What is IB Economics Paper 3?
IB Economics Paper 3 is a Higher Level policy paper lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 30% of the HL grade. It asks you to use data and economic analysis to reach a policy recommendation. Success depends on careful calculations, clear diagrams and a recommendation that is justified rather than simply asserted. SL students do not sit this paper.
Do I need maths for IB Economics?
You need basic numerical confidence for IB Economics, including percentages, elasticities and simple graph work, but advanced mathematics is not required for the course itself. HL involves more quantitative content, so steady algebra helps. Many university economics degrees do set mathematics requirements, which vary, so check each university's published entry requirements if you plan to continue the subject.
How do I get a 7 in IB Economics?
There is no guaranteed way to reach a 7, yet precise definitions, accurate diagrams, current examples and genuine evaluation in every answer put you in a strong position. Practise timed essays and data-response questions regularly, and seek feedback on your commentaries early. Reviewing mark schemes helps you understand what separates analysis from description.
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