Group 3: Individuals & SocietiesSL AvailableHL Available

IB Philosophy

Critical examination of fundamental questions about knowledge, reality, and ethics.

IB Philosophy encourages students to think critically about fundamental questions concerning human existence. Students engage with diverse philosophical traditions while developing skills in argument analysis, logic, and philosophical writing. The current course was first assessed in 2025.

SL & HL
Levels offered
90 min
One-to-one lessons
$95
Lowest rate per lesson
Max 6
IB group programs
Prices and optionsRequest a tutor
Whiteboard in an IB Philosophy HL lesson: argument structure and the difference between validity and soundness, ethics compared across utilitarianism, deontology and virtue ethics, knowledge questions, and a five-step discussion outline.
From a live online one-to-one IB Philosophy HL lesson at the TestPrep Group
Course Introduction

Why Philosophy Matters

Your grade in IB Philosophy counts toward the 45-point Diploma, and many university courses ask for a particular grade in the subject, often at Higher Level.

Develops critical thinking and argumentation
Foundation for philosophy and ethics degrees
Valuable for law, politics, and humanities
Enhances written and oral reasoning skills
Whiteboard in an IB Philosophy SL lesson: argument structure of premise, inference and conclusion, ethics from normative to meta-ethics, knowledge questions, and a discussion outline, all arranged around a central Critical Thinking cloud.
Standard Level
SL Overview

SL covers the core theme, Being human, one optional theme and one prescribed text in 150 hours of philosophical inquiry.

Higher Level
HL Overview

HL adds a second optional theme and the HL extension, Philosophy and contemporary issues, assessed through an unseen text in Paper 3, in 240 hours.

Career Pathways

LawAcademiaEthics ConsultingJournalismPoliticsEducationWritingPolicy Analysis

Philosophy syllabus topics

The topics of the subject guide. Lessons follow your school's order and level.

Unit 1
Core Theme: Being Human
  • Identity
  • The self and the other
  • Consciousness
  • Personhood
  • Human nature
  • Freedom
Unit 2
Optional Themes (SL one, HL two)
  • Aesthetics
  • Epistemology
  • Ethics
  • Philosophy of religion
  • Philosophy of science
  • Political philosophy
  • Social philosophy
Unit 3
Prescribed Text
  • One text from the IB list of prescribed philosophical texts
Unit 4 (HL)
HL Extension: Philosophy and Contemporary Issues
  • Unseen text analysis
  • Argument evaluation

How lessons approach Philosophy

Understanding the concepts, and answering the papers the way the markscheme rewards.

Conceptual Understanding
Deep mastery of core concepts
  • Read primary philosophical texts
  • Practice identifying arguments and assumptions
  • Engage with different philosophical traditions
  • Develop personal philosophical positions
Exam-Specific Techniques
Targeted preparation for IB assessments
  • Practice essay structure and timing
  • Learn to analyze arguments systematically
  • Prepare quotes and examples
  • Master unseen text approach (HL)

Past papers and markschemes

IB Philosophy past papers with examiner guidance, used in lessons alongside the questions from your own school.

How marks are won in Philosophy

1
Develop clear thesis statements
2
Use philosophical terminology precisely
3
Engage with counterarguments
4
Structure essays logically
5
Practice HL unseen text methodology

IB Philosophy: lessons, prices and how to start

One-to-one lessons are 90 minutes, live online. Prices are set per program, so they are the same for every IB Diploma subject.

IB Philosophy one-to-one tutoring packages
Single lesson$100Per lesson: $100Buy a lesson
10 lessons$970Per lesson: $97Buy package
20 lessonsLowest rate$1,900Per lesson: $95Buy package

Group options

IB group teaching runs as three programs, priced by the number of subjects you take, in groups of at most 6:

IA, EE and TOK supervision is one-to-one, from $100 for a single lesson.

How do you start?

Request a free consultation: it is a conversation about your goals and timeline, not a lesson or a test. There is no separate diagnostic test for IB Diploma, because no single test stands in for a school syllabus. The first lesson does the assessment: your tutor works through your recent marked work and past-paper questions from your own specification, and reads where you stand. It is a normal paid lesson, not a free trial, and it teaches as it assesses.

Request a free consultation

Refunds

Not satisfied after your first private lesson? Full (100%) refund. No score is guaranteed. Full terms.

Every IB Diploma priceAll IB Diploma subjects

IB Philosophy — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IB Philosophy SL and HL?
Standard Level: SL covers the core theme, Being human, one optional theme and one prescribed text in 150 hours of philosophical inquiry. Higher Level: HL adds a second optional theme and the HL extension, Philosophy and contemporary issues, assessed through an unseen text in Paper 3, in 240 hours. The choice matters for university admission as much as for workload — many courses require the subject at HL specifically.
How is IB Philosophy assessed?
Externally assessed: Paper 1 (SL: 50% / HL: 40%), Paper 2 (SL: 25% / HL: 20%), Paper 3 (HL) (HL: 20%). Internally assessed: Philosophical Analysis (SL: 25% / HL: 20%). The internal assessment is marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB, and because it is completed over months rather than in an exam hall it is the component students most often leave too late.
What topics does IB Philosophy cover?
The syllabus covers 4 topics: Core Theme: Being Human, Optional Themes (SL one, HL two), Prescribed Text and HL Extension: Philosophy and Contemporary Issues. Lessons follow your school's order, so tutoring supports your class rather than running alongside it.
Does IB Philosophy count for university credit?
May grant credit for introductory philosophy. Recognition varies by university and usually applies to Higher Level only, so check the policy of each institution you are applying to.
Where does IB Philosophy lead?
It is commonly taken by students heading towards Law, Academia, Ethics Consulting, Journalism and 4 more. If your intended degree lists the subject as a requirement, taking it at Higher Level is usually what admissions expects.