UBC requires at least a 3 in IB English A (Literature or Language & Literature) at SL or HL to meet its program entry requirement. For English-language proficiency, UBC generally requires 5+ in IB English A (SL/HL) or another approved pathway. U of T and McGill assess IB results in the overall application, and transfer credit is commonly based on HL scores of 5+ (subject/faculty rules apply). Many universities may waive extra English testing (IELTS/TOEFL) based on IB English, but the required IB English grade varies by institution.

Yes. UBC awards first-year credit for HL courses with scores of 5+ (some SL courses also qualify). U of T grants transfer credit based on final IB results. Each university has its own policy, but HL scores of 6-7 typically earn the most credit. We recommend using our free IB Credit Transfer Tool to check specific university policies for your courses.

Canadian universities (including UBC, U of T, and McGill) may review predicted/anticipated IB results to make provisional/conditional admission decisions. Competitive programs commonly see successful applicants in the mid-to-high 30s, but targets vary by program and university. Schools often provide predicted/anticipated results through an IB coordinator or school documentation, and students must later submit final IB results. Admission offers are typically conditional on completing the IB Diploma and meeting the specific conditions in the offer. Learn more about IB Diploma grading guidelines.

Yes. Most BC IB schools are designed to allow students to meet both sets of requirements concurrently. IB English typically fulfills the BC English Language Arts requirements (English 10, 11, and 12). Students still complete the BC Literacy Assessment and must earn 80 credits total including IB courses. The IB Diploma is an additional credential, not a replacement for the Dogwood.

At authorized IB schools, IB English courses fulfill the BC curriculum requirements for English Language Arts. IB English 11 (Year 1) satisfies Grade 11 English requirements, and IB English 12 (Year 2) satisfies the required Language Arts 12 course for the Dogwood Diploma. Students do not need to take separate provincial English courses.

Yes. As of current requirements, all students working toward the BC Dogwood Diploma must complete the Grade 10 and Grade 12 Literacy Assessments, regardless of IB enrollment. IB English prepares students well for these assessments, as the analytical and writing skills developed in IB exceed provincial standards.

Notable IB schools in Greater Vancouver include Mulgrave School (West Vancouver), St. John's School, Stratford Hall, Churchill Secondary, and King George Secondary. Private schools like Mulgrave are known for comprehensive IB support, while public schools like Churchill have established IB programs. Each school may offer different text selections and approaches to the English curriculum.

The IB curriculum is standardized globally, so core content and assessments are identical. However, private IB schools often have smaller class sizes (8-15 students), more individualized support, dedicated IB coordinators, and additional resources. Tuition for private IB schools in Vancouver ranges from $21,000-$32,000 annually. Public IB programs are equally rigorous academically but may have larger classes and less supplementary support.

IB tutoring in Vancouver and Toronto typically ranges from $50-$160 CAD per hour, depending on tutor qualifications and experience. Hack Your Course charges 80-85 CAD/hr flatrate for all tiers. Comparing us to other companies is difficult: there's no other dedicated IB tutoring service in Vancouver, and our hiring standards are extremely selective—if 100 applicants with advanced degrees apply, perhaps 50 could get into Varsity Tutors or Tutor Doctor, but maybe 1 makes it through our process. Our margins are also much lower than competitors: while TutorChase charges $160 USD/hr for their IB examiner tier, we charge $85 CAD/hr and pay our tutors comparably. Unlike offshore-heavy companies, we only hire North American tutors and pay everyone equally. See our comparison of IB tutoring services.

Research shows online tutoring is equally effective, and often more efficient for IB students. Here's the reality: qualified IB tutors are rare. We spend thousands recruiting specialized IB examiners and PhD-level tutors—and we don't hire university bachelor students. Finding this caliber of tutor in your neighborhood is extremely unlikely. Online tutoring removes this geographic barrier, giving students access to elite IB specialists regardless of location. Additional benefits include digital tools like shared whiteboards and document markup that work exceptionally well for essay review, plus session recordings for later study.

Honestly, it depends entirely on the student—there's no one-size-fits-all answer. A student currently at a 4 aiming for a 6 typically benefits from two 1.5-hour sessions per week. A student already at a 6 who wants to maintain that level or push to a 7 may only need one session per week. However, here's what parents often don't realize: if students don't study and practice between sessions, even daily tutoring won't produce results. The real answer requires understanding your child's current level, goals, and work habits—which is why we recommend a free consultation and at least one or two sessions before we can give you an accurate recommendation. See our tips for IB students.

Absolutely. Canada's multicultural cities (Vancouver, Toronto) have many students for whom English is not their first language. IB English tutoring helps ESL students by building vocabulary for sophisticated literary analysis, developing essay structure and thesis formation skills, practicing the verbal fluency needed for the Individual Oral, and bridging gaps between conversational English and academic English. Specialized tutors understand the unique challenges of ELL students, including different rhetorical traditions and the need for more explicit instruction on academic conventions.

ESL students commonly struggle with nuanced literary vocabulary, qualifying statements (using words like "perhaps," "suggests," "arguably"), understanding cultural references in literary texts, and expressing sophisticated analysis concisely. IB English tutors help by explicitly teaching academic language patterns, providing extensive vocabulary building, practicing timed writing with feedback, and building confidence for the oral components. Research shows ELL students benefit from tutors who understand their native language's rhetorical patterns and can bridge cultural differences in academic writing expectations.

Pre-IB tutoring (Grade 9-10) is highly recommended for students planning to enter the Diploma Programme. Benefits include building foundational analytical and essay writing skills, developing study habits and time management, strengthening vocabulary and reading comprehension, and reducing the transition shock from MYP or regular curriculum to DP. Students who enter DP with solid foundations in literary analysis and essay structure adapt more quickly and experience less exam anxiety.

Before starting IB English, students should have solid reading comprehension skills (ability to analyze texts beyond surface meaning), basic essay structure knowledge (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion), comfort with close reading and annotation, familiarity with literary terms (metaphor, symbolism, tone, theme), and ability to express opinions with textual evidence. Pre-IB tutoring can address gaps in any of these areas before the rigorous DP begins. See our English and humanities resources.

Look for tutors with IB teaching or examining experience who understand the specific assessment criteria and markschemes. Canadian tutors should have at minimum a bachelor's degree in English, English Literature, or Education. Ideal qualifications include current or former IB examiner status, familiarity with Canadian university admission requirements, experience with the specific IB texts your child's school uses, and strong reviews from other IB families. Check our Google reviews. Tutors who know Toronto or Vancouver IB schools (like UCC, Mulgrave, Branksome, TFS) can provide more targeted support.

IB-specialized services like Hack Your Course focus exclusively on IB and AP curricula. Benefits include tutors who understand IB markschemes, command terms, and assessment criteria deeply; familiarity with IA, EE, and TOK requirements; access to IB-specific materials and past papers; and understanding of how Canadian universities evaluate IB transcripts. General tutoring companies may assign tutors unfamiliar with IB's unique expectations, leading to generic advice that doesn't address what IB examiners are looking for.

Yes, through online tutoring. Students in smaller communities (Kelowna, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa) can access the same quality IB specialists available to Vancouver and Toronto students. We also serve students in Seattle and across North America. Online platforms connect students with expert tutors regardless of location. This is especially valuable for subjects like IB English where specialized expertise is essential—students aren't limited to local tutors who may lack IB-specific experience.

Literature focuses exclusively on literary texts (novels, poems, plays) from different periods and regions. Language & Literature analyzes both literary texts and "non-literary" bodies of work (ads, articles, speeches, memes) to urge students to question how meaning is constructed in various media. Lang & Lit is often seen as more modern, while Literature is more traditional. See our complete IB English guide for more details.

The IO is a 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions. It counts for a huge portion of your grade (20-30%). We help you select your extracts, formulate your Global Issue to be sufficiently nuanced, and conduct mock IO sessions to refine your delivery and analysis under timed conditions.

Yes. The HL Essay is a 1200-1500 word academic paper. We assist with choosing a text and a line of inquiry. We act as academic coaches—reviewing your arguments, structure, citation style, and depth of analysis without writing the essay for you, ensuring you adhere to IB academic integrity guidelines. For more on essay writing, see our Extended Essay tips.