If IB students want to self-study or can not afford tutoring, they might want to use resources outside their textbooks or slides to fully understand the concepts. Here, Hack Your Course AP and IB Tutoring Service has broken down top free and inexpensive resources for IB students to use by subject. This page will be updated with new resources as we find them.
JUMP TO THE SECTION
A. ALL IB SUBJECTS RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Sal Khan needs no introduction. He and his team produce high-quality content for all subjects on YouTube. There is also a website that has practice problems.
PROS:
– Free
– Many videos on most parts of math content
– Good pace and teaching style
CONS:
– Not IB aligned
– No IB Questions
PROS:
– A variety of courses are covered
– Topic reviews are done more holistically
– They have more topic-specific question banks in comparison with websites like Revision Village
CONS:
– The free version of it is limited but still useable
– it costs about 75 $/year with its yearly subscription, which is still cheaper than the competition.
A. IB MATH RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Mr. Patrick has an extensive library of videos on his YouTube channel and also has a website now. In addition, he goes through many practice questions.
PROS:
– Free
– Easy to understand
– Well-structured website
CONS:
– Not IB aligned
– No IB practice papers
– Can be hard to find what concepts you are looking for)
DESCRIPTION: This is a resource that some IB mathematics students use to improve their content and to practice problems.
PROS:
– Easy to understand
– Website is well structured
CONS:
– Not free
DESCRIPTION: This website is run by an IB math teacher and contains links to many resources for IB students. It is especially helpful for the IA.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Links to many helpful resources such as past IA examples.
CONS:
– Website is a bit clunky
DESCRIPTION: This website is run by an IB math teacher from Mulgrave school. It contains a chapter by chapter topics of the new IB math curriculum and review packages.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Many pdf and review packages
CONS:
– needs digging in
– some links are not accessible unless you are a Mulgrave student
DESCRIPTION: This website is run by an IB teacher who has a PhD in math
PROS:
– Free (accepts donations)
– IB aligned
– Simple layout
-Lecture notes available
CONS:
– The solution to the questions is the mark scheme itself with no further comments
DESCRIPTION: This website is run by an IB teacher
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Sample Papers
-Examples from other resources
– IA samples with examiners’ comments
CONS:
– The curriculum is still old (you will need to check chapter by chapter then)
– Some resources are not strictly made for IB students
– little bit difficult to figure things out
DESCRIPTION: This website has categorized exam papers into subjects for AA HL and SL
PROS:
– Personalized approach
– One of a kind!
CONS:
– basic design
– Not Free (75 USD/Year)
B. IB ENGLISH RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Website containing many Literary analysis guides (poems, novels, Shakespeare works).
PROS:
– Analysis is in-depth and the language is sophisticated
– Poetry guides are comprehensive, including line-by-line, symbolism, theme, historical, and literary devices analysis.
CONS:
– Monthly subscription costing $9.95 USD.
DESCRIPTION: Various videos regarding IB English literature, language and literature, and Theater.
PROS:
– Great step by step modelling
CONS:
– Focuses on non-fiction text analysis.
– Limited number of videos
DESCRIPTION: Various videos regarding IB IA or individual oral assessment
PROS:
– Very clear step by step modelling
CONS:
– Some higher-level academic language used may require a little explanation as you follow along.
– Limited number of videos
DESCRIPTION: Library of Canadian Poets and poems that can be used for extended essay or poetry analysis composition
PROS:
– Provides a bank of well-known Canadian poets for students to refer to should they need to find a poem for a poetry analysis assignment.
CONS:
– Includes some classic and some not as well-known modern poets
DESCRIPTION: Sample student writing and the examiner’s comments on the writing.
PROS:
– Gives tips and advice to write a successful exam essay.
CONS:
– Only one sample
DESCRIPTION: Outlines and resources on all things English IB, SL and HL
PROS:
– Lots of tips and samples of writing and topics.
CONS:
– Limited to some novel studies
DESCRIPTION: Provided sample essays and a breakdown of comments by IB assessors.
PROS:
– Gives firsthand examples and tips on how to write successfully for the English exam
CONS:
– Limited to only a few works.
C. IB CHEMISTRY RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Mr. Thornley produces IB aligned chemistry content and has an incredibly popular YouTube channel (13 million views).
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned (split into SL and HL)
– Good pace and teaching style
CONS:
– No practice problems or solutions to problems
DESCRIPTION: Mr. DeWitt has many high-quality chemistry videos on his YouTube channel.
PROS:
– Free
– Many videos on all parts of the chemistry content
– Good pace and teaching style
CONS:
– Not IB aligned (you will have to look for the topics and learn how much you need to learn for IB)
DESCRIPTION: This is a comprehensive look at the chemistry IA and highlights all the things that you need to include in your IA. Do not forget to read our own Science IA Guide.
PROS:
– Comprehensive
– Includes IB marking breakdown
– Includes information on the most difficult parts of the IA
CONS:
– No previous IA examples.
DESCRIPTION: This is a website made and operated by Patrick Brnanac.
PROS:
– It has exam papers sorted out by subjects
CONS:
– The watermarks on the papers can become annoying
– website is clunky, ugly with dozens of broken links
DESCRIPTION: This website contains short but comprehensive IB chemistry tutorial videos for both the HL and SL syllabus.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Easy to understand
– Contains free problem sets (worksheets)
CONS:
– Since videos are short, some concepts may not be fully explained.
6. IB Dead
DESCRIPTION: This website includes revision guide for each topic in the HL Chemistry.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Easy To understand
– Brief
– Great for last-minute studying
CONS:
– Only contains HL biology notes
D. IB BIOLOGY RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: This is a website that covers all the IB material in a structured format. There are explanations with videos, images, and text about each topic in a concise manner.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Structured
– Comprehensive
– Includes summary PDFs, study application, and worksheets
CONS:
– No IB exam samples
DESCRIPTION: Mr. Lee is an IB teacher who has videos for all the biology content. He is also immensely popular (4 million views), and his content is straightforward to understand.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
-Theory focused videos.
CONS:
– No IB practice questions.
DESCRIPTION: This is a highly popular YouTube channel (over 1.3 billion views) that covers all the crucial topics for IB. The videos are very entertaining, engaging, and informative.
PROS:
– Free
– Extremely high-quality videos.
-Theoretical information is well researched and presented unambiguously.
CONS:
– Not IB aligned.
– No practice questions.
– The speakers might sometimes speak very fast and can be hard to pick up on all the details.
DESCRIPTION: This is a website similar to Bio Ninja that is structured according to each topic. In addition, there are very informative slideshows, extra resources, and practice questions for each sub-topic.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Comprehensive, including many resources and IB questions
CONS:
– The website can sometimes feel a bit old.
– Solutions to practice questions are paid (to their preferred charities).
DESCRIPTION: Ms. Castle is an IB biology teacher who makes videos that cover all of SL biology. Her videos are engaging and incredibly clear to understand.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
CONS:
– Only SL Biology topics covered.
– No practice problems
6. IB Dead
DESCRIPTION: This website includes a short 1-2 page revision guide for each topic in the SL Biology curriculum.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Easy To understand
– Brief
– Great for last-minute studying
CONS:
– Only contains SL biology notes
7. Oxford IB Biology Study Guide
DESCRIPTION: This website includes a short 1-2 page revision guide for each topic in the SL Biology curriculum. [We won’t be putting any links here because of Copyright concerns but you can easily find the digital copy online or buy one from Amazon!]
PROS:
– Explanations are brief & easy to understand
– Concepts made easier with the addition of illustrations
– Great for last-minute studying
CONS:
– Not Free
E. IB PHYSICS RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Mr. G is an IB Physics teacher who runs a website with notes for IB physics. He has also included many videos and resources from other creators.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Comprehensive
CONS:
– Less engaging
DESCRIPTION: Chris Doner has very in-depth videos on all the IB content in a structured format. He covers theory but also goes through solutions for practice problems.
PROS:
– Free (you can become a Patron member and donate!)
– IB aligned
– Engaging videos
CONS:
– No HL Options included
– No additional practice questions
F. EXTENDED ESSAY RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: This website was set up by the West Sound Academy for their students but is accessible to all. It provides a step-by-step guide to nail the Extended essay without burning out. It also has helpful tutorials on finding resources, citations etc.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Up to date
– Comprehensive
CONS:
– Website is a bit clunky
– Some of the videos do not play on the website
G. IB ECONOMICS RESOURCES
DESCRIPTION: Jacob Clifford produces Economics YouTube tutorials mainly for AP Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. However, the content of the AP curriculum is very similar to that of IB.
PROS:
– Free
– IB aligned
– Easy to understand
– Contains practice problems
– Comprehensive
CONS:
– Does not include the ‘Developmental Economics’ Section in the IB syllabus.
2. IB Economics in a Nutshell Book
DESCRIPTION: This exam study guide contains all the topics in both the SL and HL curriculum.
PROS:
– Explanations are brief easy to understand
– IB aligned!
– Great for last-minute studying
– Comprehensive
CONS:
– Not Free
Hack Your Course is A premium IB & AP institute operating in Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto with specially trained IB/AP tutors Since 2015. We are old enough to know and small enough to care. Tutors at Hack Your Course AP and IB Tutoring Service (HYC) are either certified IB and AP teachers or currently exemplary university students or have a Master’s or a Doctoral degree in the subject being taught. We accept fewer than 5% of the applicants. That is just the first part of the story; moreover, They all possess the requisite educational materials, closely follow the curriculum and goals specified by IB, and use the material provided and mandated by Hack Your Course AP & IB Tutoring Service. They also prepare the students for all parts of the final examination in each subject by thoroughly reviewing the subject matter and employing previous examinations as practice exercises provided by Hack Your Course. We know what we are doing with hundreds of happy IB & AP students from the US and Canada! We have the winning combination!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
1. Math: Christos Nikolaidis Website
He is a part-time teacher at Moraitis School, in Athens, Greece. He has his lecture notes, exercises, and example samples with answers for math AA and Math AI. It is free, and he accepts donations.
2. Math: 3Blue1Brown
This website, while not necessarily aligned with the International Baccalaureate curriculum, boasts exceptional contributions from individuals such as Grant Sanderson and others, who have expertly demystified the principles of calculus with simplicity and visually compelling graphics, making it accessible and understandable to a broad audience. The service is free, but you can buy shirts, cups, socks, and hoodies from their shop or subscribe through their Patreon.
3. Chemistry: Mr. Weng Chemistry Website: this is a subscription-based IB chemistry guide with notes, videos, and exam solutions. It costs up to 100 USD per two years. It has detailed videos of both the topics and explanations of IB exam papers.
4. English: Litlearn
This website is a platform that provides practice materials for individuals preparing for the International Baccalaureate (IB) English examination. The site offers a small collection of practice papers, along with detailed answers and explanations, designed to help students build their skills and confidence as they work towards achieving their academic goals. In addition, the website is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, making it a resource for anyone looking to improve their performance in the IB English examination.
The website requires an annual subscription fee of 179 USD. While it aspires to be comprehensive, there is a need for improvement in certain areas. Additionally, we encountered difficulties during the sign-up process for the website.
5. Biology: My Science Squad
The website provides useful materials for reviewing and learning biology and some chemistry, with a heavier focus on biology. Visitors can access videos, exam papers, and even some free materials from the InThinking website.
WHERE TO FIND US
Vancouver Office
2030 Marine Drive,
North Vancouver, BC, V7P 1V7, Canada
Email: info@ibaptutoring.com
Seattle Office
5608 17th Avenue NW, Suite 1578
Seattle, WA 98107, USA
Email: info@ibaptutoring.com
Toronto Office
99 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, ON M5R 1C1, Canada
Email: info@ibaptutoring.com