IB Diploma · May & November sessions
Walk into the exam hall already knowing the paper.
Nivara Academy's IB Exam Preparation programme pairs you with a subject specialist, builds your study plan from a real diagnostic, and puts you through mock papers marked exactly the way examiners mark them — not a generic revision course.
EVERY GROUP TAUGHT AT SL & HL — ANCHORED AROUND TOK, EE & CAS
Who's actually teaching you
Tutors who've marked the papers you're about to sit
Every subject lead at Nivara has either examined for the IB, taught the current syllabus for at least five years, or both. You're not getting a general tutor reading the same textbook you have — you're getting someone who knows what the mark scheme rewards.
Former IB examiner for Mathematics AA, Paper 2. Teaching HL and SL since 2013; runs Nivara's exam-technique workshops on calculator-vs-non-calculator strategy.
MSc in Physics; nine years teaching IB Sciences. Built our Paper 3 data-analysis drills after seeing that's where most students lose easy marks.
IB English A examiner for six seasons. Also supervises Extended Essays across subject groups, so your EE and exam prep stay aligned instead of competing for time.
The actual sequence
Five stages, in the order they need to happen
This isn't a menu of options — it's the order that gets you from "I've covered the syllabus" to "I can score under exam conditions," which is a different skill.
Diagnostic
A full past paper under timed conditions, marked to identify exactly which command terms and topics cost you marks.
Study plan
A written plan scoped to your target grade, session date, and weak topics — not the whole syllabus from scratch.
Subject coaching
Weekly sessions with your subject specialist, working problem sets and past-paper questions, not lecture-style review.
Timed mocks
Full papers under real exam conditions, marked against the current IB mark scheme with written examiner-style feedback.
Review week
Command-term drills, grade-boundary awareness, and a last mock to confirm you're walking in ready.
Subject coverage
All six groups, both levels
Pick one subject or the full six — the diagnostic and study plan scale to what you actually need.
Studies in Language & Literature
- English A: Literature
- English A: Lang & Lit
- Paper 1 & 2 guided analysis
Language Acquisition
- French, Spanish, Hindi B
- Ab initio & B level
- Oral exam mock practice
Individuals & Societies
- Economics · Business Mgmt
- Psychology · History
- Case study & essay technique
Sciences
- Physics · Chemistry · Biology
- Paper 3 data analysis
- Practical scheme of work review
Mathematics
- AA SL/HL · AI SL/HL
- Calculator strategy
- Non-calculator paper drills
TOK, EE & CAS
- TOK exhibition & essay
- EE structuring & supervision
- CAS reflection check-ins
How we actually mark
What "marked like an examiner" looks like
Below is a real style of feedback on a Paper 2 response — the same margin-note approach every mock at Nivara gets back.
"The imagery of decay reinforces the poem's central concern with mortality, particularly in the shift from the second to third stanza..." Good — you're linking device to effect, not just naming it. "...this creates a sense of inevitability that mirrors the speaker's own resignation." This is where most SL scripts stop. You went further and it shows. "Furthermore, the poem's structure can be seen as reflecting the fragmentation of memory." Hedge less — you've earned the claim, so make it directly.
Command terms we drill
Half of lost marks aren't knowledge gaps — they're answering "discuss" like it's "describe." Every mock feedback maps straight back to the command term used.
- EvaluateWeigh strengths & limitations, reach a judgement
- DiscussOffer a balanced argument with evidence
- AnalyseBreak down into parts, examine relationships
- JustifyGive reasons or evidence to support an argument
- CompareGive similarities between two or more items
What changes, and by how much
Diagnostic score to final result
These are averages across the 2023–2025 May and November cohorts, tracked from each student's first timed diagnostic to their final IB result.
Average grade (out of 7) across all subjects taken, self-reported final results cross-checked against submitted statements of results.
Where students land
- 45 points3% of Nivara cohort
- 40–44 points19% of Nivara cohort
- 35–39 points34% of Nivara cohort
- 30–34 points28% of Nivara cohort
- 24–29 points12% of Nivara cohort
- Below 244% of Nivara cohort
In their words
Students on what actually helped
"The mock feedback was brutal in the best way — I finally understood why 'discuss' and 'evaluate' aren't the same answer."
"Paper 3 in Chemistry used to wreck my average. The data-analysis drills fixed that specifically, not just 'more practice.'"
"Having my EE supervisor and exam tutor be the same person meant I wasn't managing two conflicting schedules in my final term."
Official IB Resources
Trusted Resources for IB Students
We encourage students to use official IB resources alongside their preparation and revision plan.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Learn about the IB Diploma Programme, subject groups, assessment methods, and official curriculum information.
Visit Official IB Website →IB Diploma Programme Guide
Official information about the structure, subjects, assessment, and diploma requirements.
Explore Diploma Programme →University Recognition
Understand how IB scores are recognized by universities worldwide.
View University Recognition →Before you book
Questions students ask us most
When should I start IB exam preparation?
Most students start focused exam preparation 4 to 6 months before their May or November session, once IA and EE drafts are mostly settled. If you're earlier than that, we still start with a diagnostic so your study time isn't wasted on topics you've already got.
Do you cover both SL and HL?
Yes. Every subject we offer is taught at both Standard Level and Higher Level, and mock papers are set at the correct level and paper style for each.
Can you help with Internal Assessments and the Extended Essay too?
Yes — alongside exam prep we offer IA structuring sessions and EE supervision check-ins, since exam grade and coursework grade both count toward your final points.
Is this online, in-person, or both?
Both. Sessions run live online with a shared annotation board, and in-person at our study centres in select cities. Mock exams can be sat under timed conditions either way.
What if I'm only weak in one or two subjects?
That's the most common case. You can book single-subject coaching instead of the full programme — the diagnostic still applies, just scoped to the subjects you choose.
Start with a diagnostic, not a sales call
Find out exactly where your points are going missing
30 minutes, one past-paper question, and a straight answer on whether the full programme or single-subject coaching fits your session date.
Book your free diagnostic call