Eight of the nine UK medical schools we checked require Chemistry at HL, which makes it the subject future doctors can least afford to drop marks in. Lanterna offers one-to-one online Chemistry lessons at SL and HL, taught by DP Chemistry teachers, specialists and graduates who earned a 7, to students in London, Oxford, Kent, Surrey and the rest of the UK. Calculations, mechanisms and the investigation are all covered, on UK time, from £58 an hour.
IB Chemistry changed in 2023, when it was rebuilt around structure and reactivity. The tutors here teach the current course; let us know whether the arithmetic or the written explanations cost your child more, and we will propose a match.
IB Chemistry Tutor30 years' teaching
I teach IB Chemistry courses at SL and HL and I am an IB Examiner in the International Baccalaureate Organization. I mark IA Lab Reports and Paper Examinations (Paper 1B and Paper 2).
IB Chemistry Tutor20+ years' teaching
I’m an IB Chemistry teacher and examiner with over 20 years of experience in international education, including Robert College, Koç School, and a Fulbright Exchange year in the U.S. I’ve also been tutoring with Lanterna for two years. I graded 340 HL Paper 2 scripts for the May 2025 IB Chemistry exam, giving me unique insight into what examiners look for.
IB Chemistry TutorDP coordinator16+ years' teaching
I’m Harish, an experienced IB educator and Diploma Programme Coordinator with over 16 years of international teaching and leadership experience. I specialize in guiding students through the IB Diploma Programme, particularly in Chemistry, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the Extended Essay (EE). I hold a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Missouri, and a PGCEi (Distinction) from the University of Nottingham, UK. Over the years, I’ve taught and mentored hundreds of IB students in schools across Asia, helping them achieve academic success and confidence in their learning journey. My professional experience includes curriculum leadership, examiner training, and mentoring teachers as part of the IB Educator Network (IBEN). As a tutor, I focus on conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and effective exam preparation, helping students connect ideas across subjects and express their thinking clearly. I believe in creating a supportive and reflective learning environment where students feel empowered to take ownership of their progress. Outside the classroom, I enjoy travelling, exploring different cultures, and reading about education and philosophy. I also love connecting chemistry and TOK ideas to real-world issues that inspire curiosity and insight.
IB Chemistry TutorIA moderator10+ years' IB teaching
I’m Anita, and I have been teaching IB Diploma Chemistry for nearly 14 years. I also serve as an IBDP Examiner as well as IA Moderator— roles that have not only broadened my understanding of the IB curriculum but also allowed me to contribute to its ongoing development. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working at some of the most prestigious international schools in Dubai, UAE, which has deepened my subject expertise and given me the opportunity to engage with students of diverse abilities and cultural backgrounds. Many of the schools I’ve worked with—such as Dubai International Academy, Emirates Hills where I’ve spent a significant part of my career, are recognized for their exceptionally high standards —an environment that has continually pushed me to elevate both my teaching practices and my expectations of student performance. My students find my classes focused, supportive, and exam oriented. I always strive to bring out the best in every student I teach, and the most fulfilling part of my work is guiding students to find strategies that suit their learning styles, witnessing their confidence develop, and celebrating their success as they secure admission to their chosen universities.
IB Chemistry TutorIA moderator10+ years' teaching
I’m Pratik, an experienced IB Chemistry educator, IB examiner, and IB Internal Assessment (IA) moderator with nearly 13 years of international teaching experience across India and China. My recent experience includes teaching IB DP and MYP Chemistry at Mahindra International School, where I also served as an MYP Personal Project Coordinator.
IB Chemistry Tutor44/45 IB graduate5 years' tutoring
My name is Yujin, and I'm an environmental science student who graduated with an IB score of 44, receiving a 7 in all of my subjects. I did the MYP and DP in China, Australia, and Korea. I've worked short- and long-term with more than 30 students from all over the world over the last 5 years. I focus on personalizing content breakdown to each student's learning style, and advising students on the best study strategy. I place particular emphasis on using past papers and tailoring exam prep to common IB tips. For assessment prep like IA and the EE, I provide research and writing support specific to the student's planning and writing style. In my free time, I love hiking, reading, and traveling. I've recently explored more of the American Rockies, and hope to make it to central Asia in the near future.
HL Chemistry is required for medicine at eight of the nine UK medical schools in the table below; Manchester alone accepts Chemistry or Biology, as its entry requirements put it, plus another science. Most pair Chemistry with one more HL from Biology, Physics or Maths, and none of the nine requires HL Maths. Cambridge adds that its colleges usually want the top grade in Chemistry.
The UCAS date for 2027-entry medicine was 15 October 2026, so for this year's DP2 students the offers now rest on predicted grades and, in the end, on the final results. For DP1 students the cycle starts again next year; the UCAS rules for medicine are on our guide to the IB in the UK, and the UCAT and interviews on our Biology page.
| Medical school | IB offer | HL sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | 39 including core, 7, 6, 6 at HL | Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths |
| Cambridge | 41–42 of 45, 7, 7, 6 at HL (minimum) | Chemistry and one or two of Maths, Biology or Physics, depending on the College |
| Imperial | Minimum 38; typical 39 | Biology and Chemistry: minimum 6 in each, typical 6 and 7 |
| UCL | 39 of 45, at least 19 from three HLs, nothing below 5 | Biology and Chemistry, 6 and 7 in either order |
| King's College London | 38 including TOK and EE, or 19 from three HLs | 6 in Biology and in Chemistry |
| Edinburgh | 38, 6, 6, 6 at HL (what most recent offer-holders had) | Chemistry and one of Biology, Maths or Physics |
| St Andrews | 38, with 6, 6, 6 at HL and at SL | Chemistry and one of Biology, Maths or Physics |
| Bristol | 36, with 18 at HL | 6 in Chemistry and 6 in Biology, Physics or Maths |
| Manchester | 36, 6, 6, 6 at HL | Chemistry or Biology, plus another science |
Worldwide, 35.7% of Chemistry HL candidates scored a 6 or 7 in May 2025, the grades the medical offers above name, while a 5 was the single most common result. At SL the mean was 4.3.
| IB grade | Share of candidates |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.7% |
| 2 | 5% |
| 3 | 15.8% |
| 4 | 19.4% |
| 5 | 22.3% |
| 6 | 20.7% |
| 7 | 15% |
From a 3.3 average before tutoring to a 5.5 after tutoring with Lanterna.
The IB Chemistry course has been taught in this form since 2023 and examined since 2025. SL students have 150 teaching hours and HL students 240; in both, Paper 1 is worth 36%, Paper 2 44% and the scientific investigation 20%.
Proton transfer in acids and bases, electron transfer in redox and cells, and how organic molecules react; the theme HL extends furthest.
Stoichiometry and yields, what controls the speed of a reaction, and equilibrium constants.
Why ionic lattices, covalent molecules and metals behave so differently.
Atomic structure, isotopes, electron arrangements, moles and gases.
Trends across the periodic table, functional groups and naming organic compounds.
Enthalpy, bond energies and energy cycles; at HL, entropy and Gibbs energy decide whether a reaction happens.
“After receiving a 2 in my Chemistry exam in May, i believed I would never be able to comprehend Chemistry as no matter how hard I would try, it would just go through one ear and out the other. However, my incredible Chemistry tutor Esteban has completely changed that for me.”
“What helped me the most was how he taught exam techniques, data analysis skills, and how to approach different question styles with confidence. Through regular practice, targeted feedback, and his constant encouragement, I gradually became more confident in solving past paper questions and managing timed assessments.”
“Marlen is exceptionally knowledgeable in the content area, and she is able to break the material down and organize it in a way that promotes learning. Marlen is also able to ask good questions to sort out where the student is struggling, and then identify areas to reteach, or provide more practice opportunities. We have been so lucky to meet Marlen!”
Each review comes from an IB family we have tutored; there are hundreds more on our review pages.
Master your IB Science IA analysis by learning how to ace uncertainty calculations and data processing. Get expert tips to achieve top marks in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.
Read the guide: Science IB IA Analysis: How to Nail Uncertainty CalculationsChoosing IB subjects? Align your HL/SL choices with university requirements & career goals. Our strategic guide helps you avoid common mistakes for IB success.
Read the guide: How to Choose Your IB Subjects GuideFind your perfect IB Extended Essay idea! Discover 25 unique EE topics across Chemistry, Psychology, English, and Physics to spark your inspiration and conquer choice paralysis.
Read the guide: 25 Unique IB Extended Essay Ideas to Spark Your EEStart early and work on the grade the offer names. Most UK medical offers need at least a 6 in HL Chemistry, UCL a 6 or 7 alongside Biology, and Cambridge colleges usually a 7. A Lanterna Chemistry tutor finds where the marks go, often calculations, equilibrium or organic mechanisms, and builds weekly practice around them. No one can promise a grade; the Chemistry students we have tutored rose on average from 3.3 to 5.5.
Our lessons are all online, which means a family in London chooses from the same tutors as one in Edinburgh or Hong Kong: experienced DP Chemistry teachers, specialists and graduates who scored a 7. Lessons are live and one to one, on UK time.
Yes. Mechanisms are part of the theme HL extends most, and they reward precise curly arrows, intermediates and conditions. A tutor works through mechanism and synthesis questions from past papers until your child can build a route between two compounds without notes.
Yes. Easter is the last long revision block before the May 2027 IB exams, which start in late April. Each school sets its own holidays, so check your calendar: the Kent council pattern runs Easter from 26 March to 9 April 2027, and Surrey community schools start the summer term on 12 April, about two weeks before the first papers.
Coaching on the thinking, not the doing. A tutor can help your child test whether a research question is workable with school equipment and time, rehearse uncertainty calculations on practice data, and show how each criterion is marked; the method, the data and the report stay your child's. Our internal assessment page sets out the IB's rules.
From £58 an hour, depending on the tutor type and the package. We explain the options in a free consultation before anything is booked.
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