MP
Mrs Priya Nair, parent
June 2026
Verified
7My daughter could recall everything but couldn't turn it into an argument. Her tutor rebuilt how she plans Paper 2 essays, and her predicted grade went from a 4...
IB History HL · London
IB specialist tutoring
IB HistoryTutoring
Expert 1-on-1 IB History tutoring for HL and SL. Master source analysis, build persuasive essay arguments, and reach Grade 6 or 7.
84%
reach Grade 6 or above
+1.7
average grade improvement
10+
years average tutor experience
Free
first lesson, no commitment
IB History HLIB History SLIB History HLIB History SLIB History HLIB History SL
Real specialists
Meet tutors with examiner instincts.
Specialist tutors with board knowledge, strong academic backgrounds, and proven grade-improvement records.
IB History ExaminerDr Eleanor Whitfield
Oxford DPhil Modern History · IB Examiner
IB History HL and SL, A-Level History (all boards)
Avg +1.8 grade improvement
Essay & Paper 2 SpecialistMr Daniel Okafor
LSE MSc History of International Relations · IB Teacher
IB History SL and HL — authoritarian states and Cold War
86% of students reach Grade 6+
Source Skills & IA SpecialistMs Sofia Herrera
Cambridge MPhil History · IB Teacher
IB History HL and SL, OPVL source analysis, internal assessment
Average IA score: 22/25
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Tell us about your child and we'll match a specialist IB History tutor within 24 hours.
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Our standard
Every tutor clears a high bar.
UK-qualified teachers
Degree-level subject specialists, many PGCE-trained, who teach to the UK exam standard.
Examiner insight
Tutors who know the mark schemes and coach the exact phrasing that earns every mark.
Vetted & background-checked
Every tutor is interviewed, reference-checked, and background-verified before their first lesson.
Matched to your board
You are paired with a specialist in your exact board and tier — never a generalist.
Lesson flow
From confusion to calm, one lesson at a time.
Our tutors build the twin skills that decide an IB History grade — rigorous source evaluation and tightly argued essays — while grounding every response in precise, well-selected historical detail.
Step 1
Pinpoint the gaps
We start with recent marks, confidence blockers, and the exact exam board so sessions feel personal from lesson one.
Step 2
Teach the mark scheme
Tutors connect concepts to examiner language, worked examples, and the habits that turn knowledge into marks.
Step 3
Track the lift
Parents see what changed after each session: topics covered, next steps, and the grade trajectory we are building toward.
What we cover
A syllabus map students can actually follow.
Paper 1 — Prescribed Subjects
Source-based analysis on one prescribed subject, such as The move to global war, Rights and protest, or Conflict and intervention. Students answer four question types: comprehension, value and limitations (OPVL), cross-referencing, and a mini-essay using sources and own knowledge.
Paper 2 — World History Topics
Two comparative essays chosen from topics such as Authoritarian states, Causes and effects of 20th-century wars, and Independence movements. Requires strong thematic knowledge across regions and a clear, sustained line of argument.
Paper 3 — HL Depth Study
HL only. An in-depth regional study — History of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, or Africa and the Middle East — with three essays demanding detailed, specific knowledge. This is where HL students most often lose or gain marks.
Authoritarian States
The rise and rule of leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Castro, and Perón. Comparing the conditions for emergence, consolidation of power, and domestic policies is a favourite Paper 2 essay theme.
Causes and Effects of Wars
Analysing the long- and short-term causes, practices, and effects of 20th-century conflicts including the World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the Cold War. Students must weigh political, economic, and ideological factors.
Source Skills — OPVL
Evaluating origin, purpose, value, and limitations of primary and secondary sources. We teach a reliable OPVL method that avoids vague 'this source is biased' answers and instead links provenance to analytical value.
Internal Assessment
A 2,200-word historical investigation worth 25% at SL and 20% at HL. We guide question design, the evaluation of two sources, the investigation itself, and the reflection — the three-section structure examiners reward.
Paper 1 — Prescribed Subjects
Source-based analysis on one prescribed subject, such as The move to global war, Rights and protest, or Conflict and intervention. Students answer four question types: comprehension, value and limitations (OPVL), cross-referencing, and a mini-essay using sources and own knowledge.
Paper 2 — World History Topics
Two comparative essays chosen from topics such as Authoritarian states, Causes and effects of 20th-century wars, and Independence movements. Requires strong thematic knowledge across regions and a clear, sustained line of argument.
Paper 3 — HL Depth Study
HL only. An in-depth regional study — History of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, or Africa and the Middle East — with three essays demanding detailed, specific knowledge. This is where HL students most often lose or gain marks.
Authoritarian States
The rise and rule of leaders such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Castro, and Perón. Comparing the conditions for emergence, consolidation of power, and domestic policies is a favourite Paper 2 essay theme.
Causes and Effects of Wars
Analysing the long- and short-term causes, practices, and effects of 20th-century conflicts including the World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the Cold War. Students must weigh political, economic, and ideological factors.
Source Skills — OPVL
Evaluating origin, purpose, value, and limitations of primary and secondary sources. We teach a reliable OPVL method that avoids vague 'this source is biased' answers and instead links provenance to analytical value.
Internal Assessment
A 2,200-word historical investigation worth 25% at SL and 20% at HL. We guide question design, the evaluation of two sources, the investigation itself, and the reflection — the three-section structure examiners reward.
See this plan built around your child's exact paper.
Book Free Demo
+1.7
average grade improvement
Common blockers
Where students struggle, and how we fix it.
1Writing analytical essays under time pressure+
Paper 2 and Paper 3 essays reward argument, not narrative. We teach a repeatable planning method — thesis, thematic paragraphs, and counter-argument — so students structure a persuasive, evidenced response in the time available rather than drifting into storytelling.
2The OPVL source question+
Many students describe sources instead of evaluating them. We drill a precise OPVL approach that ties a source's origin and purpose to its specific value and limitations for a historian, using the exact analytical language the Paper 1 mark scheme rewards.
3Deploying precise historical detail+
Top grades depend on specific names, dates, statistics, and events — not generalisation. We build subject-specific fact banks and practise weaving accurate detail into arguments, which is what separates a Grade 5 essay from a Grade 7.
Proof that feels close to home.
LM
Lukas M., student
June 2026
Verified
6I never understood what examiners wanted in the OPVL question until my tutor gave me a clear method. Paper 1 went from my weakest paper to my strongest.
IB History SL · Vienna
MA
Mr Andrew Coleman, parent
June 2026
Verified
7We needed help with the HL Paper 3 depth study on the Americas. The tutor knew the syllabus and mark scheme inside out, and our son finished with a 7.
IB History HL · Toronto
Sarah M.
June 2026
Verified
Grade 4 → 6My daughter was struggling with IB Mathematics HL and had almost given up hope of getting a 7. After just two months of weekly sessions with her ComboTutors tut...
Parent of IB Student · London
James P.
June 2026
Verified
B → A*My son started tutoring for A-Level Physics about three months before his exams. His tutor was incredibly patient and broke down complex topics like electromagn...
Parent of A-Level Student · Manchester
Priya K.
June 2026
Verified
+2 GradesWe needed help with GCSE Science for my son who found chemistry particularly challenging. His tutor made the sessions engaging and relatable—using real-world ex...
Parent of GCSE Student · Birmingham
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Why parents chose Combo.
Families usually want three things: a tutor their child respects, a plan that fits the real paper, and updates that make progress easy to follow.
Handpicked tutors
We shortlist tutors who know the curriculum, teach clearly, and can coach the exact exam habits that lift marks.
Top-university academics and exam-savvy specialists.
Clear weekly updates
Parents see what was covered, what improved, and what needs attention next, so progress never feels vague.
Structured feedback after every lesson block.
A plan built around your child's paper
Sessions are matched to the student's board, tier, topic gaps, and exam timeline instead of generic subject tutoring.
Board-specific support with a measurable target grade path.
Ready to close the gaps? Start with a free demo.
Book Free DemoIB FAQ
Common Questions.
They are broadly comparable, but the demands differ. IB History HL is wider — three papers plus the Internal Assessment, and Paper 3 requires detailed regional knowledge across a long time span. A-Level History allows deeper study of fewer topics. Both reward strong analytical essay-writing and precise use of evidence.
We work through past Paper 1 sources on your prescribed subject, drilling the four question types — comprehension, OPVL, cross-referencing, and the source-plus-knowledge mini-essay. Students learn a consistent method and the exact analytical language the mark scheme rewards.
Yes. We guide the full historical investigation — choosing a focused question, evaluating two sources, writing the investigation, and the reflection section. The IA is worth 25% at SL and 20% at HL, so getting the three-part structure right makes a real difference to the final grade.
We cover all four HL regional options: History of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Africa and the Middle East. Tell us which region and sections your school teaches and we will match a tutor with genuine depth in that area.
Starting in Year 1 (Grade 11) is ideal for building essay technique and source skills early, so Year 2 and the IA feel manageable. That said, students who begin in the final semester can still make significant gains through focused past-paper practice and exam technique.
Transparent pricing
See pricingSpecialist tutoring from $15/hr.
Every exam board, every tier. No hidden fees and no long contracts — start with a free trial lesson.
Ready to Excel in IB History?
Book a free consultation and we will match you with a specialist IB History tutor who can make a real difference.