At a glance
- Ages
- 3 to 12 (early years to Grade 5)
- Structure
- Units of inquiry under 6 transdisciplinary themes
- Grades
- Most schools give no grades
- Final year
- PYP exhibition
- Next stage
- IB MYP from Grade 6
What the PYP is
The PYP is a curriculum framework, not a textbook syllabus. The IB sets the principles, themes, approaches to learning and assessment philosophy; each school builds its own programme of inquiry, choosing the units it teaches in each grade. Maths and language are often taught as stand-alone lessons as well, especially for skills that need practice, but they are linked back to the unit of inquiry wherever possible.
KHDA's guide for Dubai parents splits the PYP into two phases. In the early years, ages 3 to 6, learning happens mainly through play, relationships, carefully designed learning environments, and expression through drawing, storytelling and movement. In Grades 1 to 5, ages 6 to 11, students build understanding across subjects through inquiry, approaches to learning such as research and self-management, and formative assessment, ending with the exhibition.
The six transdisciplinary themes
| Theme | What a unit might explore |
|---|---|
| Who we are | The body and health, identity, families, relationships |
| Where we are in place and time | History, migration, maps, journeys and discoveries |
| How we express ourselves | Stories, art, music, advertising, culture and celebrations |
| How the world works | Forces, materials, weather, the solar system, simple machines |
| How we organise ourselves | Communities, trade, systems and services, rules and government |
| Sharing the planet | Habitats, water, energy, conservation and fairness |
Each grade usually completes several units across the year; the school's programme of inquiry shows which units your child will study.
Stages and how children are assessed
| Phase | Usual grades | Ages | How progress is shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early years | Pre-K, KG1, KG2 | 3 to 6 | Observation, learning stories and portfolios |
| Lower primary | Grades 1 and 2 | 6 to 8 | Portfolios, reading records, teacher comments against learning outcomes |
| Upper primary | Grades 3 to 5 | 8 to 11 | Unit tasks, written feedback, maths and literacy checks set by the school |
| Exhibition | Grade 5 (final PYP year) | 10 to 12 | A collaborative inquiry shared with the school community |
Grade names vary by school; British-style schools that run the PYP may use Year groups instead. Many PYP schools also use external benchmark tests for reading and maths.
The PYP in the Gulf
The PYP is taught in IB World Schools across the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia, often in schools that also run the MYP and the Diploma. Many are bilingual or multilingual, teaching in English with Arabic and sometimes a third language. In Dubai, KHDA lists the IB as one of the curricula families can choose from the early years onwards.
Because PYP schools design their own units and rarely give grades, families moving between schools, or from a PYP school into a British or American school, sometimes find gaps in specific skills: formal written methods in maths, spelling and grammar, or times tables. None of this is a flaw in the programme; it is simply that inquiry learning does not always make the practice side visible to parents.
What parents often get wrong
- Assuming no grades means no standards. PYP schools assess against learning outcomes; ask the teacher where your child is against them in reading, writing and maths.
- Expecting worksheets as homework. PYP homework is often reading, research or a project, so number facts and spelling may need separate practice at home.
- Underestimating the exhibition. It asks 10 and 11 year olds to plan research, work in a group and present, which some children find stressful without support.
- Waiting until the MYP. The jump in independent work in Grade 6 is easier for children whose basic skills are secure.
How one-to-one tutoring helps in the PYP
A PYP tutor's most useful work is usually the practice that inquiry lessons leave little time for: phonics and reading fluency for younger children, number facts and written methods in maths, sentence structure and spelling in writing. A good tutor also links that practice to the current unit, for example writing a short report on the habitat the class is studying, so the child sees why the skill matters.
In Grade 5 a tutor can help a child plan exhibition research, take notes and rehearse a presentation, while keeping the work the child's own. LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, in our own online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard. Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book if your child would benefit from one.
Common questions
Does the PYP teach maths properly?
Yes. Maths is part of the framework and many schools teach it in dedicated lessons as well as through units. If you are unsure, ask the school how number facts and written methods are practised and how progress is checked.
Why does my child's PYP report have no grades?
Most PYP schools report against learning outcomes with written comments instead of grades. Ask the teacher for specific examples of where your child is secure and where they need practice.
Can a child move from the PYP to a British school?
Yes, and many do. The usual adjustment is in formal maths methods, spelling and grammar, which a few weeks of focused practice can close.
What is the PYP exhibition?
A collaborative inquiry in the final PYP year in which students choose an issue, research it, take action and present what they learned to the school community.
How much do PYP lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial, one per household.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.