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IB tutors in Sharjah: a small IB sector, and how families make it work

The IB is a small part of Sharjah's school system. Most of the emirate's private schools teach British, American, Indian or MOE curricula, and only a handful offer the IB Diploma, often alongside another curriculum: Victoria International School of Sharjah and the Australian International School Sharjah pair it with an Australian programme, and American Gulf School with an American one. Some Sharjah families therefore choose IB schools across the border in Dubai. LiveTutor offers one-to-one online IB lessons for Sharjah students at $15, at times that suit the Monday to Thursday week.

Facts checked:

At a glance

Regulator
SPEA (Sharjah Private Education Authority)
IB in Sharjah
A small number of schools, usually alongside another curriculum
Diploma exams
May session, results in early July
Diploma score
Out of 45
School week
Monday to Thursday; Friday to Sunday off

Where the IB is taught in Sharjah

SPEA's latest Itqan review covered 127 private schools teaching 9 curricula. The IB is one of the smaller ones, and in Sharjah it usually appears as an option within a school rather than as an all-IB school. At the Australian International School Sharjah, students graduate at the end of Grade 12 with either the Queensland Certificate of Education or the IB Diploma. Victoria International School of Sharjah also combines an Australian programme with the IB, and American Gulf School pairs an American curriculum with the IB.

We found fewer than five Sharjah schools we could verify as offering the Diploma, so we list only those. Families who want an all-through IB school often look at Dubai: Uptown International School in Mirdif, on the Sharjah side of Dubai, is one of the nearer options, and Dubai has 16 IB schools in KHDA's 2024-25 count. Check each school's current programmes on its own site before deciding.

IB options for Sharjah families

Sharjah schools from school profiles; Dubai schools from the KHDA directory.

SchoolEmirate and areaHow the IB fits
Victoria International School of SharjahSharjah, Al TaawunAustralian curriculum and IB
Australian International School SharjahSharjah, Maliha-Kalba RoadQCE or IB Diploma at the end of Grade 12
American Gulf SchoolSharjah, Al RahmaniyaAmerican curriculum and IB
Uptown International SchoolDubai, MirdifIB school, early years to Grade 12
GEMS World AcademyDubai, Al BarshaIB school, pre-primary to Grade 12

Cross-border schooling means a daily commute between Sharjah and Dubai; factor the drive into the decision.

What a Diploma student carries

ComponentLoadWhen it bites
Six subjectsUsually three HL and three SL, each graded 1 to 7HL Maths and sciences from the first term of Grade 11
Internal assessmentsOne piece of coursework in most subjectsDrafts across Grade 11 and early Grade 12
Extended Essay4,000 words of independent researchUsually completed by early Grade 12
Theory of KnowledgeAn essay and an exhibitionEssay due in Grade 12
CASCreativity, activity and service over 18 monthsThroughout

How the Sharjah week shapes IB study

Sharjah schools run Monday to Thursday, and the three-day weekend gives IB students time that their peers in five-day systems do not have. It is the natural place for IA and Extended Essay work, which needs uninterrupted hours. Many families book a Saturday morning lesson for the hardest HL subject and a Sunday session for coursework feedback, and keep weekdays for school homework. Students who commute daily to a Dubai IB school lose time on the road, which makes online lessons at home on weekday evenings or at the weekend the practical option.

What an IB tutor does

For each subject, the tutor teaches at the student's level and works from IB markschemes, so the student learns how marks are given for explanation and method, not only for the final answer. For the Extended Essay and internal assessments, the tutor helps narrow the research question, plan the method and test the draft against the criteria, while the writing stays the student's own. Students who switch between curricula, for example from the Australian programme to the Diploma, often need early help with IB command terms and assessment style.

Common questions

Which schools in Sharjah offer the IB Diploma?

A small number, usually alongside another curriculum. Victoria International School of Sharjah, the Australian International School Sharjah and American Gulf School offer the IB. Check each school's current programmes on its website.

Is it worth commuting to Dubai for an IB school?

It depends on the daily drive and on whether your child needs a full IB continuum. Mirdif is one of the nearer Dubai IB options for many Sharjah families. Online tutoring can support either choice.

When are lessons usually booked for Sharjah IB students?

Most use the Friday to Sunday weekend: one lesson for a hard HL subject and, in Grade 12, extra sessions for IA and Extended Essay feedback.

How much do IB lessons cost?

$15 a lesson for every IB subject and level. Plans run from 1 to 5 lessons a week, billed monthly, with a free first lesson for your 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.

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