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IB Film SL & HL Tutoring

Online IB Film tutoring at SL and HL for the current guide, first assessed in 2023. Get help with the textual analysis, the recorded comparative study, the film portfolio in three production roles and, at HL, the collaborative film project.

IB Film has no timed exam. You are assessed on a written textual analysis of a prescribed film, a recorded multimedia comparative study, and a film portfolio of work in three film production roles, and HL students also make a collaborative film in a core production team. Your tutor teaches you to analyse film elements and cultural context precisely, shows with other films how a comparative study argues its case in 10 minutes, and explains what the criteria reward in each production role, while every submission stays your own. Sessions are online and one-to-one, with verified tutors who scored 40+ IB points.

Quick answer: IB Doctor offers 1-to-1 IB Film SL & HL tutoring for course content, each assessment component and coursework. Lessons follow the syllabus and assessment criteria, and the work stays your own. Review tutor verification, student results and methodology before booking.
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Film tutoring prices

From £52.50 to £70 per hour, depending on bundle size. Each bundle covers one subject.

  • Taster Bundle
    3 hours
    £210
    £70 per hour
  • Starter Bundle
    5 hours
    £330
    £66 per hour
  • Coursework Bundle
    10 hours
    £650
    £65 per hour
  • Assessment Bundle
    20 hours
    £1,250
    £62.50 per hour
  • Guardian Bundle
    50 hours
    £2,900
    £58 per hour
  • Ultimate Bundle
    100 hours
    £5,250
    £52.50 per hour
See full bundle details

What You Get with IB Film SL & HL Tutoring

Comprehensive support designed to help you achieve your target grade

Textual Analysis and Comparative Study

  • Choosing an extract of up to 5 minutes from a prescribed film and analysing it in up to 1,750 words
  • Cultural context, film elements and relationships within the film text, the three textual analysis criteria
  • Justifying your area of film focus, two films and topic for the comparative study
  • Scripting and assembling a recorded multimedia comparative study of up to 10 minutes

Film Portfolio

  • Planning exercises, experiments and a completed film across three film production roles
  • Portfolio pages: up to 3 pages per role, 9 pages in total
  • Film reel: up to 3 minutes per role, 9 minutes in total, including one completed film
  • Showing clear filmmaker intentions and the influences behind your work

HL Collaborative Film Project

  • Working in a core production team of two to four students
  • Planning and making an original completed film of up to 7 minutes
  • Writing a project report of up to 2,000 words
  • Justifying your creative work in one role and reflecting on the collaboration
Real student results

Students Improving Their Film Grades

5 → 7
"My tutor taught me how to really deconstruct a film scene - I went from surface-level observations to sophisticated analysis of cinematography and editing choices."
L

Lucas M.

Film HL, May 2024

4 → 7
"The support with my film portfolio was invaluable. My tutor pushed me to experiment with different genres and techniques, which made my pages so much stronger."
E

Emily J.

Film HL, May 2024

4 → 6
"I learned more about practical filmmaking from my tutor in 10 sessions than I did all year in class. The feedback on my collaborative film project was exactly what I needed."
J

James R.

Film SL, May 2024

How It Works

Simple steps to get started with IB Film SL & HL tutoring

1

Buy a Bundle

Choose 3 to 100 hours based on your needs. Split across subjects if needed.

2

Complete Onboarding

Tell us your course and level, weak areas, goals, and scheduling preferences.

3

Get Matched & Start

Matched within 24 hours. Schedule your first session immediately.

First Session Guarantee

Not satisfied? Contact us within 24 hours. We'll address concerns, offer a rematch, or provide a full refund.

Film HL vs SL: What's the Difference?

Understanding the requirements at each level

SL
HL
Teaching Hours
150 hours
240 hours
Textual Analysis
Up to 1,750 words, 30%
The same task, 20%
Comparative Study
Recorded, up to 10 minutes, 30%
The same task, 20%
Film Portfolio (IA)
Work in three production roles, 40%
The same task, 25%
Collaborative Film Project
Not taken
A film of up to 7 minutes and a 2,000-word report, 35%
Written Exam
None
None

IB Film SL & HL Topics We Cover

The course has three core areas at both levels: reading film, contextualising film and exploring film production roles. HL adds collaboratively producing film. The production roles are director, cinematographer, editor, sound and writer, plus one other clearly defined role if your school offers it. The IB recommends 150 teaching hours at SL and 240 at HL.

Reading Film

  • Film as an art form
  • Film texts from a variety of cultural contexts
  • How film elements combine to convey meaning
  • Writing analysis with precise film vocabulary

Film Elements

  • Cinematography and editing
  • Mise-en-scène and sound
  • Narrative structure, genre, codes and conventions
  • Motifs, symbols and themes

Contextualising Film

  • How film has evolved across time, space and culture
  • Film movements, such as French New Wave or Third Cinema
  • Genre, style and film theory, such as auteur theory
  • Economic, historical, political, social and other cultural contexts

Film Production Roles

  • Director and writer
  • Cinematographer
  • Editor and sound
  • One other clearly defined role, such as production designer

Film Portfolio (IA)

  • Portfolio pages and film reel for each of three roles
  • 4 marks per role for pages, 4 for the reel
  • At least one completed film in the reel
  • Clips chosen to show your skills in each role

Collaborative Film Project (HL)

  • Core production teams of two to four students
  • Skills in one chosen production role
  • Justification of your creative work
  • Reflection on collaboration in the team
Assessment breakdown

IB Film SL & HL Assessment Structure

IB Film follows the second edition of the guide, first assessed in 2023, and has no timed exam. Externally assessed: the textual analysis (SL 30%, HL 20%), the comparative study (SL 30%, HL 20%) and, at HL only, the collaborative film project (35%). Internally assessed: the film portfolio (SL 40%, HL 25%), marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB.

Textual Analysis (written, externally assessed)

External Assessment
SL: 30%
HL: 20%

Written coursework, not a timed exam: an analysis of an extract of up to 5 minutes from a prescribed film, covering its cultural context and film elements

1,750 words maximum plus a source list | 28 marks: cultural context, film elements, relationships within the film text

Comparative Study (recorded, externally assessed)

External Assessment
SL: 30%
HL: 20%

Research into an area of film focus, comparing two films and presented as a recorded multimedia study

Recording of up to 10 minutes plus a source list | 32 marks

Film Portfolio (internal assessment)

Internal Assessment
SL: 40%
HL: 25%

Film exercises, experiments and at least one completed film across three film production roles

Up to 9 portfolio pages (3 per role) | Film reel up to 9 minutes (3 per role) | 24 marks | Marked by your teacher, moderated by the IB

Collaborative Film Project (HL, externally assessed)

External Assessment
HL only: 35%

An original completed film planned and made in a core production team of two to four students

Completed film up to 7 minutes | Project report up to 2,000 words plus sources | 24 marks

Key Assessment Notes

  • There is no timed exam in IB Film. External tasks are submitted coursework marked by IB examiners.
  • For the textual analysis, the IB releases a list of 10 prescribed films each year. Your teacher picks three to five of them, and you analyse one you have not studied in class.
  • The film portfolio is the same task at SL and HL. HL adds the collaborative film project, so the shared tasks carry less weight at HL.
  • Examiners and moderators only assess work within the page, word and time limits, so anything beyond a limit earns no marks.
IB Film grade distribution and average gradeHow students actually scored in the latest IB results: the share of each grade, HL vs SL, and how many got a 7.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IB Film SL & HL tutoring

Yes. Both levels complete the textual analysis, the comparative study and the film portfolio, and HL adds the collaborative film project. Every tutor scored 40 or more IB points and is verified, and sessions are online and one-to-one. Your tutor plans sessions around your level, your production roles and the task due next. You are usually matched with a tutor within 24 hours.

It is a written analysis of up to 1,750 words of an extract of up to 5 minutes from a prescribed film, worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL. You discuss the film's cultural context, its film elements and how they relate within the film. The film comes from a list the IB releases each year, from which your teacher selects three to five. Tutors practise analysis with you on other films and extracts, so you learn to explain meaning, not just technique.

You research an area of film focus, such as a film movement, genre or film theory, choose two films within it and a topic that links them, and present your comparison as a recorded multimedia study of up to 10 minutes. It is externally assessed and worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL. Marks go to justifying your choices, comparing and contrasting, and how well you assemble the recording.

The film portfolio is the internal assessment: 40% at SL and 25% at HL. You work in three film production roles, such as director, cinematographer, editor, sound or writer, and submit up to 3 portfolio pages and up to 3 minutes of film reel for each role, 9 pages and 9 minutes in total, including one completed film. Your teacher marks it and the IB moderates.

It is the HL-only task, worth 35% and externally assessed. You work in a core production team of two to four students to plan and make an original completed film of up to 7 minutes, taking one chosen production role, and write a project report of up to 2,000 words. You are marked on your skills in that role, the justification of your creative work and your reflection on the collaboration.

Yes. Tutors teach framing, editing rhythm, sound and how a clip shows skill in a role, using film examples and practice exercises over screen share, and explain how to plan shoots and state filmmaker intentions. The filming, editing and portfolio must be your own work, and feedback on them comes from your teacher.

The second edition of the film guide, first assessed in 2023, applies to all three sessions. It has four tasks: the textual analysis, the comparative study and the film portfolio at both levels, plus the HL collaborative film project. Check that any older resources you use describe these same tasks, word limits and time limits before you rely on them.

In May 2026 (IB provisional statistical bulletin) 3.1% of the 2,990 HL candidates and 2% of the 1,843 SL candidates got a 7. The mean grade was 4.3 at HL and 4.1 at SL, and 4 was the most common grade at both levels. Top marks are rare, so precise analysis and well-documented production work make a real difference.

HL has 240 teaching hours against 150 and adds the collaborative film project, worth 35%, so the three shared tasks count for less. In May 2026 the mean grade was 4.3 at HL and 4.1 at SL (IB provisional statistical bulletin). HL suits you if you want to make a complete film with a team and can manage the extra production time.

Yes. Close to a deadline, sessions usually focus on concise analytical writing, how to script and time a recorded comparison, and what the criteria reward in each role, practised on other films and example material. You are usually matched with a tutor within 24 hours. Earlier support helps more, because production work and research take time.

We offer a first session guarantee. If you're not satisfied after your first session, we'll rematch you with a different tutor or give you a full refund.

Recommended Guides

IB Internal Assessment: What It Is, Methods, Structure

How teacher marking and IB moderation work for the film portfolio.

Read guide

Compare and Contrast Questions: How to Answer Them

How to structure a comparison, useful for the comparative study.

Read guide

IB Assessment Criteria Explained: How IB Marking Works

How criteria and markbands work across your Film tasks.

Read guide

IB Citation Format: Referencing Your Extended Essay

Referencing habits for the source lists in the textual analysis and comparative study.

Read guide
View all resources

Related Subjects

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