Academia Launches Dedicated IB Department to Support High-Performance IB English Outcomes in Singapore
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 – Academia Pte Ltd has announced the launch of its dedicated International Baccalaureate (IB) Department, marking a strategic expansion to support the growing number of IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) students in Singapore seeking specialised English training aligned with IB assessment standards.
The new department will focus initially on IB English Language & Literature and IB English Literature for Diploma Programme Year 1 and Year 2 students. The programme is designed to provide structured preparation for key IB assessment components, including Paper 1 (unseen textual analysis, including multimodal and visual texts), Paper 2 (comparative literary analysis), and the Individual Oral (IO), with optional support available for the Extended Essay.
The department launches with immediate effect, with rolling intake now open for small-group classes held at Tanglin Community Club (Whitley Road) and Upper Thomson. Each term runs for 12 weeks, with two-hour weekly sessions conducted in groups capped at 6–10 students.
The launch reflects growing demand among IB families for English training designed specifically around IB performance criteria, rather than general English tuition.
Addressing a Growing Need Among IB Families
Singapore is home to 41 IB World Schools, with more than 4,500 students sitting the IBDP examinations in 2025 across the May and November sessions. Schools offering the IB Diploma include ACS (Independent), St Joseph's Institution, SJI International, Hwa Chong International, UWCSEA, Singapore American School, GIIS, Canadian International School, Stamford American International School, and Tanglin Trust School.
The country has consistently produced some of the strongest IB outcomes globally. In the November 2024 IB Diploma examinations, Singapore students achieved an average score of 38.4 points, significantly higher than the global average of 29.2 points. An IB score above 38 is widely regarded as equivalent to three A grades at A-Level under the UK UCAS framework.
Within this context, IB English often emerges as a key differentiator in overall Diploma scores, particularly for students aiming to achieve top-band results.
Dedicated IB-Specific Training
Academia's IB Department is structured around component-based training aligned with official IB marking criteria, providing students with a repeatable method for approaching IB assessments.
The programme combines:
- Structured preparation for Paper 1, Paper 2, and the Individual Oral
- Analysis of literary, non-literary, and multimodal texts
- Development of comparative literary argumentation
- Training in critical literacy and rhetorical analysis
- Optional guidance for the IB Extended Essay
Leadership with Extensive IB Experience
The IB Department is headed by Mr Azrael Tseng, an educator with more than 20 years of teaching experience. His career includes seven years with Singapore's Ministry of Education as well as experience teaching within international school IB environments. Over the course of his career, he has taught students who have gone on to achieve the maximum 45 points in the IB Diploma.
According to Academia, the department's curriculum is developed by educators with strong academic backgrounds in English Language and Literature at the university and postgraduate levels. The programme emphasises analytical depth and intellectual range through engagement with a diverse set of global literary and non-literary texts.
Small-Group Structure and Performance-Focused Training
Classes are intentionally kept small, with enrolment capped at 6–10 students per group, enabling close feedback and sustained engagement with student writing.
The programme also incorporates elements of metacognitive and performance training, helping students develop structured thinking processes and confidence when responding to complex texts under examination conditions.
This approach is designed to address a common challenge for IB students: translating strong analytical ideas into consistently high-scoring responses within the time pressures of the IB exam format.
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About Academia Pte Ltd
Academia is Singapore's top-performing English, Literature, and General Paper tuition centre, offering structured, academically rigorous programmes for Primary, Secondary, and JC students. Founded by educators with global credentials, we specialise in developing thinkers, writers, and confident communicators. Our curriculum blends clarity, structure, and critical thought, designed to help students excel in the PSLE, O Levels, and A Levels. Weaving elements from the local education system with strategies re-engineered from top higher educational institutions and liberal arts colleges, our programme intelligently responds to your needs. We create empowered, smart and confident individuals who can navigate and dominate their future careers.
