Choose A-Level if your child already knows they want a maths-heavy degree and would rather study three or four subjects in depth, especially with Further Maths. Choose the IB Diploma if they want to keep six subjects going and are comfortable with coursework, including the maths exploration. Universities respect both; the right route depends on the student and the degree.
What is ClassArc?
ClassArc is live one-to-one online maths tutoring for school-age children. One teacher and one child, for 55 minutes. The same teacher every week. Classes run inside our own classroom software, not a video call: a shared worksheet you both write on, a shared whiteboard, and answers that sync live.
The short answer
The IB Diploma keeps six subjects running to 18, with maths as one of them. A-Level lets a student narrow to three or four subjects, and with Further Maths, maths can fill half of the timetable.
So the question is less “which is harder” and more “how does my child like to learn, and what are they aiming for”. A student set on maths, physics or engineering often gains from A-Level depth; a student who is strong across the board, or undecided, often does better keeping options open in the IB.
Side by side
| IB Diploma | A-Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Six, usually three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS | Usually three, sometimes four, with no compulsory extras |
| Maths courses | Analysis and Approaches (AA) or Applications and Interpretation (AI), each at SL or HL | Maths, with Further Maths as a separate second A-Level |
| Greatest depth | AA at Higher Level | Maths plus Further Maths, with options such as further pure, mechanics, statistics or decision maths |
| Maths assessment | Written papers (two at SL, three at HL) plus the internal assessment exploration, worth 20% | Exams only; for AQA, Edexcel and OCR A, three 2-hour papers of 100 marks each, roughly two-thirds pure and one-third statistics and mechanics |
| Grading | Each subject 1–7; the Diploma is scored out of 45 | Each subject A* to E |
Board structures change occasionally, so confirm the current specification with your child's school. Many UAE British schools teach International A-Levels, such as Pearson Edexcel International A Level or Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics (9709), whose exams can be spread across the two years.
Often missed
Universities
Both routes are widely accepted. For degrees built on maths, the deciding question is whether the student has A-Level Further Maths or IB AA at Higher Level. Three examples from universities' own course pages, checked in September 2026:
Cambridge, Mathematics: A*A*A including Maths and Further Maths, or 41–42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level and Analysis and Approaches, plus STEP as part of the offer (course page).
Imperial, Mathematics BSc: A*A*A with A* in Maths and in Further Maths, or a 7 in Maths at Higher Level with AA preferred over AI; the TMUA test is required (course page).
LSE, Mathematics and Economics: A*AA with A* in Maths and Further Maths expected where offered, or 39 IB points with 766 at Higher Level and a 7 in Maths: Analysis and Approaches (course page).
For degrees that don't rest on maths, both routes are treated fairly and the other subjects matter more. Requirements change each year, so check the course page for your child's entry year.
Which suits whom
Look at how your child likes to work, not only at their IGCSE or GCSE grade.
Students already set on maths, physics, engineering, computer science or economics; who want Further Maths topics such as complex numbers, matrices and further calculus; who perform better in final exams than in long coursework; and who prefer fewer subjects they care about.
Students strong across many subjects who don't want to drop languages, humanities or sciences at 16; who work steadily to coursework deadlines over two years; who are undecided about their degree; and who enjoy writing as much as problem solving.
A student who found Higher-tier GCSE or Extended IGCSE algebra difficult will find the first term of A-Level Maths or AA HL hard; the summer before sixth form is the time to fix it. AA HL beside two other demanding HLs and the Extended Essay needs a realistic weekly plan from month one.
How we support both
For A-Level we teach Maths and Further Maths for AQA, Edexcel, OCR A and MEI, including Further Pure, Further Mechanics, Further Statistics and Decision/Discrete options. For the IB we teach AA and AI at SL and HL, and for the exploration we help with topic choice, planning and the criteria without writing any of it.
In the summer before sixth form we run focused algebra and functions work for students coming up from IGCSE or GCSE, so the first term isn't spent catching up. Each 55-minute class uses a shared worksheet that teacher and student write on together, which suits long proofs and calculus. Sixth-form classes start from AED 60 a class on the largest block.
Whichever route is chosen, the first term goes better when algebra is solid before it starts.
The summer before sixth formNext
AA and AI at SL and HL, with guidance on the exploration.
See IB tutoringMaths and Further Maths, one to one, on your school's board.
See A-Level tutoringWhich sectors use maths most, and the school courses that keep maths-heavy degrees open.
Read the guideBlocks of classes, not subscriptions, with unused classes refunded.
See AED pricingFAQ
First class
55 minutes. The real classroom. No card. We confirm details on email and WhatsApp within a day.
Last updated · May 2026
When you book a demo or sign up for classes, we collect your name, your child's name, email, WhatsApp number, time zone, and the grade you're inquiring about. That's it. We don't ask for or store any payment details on this website. We don't use trackers, cookies for advertising, or third-party analytics that profile you.
Only to schedule and run your classes, send you class reminders, share homework and progress, and answer your questions. We'll reach out by email or WhatsApp, depending on what you tell us works better for you.
Your teacher, and the small team supporting them at ClassArc. We never sell, rent, or share your information with anyone outside ClassArc. We use Web3Forms to receive form submissions, and standard email and WhatsApp for messaging, nothing else.
We treat any information about your child with extra care. We only collect what we need to teach them well, such as their grade and what they're working on. We never use a child's photo, name, or work in any marketing without the parent's explicit written permission.
You can ask us to show you what we have on file, correct anything inaccurate, or delete your data entirely, at any time. Just email hello@theclassarc.com and we'll handle it within a few days.
Email hello@theclassarc.com. A real person will reply.
Last updated · May 2026
ClassArc is a one-on-one online tutoring service. We provide live, scheduled classes between a teacher and a student, along with homework, feedback, and study support.
Each class is 55 minutes. You can reschedule or cancel a class up to 5 minutes before it starts. If you miss a class without notice, we usually credit it back to your balance and reschedule based on what works for the teacher and student.
The first demo class is free, no card required. After that, plans are billed in advance for the number of classes you choose (8, 24, or ~48). We'll send you a payment link directly once you've picked a plan.
If you want to stop classes at any point, we refund whatever class balance is left on your plan. No questions asked, no friction. Refunds are processed within 7 business days.
We expect students and parents to treat teachers with respect, and teachers to do the same. We reserve the right to end the relationship if classes become unsafe, abusive, or disruptive, with a full refund of any unused balance.
If we update these terms, we'll email you before the changes take effect, so you have time to review them.
For anything, email hello@theclassarc.com.