Personal study diary

Living the IB life HL- Economics, Business Management, English B SL- Biology, Math, Swedish A New posts once in awhile

[firstsuccess-thensleep-blog]

TOK ESSAY SCAFFOLD 16/05/16

Our school is pretty bad when it comes to ToK essays, so I spent a couple of hours today trying to come up with a way to organise it based on many, many exemplars. 

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Monthly reflection #7

//31.03.2016// The picture is not related to studyblr, but my excitement. Okay, maybe not excitement, but relief and a sense of knowing where I’m headed with my extended essay. The highlight of this month is definitely having a general idea of what my EE research question be. I had already found a topic before, but I had no idea how I would formulate my RQ. But now I do! And it’s such a huge burden that has been lifted off my shoulders. That being said, I didn’t do too well on the latest math test, so that’s something I’ll have to work on. Otherwise, this month has been fairly good. I’ve been noticing some improvements in my study methods and time management. 

Goals for April: don’t fall for anything on April 1st, make study guides, spend more time after school studying, math revision

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Monthly reflection #6

//29.02.2016// I’m just about to start doing some math exercises, but before I go, I might as well write this reflection since February will be over in only a few hours. It hasn’t been the greatest month. I have once again noticed that Swedish is my worst subject. I just don’t have the feel for it and don’t think I ever will. Literature analysis is just not my thing. That being said, I will try my best to get the grade that I aim for. Biology isn’t the best one either, but at least I manage to grasp the concepts by putting in that extra effort. To light up the mood a wee bit, I am extremely happy with my Econ IA I sent in almost a week ago. But I am also quite excited frightened about starting the Econ EE. So there’s that. 

Goals for March: focus on EE topic and RQ, make some study guides throughout the month

[hippano]

Here’s some cardio lecture crammed into a gif. >_> You see I DO STUDY!!

I tried to match the gif’s frame rate timing to a real resting heartbeat, so if you’re sitting at a computer this might match you! The rate for this heart is 72 bpm. (unless it’s lagging. please do not match the lagging heartbeat, only zombies do that.) 

[climbingtheacademicladder]

You are a saint. God bless you and your soul. 

[behindonstudying]

6 Things People Don't Always Tell You About Studying

1. you ace tests by overlearning. you should know your notes/flashcards/definitions basically by heart. if someone asks you about a topic when you’re away from class or your notes and you can answer them in a thorough and and accurate answer, then you’re good, you know the material. 

2. if you don’t understand something, it will end up on the test. so just don’t disregard and hope that this specific topic won’t be on the test. give it more attention, help, and practice. find a packet of problems on that one concept and don’t stop until you finish it and know it the best. 

3. sometimes you just need that Parental Push. you know in elementary school, they would tell you “ok now it’s time for you to do your homework! you have a project coming up, start looking for a topic now!” ONE of your teachers might be like this. be thankful for it and follow their advice! these teachers are the best at always keeping you on track with their calendar. if not a teacher, then have one of your friends be that person that can keep you accountable for the things you promised you would do. 

4. you just need to kick your own ass. seriously. i know it sucks and its hard to study for two things at once. BUT. I DONT CARE IF IT’S HARD. you need to do it and at least do it to get it over with because you can’t keep putting things off. If you do, you will eventually run out of time and you will hate yourself. force yourself to do it. i made myself sign up for june ACT even though there’s finals because if i didn’t, i probably never would. like do i think i’m gonna be ready in one month? probably not, SO I BETTER GET ON IT AND START STUDYING! 

5. do homework even if it doesn’t count. if you actually try on it, then you will actually do so much better on the tests, it’s like magic. 

6. literally just get so angry about procrastinating that you make yourself start that assignment. I know how hard it is to kick the procrastination habit. I have to procrastinate. So I make myself start by thinking about my deadlines way early. I think, “oh i have a presentation in three weeks (but it really takes 2 weeks to do), i’ll be good and start today.” when that doesn’t happen, you say you’ll do it tomorrow, and this happens for like the next four days. I get so mad at myself for not starting when i am given a new chance to do so with every passing day. By that time, you actually have exactly how much time you need for it AND you were able to procrastinate the same way you usually do ;)

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Reflection #5

//31.01.16// On my way to make some study guides for business! Now that I think about it, this might actually be the first time I make my own “proper” study guides. 

I can’t really say that much about this month since the second term started in the middle of it. But so far it’s been challenging. That being said, I’ve gotten used to the stress levels, to some extent though. Looking back on it, I feel like I’ve had more things- more workpoints, tests, essays etc. And math has become more challenging than before. This might just be my exhausted self talking, but that’s how I’ve perceived the beginning of this month. Naturally, this has been very stressful. What I could have done to relieve this stress was to take that one-day break I was thinking about taking but didn’t. I clearly regretted it but I managed to do part of the work I was planning to do on that day during this weekend. If there’s something I’ve learned from this month, it’s if you need the break, just take it. You’ll benefit from it in the long run. 

Goals for February: prioritize my Econ IA, practise more circular trigonometry questions, talk about topics with my EE supervisor, ask ALL the questions I need to ask

[climbingtheacademicladder]

//28.01.16// Currently sitting at my desk about to start to take notes on a chapter I should’ve done a few days ago. I’m also starting quite late- its almost 10PM and will probably lose a few hours of sleep.

Whatever you see in the studyblr community, don’t always believe it. We will show you pictures of our pretty notes that we spent too much time on. We will show you our study environment after cleaning it up from the mess that it usually is. We will show you our plans that probably won’t be executed. But what we won’t show is the struggle and problems we go through throughout our experience as students. This is what you have to keep in mind. It’s never what it looks like. You have to embrace the failures that aren’t shown and make improvement your priority instead of trying to meet certain standards in a community. We’re all going through the same thing, and we’re all going to be here for a while. We might as well be honest.

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Miscellaneous post #4

//16.01.16// Throwback to starting the day with writing a close-up analysis of a few paragraphs from Markurells i Wadköping. Now, starting the afternoon with finishing the assignment by writing my conclusion. 

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Reflection #4

//30.12.2015// I’ve gone through half of the first IB year and it’s time for a new one. I am quite pleased with my experience as an IB student so far, even though it was at times emotionally and physically draining. Considering the pressure that has been put on me, I had decided to keep my scholarly activities during the winter break to a minimum. In addition, my reflections will not be as lengthy as before since I will prioritize my school work. 

Goals for January: work hard on my internal, further improvement in Swedish 

[sara-laughed]

The ULTIMATE Guide to Final Exams

-This is my Ultimate Guide to Final Exams, with everything shown above (x)

- How to Make a Study Plan for Finals (x)

- How to Stay Calm and Reduce Stress During Finals (x)

- How to Write the Perfect College Essay (x)

[dearibstudents]

The Economics IA in steps

1. Choose an article

2. Highlight the parts you’d like to comment on and discuss

3. Write definitions for all terms used

4. Use at least one, correctly labeled, diagram

5. Explain the diagram in depth, and relate it to the article

6. Do not exceed 750 words

7. Fill out the text with linking words and make sure the paragraphs are linked together

8. Proofread

/Clara

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Reflection #3

//29.11.2015// So I was planning on showing the picture of my whiteboard after revising math, but then I decided to make some economics flash cards since I had the time, and now that is what the picture is representing.

Reflection: It’s been a bumpy month to say the least, but I’m still climbing the IB mountain. Even if this month has been busy as heck, my three months of hard work has paid off. My Swedish teacher told me that I have improved, which is great news for me considering how much I dislike the subject. So I’m currently working on my IOP presentation for Swedish, which I will have week 51. But I should be done by this Thursday for the practice. It’s kind of stressing me out since I have about halfway to go. A more short-term goal for me is to finish it at least by tomorrow.

I mentioned in my last reflection that I will stop with the textbook note-taking. I haven’t, at least not to some extent. It is stressful and hard to keep up with, but I plan on continuing this process. I also feel like they will be quite useful for revision and since I’m not too fond of just reading plain text, it’s like active reading. So I will hopefully manage to keep up with that.

Goals for December: revise biology and math, take more business notes, practice my IOP like it’s a matter of life and death

[studyingmaroon]

BASIC STUDY TIPS 😄

Basic study tips!

1. PUT IN THE EFFORT! This might seem obvious, but we’re all guilty of not doing the reading for a class and then complaining the material makes no sense. Your hard work WILL pay off!

2. PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS! The teacher is going to be talking about what they think is important so therefore probably what’s on the test! Auditory learning will complement the rest of your studying.

3. GET AHEAD OF THE GAME! If you know that after the weekend you’re going to be learning about memory in psychology class then skim some stuff beforehand! Material you’ve been previously exposed to will sink in faster later

4. LEARN HOW YOU LEARN Some people (like myself) just don’t jibe with flashcards. What helps YOU learn? Talking about it? Writing it down? Hearing it over and over again? Figure it out and use it the best you can

5. YOU DON’T KNOW IT UNTIL YOU CAN TEACH IT The most foolproof way to ensure you’re ready for a test is to write a list of vocab, formula, or concepts that you know you need to know and then try and teach it to someone else! A classmate, a parent, a pillow, anyone or anything works! If you can explain all that stuff then you know it!

6. TRY TO NOT BE MISERABLE Yes, it’s hard. But there’s plenty of people in this world who would do anything to receive an education. Try and take interest in what you’re learning and applying it to real life; challenge yourself to pr on the next calc test; or just say, “ After I study, I’ll treat myself to some Netflix. Or ice cream. Or both.”

Hope this helped! I know it motivated me 😁

[climbingtheacademicladder]

In your studyblr challenge day 1, where did you get the black organizer thing with your pens and stuff in it?

It’s from IKEA. If you buy it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. :)

[stationery-enthusiast]

i just want you all to know that you don’t have any of us studyblrs to thank for your grades. you’re the reason you got those grades. you’re the reason you’re improving. you’re the reason you’re making progress. appreciate yourself some more - it really is all you. 

[forget-about-it]

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINALS GOOD LUCK ON YOUR (I)GCSES GOOD LUCK ON YOUR A LEVELS GOOD LUCK ON YOUR IB EXAMS GOOD LUCK ON YOUR ORAL EXAMS GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PRESENTATIONS GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT

THIS IS IT GUYS GOOD LUCK

I HOPE YOU GUYS GET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD FOR

[climbingtheacademicladder]

Reflection #2

//30.10.2015// Lately, time has been slipping through my fingers all the tiiiime I try to capture every minuuuute. Okay, I’m done singing ABBA songs. Back to the point, time has been moving really quickly, especially during the autumn break. I was in Stockholm to have some fun time for two days and it felt like half a day. IB sure makes you appreciate the time you barely have...

Just so y’all know, I might make some changes to the type of language in which I will write in on this blog. As you may have noticed, most of my previous posts are relatively/quite formal. I wrote those during the summer, i.e. when I was longing for that academic feel. But now that I’m enjoying the IB (note: enjoying and struggling), there is no need to compensate for the no longer existent lack of formality in my daily life through this blog. 

This month has been quite similar to the previous one; I have been keeping up with school and my personal life. But one thing I have been slowing down on is taking textbook notes and using to-do lists due to the amount of work (hehe, oops). The textbook notes are notes I find useful while writing them, but I have never actually used them for revision. So I will probably stop doing that and start taking notes according to the syllabus for the social and natural sciences. But what about the to-do lists? Even though we have a lot to keep track on, I have managed to do that without the to-do lists these last two weeks. That being said, I will try to keep it up if I find it necessary. 

Goals for November: calm my tits, be satisfied with my IOP, spend some extra time on school work when I get home from school

Keep fighting the struggle! It will be worth it! Think about why you started! 

Picture of Edinburgh, Scotland:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/mayu_/2954581416