IB Help Forum

Shoot us your most pressing questions, and consider joining this forum to put in your two cents. Just send your email in the ask :)

[helpimanibkid]

Can you help me narrow down a topic for my EE? I'm thinking about comparing how Catcher in the Rye depicts it's time period's culture vs. Great Gatsby... I think I'd have a good time writing about that -- or something along those lines.. What do you think? I just want to have a few good ideas for when I actually present my topic to my EE mentor..

Aha, you're a lot closer to a topic than I am! All I know is that I'm writing mine on history (probably). If you think you have some really good ideas and that you'll enjoy writing about something, then the end product will turn out better than if it was something you weren't interested in. Maybe to narrow it down instead of just "depicting its time period's culture" you could do something more specific like symbolism, theme or character development to depict the time period? (Sorry, literature isn't really my strongest subject). I haven't read Catcher in the Rye but Great Gatsby has a LOT of symbols you could talk about, as well as themes you could go into. Hope this helps! Feel free to message me if you still have any questions :) 

[santoriniblog]

[f--leurir]

I love greece omggg

[helpimanibkid]

Hi. Can you help me? I have a pic (2500x4000px) and I'll put it in my background. But when I do, I only see the top left side of the pic and not the whole pic. My screen is 100%, but when I zoom out, then I'll see my whole pic. But naturally you can't see text 'cause you're to much zoomed out. So can you help me? I want to see my whole pic when my screen is 100% and not 12,5% (When you zoomed out) Thanks.

Hi, do you mean your desktop background? What are you doing to make it your background and what operating system do you have? If you're in windows, when making the picture your background there should be the option Fit the Screen under How Should the Picture Be Positioned. If you tell me what operating system you're using I can better answer the question. 

[woodsandnature]

[helpimanibkid]

Hello! To the anon who asked for business and management paper 1, the exam is all about the case about Danish Ball Bearings (if your examinations are this year). The questions vary, they are basically like paper 2 questions, however all of them refers back to the case. Thus, you should make sure that you know the case well! Hope that helps

[helpimanibkid]

haha thanks for answering :) but i was talking about the design of the food, like on the plate. btw..i consulted with my tutor and now i have an other topic. it's about a catalan artist: antoni gaudí (the one who did the sagrada familia) :)

Oh, my bad aha (: And I don't know who and what that is but I'm sure you'll do great on your EE!

[helpimanibkid]

do you think that is a great idea doing the extended essay about the design of aliments?

Do you mean like a nutriment? Mmm, that sounds kind of vague, maybe try narrowing it down a bit? Also, since it’s science based it would be nice if you could conduct experiments, otherwise if not it will need to be theoretical. I'm still just starting my EE as well, and I still don't have a topic!! Any thoughts from other IB'ers?

[helpimanibkid]

hi do you have any chemistry HL design experiment lab reports. I dont know how the format goes and I need to write 2 :'(

Mmmm, I’m only in Chem SL :/ I’m not sure if the format is the same or not.  

Here’s a link for a bunch of lab reports from IB survival that you can look through though! 

[helpimanibkid]

Have you done any mock exams yet?

[helpimanibkid]

[helpimanibkid]

is there any way to write math without it sounding like an esoteric fuckin language??? this is the only problem i have with my math IA at all

Just focus on making sure that the steps you took to solve the problem are explained clearly and concisely - remember, it’s not an English paper so your writing doesn’t play a huge role Only if your grammar and diction are so bad that your teacher has to re-read some parts and does not know what you are saying at all is when you will get docked points.  My teacher said that it’s more important that you explain yourself really well than get the right answer - which is why “got the right answer” is not one of the criterion on the rubric. What you’re saying about your writing sounding esoteric is going to happen because most people aren’t going to understand what you’re talking about, but they’re not the target audience. As long as your teacher and whoever grades can understand it you’ll be fine - if you explain it clearly they’ll get it because they know the subject really well. Just don’t go out of your way to use fancy words, and use words that are concise and to the point. 

[helpimanibkid]

How do you solve a paper 1 of the external assesment in Business and Management?

Hey there, I don’t take Business and Management myself so I can’t help you out on that. ): If anyone has an answer for anon please share your thoughts!

[helpimanibkid]

[helpimanibkid]

i've been searching for a blog like this! i'm away to start my extended essay!!! any tips?

Hey, I’m just starting my extended essay too! I still need to come up with a topic and pick a mentor xD. Sorry, I don’t have many tips as I’m just starting it as well. Maybe someone reading this can add to anon’s question? I suggest picking a subject that really interests you over something that may be the “easier” choice, and a subject  that you’re actually taking (I think you have to do this, but I’m not sure.) Don’t do something that’s been done a lot, try and come up with something unique and that hasn’t really been looked into. Get started on it right away so you don’t end up rushing and stressing out right before it’s due. My teacher gave us a bunch of sample EE’s with the marking schemes, so I might post them on this forum if a lot of people are interested, or you can give me your email so I can send them. Good luck with your EE!! (:

Edit: Here's a good post with a lot of excellent tips for the EE:

http://ibstruggling.tumblr.com/post/43763126212/im-away-to-start-my-extended-essay-i-have-my-research

[helpimanibkid]

Hey! I'm doing the IB it feels awful.. should I drop it?

Well, it’s entirely up to you of course, (even though your parents or teachers may say otherwise) but choose carefully so you don’t regret your decision. How are you doing in your courses? If you’re working as hard as you can and still can’t manage to pass, then it might be better to go to partial or to drop, as it may affect your chances of getting into the university you want to. I know someone who took full IB and couldn’t get into her choice university because her grades weren’t up to par as she spread herself too thin with the courses. But make sure that you are working hard at it and aren’t procrastinating too much - a lot of time we get really overwhelmed and want to quit because we procrastinate. I must admit that I do my fair share of procrastination. IB is going to be pretty tough at times, and know that there are many others sharing in your pain. We all have those days where we seriously consider dropping, and it’s a normal part of IB. It’s supposed to be a rigorous course, and it’s meant to prepare us for university and onwards, but that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to work ourselves too hard too. Talk to your teachers and counsellors and see whether IB will be beneficial for you, or if you’re falling too far behind or you’re really miserable (and I mean really miserable, more than is actually healthy) and it’s just not worth it. But remember that IB has it’s benefits too! Your scores don’t have to be too superb as universities know it’s a really tough program, and prefer students who take higher level course and score not as well when compared to those who score extremely high in regular courses. (As long as your grades meet the requirements and aren’t too bad of course) Check out this link for why IB is beneficial:

http://ibkids.tumblr.com/worthit

Good luck with your decision! 

[runawayto]

Does anyone have ideas for the Theory of Knowledge presentation?

[helpimanibkid]

Ask us some questions and share your IB experiences in this forum (: