hey!! I'm currently in 2nd year of high school (sophomore?) and I start the ib program next year, do you have any advice on that? ps. I love your blog it's really helpful
hello~ thank you so much for reading my blog!! im really glad that you like my content :))
so, the answer to your question; i think the advice you really need depends on the courses you take and what you focus on currently at school. ib is very different from all the other education curriculums so you might want to consider just researching couple of things you have to do as an ib student!
from reading your message and just peeking through your blog a little, i dont think English as a language is a problem for you. this means that you can really focus on the content in class rather than worrying about not understanding the meaning of every little detail you are studying about!! (i used to struggle and i still do… im jealous of my friends ;;)
putting the main class things aside, i say procrastination is a huge issue in ib, i really mean it. ib in general, is a very fast paced programme.
everything is crammed in the 2 yrs of ib and it is inevitable to be drained from homework, assignments, exams etc. but once you are behind on one thing, you can easily fall behind on all the other things. i emphasised this in my CAS post too but keeping CAS until the last minute is the last thing you want to do!
always ask for help! no matter who it is, even if your friends are taking different subjects, we all go through the same struggle.
this sounds general but it really helps to just check in with a teacher who knows you really well or just update your ib coordinators on how you are doing in class and with extended essay especially. extended essay is time consuming, so you will end up spending quite a lot of time on it, i personally took around 6 months from research to my final draft. i really have no clue how teachers at your school arrange the schedule for the extended essay but if you don’t know what to do, go ask! but unfortunately, some teachers are not expertised in things other than the subjects they teach so friends and internet helps you. (go to ib reddit ;))
finally (because it’s really long for the 15234516th time), reading and note-taking is the key to survival.
never relax just because you are completing given assignments and homework. the most difficult thing about ib is the final exams, it is every single detail of 2 years content from all 6 subjects. thus, taking notes is very very important. read the textbooks well and honestly, read until you understand what you are studying in class. you won’t be given enough time during class for notes, so it will be at-home work. my best advice for exam preparation i can give is; gather as many textbooks as possible and take notes until you understand.
summary:
never keep anything until the last minute, especially CAS and EE
keep yourself going by asking for help constantly
take notes from multiple sources, both books and internet
i hope this helps!! i typed this during homeroom so i might have random typos but thank you so much for asking the question :)) feel free to message/ask more~
Hi! I’m currently in my third and final year of MYP. I’ll be starting my freshman year next year, and I plan to stay in the IB program. Is there any advice you have from past experiences?
hello!! thank you for sending an ask ♡okay since you’ve been doing myp, im pretty sure you are good with doing presentations, essays and compiling bibliography etc. dp is like advanced myp.in my opinion, x10 busier & energy draining!!
extended essay will be like a really long version of personal project (but without making the product) and involves bunch of redrafting processes to the point you feel like you contemplate about life no joke, with a couple more meetings with the supervisors.
please for the millionth time, you will benefit from using your holidays wisely for the extended essay!!((my friend had internships to complete over the summer holiday when it was supposed to be spent on finalising the first draft and he had to postpone the final deadline/viva voce because he couldnt finish on time))
i hate to say it but STUDY STUDY STUDY. i mentioned here about how note taking and revision is important.
i recommend you to really take notes from as many textbooks as possible because every book adds a new piece of information to what you already know. knowing as much as you can becomes crucial in final ib exams; sometimes one small detail can give you a point and bring you up the borderline!
and lastly, this is a message i want to send to myself and all other ib students; believe in yourself no matter what. you cant quit half way so do it, there is no other way out than actually completing the ib. you did it until here so finish it.
good luck with the diploma, you can ask me anything anytime here :))
Hello^^ I am a freshman IB student and I have been in ib for a few months so far. What do you think is the most difficult part of IB? What is the advice you would give me (as a new ib student) as you would give yourself? Also, what do you think is thebest part of IB?
Hello! Thank you for your ask :)
You were probably already introduced to them but there are couple things that I find quite challenging as an IB student. In Grade 11, I struggled the most with time-management for all of the assignments. Compared to MYP (I go to a school with full IB system), the number of assignments you have to complete in the given time is exceedingly high. You will be having to manage all of them along with all the CAS requirements and EE research. Also, I would say that my end of year exam for Grade 11 was tough. Even though it’s only 6 subjects, the number of topics you have to revise is painful.
I recommend you to leave as much time as possible to finish assignments (if you take English A, this is important) and revise constantly to prepare yourself for cumulative exams. (Use as many textbooks as possible!) I think many people have told you already but don’t leave your CAS reflections and EE research process until the very end. Clear those out first and leave time for the main classes. It is really good for you to become used to revising because IB finals will be literally everything. (im still scared)
The best part of IB, although there are legit so many things you have to do, you get to study the subjects you really like and most importantly, you get to experience the tough time of everything raining on you before you get to university. Honestly, I think IB is much harder than the first year of university (im hoping this is true), it prepares you so much.
Don’t stress out too much and enjoy your best in Grade 11, be prepared for end of year exam! By the time you realise, so many things will be over and completed :)
I’m sorry this is really long, I hope it helped you!! Please feel free to ask more if you have follow up questions :)
Last night, I finished submitting my 2nd draft for Extended Essay! *pats self*
I will be in the final drafting phase and soon will be submitting my complete version to the IB in a month. (honestly it sounds scary but its a weight off your shoulder so im excited??)
If you are reading this as a future IB student or someone in the MYP, I seriously from the bottom of my heart recommend you to choose a topic you like and something you don’t mind reading a million times. (Its.So.Much.Re-Reading.)
Any questions with Extended Essay? IB? or school in general? Feel free to ask!
Hii! I was just wondering how your iB experience went, and how you got through it? I’m currently in a pre-iB course and I’m flailing a bit haha, so I wanted to hear from someone who’s already gone through it :) you really don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, and please don’t worry about answering quickly! No rush at all, have a lovely day/afternoon/night <3
Hi! Technically it’s how my IB experience is *going* because, unfortunately for me, I have one more semester to go.
To summarize it, really, it’s incredibly difficult and made for someone willing to sacrifice. I sacrificed bad habits, good habits, self care, food, sleep, sanity, social life, etc for IB. And, as my mother pointed out to me while peeking over my shoulder at this question, this isn’t *necessary* to do well. But I was determined to come out on top and to push myself to my absolute limits, to grow and to evolve under tremendous pressure. Am I content with good grades like Cs and Bs? In theory, yes, if I tried my best. But I will always want the absolute best from myself. So in many ways I made IB harder on myself. But I’m still incredibly proud of myself and all the progress I’ve made, especially when faced with social and persona obstacles/drama, a job, and extracurriculars.
If you want some more detailed advice, I have a few links for you.
Here is my advice:
Struggling with IB
general pre-IB discussion
My “explanation” of IB
yet another summary of mine
Here are others’:
An awesomely comprehensive crash course by @studyblrarg
@studi-bee ‘s ib tag
I hope you have an absolutely lovely night/day and that you are comfortable enough to message or ask me anything anytime!!
Does your school require you to take one art subject? We have it as a separate subject group and some people form my class are angry because they think it’s a waste of time.
Hi Anon! Thank you for your ask :)
To answer your question, in my IB Diploma course, no. Art is categorised under Group 6 for my school and I take Economics instead. Art, Economics, Chemistry, Music and Theatre is offered all in the same group.
But in the MYP, my two final years (Grade 9 and Grade 10), I was required to take at least one art subject, either Art, Music or Theatre.
I hope this helped you! If you have any follow up questions, feel free to ask me again :)
Hi! I'm going to be starting IB in September, and I was wondering if you could summarize the major changes in the IB syllabus? Thank you!
Hey! This ask has been in my inbox for weeks now because I’ve been waiting to ask my IB coordinator. I’m sorry I haven’t responded earlier, I just don’t want to give out incorrect information. So, keep your eyes peeled and I’ll have the answer within a week or so.
"Ib, that outfit's way too... actually, the colors fit you!"
"Thanks, Mary." She wasn't really sure how to take it, but it was nice to hear a compliment from her friend. "I guess red and white are good colors for me to wear...?"
