Hey! Do you recommend doing the IB?
I do generally recommend it if you’re the kind of person who’s interested in a wide range of things and is prepared to work hard, because it’s the kind of system where you really get out what you put in. I learned a lot from the IB -- I loved every single one of my subjects, and therefore doing all the work didn’t feel like a massive chore. I learned a hell of a lot about organisation and work ethic that has helped me massively in university, and I feel like I definitely came out of it a better learner, critical thinker and just all around person because things like CAS and ToK are actually really useful, though they seem like a pain while you’re doing it. Like because of CAS, I got to do so many things that I may not otherwise have had time for, and because of ToK, I definitely look at things with a more critical and well-rounded eye.
That being said, the people I saw struggle the most in the IB were those who were really set on pursuing the sciences. They didn’t really see why it was important for them to be doing English and a foreign language, and therefore struggled to put in the effort required to do well. That doesn’t mean if you want to do sciences, you shouldn’t do the IB -- I think it’s really good to have that mixture of arts and sciences at that level vs. specialising like you do in A-levels, but it does mean that you’ve got to think about whether you’re going to be able to stay motivated!
if you have any specific IB questions etc. please let me know! I’d be happy to help out!