INTRODUCTION 

As two Y13 students that are making our way through the IB, we know better than anyone how tough it is. Though the IB may sound terrifying, there are ways of easing the pain, and that’s what we’re here to tell you!

GENERAL SUBJECT LESSONS/ CLASS TESTS/ HW

Don’t jump into the IB thinking that it’s like the MYP… because that’s what we did. The IB syllabus is a lot more content heavy, and you’re going to have to know all of it for the final exams… well, most of it. With the heavy syllabus, there’s a lot more homework (which also varies between different classes), and we’ve all felt the pain of long nights of last minute submissions. The pace is also a lot faster; it feels like a sprint, but really it’s a marathon. We’ve got your back with a few pieces of advice:

• Spend 10 minutes a night on each subject to review what you learned in class that day so that you are more likely to retain that information.
• Contact your teachers if you miss a class to catch up with the material.
• Try to not worry too much about predicted grades and semester/interim grades. Fluctuations are normal; some tests go better than others, and it all averages out 🙂

EE

We’ve felt the trauma of having to write 4000 words for our Extended Essay (EE). Those memorable nights where we kept typing away even though our eyes kept threatening to close. We don’t wish that upon you! By keeping a few things in mind, you can easily have a far more peaceful and relaxing EE experience:

• Pick an EE topic that is interesting to you but also not too complicated. You might start with a lot of enthusiasm, but that tends to fizzle out as all the other work kicks in.
• Put effort into your plan. You will come across useful sources that will help you through the entire EE, and it’s a perfect opportunity to talk to your supervisor and ensure that you are on track. 
• Use your summer holidays wisely. Take out one week and focus on your EE to get it done when you’re in the zone. With the final EE being due in October, know that the first semester of Y13 is the most stressful. A good first draft puts you in a good position to cope with all your other responsibilities. 

IAs

Now to the topic of IAs/IOs in the IB, which count towards your final grades. The weightage of these assessments varies depending on which subject it is and whether it’s your HL or SL, but comes to around 20-30% of your final grade. They are the one piece of work that you can ensure is top quality, so give them your best effort, as no matter how much you study for the exams, unpredictable things can happen. What we want to say to you about them is this:

• For science IAs, pick an experiment that is simple and you know will yield results. It is better to lose a few marks for low personal engagement than to have a report with no data or observations.
• Social science IAs vary depending on the subject choice, but they are a good way of learning more about a particular part of the syllabus in greater depth.
• For Language A IOs, practice, practice, practice! The only way to be confident and prepared is to be able to recite your IO in your sleep. Be careful to not pick your favorite texts for a mock IO, as you cannot reuse the same ones!
• For all your IAs/IOs, try to do your best for the drafts/mocks, because there isn’t much time between the first draft/mock feedback and the final submission/delivery.

PRE EXAMS/MOCK EXAMS

Mock exams are just practice so that you know where your strengths and weaknesses are. Don’t stress over them too much, because even if you get a “bad” grade, it’s an opportunity to improve for the next set of mocks. Here’s our advice:

• Be realistic with your study schedule. You can’t study for 10 hours every day non-stop, so aim to study multiple subjects each day for shorter periods of time. 
• Schedule some days where you do not work at all, otherwise you will burn out.
• Try to vary study methods and be as active as possible; an hour of doing practice questions / mind-mapping / rewriting what you know to figure out what you don’t know in certain topics will be much more fruitful than 5 hours of rereading your notes. 
• Overall, think of the mock exams as a way to study everything you have learned so far, and to practice studying for multiple topics/subjects at the same time so that you are used to it when it comes to the finals.

DURING EXAMS

As we move onto the dreaded topic of exams, here are our tips to make the most of exam season:

• As repetitive and annoying as it may sound, sleep, nutrition, and exercise are really important during exam season. Try to sleep at least 8 hours every night, because studying with a fresh mind will lead to more progress than being sleep-deprived and exhausted. 
• Constantly eating junk food will not save you more time to go and study. Find a little bit of time to eat a proper nutritious meal that will actually make you feel energetic. 
• Even in the middle of your study sessions, plan out breaks to relax. Go for a walk, go to the gym, read a book, etc. to take your mind off studying. 
• When you’re actually sitting the exams in January, wear warm clothes because the gym is freezing cold during this time! 
• Mr Humphrey always tells us to show up 15 minutes before the exam start time, but try to arrive even earlier, because you don’t want to be the person everybody is waiting on to start the exam. 
• Once you’ve taken your exam, forget about it and move on. Tell yourself (gaslighting at its best) that you did your best, because you have no time to sob over a past exam – you still have to take the rest of them. 
• After exams, go out with your friends and have fun (no matter how the exams may have gone), and make it a tradition!!

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

And when you feel like you just can’t take any more work, college application season will arrive! We’ll split this section up into different things you’ll need to consider (note: as two students who have applied for college in the US, we are not experts when it comes to the UK). 

• Academics + Standardised testing
  • Of course, the first criteria is the course you are applying for. Go to the university’s website and read about your chosen major because this varies for different colleges even with the same major.
  • Standardised testing is what universities use to differentiate applicants, so start thinking about them early, as they take a while to prepare for.
  • Order textbooks, get a private tutor, watch videos, and take lots of practice tests; just try to do everything you can to score high.
  • If you are not happy with your score, remember that you can retake the test, and even if you can’t, this is not the only factor they consider when admitting students.
  • Whilst high school grades are not the only factor admissions officers consider, they are important. It is not only about having “good” grades, but also about showing improvement or maintaining your high grades. Just keep trying your best and continuously put in hard work.
• Lifestyle
  • Look into the location, safety, community, clubs, activities, and college dynamic; you will be spending a minimum of 4 years in that area and it’s about finding the right place for YOU!
• Essays
  • For the UK, your personal statement matters a lot, as it is how the admissions officer learns more about you as a person.
  • For the US, choose an essay question that suits you (for the supplements and the Common App) which you can genuinely answer well; if you write about something that is closer to your heart, the admissions officer is more likely to remember you rather than a generic response.
  • Along with writing from the heart, try to bring out your own voice. Even if your essay goes through multiple edits by different people, it should sound like it is coming from you, because it is easier to reject an essay than a person.
  • Avoid writing sob stories, because the admissions office wants to get to know you, and only writing about your struggles could be a negative indicator. Still, you can always write about overcoming challenges in a positive way!
• Extracurriculars 
  • These activities are how you show interest in what you want to study, so are quite important for US applicants.
  • Be sure to talk about the activities that show your passion, interest, commitment, and skills in the Common App.
  • The US also values service activities that show how you are using your privilege to help others (e.g. EVAM or the soup kitchen). This is (finally!!) where CAS comes in handy, as keeping a wide variety of activities shows how versatile you are.
• Receiving 
  • After applying, you will be in an extended period of waiting, and the uncertainty can be scary sometimes. The IB never slows down, though, so it will seem like no time has passed before you are receiving your responses.
  • When you get accepted, whether it be your first or last choice, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate! It is a huge accomplishment, and during such a stressful time it really feels great to hear some positive news!
  • You will also get some rejections, though, and that is normal. Universities receive hundreds of thousands of applications for each major, and they have to reject someone. It’s not easy to digest, and it’s okay to cry about it and be upset.
  • Even so, it is still important to get over the rejection because there are many more responses to come. In the end, you’ll end up where you need to be, so don’t stress too much.
  • Generally, these responses come at the middle/end of Y13, so try to also enjoy your last few months of school. Don’t get too caught up with college responses, you won’t be a high school student again!

CONCLUSION

The IB is brutal. You are juggling so much at the same time; from your EEs, IAs, and in-class tests to your mock exams, college applications and responses. It is completely normal to feel stressed and a bit anxious, but try to find ways of managing stress that work for you. Either way, it’s your last two years of high school before starting a new chapter of your life, and you should enjoy it to the fullest!