How to Survive the IB: Tips from a DP1 Student
With the upcoming exam season and this year beginning to come to a close, I wanted to give some advice to the incoming Grade 11s next year. I definitely spent a good portion of August last year worrying about what the IB would entail, and after hearing from older students, I was nervous to start. After going through a few months of actually doing the IB, I am not going to lie, it is not easy. However, it is manageable if you stay organized, keep up with deadlines, ask questions, and minimize distractions. IB has taught me to think critically, manage my time effectively, and be more confident in my ability to ask questions as a student. I know that by the end of Grade 12, I’ll be proud of how far I’ve come, and I hope that future IB students can feel the same.
- Find a Quiet Study Spot
Studying at home can be hard, with all of the distractions in our houses. Over time, I’ve found libraries as the perfect place to focus. Combined with the atmosphere of people working productively and the quietness of the space, I always find that I can sit down and get a lot of work done. I encourage you to find a spot where you are able to focus for long periods of time on your work. Whether that’s a café or your downstairs kitchen table, it’s important to find a space that works best for you.
- Attend sittings and ask for them when needed
Another recommendation that I have is going to sittings. At sittings, you have the ability to go over concepts previously learned in class and ask any clarification questions. Additionally, part of making sittings worthwhile is by going to sittings early, not right before the test. If I don’t understand a concept in class, I will try to organize a sitting right away with one of my teachers. Often, sittings that are only a couple of days before the test can be really busy, and it’s hard to get a lot of questions answered with a large number of people attending them. I recommend going to sittings early in the unit to make sure that you are not running around at the end of the unit to understand concepts that were taught a month ago.
- Complete Your Extended Essay On Time
The thought of writing the Extended Essay can seem really discouraging, given the amount of time it takes and the fact that it has to be 4000 words. It can be really tempting to use that time to study for other classes and complete other work, but those work periods really add up. With the amount of work from other classes, using work periods is so important in getting the Extended Essay done. We are given so much time–from December to May–to write it, so it’s really important to use the given time efficiently. Using each of the deadlines for the research, outline, rough draft, and final draft is really helpful for making sure that the work gets done.
- ASK QUESTIONS!!
This is so important. I am a person who needs to ask a lot of questions to fully understand material that I am learning, but once I get it, I understand. It’s very beneficial to ask questions because it shows teachers that you are engaged and advocating for your learning. Also, it keeps you on top of things and ensures that you are not falling behind. Additionally, it’s important to ask questions when you have the chance to, so it doesn’t reflect later on a test.
- Minimize procrastination & distractions
Recently, I deleted TikTok and Instagram. I can procrastinate and sometimes, I find myself taking one single break that leads to aimless scrolling on social media. Moreover, I know that this is something that a lot of people can relate to because social media is an easy way to distract us from the things that we actually have to do, like homework. After deleting them, I feel that I have such a better mindset and will to do my homework. Even just turning off my phone or putting it in a different room has helped me to be more productive and get work done more efficiently.
- Use a calendar & to-do list
I am naturally a very stressed person. I am constantly stressed about tests, assignments, and managing activities. Having a to-do list has changed my life. I use Notion, which has both a calendar and a to-do list. With so many different assignments, I use the calendar to track each of their due dates. This helps me plan what days I will study and work on projects. Additionally, I sort out assignments based on how much of a priority they are. For example, if I have a math test tomorrow worth 10% of my grade, I will work on that before my reading for English that is due in a couple of days. This helps me manage my time and ensures that I am getting my work done in a way that makes sense and is still productive.
- Find time for FUN – do things that make you happy
I am a big believer in making time to just do fun things. With a heavy workload and balancing extracurriculars, it can be hard to manage everything. It is so important to make time for family and friends because it allows time to recharge. Furthermore, I’ve noticed that doing different hobbies, such as reading a book or working out is really beneficial. I feel that when I have time away from my work, it often makes me more productive because I am ready to focus on each of my tasks and complete them efficiently, without getting burnt out.
I hope that some of these tips will help make the IB more manageable for you. I think the biggest part of it is time management to make sure that everything gets done. This year I have definitely gained a lot of perseverance, whether that’s with school or activities. Overtime, the IB has really taught me how to balance a busy schedule. Overall, even when it does get hard, just know it is doable; everyone is in the same boat, and there are so many people who are willing to help you. Good luck!!