I decided to make a thread in hope that people that are currently doing IB could contribute by commenting on which things they wish they did, what they regretted not doing, what could be done to improve their score etc. Of course, everyone knows IB is not an easy course - so how did you guys manage your time, having courseworks and stupid CAS and TOK in the way?
One thing I learned from GCSE was to manage my time properly! I have not started IB yet but being in TSR for a while I feel as if I know everything about it - except only lacking experience.
Also, get rid of your EE, TOK and CAS as soon as possible!
Maybe in the 1st year itself? (I'm talking about CAS mainly...)
I hate filling out CAS forms!
Well it is definitely a lot harder than the A Levels. You must be able to manage your time really well. Indeed it is very hard, but it makes other exams like the SAT seem like a piece of cake. Furthermore, it prepares you really well for college. You won't feel so pressurised. It will also most likely be easier for you to enter renouned universities considering there is less competition compared to A level applicants since ther are fewer candidates taking the IB. But what I can say is that if you plan on taking the IB programme, aim for 40 points or more.
I wouldn't (and didn't) do it, and if I had I would be regretting it. If you feel the need for a broad education just do loads of A-Levels (5 or so) and you'll get just as much out of it and will have more free time.
Almost every IB student in my year (Yr13) has gone from "Oh, this is okay" last year, to "OMG IM DIEING PLZ HELP" this year. If you want to do all the extra stuff then just do DoE or Extended Project.
Finally, with the subject blocks for IB, I find it extremely unlikely that there are many people who actually want to do a subject from each block. People tend to hate the maths or language requirements the most.
I didn't have much a choice. My parents would not let me do any other things. They LOVE IB and they don't even know what it is. Except that its demanding, its awesome, its "international". I think that it really sucks that we have to choose maths, english, a language and a science. So much for "freedom" of choice. Honestly...what if you don't like math? What if you're really bad at science?
I didn't have much a choice. My parents would not let me do any other things. They LOVE IB and they don't even know what it is. Except that its demanding, its awesome, its "international". I think that it really sucks that we have to choose maths, english, a language and a science. So much for "freedom" of choice. Honestly...what if you don't like math? What if you're really bad at science?
I do agree on the fact that there is lack of "freedom".
But really, consider this - you will feel a lot less pressurised once you are in University. You have to constantly work hard for 2 years or so.
As for me, I do not feel that pressurised in IB. Neither does most of the other IB candidates in my school. However, this could be due to the fact that we have been prepared like this ever since we entered secondary school as we were enrolled into this "special course" known as the Integrated Programme(IP).
But in the end, it is up to you. If you want less pressure and more freedom in choosing subjects which you have interest in, go for A Levels. Convince your parents that this is your future, not theirs, they cannot influence your decisions. Furthermore, you will not be able to perform well in the IB if you are not happy in taking it
On the other hand, if you want a broader education and prepare yourself better for university, then go for IB.
Remember - It is YOUR decisions. Stand firm. Don't let anyone make it for you.
I'm coming to an end to IB (two subjects down! four to go!) and I can honestly say that in many ways, I think it's been one of the best decisions I've made. IB truly stretches you and forces you to think in ways you otherwise would not; while taking five A levels, as suggested by a poster above, is 'broad', inevitably, you won't take subjects you find hard. I find Maths and Chemistry really challenging, but I've worked really hard at them. If I'd taken A levels, I would have taken subjects I found easy, breezed through them (as I have some of my IB subjects) and found myself really struggling in a uni or workplace environment where one actually has to work. IB has taught me life skills such as time management, perseverence and overall made me a better rounded person. I think it's great.
I'm coming to an end to IB (two subjects down! four to go!) and I can honestly say that in many ways, I think it's been one of the best decisions I've made. IB truly stretches you and forces you to think in ways you otherwise would not; while taking five A levels, as suggested by a poster above, is 'broad', inevitably, you won't take subjects you find hard. I find Maths and Chemistry really challenging, but I've worked really hard at them. If I'd taken A levels, I would have taken subjects I found easy, breezed through them (as I have some of my IB subjects) and found myself really struggling in a uni or workplace environment where one actually has to work. IB has taught me life skills such as time management, perseverence and overall made me a better rounded person. I think it's great.
Convince your parents that this is your future, not theirs, they cannot influence your decisions. Furthermore, you will not be able to perform well in the IB if you are not happy in taking it
On the other hand, if you want a broader education and prepare yourself better for university, then go for IB.
Remember - It is YOUR decisions. Stand firm. Don't let anyone make it for you.
Haha trust me I've tried everything. They wouldn't budge. But I guess hearing your point of view made me CURIOUS and WANT to take IB more than I want to take A-levels. Yes, it's more freedom but in a workplace you wont be given any freedom, unless it was not possible.
I am taking HL Chinese, English, Geography
SL History, Biology, Maths.
Haha trust me I've tried everything. They wouldn't budge. But I guess hearing your point of view made me CURIOUS and WANT to take IB more than I want to take A-levels. Yes, it's more freedom but in a workplace you wont be given any freedom, unless it was not possible.
I am taking HL Chinese, English, Geography
SL History, Biology, Maths.
What are you taking?
I'm taking-
HL: Economics, Math, Physics
SL: English A1, Chemistry, French ab initio
I take HL English, French, Psychology and Art, SL Maths and Chem. Predicted 7s for all my HLs (though Art is a borderline, I might get a 6) and 6s for my SLs (though Chem is borderline, could be a 7), with three bonus points points.
I actually don't think IB is as hard as everyone says it is. It is a lot of work, undeniably, but most of it is pretty manageable if it is not left to the very last moment...
I take HL English, French, Psychology and Art, SL Maths and Chem. Predicted 7s for all my HLs (though Art is a borderline, I might get a 6) and 6s for my SLs (though Chem is borderline, could be a 7), with three bonus points points.
I actually don't think IB is as hard as everyone says it is. It is a lot of work, undeniably, but most of it is pretty manageable if it is not left to the very last moment...
IB is not hard at all if you can manage your time. But really, there might be one problem. Top notch US universities such as those in the IVY League do not only look at your IB final scores or SAT scores. They care a lot about Community Involvement and extra curricular activities. And I mean..ALOT. And due to the time constraints in the IB programme, you could be on the down side.
On the other hand, if you do well in IB (40 points and above), then Universities in UK will gladly take you in regardless of community involvement or Extra Curricular activities, solely based on your academic results.
The thing about IB is that if you do it, universities that know about it will generally go 'oooh, we like you!'... and then give you points offers that are ridiculously higher than the A-level ones
I think doing the IB is awesome, but you have to *want* to do it - I don't think forcing yourself to do it would end well, especially because of the compulsory subject requirements. There are ways of getting round this though - maths studies and ab initio languages and the like
Be prepared to work and you'll do fine.
English, French B and History to higher level
Music, Bio and Maths Studies to standard
Hoping for about 36 points...
I think doing the IB is awesome, but you have to *want* to do it - I don't think forcing yourself to do it would end well, especially because of the compulsory subject requirements. There are ways of getting round this though - maths studies and ab initio languages and the like
I heard that lots of universities dont like it if we take MATH STUDIES. But many people in A-LEVELS dont do math ! So fruck it gosh at least we're taking maths!
Looking back at my IB. It was alot of work, ALOT of work. Unis don't look at it with the same regard as A-Levels or whatever their local exams are.
It doesn't help if your weak at a foreign language or maths (Very much like myself) and forced to do 150 hours of CAS.
I know I would have done better if I had done A-Levels as I wouldn't have Spanish or Maths to bring down my score. But I feel its the best thing I've ever done. I feel really lucky and privilege doing it, and pushed to my limits and working hard at subjects I was rubbish at.
When I'm with my other A-Level students in Uni, its amazing how much they scream in fear when they see basic maths, or amazed at how much Spanish I speak. They believe I'm amazing at maths and Spanish (both I got level 3, Abinto and Studies)
IB is amazing! Its a real proper education. A-Level might be more important for grades, but IB feels really useful for life.
I heard that lots of universities dont like it if we take MATH STUDIES. But many people in A-LEVELS dont do math ! So fruck it gosh at least we're taking maths!
So true. I did studies and didn't do well. But I'm such a show off when I can play about with my graphic calculator and explain to them what correlation coefficient is.
Hello! I just started the IB programme this autumn, and i am wondering if any of you guys thought it was tough at the beginning? Because I know that it is supposed to be a tough programme, but I also thought that was not before the second year.. I think it's hard to keep up already! (My maths and history are bad in particular) Do you think I have no chance at the programme, or is it natural to feel overwhelmed right away?
Hello! I just started the IB programme this autumn, and i am wondering if any of you guys thought it was tough at the beginning? Because I know that it is supposed to be a tough programme, but I also thought that was not before the second year.. I think it's hard to keep up already! (My maths and history are bad in particular) Do you think I have no chance at the programme, or is it natural to feel overwhelmed right away?
I think you should do some reading for history and get ahead with math with a tutor. I think tutors can be really useful if you can find a good one. History is all about reading so try and get ahead. If there's anything that you dont understand, no fear as you haven't learnt it in class yet! It might be a tough doing all the things ahead but at the end of the day it is worth it.
Hello! I just started the IB programme this autumn, and i am wondering if any of you guys thought it was tough at the beginning? Because I know that it is supposed to be a tough programme, but I also thought that was not before the second year.. I think it's hard to keep up already! (My maths and history are bad in particular) Do you think I have no chance at the programme, or is it natural to feel overwhelmed right away?
You'll get used to the workload, and you will become accustomed to how you should prepare rote essays; e.g. in your science, the labs should get easier as you get more familiar with it.
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