[Rsiux95]

Hi! This year I'm going to IB. I really like maths as well as physics and chemistry. I've heard a lot how hard they are in IB programmes. So, has anybody had physics, chemistry and maths HL? Is it too hard or it isn't?

[CathrineS]

I did the IB Obviously, your question is relative as it depends how good you are at the different subjects already. I did HL Maths for a short period of time but moved to SL as HL is waaaay too hard. It took up all my time from other subjects so I recommend NOT doing HL maths unless you actually need it for university (if you wanna study engineering or something). Seriously. The HL maths class spent all their time on maths cuz it was so difficult.

As for HL chemistry, I actually completed that. I quite enjoyed studying chemistry and even though it was difficult, I didn't find it TOO difficult. At the beginning it was quite hard, but once you've understood the basic principles, it becomes easier. But if you don't enjoy chemistry, then you're gonna find it really difficult. A lot of people in my class found it difficult because they didn't particularly enjoy it, and that makes it hard to do well ..

HL physics I don't have any experience with, but my IB coordinator said that HL physics and HL maths are the two hardest IB subjects, and chemistry is also up there, though not quite as hard. I would definitely think twice about choosing HL physics because then it is very useful to have HL maths (there's quite a lot of calculus in HL physics, I've heard), and having both HL physics and maths is a bit of a challenge, though it is of course possible but you have to REALLY enjoy maths and also have to be REALLY good at it. Though it is also perfectly possible to do HL physics with SL Maths, but you just have to make sure you know your calculus

My biggest advice: whatever you do, don't do HL maths. When studying for exams, the whole HL maths class was panicking because they needed to study so much for maths that they didn't have time to study for other subjects. Also, if you're aiming for Oxbridge, they ask for 6, 6, 7 at HL and getting a 6 in HL maths is really really difficult, let alone a 7 .. so again, if you don't need HL maths, then don't do it, because most people get less than 6, and the top universities ask for at least 6, 6, 6 at HL and getting those grades will be difficult with HL maths.

Hope that helps Obviously my answer is a bit biased, because it also depends how good you are at maths and how good your school is at teaching it, but I'm just speaking from the experience I have from my school. I got an A* in maths at GCSE and I found HL maths too difficult - so having gotten a top grade in maths before the IB does not necessarily mean that you can do HL maths.

[Rsiux95]

Thank you for your long answer. However, in our national programme I found physics, maths and chemistry quite easy so it's difficult to know if it is too hard for me in ib or it's not.

[CathrineS]

No problem where are you from?

[Rsiux95]

I am from LT.

[CathrineS]

Okay, I don't know why your post got a negative rating - did I click it by accident? I hope not

Anyway, I'm not sure about the system in Lithuania, I just know that most of the people in HL maths at my school were Asians Maths in Asia is waay harder than in Europe, so Asian kids can usually do HL maths, but you have to be a very smart European to be able to do it

[Heeck]

(Original post by CathrineS)
Okay, I don't know why your post got a negative rating - did I click it by accident? I hope not

Anyway, I'm not sure about the system in Lithuania, I just know that most of the people in HL maths at my school were Asians Maths in Asia is waay harder than in Europe, so Asian kids can usually do HL maths, but you have to be a very smart European to be able to do it

What a great way to bring stereotypes into this topic .

To answer the OP's question HL Maths is very difficult, some of my friends who are very gifted at maths (they aced IGCSE Maths with A*'s and A's) and they still found the subject extremely hard and demanding. I'd only ever suggest that one takes HL Maths only if they need it for university or have a burning passion for mathematics. Otherwise if you're not willing to put the effort and time into learning HL Maths it is very likely you'd be crushed by the subject's workload and difficulty.

[c.anez]

I guess it's different for everyone. One of my friends who always got C's in IGSE Math ended up with a 7 in HL Math. Just work hard, and I agree with what others have said. ONLY take HL Math if you NEED it for Uni.

[Jonty007]

I took it and receive my results in 10 days...Hoping for 776. Didn't do as well as I would of liked in my maths papers so no chance for a 7

its doable! Just have the talent and the motivation to work for it.

[Rsiux95]

Hope the results won't upset you i guess, I'm taking them. If it is too difficult, I'll drop one to SL. ^^

[chickenonsteroids]

Just take maths if you want to. You can drop it later if you don't like it. The rest... I'm not too sure what the worry is. They're just subjects.

[Rsiux95]

Yes, I know, firstly I also thought like you do. But then I read plenty of opinions how difficult and impossible it is so I began to worry about it.

[CathrineS]

(Original post by Heeck)
What a great way to bring stereotypes into this topic .

To answer the OP's question HL Maths is very difficult, some of my friends who are very gifted at maths (they aced IGCSE Maths with A*'s and A's) and they still found the subject extremely hard and demanding. I'd only ever suggest that one takes HL Maths only if they need it for university or have a burning passion for mathematics. Otherwise if you're not willing to put the effort and time into learning HL Maths it is very likely you'd be crushed by the subject's workload and difficulty.

You basically just repeated what I wrote in my first post - an A* at GCSE maths does not guaranteee that you can do HL maths .. As for the stereotypes, it was actually something my maths teacher told me. It's true that the way they teach maths in Asia is far more advanced than in Europe, so Asian kids have greater oppotunities to excel, and are therefore, in general, better at maths than Europeans. Sorry if I offended you.

[Heeck]

(Original post by CathrineS)
You basically just repeated what I wrote in my first post - an A* at GCSE maths does not guaranteee that you can do HL maths .. As for the stereotypes, it was actually something my maths teacher told me. It's true that the way they teach maths in Asia is far more advanced than in Europe, so Asian kids have greater oppotunities to excel, and are therefore, in general, better at maths than Europeans. Sorry if I offended you.

The maths teacher said it, therefore the stereotype must be correct! If anything I'd say the only reason Asians might be better at maths is because of the completely different work ethic (at least in East Asia), where parents expect children to do well and try their best (oh ****, I’m stereotyping now! )

I did repeat what you said unintentionally but in a much more readable and concise manner .

[XxelliexX]

HL chemistry, physics and maths is extremely hard.

But as someone has mentioned previously, 'hardness' is subjective...

I'd recommend not doing it unless you're going to need it for what you want to have a career in.

[TrysBaldai]

Hello my Lithuanian friend!

I did Lithuanian programe for 11 years, then I moved to international school to do IB and I did Maths HL.

It is so much more different from Lithuanian maths.

In my class it was all about doing the same stuff but just with different numbers. All problems seemed to be homogeneous in Lithuania - no need to know anything about induction or proving why something equals something, no need to deduce at all.

In IB HL maths it is different - you actually have to have brain and understand Maths since you are asked myriad of times in exam to prove things with relatively comprehensive explanation in order not to lose marks.

Topics in HL are also much deeper and what I like about is that it is APPLIED MATHS!
Before doing IB Maths, while I was doing maths in Lithuania it seemed that Maths is only worth learning if you are buying 30 watermelons and 30 apples and you need to bring your mum the right amount of change.

If you are aiming for good uni, I think it is essential for you to do maths HL. In this way you sort of make yourself a bit more competitive.

Talking about the explosive cocktail of HL MATHS, PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY - As far as you are a hardworker with some talent you should be fine. Lithuanian Physics and Chemistry in 10-11 grade prepare you relatively well for this. Especially for Physics - another Lithuanian guy did not put in much effort but was really good in that damn thing.

I know some people who did these 3 HL and were successful but did a SIGNIFICANT amount of work.

All in all, it all goes down to effort.

Best of luck with your IB?

Do you study in Vilnius Lyceum?

[MAMDS1993]

I got a 7 in maths HL and no it is not as hard as people say it is! I'm not a genius or a whiz by any means, you just have to work hard and devote some time to it every day. By doing that, once you get to the exam it won't seem so overwhelming. Chem HL is quite easy, I didn't manage a 7 in it, got a 6 and it still baffles me how, probably was the moderation of our IAs. But yeah chem is not too difficult, if you love chemistry you'll ace it, just do well on your labs. Physics HL and Bio HL are monstrous beasts, one is a lot of reading (Bio) and one is just I don't know, no one ever manages a 7 in it, I have seen several 6's but no 7's yet. Obviously there are people who do get them but none of them are people I know. Just know that if you do subjects you enjoy you'll find them easier than if you do subjects you don't enjoy that are regarded easy. Bio HL is considered easy but I really struggled with it and still only got a 6.

[Nunnally]

There is a lot of extra work and subjects are studied in greater depth. I don't think the IB is easy, but not extremely difficult either. I'd say the key to succeed is organisation and a bit of extra effort!