The "Which IB subjects should I choose" Thread

Hi, I'm new to the forum and in Year 11. I created this account specifically to ask about this thread.

I was planning on:

English Lit HL
Psychology HL
History/Art HL

Spanish Ab Initio SL
Maths/Maths Studies SL
Biology SL

I want to do law or possibly psychology, I'm not sure yet. I do however have a lot of questions.

I don't want to do anything Maths based, definitely. I really dislike Maths and I'm not good at it. I've always been a literature person. So I was wondering, exactly how bad would it be to take Maths Studies? As far as my GCSEs are looking, I may be forced into taking it, or taking SL and dropping if I can't cope. But if Maths Studies is something that's going to ruin my chances for a good uni, I will force myself into continuing SL. However, I don't really want to go through two years of extra torture (as I don't want to do IB in the first place) with more Maths than I can handle while maintaining some form of sanity.

Secondly, I was wondering how difficult History is at HL. I'm not bad at History GCSE and I could probably cope - I actually wanted to take Geography, but that's in the same option block as Psychology, which I really really want to take. If History HL is very difficult, in your opinions, would it be alright to take Art HL? Our IB coordinator is always saying that the IB was designed for an arts course to be taken, but I will definitely not be taking an arts centred course at uni, so would taking Art HL instead of another essay-based subject therefore be detrimental to my progress?

Lastly, I never want to take French ever again once I'm done with GCSEs so I'm taking Spanish Ab Initio. I will probably do quite well in it as I'm fluent in a Spanish colonial language. But I wanted to ask if unis will look at Spanish Ab as far weaker than French B, particularly if I end up taking Maths Studies as well.

Thanks!

Hi, I'm new to the forum and in Year 11. I created this account specifically to ask about this thread.

I was planning on:

English Lit HL
Psychology HL
History/Art HL

Spanish Ab Initio SL
Maths/Maths Studies SL
Biology SL

I want to do law or possibly psychology, I'm not sure yet. I do however have a lot of questions.

I don't want to do anything Maths based, definitely. I really dislike Maths and I'm not good at it. I've always been a literature person. So I was wondering, exactly how bad would it be to take Maths Studies? As far as my GCSEs are looking, I may be forced into taking it, or taking SL and dropping if I can't cope. But if Maths Studies is something that's going to ruin my chances for a good uni, I will force myself into continuing SL. However, I don't really want to go through two years of extra torture (as I don't want to do IB in the first place) with more Maths than I can handle while maintaining some form of sanity.

Secondly, I was wondering how difficult History is at HL. I'm not bad at History GCSE and I could probably cope - I actually wanted to take Geography, but that's in the same option block as Psychology, which I really really want to take. If History HL is very difficult, in your opinions, would it be alright to take Art HL? Our IB coordinator is always saying that the IB was designed for an arts course to be taken, but I will definitely not be taking an arts centred course at uni, so would taking Art HL instead of another essay-based subject therefore be detrimental to my progress?

Lastly, I never want to take French ever again once I'm done with GCSEs so I'm taking Spanish Ab Initio. I will probably do quite well in it as I'm fluent in a Spanish colonial language. But I wanted to ask if unis will look at Spanish Ab as far weaker than French B, particularly if I end up taking Maths Studies as well.

Thanks!

Ok so we had an IB options evening today and I am more confused than ever about the courses that I should take. I want to study medicine and am sure of taking:
English A1 SL
Maths HL
French B
Chemistry HL
Biology HL

However, for english, I just realized that there are two options: English language and literature, and English literature. I am actually stronger at literature than the language - do both for IGCSE - but I think I read in some universities' websites that they need English Language IB if you want to study medicine. Is that true, or could i just take literature and get into a medical school? Also, I do history as IGCSE, and I enjoy the course very much, and my teacher thinks I should definitely take it at IB. However, I am also considering taking psychology IB because first of all, I think i'll be very interested in it, and because it is kind of related to medicine. Do you think History will look better when I apply to universities for medicine or psychology? History can improve my essay writing skills, and sounds like a tougher course....

Recently I was talking to my teacher about the options for maths, I'm in top set maths at my school at the moment and my teacher said I would be able to take maths studies in one year, however the Universities I'm interested in want maximum points.
Would maths studies lessen my chances of getting in than if I were to take standard level maths?
(interested in human rights/law)

I'm 100% certain that I plan on taking law at university and most universities that I have researched have no preferences for subject choices.

1) Will taking film be perceived as a weak subject? Should I take something more academically challenging instead?
2) Will universities discriminate if I take Chinese Second Language at HL even though I'm Asian and I have previously studied the language for 6 years?
3) Is English A1.1 (Literature) much harder than English A1.2 (Language and literature)? Can someone who has taken either of the english course give me some feedback on what it was like?

Thanks for taking the time to read

x

1) yes, but what other subject could you consider? It isn't a bad thing taking film.
2) You aren't a native speaker so no. You're just good at the language.
3) It is harder in the sense it's more academic. It's fairly fun at times
4) Why are you taking 4 HLs?

Because the only difference between film SL and HL is the length of the film you have to produce for your final project.

For what you'd like to study at uni, I'd say it's heaps better to get 6 or a 7 in studies rather than 4 or 5 in standard level. Adds to your overall points out of 45, and you will have more time to focus on your time consuming subjects. Math studies in your case might be more beneficial.
For your arts vs history dilemma, both at higher level are time-consuming and difficult. Make sure when you pick your 6th subject, choose a class which you love (or at least, prefer out of all other options) because if your going to work hard at a IB class for the next two years, it should be one which you enjoy.
For your langauges, I'd say go with Spanish Ab Initio. Taking an ab initio class just means you're learning a new language, and does not look 'soft' to universities. As you've learned French before you'll have an easier time with Spanish ab initio and should score high rather than finding French B a chore and being less than successful at it. Just a question, if you're fluent at a Spanish Colonial Language, does that entitle you to the opportunity of taking Spanish B or even A? (I'd take Spanish at B rather than A if that's the case). If it does, you might find ab initio way too easy for you and should take Spanish B. If you're unsure, ask if you can take a Spanish Placement test at school.

Also, here's a website which may help you with your subject choices:
http://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/uploaded/images/Dover_-_Senior_School_Portal/files/University_Pre-requisites.pdf

Hope it helps!

Thanks so much! I've signed up for Spanish Ab and my coordinator says I can move up to B if I find it too easy. I definitely won't be taking A, though. :P
In case you ever see this again, I was wondering what you'd think about Bio HL and Art SL instead of Art HL and Bio SL? I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to take it because I'm doing Double Award Science but I love Bio so I sure as hell am gonna try.

Thanks so much! I've signed up for Spanish Ab and my coordinator says I can move up to B if I find it too easy. I definitely won't be taking A, though. :P
In case you ever see this again, I was wondering what you'd think about Bio HL and Art SL instead of Art HL and Bio SL? I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to take it because I'm doing Double Award Science but I love Bio so I sure as hell am gonna try.

Seeing as I absolutely love Biology, I'd say do bio higher. And apparently you do too, so yeah go for it . Bio standard doesn't go into as much depth as Higher, and is also considered a 'soft' class at SL. You seem to have a passion for sciences, so definitely go for higher level Biology and Art SL.
Also, do look at admission requirements ( http://www.ucas.com can help) to make sure that you are on the right track to studying what you wish to study at uni.

Hi,

My sister is picking her IB subjects and I just wanted to learn a bit more about the IB so I can give her some advice.

First, how do the exams work? She told me that you sit all your exams in the 2nd year. I thought this was pretty strange because A-Levels are split into 2 years (with exams in both years). Does this mean you can't resit IB?

Also, if she picks French ab initio instead of German, will she have to disclose the fact that her course was ab initio on forms like UCAS? I'm guessing doing an ab initio subject will affect your university offers and the like.

Thank you!

All exams are in the second year. However, you will almost certainly have mocks before then, which are important as they will be the biggest factor behind your predicted grades for UCAS. Also, you do have internal assessment and coursework over the two years, which accounts for 20 to 40 percent of most subjects (and 100% of the core components: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity Action Service, with ToK and the EE being assessed and, when combined, accounting for 3 points out of the 45 available on the diploma). It is possible to resit, with exams being offered in November as well as May (for the benefit of students in the Southern Hemisphere as well as those resitting), but this means you have to wait a year longer to go to uni and start your UCAS again, and it is widely alleged that not all institution are as accepting of IB retakes as they are of A Levels modules being retaken. You can retake the whole diploma, or individual subjects to increase your score, but I am not sure about individual papers. You would also likely have to convince the 6th form/college to let you stay on an extra year to do this.

You do have to disclose all your subjects on UCAS, but remember that most people will be applying with at most a language at GCSE level, and the majority will have dropped languages all together at the end of year nine since they were not compulsory for your sister's year group assuming she's year eleven now (age 15/16). So whilst it's obviously not as good as a 'B' language (AS/A level equivalent), it is still above GCSE and should not cause any problems unless she applies for a degree with foreign language content (aside from the obvious, I seem to remember a language module in History at Durham or something random).

Hope she manages to sort everything out, just ask if you have any more questions!

Thank you! That was very informative.

I hear so many complaints about IB, I think A levels sound a lot easier.