How to Survive the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Chances are, if you're reading this, that you have already taken the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme or you're seriously thinking about taking it. You're in the right place for some helpful tips, to help you decide whether this is something right for you and to help you survive getting through a challenging (yet rewarding!) way to study.

Deciding that this is really for you

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   If you haven't decided to take the IB yet, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Talk to all the tutors and teachers of the subjects you wish to do. Make sure this is definitely what you want to do. If you have an issue, see your IB coordinator. They do, in fact, know all.

Method 2 of 5: Getting your mindset in order

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   Stay organised. This can't be stressed enough. You are juggling 6 or 7 subjects at a college (read: adult) level here, so for goodness' sake, keep your notes for each separate, organised and well written so that you can refer to them when it comes to exam time.
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   Make the most of your classes. Ask questions. Take well ordered notes. Follow up anything that you don't understand, as soon as possible.

Method 3 of 5: Staying committed

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   Pick subjects you are the most enthusiastic about. These are the subjects you are going to be studying intensively for two years. You're going to write essays, read about, do loads of research and homework on those subjects. Trust me, you don't want to do a Business Management IB course if you wanted to take Theatre Arts instead. You are more likely to be admitted into college with a 5 or 6 in Theatre Arts than a 2 or 3 in Business Management.
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   Learn the IB objectives for each subject. Because of the need to standardise the curriculum across different languages and cultures, they aren't going to test you on anything else. Ever. For example, in Biology, there's not much point learning the names of all the amino acids when you only have to be able to draw a generalised structure (unless you love biology, in which case, more power to you).
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   Learn the command terms for each subject. Not knowing command terms will lose you marks you could have gotten otherwise.
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   Do all your homework. Homework assignments constitute a high percentage of your final IB grade, and you could find yourself overwhelmed by the final exams if you're not diligent. This applies even further if you are doing HL (higher level) science or math.
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   Start your extended essay ASAP. Do it well, properly, and early. The sooner you do it, the sooner it's out of the way.
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   TOK. Otherwise known as Theory of Knowledge. Nail it. It's easy to get the core points for it if you work relatively hard. If your teacher won't teach you, teach yourself. There are books out there which are specifically designed for IB, so go get them.
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   Keep up to date with your CAS (Creativity, Action, Service). You need 50 hours of each, over a two year-period. Try to persuade your school to organise something to help you knock these hours out, for example, photography class, activity weekend, or tuition of younger kids. If all else fails, gardening in school can count as all three. Any help you do in school, get it signed off. Hand in those forms! You'll want to finish this as soon as possible, because by the end you'll need your energy to concentrate on your final exams.