The IB program is challenging, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your performance and reduce stress. This guide provides tips to help you approach your subjects efficiently and effectively.
MATH
- Know Your Calculator and Your Formula Booklet Like the Back of Your Hand: In IB Math, mastering your calculator is crucial for saving time. There is no need to do calculations manually when your calculator can do them for you. Don’t waste valuable exam time doing things the long way, make your calculator work for you! Equally important, be extremely familiar with your formula booklet. Don’t spend time thinking about where formulas are. Also, always refer to the booklet for accuracy. Relying on memory can slow you down or lead to mistakes, so take advantage of the resources.
- Assess the Difficulty Based on Mark Allocation: The number of marks assigned to a question can give you a good indication of its complexity. If you find yourself doing long, complex calculations for a 2-3 mark question, it’s likely that you’re either approaching it inefficiently or missing a simpler method. Keep an eye on mark allocation to help guide your approach—shorter, more efficient solutions are typically expected for lower-mark questions, while more detailed work is usually required for higher-mark questions. If a question feels too complicated for its marks, stop and reassess your approach.
- Always Show Your Working: Many of us come from educational systems that rely heavily on multiple-choice questions, it’s easy to forget the importance of showing your work. In IB Math exams, however, you often earn the majority of your marks from showing your work. Simply stating the final answer isn’t enough. Make sure to clearly show all your steps and reasoning. This not only ensures you get credit for the method, but it also helps you stay organized and spot any mistakes before finalizing your answer.
LANGUAGE B
- Be Very Precise: In Language B Paper 1, the open ended questions require very precise answers. The mark scheme is strict, and you could lose marks for adding extra words or missing a single important word. Make sure your answers are concise and directly address the question without any unnecessary information. Pay close attention to every detail in the question, as even missing a single word can cost you marks. Precision is key to securing full marks.
- Read Along with the Questions: Instead of reading the entire text first and then trying to answer the questions, the questions are in chronological order so read the text alongside the questions. By working through the questions as you go, you stay focused on the specific details needed for each answer. This helps you avoid unnecessary confusion and ensuring you don’t miss key information.
- Choose the Right Text Type in Paper 2: When answering Paper 2 questions, be very careful when selecting your text type. Often, there is one specific text type that fits the question perfectly and allows you to earn full marks. The different text types are intentionally placed, and the examiner expects you to choose the one that aligns best with the question. Take your time to consider which option will allow you to showcase your skills most effectively, ensuring that your response matches the intended style and purpose.
HUMANITIES
- Stay Informed with Real-Life Examples: One of the best ways to enrich your Humanities answers is by incorporating real-life You don’t need to memorize every event or detail—simply stay updated with current affairs. By dedicating just 15-20 minutes a day to reading the news or listening to reliable sources, you can gather fresh, relevant examples that will elevate your responses. This not only helps demonstrate your understanding of the material but also shows the ability to connect what you’re learning to the real world.
- Write Fast and Think on Your Feet: In Humanities exams, you’ll often need to write a lot, so speed is essential. You’ll be racing against time, so it’s important to think and write simultaneously. Remember, this is not a language test—your writing style isn’t what’s being assessed. Don’t waste time trying to use fancy language; focus on clearly demonstrating your understanding and making strong, well-supported arguments.
- Stay Focused on the Question: It’s easy to get carried away with the flow of your writing and lose track of what you’re actually Always keep the question in mind, every sentence you write should directly connect to it. Don’t add unnecessary information or go off topic. Write nothing more, nothing less just answer the question as clearly, detailed and precisely as possible.
SCIENCES
- Predict Before you Solve: Before solving any science problem, take a moment to predict the outcome based on fundamental principles. This ensures that your final answer aligns with logical expectations. If your result contradicts your initial prediction, you know to double check for mistakes. For example, in chemistry if your answer suggests that increasing volume increases pressure, you can immediately tell something is wrong. Sometimes, we get too focused on theoretical calculations and forget to check if the answer actually makes sense. It’s easy to follow formulas blindly without questioning the result. Taking a moment to step back and think about whether your answer is logical can help catch mistakes before they cost you marks.
Don’t Hesitate to Write Things out Clearly: It’s easy to rush through problems to finish quickly, but this often leads to mistakes. Take the time to write out your steps and calculations clearly. Even if it feels like you’re slowing down, being organized makes everything easier to follow and reduces the chance of errors. Writing clearly helps you stay focused, ensures you don’t miss important details, and makes it easier to spot mistakes if they happen. IB understands the importance of this and gives you enough time to work through problems carefully, so don’t worry. Taking your time to write clearly will pay off in the end even if it feels like you’re moving slower at first. - Pay Attention To In Class Experiments: Experiments play a crucial role in both your understanding of the material and your preparation for the Internal Assessment (IA). While they may not always have a direct impact on your exam scores, they offer important practice for the skills required in the IA. More importantly, experiments help you internalize scientific concepts by providing a deeper, practical understanding that goes beyond theoretical knowledge. As you work through different experiments, you internalize the material you’ve studied, this makes it easier to recall and apply in the future. Over time, this learning strengthens your grasp of the subject and ensures that the concepts stick with you long after the unit is over.
LANGUAGE A
- Active Reading: While reading books for Language A, don’t just passively read; actively think about how well they fit the Paper 2 criteria where you have to write a essay comparing 2 books you read. Consider how the themes, characters, and plot can be linked to global issues, and constantly compare and contrast the books in your mind. This approach will help you better understand the material and prepare for the type of analysis required in your exams. By making these connections while reading, you’ll be able to deepen your insight and enhance your responses during Paper You would also be better prepared to select the most relevant book for your analysis when the time comes.
- Read Carefully and Have a Structured Plan: In paper 1, read both texts carefully before making a choice. Avoid rushing into one without fully understanding both As you read, take notes on key themes and the overall purpose of each text. Once you’ve selected the text that plays to your strengths, create a simple but structured plan—don’t worry, you have time for this! A clear outline of your main points will help you stay focused and make your analysis more precise and effective.
- Avoid Simple Mistakes: Be mindful of simple mistakes, especially with language. Always use formal language and avoid stating personal opinions. These are easy marks to lose, and paying attention to these details can make a significant difference in the quality of your writing. Clear, formal writing ensures that you convey your analysis effectively and earn maximum points for your understanding of the texts. Even if your essay is of high quality, simple mistakes such as using informal language or stating personal opinions can leave a bad impression.
Written by Ömer – IB26 student