Words and Illustration by: Marianne Ayala, Year 13
To a great extent, this diagram is indeed accurate for many IB students around the world, especially around assessment time. Just the mere mention of the dreaded two letters is enough to instil fear into the hearts of students, and those who are able to survive its torment are lauded as heroes who have bravely slain the ferocious beast that is the IB.
There is no denying that IB surpasses virtually every other existing high school curricula out there in terms of rigour, but that doesn't mean that it has to be an unbearable experience. It is entirely possible to succeed whilst still remaining happy, healthy and sane (most of the time).
Here are my top ten tips for making IB more tolerable and possibly even enjoyable.
1. SLEEP. Admittedly, I probably don't get as much sleep as I should, but even just one extra hour of snoozing can make all the difference. You will be more focused and alert the next day and be able to absorb all that useful knowledge. Try not to stay up past midnight doing work; instead, wake up early the next morning to finish up when your mind is more refreshed and able to concentrate.
2. Eat well. Make sure you drink plenty of water and maintain a balanced diet that nourishes you to avoid the state of lethargy that is synonymous with teenagers. Pro tip: don't skip the carbs - you need these to keep you fuelled throughout the day so you can be productive as possible.
3. Manage your time. Homework can pile up quickly so don't fall behind - it is indescribably easy to fall behind on assignments but also indescribably hard to try and catch up. Use a planner or application like iProcrastinate to set out manageable targets each day and whatever you do, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU PROCRASTINATE (take this from me, the self-proclaimed queen of procrastination). Save Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc. etc. for after you've done what needs to be done.
4. DO NOT CRAM. We've all been there before, studying frantically the night before a test, panic exacerbated with every turn of the page. You will just freak yourself out. Don't do it. Do your revision in little chunks before the exam so the knowledge is given a chance to be retained.
5. Talk to your teachers. Believe it or not, they are real people too (omg!) who can understand what you are going through. If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask about it after class. In most cases your teacher will be more than willing to help you. Negotiate deadlines with teachers (within reason) if you feel like there's a pile up coming along - just don't do this the day before your work is due in.
6. Get active. Join a sports team or an exercise class because incorporating a bit of physical activity into your day will not only increase your physical fitness, but also boost your mood, improve your memory and concentration, and relieve stress (which you will definitely need to do as an IB student).
7. Back up your files regularly. With all the IAs, WAs and coursework you need to submit over the course of the two year programme, it is absolutely imperative that you keep backup copies of your work in various places. Be it on Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote or an old school hard drive, you should save your work on alternative platforms regularly to avoid the sheer frustration and despondence that set in when you lose an important piece of work.
8. Update your CAS folders. CAS can be a real pain in the CAS if you leave filling in forms until the last minute. Log in your activities and evidence right after you do them to avoid any problems and unnecessary stress.
9. Separate work and play. Whilst David Guetta, Ne-yo, and Akon advocated for people to "work hard, play hard", the two activities should not be attempted to be done simultaneously. You will be infinitely more productive if you get rid of any distractions (farewell, buzzfeed), at least until you finish working. If you ever become unmotivated while working, just think of why you are putting yourself through this (hint: to get into university) and know that if you work more efficiently now you will be able to binge-watch your favourite series sooner.
10. Breathe. IB is tough, but not as bad as it seems. Don't forget to enjoy your last years of high school and take in everything that is happening around you. Focus on your work but don't be afraid to chill with your friends once in a while. Stay focused, organised, and relaxed and IB will be a breeze (sort of).
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