Study Guide & Tips from IB Examiners

”Practice a great number of questions and understand the concepts. If you understand the concept and method, you will easily memorise the formula.

”Summarise your learning in the form of mind maps by topic. This enables you to make connections between each subtopic and highlight important formulae.

”Candidates should recognise whether quotations or a candidate’s own words should be used. It may seem simplistic, but every year marks are
dropped due to students missing these practicalities.

”IB has made intuitive and positive changes to the English Language and Literature syllabus that still allow students to be successful, demonstrate their knowledge, and make a more concerted effort to make connections to their learning through analysis and most importantly, largely through their own contextual lens.

”The more you understand the course, the less you fear it, and the better chance you have at success.

”Higher concentration on the core topics and deeper learning of the fundamental concepts with emphasis on problem-solving questions will be central to exam preparation.

”There are various strategies you may take, but the best time-saving, confidence-building strategy during the high-pressure exam time is to mark the questions you are most confident and comfortable with and tackle those first, while leaving the most difficult and scary questions last.

”The major change for next year is that, students will use secondary data to do all their data processing and conclusions. Don’t fail to think that this will be literature search only. You are still expected to carry out an investigation and write a scientific report with similar assessment criteria. What has changed is, you are not required to collect your own data as it may not be possible.

”Experienced IB teachers believe that, 25% of achieving a good grade in IB depends on how effectively students do their reviews before the exams after all the content is covered.

”Analyze your primary data by applying several business tools you have learnt (using quantitative tools will produce clearer results). Almost everyone uses SWOT – be different!

”Students must be familiar with the command terms used to understand the depth of treatment required in examination questions. Command terms guide students to present an answer in the way examiner is expecting.

”Tip:
In preparing for your exams, BEGIN EARLY and break down preparation into manageable sections. Be organised to ensure full course coverage.

”Think about your method like a recipe. It should be easy to follow.