IBDP’s reputation as a fiery program sacrifices students before they even enter. The IBDP is designed for students who want to earn a globally recognized degree, which makes it different and somewhat challenging from other degree programs.
Making the effort to study at IBDP is important for students, especially when entering the program, either learning the commands for each subject or doing lots of homework before the submission date. Not all students can manage or get through this phase, thus requiring a motivational session or just relaxing and enjoying a break from their studies. Resuming studies after a break can provide a new perspective on learning.
If anyone found this article, chances are they take life too seriously and think there is no other life than the IBDP. In that case, relax a bit and read on for some helpful tips on how to survive the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
- Fully understand the IBDP program
- Fill out the CAS quickly
- Stay organized and take notes
- Complete your homework as soon as possible
- Learn the order terms for each subject as early as possible
- Complete the extended writing as soon as possible
- Get the most out of TOK courses and fully understand TOK
- Review topics after they have been taught
- Ask teachers for help
1. Fully understand the IBDP program
IBDP’s reputation as a fiery program sacrifices students when entering the program, as it is designed for students who want to earn a globally recognized degree, which makes it different and somewhat challenging from other graduate programs. ‘studies. In-depth knowledge of the program should be obtained from teachers, mentors or IB coordinators who have experience with the programme. Points to fully understand the IBDP:
- Ask questions and know every detail.
- Learn more about the program on its official website.
- Understand material groups, get an overview of TOKs, CASs and extensive testing.
2. Complete the CAS quickly
CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) is one of three foundations that requires a total of 150 CAS hours, based on Creativity, Activity, and Service. It is a break from the academic part of the program, which relieves stress by allowing students to show their talent and creativity. It is better to finish as soon as possible to concentrate later on the academic part which is also essential. An active and creative weekend activity, teaching younger students, joining social service or volunteering for a good cause, or even planting trees counts as a CAS activity.
3. Stay organized and take notes
Organizing all the necessary study materials saves time as you can easily access the study materials. If anyone likes to study online, they should take the essentials. Things someone might need while studying:
- Folders and binders to organize notes.
- Notepads or notebooks for taking notes.
- A bag to carry all your essential stationery.
- Scheduler to check schedule.
- Laptop and all necessary bags.
- Headphones if you like to study through online videos, as it is necessary to keep silence in the library.
- Bottle of water, as hydration is mandatory.
4. Complete your homework as soon as possible
Completing assignments the same day they were assigned will be easier to complete as they stay fresh in memory. It’s easy to retain as much information as possible if it’s reviewed within 24 hours of teaching, making it easier to complete homework and be able to do other activities.
5. Learn the order terms for each subject as early as possible
There are various assessments by which students are graded or terminology to keep in mind to score higher in a subject. As the grading system is different for IBDP, you need to know the order terms or the evaluation criteria more completely and as soon as possible.
6. Complete the extended writing as soon as possible
Completing the extensive writing as soon as possible can give the student the opportunity to get feedback from a teacher to improve and perform better. It’s a daunting process for many students to write a 4,000-word essay without guidance, so finishing it early can help you get a good score.
7. Make the most of TOK lessons and fully understand TOK
TOK classes tend to provide information about the nature of knowledge, areas of knowledge, and how to claim knowledge. Normally, the TOK is divided into two parts: 1) The written theoretical part, 2) The oral presentation and explanation. The word count for a TOK essay is usually between 1200 and 1600 words including the concept title. The title and the introductory part of the essay must be intriguing to attract attention. The essay mainly includes knowledge acquisition methods and comprehensive explanation of understanding. Here are some tips for writing a TOK essay:
- Learn about arbitrary topics
- Choose subject and title carefully
- Read the test instructions carefully
- Know the classification criteria and terminologies
- Conceptualize Ideas for Essay Title
- Present the point of view with open-ended conclusions
- Final check of the test before the presentation
8. Review topics after teaching
Being consistent with learning practice is very important to keep it fresh in your memory. Each gap can lead to a lack of material, because the unfinished part or chapter can accumulate if not learned or revised in this dedicated time. By doing something repeatedly, one can learn quickly, so studying regularly can improve the brain’s ability to retain information longer. Attending additional classes can be a good time to review what has already been taught. Relaxation and procrastination may be nice at this particular time, but it can do more damage in the future, and such habits create obstacles to becoming a student or a responsible person.
9. Ask teachers for help
Young minds need proper guidance and mental support to deal with the different IBDP learning systems. Showing students real-life problems and mentally reinforcing them is how the teacher guides students.