Students doing the IB Diploma will struggle with the seemingly endless onslaught of internal and external deadlines that they need to meet. There are 6 subjects in the IB (3 at Higher Level and 3 at the Standard Level), along with other requirements like Theory of Knowledge, a 4000-word Extended Essay, and the CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) portfolio. Without good time management skills, students will feel overwhelmed with the deadlines coming their way and they may not perform as well across all their subjects.
Here are some good time management strategies for the IB:
Know what deadlines are due when
The first thing students should do is get a calendar and write down when every single major deadline is due. This is so that they can avoid being caught by surprise when the deadlines roll around. Students are reminded that every educational institution has their own internal deadlines and the IB has external deadlines. Students should start on their work well before the deadline and set reminders to complete things on time if they need help being organised.
Be consistent in your work
Students should not make the mistake of burning the midnight oil. Short bursts of revision will not be as effective as consistent studying. Students should try to revise equally across all subjects, so they have a balanced grade. Remember – a student’s total IB score consists of all their subject scores added up. As such, students cannot fail some subjects at the expense of scoring well in others. Having a balanced score also shows universities that a student has undertaken holistic learning – they have paid equal attention to all of their subjects.
Start early and do not procrastinate
Perhaps one of the biggest difficulties students today face is the presence of so many distractions. It is very easy to get caught up with scrolling through social media, talking to your friends, or playing games. If students struggle with addiction to social media or their mobile phones, they should install apps which limit their time on their phones or get an adult to limit their screen time. Procrastination is a slippery slope – without proper regulation, students could be in serious trouble when deadlines roll around and they cannot meet them.
Ask for help early
It is very common for students not to understand the nature of the task at hand. However, their teachers are here to help them. Students should clarify doubts early, especially if they are not sure about either their content knowledge or how to go about their tasks. Students are not likely to be familiar with the demands of academic writing which are required in their IA and EE, and they should seek past examples to get the formatting and writing style correct.
Get a 7 for IB Chemistry (HL/SL) with the IB Chemistry Clinic today!
As the name suggests, the IB Chemistry Clinic does not only fix a student’s grades - it helps students with critical components of the IB Programme, namely the Internal Assessment (IA) which is worth at least 20% of a student’s grade and their Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry.
The IA and EE are a non-negotiable part of the Chemistry curriculum - without them, students will not be able to graduate with an IB Diploma. However, there are many difficulties associated with conducting experiments for the IA and EE - many replications are required and the standard for the final deliverable - the research report - is high. Students need to undertake statistical testing and present their final results coherently and concisely.
Although the IB school provides mentors for the EE and teachers at school can guide students through their IA, attention to each student is often limited in a classroom setting and many students are left to figure things out by themselves. This results in difficulty completing internal deadlines on time, especially when a student needs to juggle all their 6 subjects and the additional components of the IB, along with their CCAs and other commitments.
The IB Chemistry Clinic is here to answer all your questions - whether it is about content knowledge or fixing errors in your experimental setup as you undertake your IA journey, our skilled tutors with a strong background in Chemistry research and 30 years of experience teaching Chemistry are here to help!
Contact us at +65 9616 1651 to book your slot today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to get a 7 in IB?
With time and effort, students who know the syllabus well and are well-prepared and have well-written assignments will easily get a 7 in the IB.
Is IB harder than A Levels Singapore?
Is 43 in IB a good score?
What is the hardest IB subject combination?
What IB score is needed for Harvard/Oxford?
Is 28 a bad IB score?
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