<p>I’m planning on taking IB in 11th and 12th grade, which I have heard is extremely difficult. Currently, I am a freshman with too much free time and breezing through my classes. I know when I’m going to have a tough time transitioning from my easy classes to IB when the time comes.</p>
<p>How can I prepare for my difficult IB classes? I was thinking of self-learning subjects by using books from wikiBooks, but I don’t really the see point. Plus, all the information that I would learn through the wikiBooks would just be memorization, and have very little application.</p>
<p>Do what I did. Wait for it to come. It’s not as difficult as everyone says. It’s not the content of the work, it’s the volume of it. You have to MANAGE your time.</p>
<p>^^what he said. I’m an IB senior and it’s all about time management.</p>
<p>My one suggestion would be to try to put yourself in a position to take two of your SL tests your junior year, I made sure I was in Spanish 4 and IB SL Mathematics as a junior so now I only have to worry about 4 IB tests this year. This is an especially good idea if you plan to take 4 HL classes (which I’m not doing, but I wish I could). And this isn’t necessarily an “easy way out” - you can still take APs or additional IB classes as a senior for a rigorous courseload, but that way come May you only have to worry about four tests actually affecting your IB diploma instead of 5 or 6. Plus you have a chance to re-take any tests you do poorly on.</p>
<p>Also, this isn’t really a way to make IB easier, but I STRONGLY suggest self studying the AP classes that correspond to your IB SLs. I’m going to do that for art history this year and I wish I had done it for spanish and math last year. That way you actually get college credit, and it looks great on apps.</p>
<p>For time management: Get an easy-to-carry laptop, bring it to school every day. Use it to take notes in class if you can, use it during any free time to work on whatever papers you’re writing at the moment. Use all available time during school to work. My macbook pro has been my best friend for a year now, but plenty of people seem to be perfectly happy with the super cheap little netbooks.</p>
<p>kenzie, sorry I’m new to the IB system. Does this mean that SL courses are only 1 year? If so, my school doesn’t offer AP courses, so what would I do senior year? Due to having a limited course selection, my IB classes it looks like I will be taking are:</p>
<p>Math HL
History HL
Economics HL
Literature HL
Spanish SL</p>
<p>Undecided on Science</p>
<p>Would this mean that I would have to take an SL Science?</p>
<p>I was considering self-studying AP classes, but are you sure I should only do it for my SL subjects because of college credits? Also, when is the right time to self-study a.k.a. is freshman year too early? And, do I need to buy a textbook or could I just get some AP test review books and use online textbooks from wikiBooks (although they’re mainly summaries). </p>
<p>On the note of laptops, I’m trying to save up for a Mac, and will definitely have a laptop at the very least by my junior year for IB.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you would have to/want to take an SL science because at least at my school we don’t allow 5 HLs unless the student proves to be some sort of godly supergenius. Which maybe you are, in which case talk to your IB coordinator. </p>
<p>If your school doesn’t offer APs, you could take an additional IB course without testing in it. Like, if you decide to take chemistry SL and test as a junior, you could take a year of bio as a senior without actually testing. Or you could take an additional IB test without worrying the stress of your overall diploma score.</p>
<p>I’ve never self studied an AP before this year, and it’s something I regret not doing. I don’t see a point in taking an AP test corresponding to your HL courses because those give college credit, and SLs don’t. But you could self study additional subjects that you’re not taking at all, I’m just not in a good position to give advice for that with my lack of experience. Ask around on the AP boards. Idk if freshman year is too early, but I have friends who self studied AP Euro as sophomores.</p>
<p>DD went through IB so I know a few things. First don’t take Math HL unless you love math and is very good at it. D’s school is a public school with gifted program. Last year nobody got 7 on math HL, this year only two got 7. Also you can take most AP tests along with IB, but IB physics SL will not prepare you for AP physics.</p>
<p>Thanks kenzie for responding! Actually, I would definitely take an SL science now that I think of it. Also, my school is actually thinking about limiting this year’s juniors to only only 3 HL classes, which would mean I would probably take History SL, unless some new courses are offers. </p>
<p>For taking the IB test as a junior, wouldn’t I know only half of the information? If I do take it junior year and get a bad score, will I be able to continue the course and retake the exam my senior year and not worry about the score of the junior year? Suppose I take the AP exam. If I do bad, will it be sent to colleges or do I have the option to not?</p>
<p>sleepless - Thanks for the advice! Currently I am in an extra-accelerated Algebra II class and not really trying. But, for me it really depends on the teacher. Even though the teacher hasn’t really taught us last year, most of this stuff is pretty self-explanatory. I did have a tough time last year though in 8th grade which is surprising. My PreCal teacher next year is the one that teacher Math HL so that will make my decision, but I’ll mostly go with Math HL because I’m pretty sure I’m going to major in something business related. If I were to take the AP exam for the History I take, would it be AP World History? I am probably not going to take AP Physics, but I’m not 100% sure.</p>
<p>the maximum is 4 HL courses, at least at my school.</p>
<p>i took my two SLs, math studies and environmental systems, last year so thank god this year i have my better courses. i have HL english, psych, history, and SL spanish. that’s 3 SLs and 3 HLs. senior year history is history of the americas. </p>
<p>IB is all about time management. i never have homework unless it’s a typed project.</p>
<p>MIThopeful16 - So SL courses are only one year long? I would my consider myself big on math, and I’m not fully decided on business so I would pick Math HL. Oh, so History focuses on the region? Then yes, it should be US History. How exactly is it a joke? Is it that easy? I will still probably take it though.</p>
<p>My son is a senior in an IB program. In grade 9 & 10, he was in MYP which is pre-IB. His school offers many AP classes. I think he will have taken 15 by the time he graduates. You can take the AP exam even tho you did not take an AP class. For example, if you take World History, you can take the AP exam in May as well as the SAT II in May or June in the year you finish the class. If you go to the College Board web site, the exams given are explained there. </p>
<p>If you are bored, I suggest you take the most rigorous courses your school offers. Perhaps you can dual enroll in a local community college or virtual school. Speak to your GC, a few teachers you admire and upperclassmen. You don’t have to decide yet which IB exams you will take SL or HL. You may want to talk to the IB coordinator to get more details about the community service and other requirements.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to make friends, enjoy school and get involved in ECs. You can use any extra time to help others or get a job. You can also start prepping for the SAT and ACT.</p>
<p>HL math is supposed to be killer at my school but that could be because of the crappy math faculty. I took math SL and got a 6 only because of the help from some brainiac mathlete friends, no one got 7s. No one has ever gotten above a 4 on HL math at my school o.0</p>
<p>FlMathMom - I was considering taking the AP exam for the IB classes I take, but I think kenzie said it was only necessary to take it on my SL courses and not in my HL classes. What did your son do? I am taking the hardest courses, but since my school is new, they’re very easy. The freshman haven’t even had a chance to meet with the GC ever so I don’t know about that. Plus, the upperclassmen aren’t that great to get advice from.</p>
<p>^^my point with the IB/AP exams is that it might seem kind of redundant to take AP Chem if you’re already taking IB Chem HL for example. Nothing really is “necessary”. But if you’re looking to challenge yourself, you could self study a bunch of things you haven’t taken. I thought you were looking to make IB easier haha</p>