The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is renowned worldwide for its global education, critical thinking approach, and preparation of students for the future. At the same time, though, the program is also known worldwide for its academic rigour: endless assignments, IA and EE deadlines, numerous essay submissions, and college essays that intimidate IB students every day, as a student’s overall performance throughout the two years in the program determines their future academic pathway. People will often say, “Don’t worry! University will feel easier than the IB!” But is this really the case? Is the IB truly useful in university, and is the workload actually less demanding than the IB? Two generous alumni, Keito (’24) and Brian (’24), shared their experience and tips for current and future IB students. With their help, let’s dive in!
What is the IB?
The International Baccalaureate, or the IB, is a Swiss educational foundation founded in 1968.
The curriculum focuses on developing critical thinking and global mindsets for young people to thrive in the future. The IB offers various courses for children aged 3 to 19. At SMIS, students aged 16-18 have the option to enroll in the Diploma Programme (DP). The DP program is a rigorous, two-year course focusing on critical thinking and evaluation. The program also fosters strong essay skills, research skills, and critical thinking, preparing students for university. Although the DP comes with many benefits, this program is also famous for its workload. The reason for this is the number of classes students are required to take. Students must select six subjects in total: three at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). In addition to these required classes, students must complete the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), which focuses on the “why?” aspect across all subjects. They are also required to write an extended essay (a 4,000-word research paper on a chosen subject) and participate in CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) activities that demonstrate creativity, physical activity, and community service. Finally, students must also complete the Internal Assessment (IA), an additional research paper on a selected topic for all core classes. Many find the DP extremely stressful, but it is manageable if the student can develop effective study skills.
Keito and Brian’s Advice for IB Students
Whether you’re currently in the IB or considering taking the IB, Keito and Brian shared some important tips to get the most out of the IB. In the IB, the core classes are obviously important, but maintaining your health and well-being is also important. “The biggest advice that I could give current IB students is to take steps to lead a healthy life… it would be a waste not to be able to showcase your full potential because you pulled an all-nighter and got sick,” Keito said.
Each class at SMIS lasts 90 minutes and covers a significant amount of content. Missing one class would mean missing a significant amount of content and information. The IB learner profile also states that students should be “balanced”, balancing academics with mental and physical well-being. This may be hard for many students considering the amount of work, but it is possible through careful time management. When asked about important subjects, Brian emphasized the importance of the English class. “Your understanding is assessed by how well you can write, so it’s important to take the English class seriously,” Brian said. Unlike the SAT and other tests, a challenging aspect of the IB is the critical thinking foundation, where
students must evaluate and justify their answers in writing (applies to STEM subjects as well), which is why English is the foundation for all IB subjects. Brian also offered one final piece of advice for Japanese students considering studying abroad: “Bring lots of Japanese food.”
Hardest Parts of the IB/What the IB didn’t Prepare the Students For
Many students find the course extremely stressful and difficult due to the workload. According to Keito, one of the difficulties he faced was focusing too much on one assignment or test and forgetting about the bigger picture of the IB. “The hardest part for me
during IB was to not forget about the bigger picture… it was easy to get lost in a rabbit hole about the grade on one assignment or test, when the focus should have been more on ‘What I learned’ and ‘How to improve.’ This is a common mindset IB students fall into, making them forget about the bigger two-year picture of the IB. So don’t focus too much on one assignmet or test. Remember, the IB values a “balanced student!”
When asked about what the IB didn’t prepare Brian for University, Brian experienced the lack of support compared to high school. “University. For me, there’s no tests to bump your grades up or no one checking to see if you’re studying, especially if you live alone,” he said. Due to the demanding workload pf the IB, teacher support schools have adequate support systems and remind you to get work done, but this is not the university case. This does mean more freedom, but this means that every assignment relies on your self-discipline.
Skills the IB builds
Despite the IB being demanding for many students, the IB also helps build many essential skills for university and your future career. “The IB helped build a lot of organization and time management… planning ahead to make sure that I had time to do everything to the best of my ability was something the IB really taught me to do,” Keito said. Effective time management and organization are essential to the IB. This will allow you to complete work on time and produce quality work at the same time. These skills will help you not only in the IB but also in university, where much more work is expected to be done in a shorter period of time.
Brian, who currently studies biochemical engineering at University College London “Ever since I came here, there were endless amounts of projects and essays due, and the IB has prepared me for the worst.” Overall, the IB helped him a lot to produce quality work within a shorter period of time. “A lot of the research skills you develop in IB are still used in university… you’re going to be dealing with a lot more research in a short amount of time. Being organised in your research is super beneficial.” While many found writing essays and researching difficult, the skills Brian gained from the IB gave him a head start, thanks to his experience from his IB classes.
Conclusion
How important was the IB for Keito and Brian? In short, extremely. Although the IB can be overwhelming for many students, it develops essential skills such as resilience, independence, and a broad academic knowledge. With proper time management and study habits, students will be able to manage the IB and gain important insights. Through Keito and Brian’s experience, it is clear that the skills and habits the IB builds aren’t just for academic success in high school; these skills can be applied beyond the classroom, and the benefits it brings far outweigh the negatives.
