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31-10-2022

Everything every 1st Year IB student must do

The first year of the IB Diploma Programme is like a rehearsal that prepares the students for the big event. The second year is quite demanding for the students as they have to submit their Extended Essays, prepare presentations on the Theory of Knowledge and prepare for their IB exams. Here are a few important things that a first-year IB student must do to excel in the Diploma Programme.

1. Getting oneself organised

The students must spend at least one hour every day dedicated to CAS-related activities. Some of these are listed below: -

Creating a Public Service Announcement video

The students can choose relevant global issues like waste management, plastic pollution, sustainability, climate change, etc. The students can create a video centred around any of the given themes/topics.

Playing a sport/instrument

In case a student lacks some CAS hours to score enough credits, then playing a sport or learning to play a musical instrument would be an excellent filler for the CAS reflection.

Volunteering on weekends

Students can volunteer on weekends at any local NGO. They can also visit animal shelters and orphanages. They can also participate in tree plantation programmes organised by the local authorities.

2. Being SMART

Here, SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. The students should be specific about one subject rather than concentrating on it all at once. To make the goals more measurable, they should track the progress of their courses and dedicate at least three hours a week to researching for their Internal Assessments. They must revise all the concepts taught every day.

The students should ensure that their goals are attainable, such as finishing the IAs within a stipulated time and not trying to complete them in a hurry. The relevance of a student’s goals is also vital. They must not only dedicate their time to complete their IA but also finish their EE and other projects. Hence, the tasks must be completed within a stipulated time frame. The students must create a timeline for the following year. They should finalise a topic for their extended essay and plan their revision schedule.

3. Balancing deadlines and examinations

Since the second year of IB is the year of submissions, the students have to be smart about deciding their EE drafts, and university applications, completing their CAS reflection and preparing for their final exams. The students have to remember that their second year will entail them to multitask more than they would expect. Hence, it is essential to complete the pending tasks and not procrastinate. They must submit their EE at least one month before their final exams.

4. Being in touch with the academic counsellor

The academic counsellor helps students choose the right college and constantly checks on them. Once the college is finalised, the counsellor also assists them in arranging all the necessary documents required to apply for those colleges.

5. Revising more

Besides learning new concepts, it is essential that the students revise their lessons regularly. This would prove beneficial during their preparation and they will not be burdened by the massive IB curriculum and the pressure of final exams.

6. Getting a hustle partner

It would be a good move to have a partner with whom students can work their way through the second year. It is ideal that they find themselves a buddy to keep each other motivated and on track regarding their learning progress. It is also crucial that the buddies have similar subjects.

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