**WARNING** I have only finished grade 10 and lack the experience to give judgement beyond my own experiences. In addition, my experiences are limited to Churchill. Please note the answers I am providing are based off of what I have experienced thus far into the 2 year International Baccalaureate Diploma program (full IB in layman’s terms) . Prepare yourself for a very lengthy post, because this is a topic I can rant on for hours about.
As a grade 10 full IB student (although some argue I can’t consider myself full IB until I get to grade 11) at Sir Winston Churchill High School, I remember the struggle back in junior high when deciding whether or not to go into the program. In particular, the teachers at the junior high school I attended had a huge animosity towards the program, telling us over and over that it would ruin our lives, that we would become antisocial, and just creating a conspicuous reputation of the program that terrified the crap out of me. Nevertheless, between parent pressure and my own expectations for myself, I signed up for the full IB program back in the ninth grade, and I was definitely one of the few individuals who did so. I am now more than grateful that I did, and know of many who regret the decision to fully trust the opinions of our junior high teachers. (This said, my experience in junior high was more than satisfying, and I am in no way trying to call out the teachers for what they said. They had their own opinions which I’m sure were justified in some way or form. While I respect it, I simply do not agree.)
Because of the animosity towards the IB program while I was in junior high, I found myself with an extreme lack of information. In all honesty, I was terrified, and there were no reliable sources to ask about the program. This resulted in a lot of useless internet searches, and just a voice in the back of my head telling me “you’re screwed and you’ll fail school and life because of IB” over and over again. After all, IB does seem to have a notorious reputation of being insanely, horribly, inhumanly hard. Well last week, I asked a friend of mine at my old junior high ( Tom Baines for those who are wondering) to ask her pre-IB classmates to provide me with their questions so I could answer them and hopefully relieve some of the stress they are going through during this time.
Before I begin answering your questions, I’d like to provide a bit of background about my current academic status and extracurriculars. I would like to ask now that you put all that condescending tone into the back of your mind about me bragging about my achievements. I am simply trying to provide you with a little bit of context as to me and my background, so you can have an idea about who these answers are coming from, and relate my experiences to your own.
Like I said earlier, I went to Tom Baines Junior High School, and was an average student by all means. MI ended up with a B in grade 9 science, just barely scraped a 90% in math and had my humanities teacher tell me my english abilities were not adequate enough for the English IB program. Like I said, not exactly the encouragement I needed going into the program. That said, there has been a certain satisfaction experiencing the self-growth I have, and disproving the myths about IB I heard so many times definitely proved to be good motivation.
Brief Summary: First Semester grade 10 ( Four courses per semester)
Math 10C ( Pre-IB) (97%)
I know this is the class I fretted the most about in the summer. Ironically, it was probably the easiest of all my classes this year so don’t fret like me.
English 10-1 (93%)
Marks fluctuate a bit between friends as they really depend on teachers. For the most part, all the teachers are tough so this is a class where you shouldn’t be expecting outstanding marks from the getgo. In my own opinion anything above an 85% is amazing. No matter who you get, most of the essay formatting you learn in junior high is useless.The most challenging thing about English 10-1 for me was the reading comprehension
French 20 (86%)
Honestly, I got a 65 on our first quiz, but still scraped by with an 86%. Definitely a rough transition for most of us from Tom Baines French so beware.
Science 10 (90%)
Science 10 definitely proved to be quite a difficult course for me. This was definitely my own fault, as my friends coasted through it, so don’t fret. My biggest tip? Read the textbook regardless of what teachers say and lots of repetition!
Brief Summary: Second semester grade 10
French 30 IB (97%)
I know you’re all wondering what the heck happened between French 20 and 30 IB. Well it’s all about starting off on the right foot. In addition, this class in made up of like 20 quizzes, 2 essays ( yes ESSAYS!), and 2 full blown oral presentations, so there’s a lot of room for error.
Math 20 IB ( 93%)
Oyy. All I can say is, the transition from slacking off in Math 10C and Math 20IB came and bit me in the ass. In addition, trying to manage my time between Bio and Math was difficult at the beginning; IB really is a learning experience. Anyways for this class, do the homework that is assigned and you’ll be fine.
Social 10-1 (97%) ( Full IB doesn’t officially start until grade 11)
You won’t learn much in this class. It’s made up of essays, chapter questions, documentaries, and research projects. It’s just about trying to get through the class without falling asleep most of the time.
Bio 25 IB ( 100%)
I entered this course terrified due to my terrible performance in Science 10. Due to this, 95% of my time went towards bio for the first 2 months, which I don’t recommend because this tanked my math mark beyond recognition. Anyways, bio is extremely time consuming and very content heavy. There are some days where the powerpoints seem to never-end and there’s never time to “chill” in this class. That said, it’s an extremely engaging class for those who like Bio ( such as myself) and I found myself always looking forward to it. It’s one of the classes where you constantly have 7 assignments at the same time so time management is key.
**All IB subjects are standardized
During the year, I volunteered 2 hours a week ( plus any one time projects), have dance 4 times a week, take piano lessons, art lessons, and Chinese school.
Let me emphasize this: My satisfactory marks are simply the result of good time management and hard work. That said, marks are not the whole story of what a person has accomplished.
That said, they are part of the story so don’t be easy on yourself.
1.Do we need grade 9 recommendations for IB?
For those of you who read my introduction, you know that a teacher explicitly told me that I was not up to par with the standard required for English IB. My other core class teachers expressed their dislike for IB as well. I don’t remember the application process from grade 9, but I do recall needing recommendations from junior high teachers. As far as I know, these don’t play a huge role in much of anything, as first semester grade 10 is basically all regular courses, with the exception of pre-IB math. Don’t fret about those recommendations. I will recommend however, that you should always choose in the very least a science IB and math IB on that junior high IB application, even if you’re not sure you want to take them. Like I said, it doesn’t do anything except give you science 10 and pre-IB math first semester. Having these two things in first semester is crucial. I have friends who were unfortunate enough to not request for a science IB in grade 9 and ended up with science 10 in second semester. This means they do not have the option to take Bio or Physics IB, as these two courses start in second semester. If you do end up with science 10 in second semester and you’re still iffy about if you want to do Bio or physics IB, make an appointment with the counsellor ASAP. In terms of the actual application for IB in November of first semester, nobody gives a crap about grade 9 recommendations.
2. What are the marks needed to get into IB?
I am going to assume that this person has already discovered that in early November, all prospective IB students are required to submit an application in order to become a “real” IB student. Wow first off, this question gives me such nostalgia. This was the question that I asked every high schooler I knew because the IB application was “oh so scary”. First off, let me assure you, it isn’t a difficult application. I don’t want to say that everyone got in, but the vast majority of individuals did get in. IB really isn’t as exclusive as you may think ( I’ll explain more in question 3). I don’t want to freak anyone out by giving a specific mark range, but here’s a pretty rough ballpark. First off, teacher recommendations are pretty important, so don’t piss anyone off. In general though, they will recommend you unless they really don’t believe you’re right for the program. In terms of marks, I would say a very safe mark is about 90% or above in each course. That said, 85% or above is still a 99.9% guarantee( I had 86% in French) as long as you have decent recommendations. 80% or above, your odds are still decent. If you are below 80% in a course and are applying for IB, there may be a change of acceptance. However in this case, I would really encourage you to think through your decision to take IB carefully.
3.Is IB difficult?
Wow this question is asking for a rant on my behalf. Honestly I could write you 3 pages about this. Let me just emphasize one thing. IB is not exclusive. It is not a program that holds all the geniuses of the school who are incomparable to everyone else. It is a program for anyone who is academically motivated, wants to learn time management for their future academic aspirations, and is willing to work their butt off. That said, if you are getting 70’s in your 10-1 courses, I’m not positive that you will enjoy IB; but that’s just my own opinion. They say you should only take IB if you’re passionate about the topics you choose. While I see the accuracy in this, I would like to point out that I have no idea what I’m passionate about. In fact, it was only through throwing myself into IB that I have discovered my liking for Biology ( who would have thought, considering my hatred of Science 10?).
Now to really answer the question. IB is just a completely different experience from anything else. It’s just the nature of the program and what it promotes. . I know for me, I went from learning “this is how mitosis works” in science 10, to “this is how it was discovered, this is how it is used, this is what we are currently doing to develop it further” in Bio 25 IB. It’s a much more engaging experience, and the information is a lot more current and insightful. Of course this results in quite a bit more testing, assignments, and a lot more information to retain. The curriculum for the math and sciences is very fast-paced and in Biology there is definitely is a factor of learning some material on your own. There is no room for “chilling”. In the math and especially the bio classroom, there is never any chitchat. It definitely isn’t easy or a walk in the park, but it isn’t particularly difficult ( at least in grade 10). For me, the transition from non-IB courses was very seamless, I didn’t notice a huge change. It’s just about keeping up with the material because everything moves very quickly! Break your mindset that the program is oh so difficult right now because that’s what is going to kill you most. At least in grade 10, it is all about creating a more insightful curriculum, and it isn’t particularly hard by any means. That said, prepare to work your butt off ( and learning kickass time management is essential if you want to sleep).
4.When do we have time to hang out?
IB doesn’t inflict much on my social schedule. We do get a lot of homework ( actually it’s kind of never-ending) so it’s kind of all about time management. For example, I get home at 4, and unless I have 3 tests the next day or something I never do my homework until 5. My parents constantly complain about it, but it’s my way of keeping my sanity. In terms of hanging out, the weekdays aren’t usually a good time. That said, it isn’t impossible as I have various extracurriculars that take up 2+ hours of my time, and I sleep before 11 every night. Contrary to popular belief we can go out on weekends since most of us procrastinate homework until sunday night anyways. We just choose to stay home because we’re all introverted sloths.
All the whining you hear from kids staying up until 2 am? If they’re in grade 10, chances are they only started their homework at 1 a.m. The workload is heavy and never-ending, but good time-management ensures time for a social life I promise.
5.On average how much homework do partial IB kids get? Full IB?
This question corresponds with the question above, but I suppose I’ll go into more specifics. I can’t speak for any partial kids, but I will speak for myself.
We get a lot of homework. Especially in IB Diploma.
If you’re not up for that, IB will not be a fun experience for you. That said, you don’t have to be positively ecstatic about it. Just willing to do it is sufficient for now. Second semester, there were definitely times when I would do homework from 5-10. That said, I’m a notorious Facebook addict, so it probably could’ve been done in 2 hours if I had focused. Thus far, I have never pulled an all-nighter. Below is a little summary of what I saw in each of the classes I had this year.
Math 10C
I literally did none of the assigned textbook work in this class. Not something I would recommend. So I personally spent like 1 hour every week on math the day before a test. Yes, you get tested in math every week, no I am not exaggerating. However, you’ll excel with 30 minutes/day if you already possess a decent math foundation.
English 10-1
Homework in this class varies. Sometimes you have nothing. Othertimes, you are drowning in dossiers, essay prep, memorizing terms, reading your assigned book, etc. Time spent varies from 0 minutes to 2+ hours.
Science 10
I definitely recommend spending 10-15 minutes/day reading the textbook ( even if your teacher doesn’t use it) and doing the practice problems in there. Besides this, always stay up to date with any addition worksheets or homework they assign. DO THE PRACTICE PROBLEMS ALL OF THEM. So maybe 30-45 minutes/day on Science is optimum. And then of course 2+ hour cram sessions the night before a test…
French 20
This is a subject where a huge part is memorization. So spend 20 minutes a day memorizing tenses, conjugations, and vocabulary. If you don’t, just know that cramming for French is quite difficult.
Bio 25 IB
WOW OK, the first 2 weeks of this class my entire existence was taken over by statistics homework. So definitely 2+ hours/day for the first couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong, you will always have at least 2 assignments at the same time in this class but at least you can do it on the computer after the statistics unit, cutting down work time significantly. It’s essential during the actual “biology” portion to go over lessons, read the corresponding textbook pages ( and you find these on your own they aren’t assigned) and memorize like your life depends on it. So at least 1 hour each day on bio I’d say. Nights before tests are 4+ hours spent cramming due to the material quantity. Labs should be spaced out but most of us have mastered the art of completing them in two nights Our labs are usually around 25-30 pages, and take anywhere from 6-10 hours to complete.
Math 20IB
At least 30 minutes/day doing assigned homework and I guarantee you 90+ on your unit test. Sadly I didn’t discover this phenomenon of actually doing math homework until the middle of the semester. Yeah so 30-60 minutes/day on math is pretty much all you will ever need.
Social 10-1
Literally, 30 minutes the nights before chapter questions are due, and like 1-2 hours before unit tests reading the textbook and memorizing vocabulary and important dates/names. Besides this, social is barely a core class in terms of workload.
French 30 IB
This class is made up of mostly novel study, so just complete the question booklets. Each chapter takes 15-20 minutes, and you usually complete 2-3 chapters each week and are tested the following monday. Again, a very chill “core” subject. However, essays and oral presentations take a fair amount of time to prepare so it’s not a total free for all.
6.Should I be scared of high school?
I think it really depends on what you define as “scared”. It’s a really big school, and you never seem to learn anybody’s name, and all of a sudden a huge shitload of responsibility is thrust upon you. And swearing everywhere ( but especially the math IB classrooms the day of a test) is something you will definitely need to get used to. :’)
That said, Churchill is filled with amazing people, and I think I feel more comfortable and at home here than I ever did back in junior high. It’s awesome to meet people with the same dreams and goals, and it’s just constantly just a very supportive environment. Well in the IB community at least. That said, there is fierce competition in the classrooms at times, so it’s important to learn to separate your academic aspirations from how you treat your friends.
Many of the teachers seem intimidating and unhelpful however the key to high school teachers is simply approaching them. In classrooms of up to 50 kids, they are simply not going to seek you all out individually and try to help you. Put yourself in their shoes; would you ever do that? However, if you take the time to seek them out, whether it be for extra help, extracurricular inspiration, or just a good chat, teachers are almost always up for it if you take the initiative to seek them out. Personally, I am one of those people who constantly emails teachers. Sometimes I do worry that it gets annoying, but I usually just try and push these little pestering thoughts aside. To an extent, I am very selfish about what I know is best for me, and until they stop helping me I will keep pushing. Not necessarily saying that this is a good mindset, I’ll leave that to your own interpretation.
7.How long does it take a person to get used to where everything is? The classrooms and everything?
I promise you Churchill is alot smaller than it looks. It will take you like 1 week max for you to get used to everything. Not too sure what else I should be saying here…
8. Are the teachers mean? Hard markers?
This is kind of a hard question to answer without bringing names in. However there are no mean teachers. I’ve had two teachers who have had horrible hype and reputations like nothing else I’ve ever seen, and while I see where the horrible comments originated from, everything you hear in the hallways is exaggerated. Try not to judge a teacher until you actually meet them. In my own experience, there are no teachers who are mean. Some are more strict than others, but all the teachers want what is best for you. If you feel like they are not meeting your needs, just tell them and I guarantee you that they will at least try and make things better. In terms of hard markers, there are definitely hard markers. When you get these people, there is nothing you can do but visit them in tutorial and talk about what they didn’t like. While your mark may not always be too hot, I find it is often these classes that I take the most from.
9. Is high school generally better than junior high?
I think that this question depends on your own experiences. High school is for the most part better for individuals who are extremely academically orientated like myself because you lose many of the restrictions junior high posed,discover your own passions, and challenge yourself in ways you never thought possible. However in general, you are exposed to so many more people, and it really helps you build an amazing network of friends. It’s a little bit personal and hard to describe, but high school has helped my own confidence in myself in ways I never thought possible. The teachers are more supportive, the people are so varied and exciting, and the responsibility is refreshing. That said, the workload does increase significantly; what I love about Churchill is that the workload increase seems to be geniusly made so you almost don’t notice it. It’s a very manageable gradual adaptation that results in so much personal growth. At the end, you are left with this incredible sense of satisfaction at what you were able to accomplish, and I think that is the best part. However, the enriching curriculum and helpful teachers aside, the thing I love most about my classes is the people I meet. I honestly cannot remember how I made my friends, so the only advice I can give you is just to keep an open mind. The people you will meet are honestly amazing.
All that said, there are definitely people who complain about high school. Some say that Churchill is too academically motivated and the competition between peers is unhealthy. Others think that it is an environment that only caters to academics and marginalizes others. I can’t say whether or not this is true. I suppose you can form your own opinion soon enough. Just keep an open mind is all I can say.
10. What are the marks I should expect to get in IB? Does IB make your marks drop?
This is kind of a hard question to answer because the marks that people get in IB vary greatly. However, it is generally agreed that IB increases your marks due to standardization. For example in Bio 25 IB, there is no way I would have gotten 100% without the grade curve. I think that if you got for the most part A’s in junior high and continue to put effort into your work in high school, you should expect your marks to stay within that 90% range. That said, the high school learning lifestyle definitely doesn’t suit everyone, so it’s all about gauging your own abilities in first semester and seeing if you are right for the program. However, never under-estimate yourself in first semester because you have alot of personal growth up ahead. If I had stayed completely within my own comfort zone, I don’t think I would have signed up for French IB or Bio IB. And looking back, I am thankful that I did every day. I definitely think IB is challenging, but not enough that it would significantly decrease your marks in a class. If anything, the standardization has increased my marks this year. However it is only grade 10…
All that said, I admit I am terrified for grade 11. I’ve heard so many rumours about how much harder it is. But my mindset is that until I try things for myself, I’ll never know what I’m capable of. And I will never forgive myself if I don’t at least try.
11. Study Strategy recommendations and how you get high marks?
Personally, I don’t see my own study strategies as nearly good enough to be sharing with other people. Basically, I try to do things as soon as I can and not leave them for last minute. However, this usually ends up not happening, so I like to put aside an entire day ( usually sunday) just for me to catch up on all of my homework. It works, but I’d say the most effective strategy is completing work as soon as it is given. There is no secret behind “study strategies”, we all do things the same way…
How do we get high marks? Well there is honestly no way to guarantee this. I think the only thing you can do is not think about it too much and go with the flow. Honestly I know it sounds ridiculous, but if you think about it too much it will freak you out. Take it from a person who has been there. Basically, just keep up with your classes, understand the material inside and out, and you will achieve the marks that you want. If you don’t, seek help from teachers, friends, or tutors. Again there is no secret to high marks. It really is as simple as understanding everything you are taught. Remember, repetition is the key to the maths and sciences. For LA, an open mind and a strong foundation is essential.
I know everything in this answer is incredibly lame and you were hoping for something a little bit more concrete, but honestly what I have said is about as honest as it gets. I don’t have any study hacks to share because honestly, I don’t have any.
12. How do you organize your time and supplies?
I honestly don’t have any sort of mind blowing time management. All I do is try to complete assignments as soon as possible. I write everything I have to do down in a list when I get home, in order of priority. Then I just complete as much as I can, and do the same thing the next day. Pretty simple but effective. Don’t do anything too fancy that you found on Pinterest/Youtube/Tumblr. I know alot of those ideas, especially the DIYs look awesome, but trust me they won’t amount to anything effective. It’s the simple things in life that are best. :’)
When you get your timetable in grade 10, if it looks something similar to what you saw in my own course summary at the beginning of the article, then I actually have some supply recommendations. As a self admitted hoarder of school supplies I’m pretty good at this kind of organizing, if I do say so myself.
For the year, buy an expanding folder, preferably a vertical one ( they’re more convenient) and keep the following classes in it:
Math 10C: All you receive is a course outline and worksheets. Easiest to just stuff them into this folder, no binder necessary. You’ll have enough binders as it is.
Math 20IB: Same story as above
French 30IB: Lots of booklets that you need to complete. You also get handouts on grammar that you will never go back to again. I suppose a binder could work too, but I like to use a folder whenever I can because my backpack is only so big….
Social Studies 10-1: Lots and lots of chapter questions and handouts you almost never look at twice. Just store them away and pretend they don’t exist.
Buy a binder for the following:
Bio 25 IB: I’ve always liked a binder for Bio simply because the quantity of handouts and assignments would make my expanding folder way too heavy to be practical. Kind of a stupid reason but it’s the truth. 1 inch is adequate.
French 20 with Mme. Moes: Yeah Mme. Moes is the queen of handouts. You’ll need a 1 inch or 1 ½ inch binder for this course.
English 10-1: Have a 1 inch binder for this course. English is one of those super random courses, so if you use a file folder you’ll never find anything. Better to just keep it in chronological order in a binder for now. 1 inch.
Science 10: Same reason as Bio. Huge quantity of handouts. I can’t really explain exactly why, but I always feel like you should have a binder for sciences. Trust me? 1 inch.
Lastly, buy the largest file folder you can find to store away stuff you no longer need. Trust me, it’s best to store all that stuff.
I was going to make a bit more of an inspirational conclusion, but honestly this post was exhausting to write. I hope you found something interesting, and good luck in September!
Now for some advice from fellow YAA bloggers all over the city who are IB students!
Just finished Bishop O’Byrne’s full IB program. I’d say get a planner with a FULL MONTH VIEW. As soon as you’re given a due date or test date, write it in! Sometimes for big projects it helps to write the due date a few days before it’s actually set (save yourself from the inevitable procrastination). Also, bond with your peers over homework, but only study with them if you can actually be productive! – Jessica Liu
I would say just TRY (TRY REALLY HARD) to NOT procrastinate, because once you start everything gets piled up and you’re almost screwed by the end of it. But other than that, I honestly don’t think IB is that hard as long as you do your work and just study in general. My advice would be: Don’t stress about things, just do what you can and everything will work out one way or another in the end. Good luck! C: – Kristy Chen
My biggest piece of advice would be to never be afraid to ask for help. It might be scary but you’ll find that for those who truly seek knowledge and understanding, teachers will always be there to support you. Also do it for yourself. That IB diploma isn’t the be all and end all but the beginning. You are not a failure no matter how twisty your path my seem. -Elene Otte (Western Canada)
One piece of advice I cannot stress enough for people going into IB is: DO IT FOR YOURSELF. Don’t let your parents pressure you into it, don’t let any other adults try to trick you into thinking it’s amazing and you absolutely need it, and don’t let anyone else tell you that it’s a program for smart people. If you are considering taking IB courses, make sure that they’re in subjects you actually enjoy and/or are willing to work hard in. Being ‘smart’ will not get you good grades in IB, you can just as easily get 90s in IB as a regular program if you have the work ethic. At the end of the day, your marks really come down to the teacher you have because they decide how they want to teach the course since IB is so flexible. (That technically also applies to non-IB courses, but eh.) Also, do not do full IB. It is a trap. It is not worth it at all unless you are a master at life and can handle all of it. Maybe it was just our school that did IB way too intense, but man did the full IBs suffer. Regardless of if you’re in full or not, if it gets to the point where you’re under too much pressure, just drop out of the program or just certain courses. Nobody on the planet will care and it won’t affect anything in your future at all. (But you have to make that decision in grade 10 or 11 because dropping in grade 12 just won’t work.) Extra curricular activities, a part time job, volunteering, family, etc., those are all more important than the IB program. Finally, don’t go into the program with any expectations. People will tell you that it’s hard, or that your marks will drop, or that you won’t get any sleep at night. While those things may be true, they can also be said to anybody transitioning into high school and trying to adjust to the increased workload. Just think of your IB courses as enrichment and put 110% of your effort into it, just as anything else.
The tips that everyone else gave were great too, but they could be applied regardless of whether or not you’re taking IB. This is my spiel about IB itself. As you can tell, I get passionate about the topic. -Ailin Li (Henry Wisewood)
My strongest piece of advice is for incoming IB students to do some serious reflection on why they want to be in this program and what they hope to get out of it. While taking IB does have its inherent benefits, don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s the only path to success or that the regular program is any less good. IB isn’t for everyone and it’s important to make a personal decision on which direction you want to take your education. It’s your choice, not your peers, your teachers or your parents.
At the end of my Grade 10 year, I made the decision to drop into Partial IB (I’m aware not all schools have this option, but mine does) instead of continuing with a Full IB workload. This was because I recognized that I had other priorities that were more important to me, such as being able to take Band. Whereas I wouldn’t be able to in Full IB because there is no room in the schedule for elective courses. You also have to take into consideration balancing your extracurricular involvement, sports, having a job, your social life, and so on. Academics isn’t everything.
If after doing your personal reflection, you decide that the Full IB program is for you, then I wish you the best of luck. It certainly has its benefits, but be aware of its drawbacks as well. Just make sure you’re happy with your choices and that you weren’t forced into this position.-Richard Lee Thai
All this said, please remember that I have only finished grade 10 IB at Churchill. I have no idea what grade 11 and 12 will bring. I have personally heard many rumours about how much more difficult it is, so I’m definitely a little bit weary about what I’m getting myself into as well. So if any older kids have any advice about grade 11, or IB in general, please leave them in the comments! After all, this blog post only holds my personal experiences and it would be interesting to see what other people experienced!