As the year comes to an end and summer draws near, first year International Baccalaureate (IB) students have entered their first cycle of exams – one of the busiest and most important stretches of the year. After months of rigorous coursework and preparation, students are now reflecting on how the year has gone and how they are handling final year exams.
As the exams began on April 28, all students taking Standard Level (SL) classes have end-of-year exams. Since IB assessments require deep understanding and written explanations, students have to prepare slightly differently than an average test. Preparation became the main focus for the students, they reviewed notes, completed mock practice papers, and studied in their free time.
One of the most popular strategies for students is to begin studying around a month before the exam.
“I have been preparing over time slowly so that I don’t need to stress for my exam,” junior Mika Ringel said. “I think it’s stressful but when you actually take it you realize you know the information and have been guided well by your teacher.”
Teachers have done prepared their students and taught them the best ways to prepare during this time of exams.
“Throughout the year, we consistently practice with real IB questions from past exams so students become familiar with the style and wording of the questions, so by the time students take Paper 1 and Paper 2, they may not know the exact case study that will appear, but they will know what to expect,” Environmental Systems and Societies teacher Carla Carmona said. “Focusing on what is within their control helps reduce anxiety, as it minimizes the number of unknowns they face on test day.”
Beyond the assessments, juniors have a lot on their plate as summer approaches, as they are worrying about writing their Extended Essay, the TOK exhibition and college applications. Completing the first year of IB exams is an accomplishment within itself and students are reflecting on how they think they did and are looking ahead for the challenges senior year may hold.
“I’m happy I have got my Physics exam over with, it felt rewarding and not as bad as my expectations,” junior Simon Perry said.
IB juniors have learned resilience due to the program’s requirement for strong time management skills and students learned how to balance their school work with their extracurriculars and stress that the year brought.
As May 22 approaches, first year IB students are finishing strong and are ready for the rest of their Higher Level (HL) exams that await in senior year.
