Q&A for How to Survive the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Ignore the people you do not like. Don't pay close attention to them as this will just annoy you further.

Yes, the course is very demanding and will require lots of hard work and determination.

IB classes are generally considered much more difficult than regular classes, and somewhat more difficult than AP classes. However, for many people, the issue isn't an increase in difficulty, but rather an increase in how time-consuming their work is.

Past papers are your best bet in terms of those. They can be found on the IB website, or in any of the IB prep books found in bookstores.

One way is telling yourself that test scores do not define who you are as a person. If a program like this one makes you feel this way, take a deep breath, and make a list of things you are thankful for in life. Leaving the program if you need to isn't a bad idea. 100% of the time, your health is always the most important thing for you.

It depends on your school policy. If they do kick you out, chances are your teachers think that your learning style would not suit the IB, and it probably has nothing to do with your ability. Getting kicked out of pre-IB is better than finding yourself in a mess mid-IB.

Do things you enjoy regularly and write reflections often, it's so much easier than doing them all at the end! Pretty much anything can count as CAS, so get into the habit of writing things down.

The IBO publishes a set of titles, or topics, every year from which you choose one.

ToK stands for Theory of Knowledge. It is basically a philosophy class where you learn about how we know and what we know. It covers "the nature of knowledge" as we know it and basically how we know/learn things in real life.

It depends what exam you are taking. Just relax, and don't freak out when you get there. Know in advance what you're going to do and refresh your memory of the subject(s). If you think you'll need extra help on what the exam focuses on, ask somebody for it. And remember, if you don't get in, it doesn't mean you're not smart (IB programs have a lot of applicants and they can only take so many) and getting into IB is not the greatest thing in the world. You can still succeed in a regular public education.

Yes. You'll definitely want notes you can review for tests and assignments. Plus you'll need to do even more reviewing at the end of the year. Past papers and notes are key!

The IB curriculum is universal. Therefore, it doesn't matter where you go, just make sure your daughter gets to continue in a school that offers IB and all the subjects + VAS she does.

I had the same issue, but the thing to keep in mind is that it is not the coordinator who is supposed to keep you motivated, just you. Coordinators are there to help you, but in cases like this, you just need to keep your head up and maybe look for some other teacher for advice for our issues. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that you do the best you can and don't let anyone discourage you.

About 75% of your diploma grade is taken from your final exams, whereas the rest is taken from your IA (or in the case of languages, WT, IOC, FOA, etc.). Everything you do in class in the meantime is there to help you score good marks on the final and IA's, so use it as much as you can.

If it's very harmful to your mental health, you can consider leaving the program. However, make sure to consider it rationally, after talking with your parents and advisors. Remember, your health is so much more important.