The IB - the bain/ love of my life

Hola peeps,

I am quite enjoying this blogging melarkee (new favourite word) , so I thought I would write another blog post from my every expanding list of things I want to blabber on about, and this was at the top: the IB.

The IB is an educational programme for students to do at sixth form (ie when they are 15/16). The IB stands for the ‘International Baccalaureate’ and is equivalent to A-levels. But, instead of choosing 4 AS levels for one year and then 3 A2 levels the next year, you have to stick to 6 subjects throughout the whole 2 years. This is a bit of a workload but if you enjoy variety, it is really fun!

There are 6 categories for subjects that you have to choose, but again this offers not only variety but a structure to your education.

•          Group 1 – English
•          Group 2 – Languages
•          Group 3 – Humanities
•          Group 4 – Sciences
•          Group 5 – Maths
•          Group 6 – Arts (this is optional as you can do 2 subjects from groups 2,3 or 4)

They are also divided into 3 higher levels and 3 standard levels. So if you don’t do maths, you could choose maths studies (which is maths but FUN!) or if you love Science, you could do a higher science which would mean more detail.

Just listing them makes me realise how much work they all are, however there is more fun. If you are an IB student you also have to complete some lovely things in the Core; which are: Tok (AKA Theory of Knowledge which is just mind boggling’ meaning you come out and do ask what is life), an extended essay (4000 words of cleverness) and CAS (Creative, Active and Service). If you don’t complete them, you FAIL the IB (even if you get 7 points in everything else...which would be a real shame).

I can hear people go, why 7? Well, 7 is the maximum points you can earn in each subject and is just the number the IB picked because they wanted to be different (the answer to almost everything they do, don’t get me started on Internal Assessments!). However, this is almost impossible to get if you want to eat or sleep but just happens to be the amount that Oxford and Cambridge want in ALL YOUR HIGHERS, which is nice of them isn’t it?

No, but really, I do actually really enjoy the IB, it has become part of me (I know, cheesy, but true). I have met some great people that I hang out with most of the time (as there are only 12 people in my year that do it). We have become the IB family and is completely #internationalbadasslaureate (inside joke, sorry!). So, my advice to anyone with the dilemma of choosing something else or IB, do IB because you will have a love/hate relationship but mostly love. I promise.

Speak soon. Much love!

Harriet

xxx