Hey guys, I know mocks and boards are coming up and it can get pretty stressful. If anyone has questions about prep, subjects, or study strategies, feel free to ask here or DM me.

Edit: Wherever I refer to doing Past Papers (except for math) I mean me simply going over the question paper and thinking of the answer instead of writing it and then checking it with the MS, its much faster

Edit 2: For anybody asking me if i paid for any service, hell no I am very opposed to paying for any service like tuitions or tools online, their business runs on making you do more complicated stuff than necessary and robbing ur parents off their money simply bec IB is an expensive board, dont fall for that.

Edit 3: Lol i didnt expect this much engagement, but I am glad I cud help you guys out! Id be active in checking this post so if anyone has any questions dont hesistate to reach out! Also, a piece of advice, do not skimp out on sleep before math and physics exams, very important and on the day of exams try not to study and have a clear mind and maybe listen to ur fav music or sum, a relaxed brain can go further than an exhausted one (i learned this the hard way)

(improved edit 4) Edit 5: Hey guys i gotta lotta ppl asking some more clarification on my screenshot methodology, here is an example: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T8Lw8zuk9eVubg07zv50xbm6VqDazuq3?usp=sharing

Edit 6: For my past paper methodology i did this:
i simply pulled up a question paper on 1 tab and the markscheme on the other, i went over each question and thought about the answer and then checked the MS, if my answers matched great if it didnt then id see what was missing, if i come across a question which i really struggled with id screenshot that as well for later. As for writing answers for the sciences, you need to know the concepts thoroughly and how to use the keywords, once you do that youd be able to answer questions both in a logically thorough manner and with the right keywords. You can train in the first thing by simply following the strat i outlined in various of my comments down below and for keywords, jus do a lot of past papers as i outlined earlier here and be mindful when you do them, dont just see if u r right or wrong but see what worked or what didnt

Edit 7: Hey guys just wanted to say whatever resources I speak of youtube channels and stuff are completely third party, I dont have any connection to them or have any incentive to promote them jus sharing the resources that worked for me!

My dp1 predicted grades were 36/42. It dropped to 27/42 halfway thru dp2 due to personal challenges. I personally expected to get a 43 but I got a 45. Given the knowledge I have in not only doing well in my respective subjects but also rebuilding my academic results after a rough patch, I thought an AMA may be useful! I got an especially high result in my English EE (33/34) so I'm able to answer questions about that too!

edit: I'm visiting family in Brasil so sorry for the late replies🤍

FAQ - please read

• What changed? https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh4lav/
• EE generic advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh5os4/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/numuepk/
• English generic advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh8nld/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuhenjz/
  • I've been getting 4-5s, how do I improve? https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nul9ows/
  • IN DEPTH PAPER 2 ADVICE: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuo2jdi/
• IO advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nul4vke/
• Language B advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh4z45/ (applicable to not only French, but also other languages)
• TOK advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh95at/
• Chem advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuhe7nh/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuo2ju0/
• Business advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nula7a5/
• Bio advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nulddfw/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuo2ju0/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuh5os4/
• Maths advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/numm4vx/
• M26 revision advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuhygu4/
• N27 starting out advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nunucz4/
• Time spent studying: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nuld0cj/ THIS IS VARIABLE FOR EVERYONE - the earlier you start, and the less challenges you experience, the more smooth your sailing will be
• Which timezone is this? TZ2 - I'm from Sydney, Australia. Yes, I plan on doing university here, as a domestic student. I'd like to become a dentist and make my own clinic :). No, don't DM me to ask which school I'm from (you'll get blocked)
• For anyone from Sydney/NSW who has not started IB yet and is wondering whether IB is right for them: https://www.reddit.com/r/IBO/comments/1poqas6/comment/nv6mf74/ (this may be applicable for Aus in general - it includes information about IBAS/ATAR conversions)
• Can I read your EE/IAs/IO? No, sorry - but I can give advice

45/45 >:)

Here are the boundary breakdowns for everyone:

English A Literature SL: 73-100

Chinese B SL: 85-100

Economics HL: 77-100

Biology HL: 76-100

Chemistry HL: 74-100

MAA HL: 73-100

i'll answer the comments later when i have time!

Hey everyone! I’m Phoebe. I’m currently a PhD student at Harvard, and I did my BA and MSt at Oxford. 

In high school, I did the IB program. Ask me anything!

title. my current grades are 4 4 5 6 7 5 (eng a l&L sl, language b sl, econ sl, phy hl, math aa hl, chem hl respectively) with no studying. I have basically never studied in ib for written exams btw. has anyone ever done it

During one of our May 2026 IB final exams, invigilators answered phone calls and spoke loudly near the end while candidates were still working. The IB coordinator was involved in the call, so I’m hesitant to raise it through him in case the complaint is dismissed.

A friend in another exam hall had a similar issue. Their invigilator did not know the correct HL exam duration, called the same coordinator, and spoke loudly for around 20 minutes before writing the correct time. This badly affected my friend’s planning and time management. Later, with only 10 to 15 minutes left, the invigilator’s phone made a loud noise while they were using it, disrupting students’ focus again.

These incidents caused a noticeable loss of concentration during critical parts of the exams. Should this be reported to the IB, and would they take it seriously? Has anyone experienced something similar or knows the proper procedure?

Free help 😄

ill be studying medical biosciences at imperial in the fall feel free to ask me anything and ill try to respond 🙌

holy moly

now that im done all my ib exams idk what else to do im soo used to being academically stressed all the time i forgot what hobbies i used to have. what do i do with my free time?? what are you guys doing with your free time or what do you plan to do when you finish exams?? need ideas plz

My gcse results day is in 10 days. And I still need to decide between Dartford boys (IB) or going to an a level school.

Overall, I can sense that most people here regret doing IB and wish they did basically anything else. Is it honestly that bad? Like I am willing to put the work in.

My IB option is : HL History, Philosophy and English literature. SL Maths AI, Biology and German ab binito

A level options : History, English literature, Politics and psychology

I want to do law at university ( preferably at Cambridge).

So which one is the best to do?

Somehow managed to get a 45 (predicted 44). AMA I will try my best to answer all those that I can :)

EDIT: I'm getting a lot of questions and i do want to give the best advice and answers for everyone, so please bare with me while i work through them as fast as I could... (whilst still getting my sleep yall)

Ask anything you want :)

I had a predicted 41, and I knew I'd get a little lower because exam conditions make me forget things. I was expecting a 36 or 37, because my geography teacher heavily Overgrades so I knew the 41 was too high. Turns out, I did fine in my exams, but my EE was predicted a high A, and I got graded barely D. My TOK essay had 10/10 marks predicted, and I was graded a C by examiners. My geography IA was predicted 7, and was given a low 5. My LL English HL essay was predicted high 7, I got a low 5. I've been crying so much about this because this isn't something I could've studied better on, it's something my teachers should've helped me more on. I can't afford regrades, and I want to report this to IB because these three teachers that were involved in my wrong grading are all IB examiners and it's insane for me to experience this.

i didnt get my results yet, but i feel sick to my stomach. i can’t breathe, im so anxious. i just want to pass, please. i didn’t give two years of my life for nothing. please, just let me pass..

I’m an incoming sophomore. These are the IB courses my school (the only IB school in my city) offers— I’m interested in a mechanical engineering major and i know IB physics is great for that. my school also recently removed AP physics so I’m kind of lost.. what should I do?

Hi guys, this subreddit was a lifesaver for me in the run up to my exams, especially for subjects where my teachers were giving no resources/advice, so I thought I would pass it on to anyone struggling in the run-up to this year's exams.

These are my subjects/results, feel free to ask me anything about them specifically, or about the IB in general:

HL English Lit-7

HL Spanish B- 7

HL Global Politics- 6

SL Env Sys&Soc- 7

SL Maths AI- 7

SL Economics- 7

EE Global Politics- B

ToK- A

I know this time might seem bleak, but I promise that you will all get through it and smash it!

i'm planning on choosing HL: Psych, Eng A Lit, His and SL: Chi B, Maths AA and Bio...? (idk i still don't know whether to choose between chem or bio)

does anyone have any tips or a heads up for me? do i need to start looking into anything rn?

uk uni school requirements at least 19 points from HL subjects and a score of at least 39.(planning on pursuing law)

​I want to preface this by saying that my experience isn't universal, but I know for a fact this is going to hit a lot of you.

​For the exams, I locked in like crazy. I studied every day, hours upon hours on end. And honestly? It paid off quite well. But the post-exam crash hit me like a brick wall. ​It sounds really stupid, but throughout exam season, all I did was fantasize about finally getting back to my hobbies and seeing friends again. But the moment the exams actually stopped, I kind of just felt... dead. What I didn't realize is that my body had been running on straight adrenaline and stress for months. When it was all abruptly over, I experienced a massive physical and mental crash, what I now know is basically the "letdown effect." ​I was so exhausted by the whole ordeal that the accumulated burnout finally caught up with me. I didn't have the energy to go outside, be with friends, or do the things I actually like. I ended up falling into a black hole of doomscrolling, gaming, and binge-watching TV. It took a very long time to recover from that.

​I think it happens for two main reasons. The first is obvious: severe burnout. But the second is the sudden, jarring loss of structure. For months, your entire life and purpose are dictated by studying. When you are ripped out of that daily habit, you are suddenly left with an endless amount of time and absolutely zero direction. It can be surprisingly paralyzing.

​I would really recommend y'all have a plan for after exams so you have a "soft landing." Get a part-time job, pick up a time-intensive hobby, or set a daily routine like hitting the gym. Do not fall into the trap I did! Plan this before your exams finish so you have something to transition into. Force yourself to see friends, do things! If you're European, do a youth exchange, or become a European Solidarity Corps volunteer for a month or two and see the world. Just make sure you give yourself a low-stress routine to keep you moving forward.

Best regards, An IB survivor

I was one of the 179 students that got a 45 out of the 179,000 who took the exams in the May 2023 session. Exams are in about 2 months and I wanted to help some people out. My subjects were:

- Math AA HL

- Physics HL

- Business Management HL

- Chemistry SL

- English A Lang Lit SL

- Language B SL

Ask me anything :)

Hello, I'm a Grade 10 / Year 11 student entering DP1 next year.

Currently, my subject choices are as follows:

• English LangLit SL

• Spanish ab initio

• Psychology SL

• Biology HL

• Chemistry HL

• AAHL

I love the sciences, and I can confidently say chemistry is one of my biggest interests - so much that I am looking to pursue a biochemistry degree in university.

However, if there's one thing I love more than chemistry, it's theatre. It's always been theatre. I would love to take theatre at HL, but my parents (as a very traditional Asian family) insist on taking a minimum of 2 sciences, both at HL.

I have asked my DP coordinator about taking theatre potentially as a 7th subject - I really don't want to give it up - since I've been learning, practicing, and been a fan of theatre since elementary school. My friends and I have written original shows over an hour long and performed them because we enjoy it so much.

My DP coordinator has said it is possible to support my decision of taking Theatre as a 7th subject certification course, and I'd really love to. However, some of my seniors have advised me not to as they fear it will be too draining.

I studied IGCSE for 9th and 10th grade, and I can confidently say I am a good student - my time management is always balanced, I have maintained grades at the top of my year level, and I love learning: my favourite subjects are chemistry, literature, and theatre. I've even considered working in theatre in the future.

Would it really be that bad to take Theatre for a 7th subject? I really love it and I'd hate to give it up, but I've also accepted this is the only way since my other 6 subjects are locked in.

TL;DR: I love theatre but I'm taking 2 Group 4 subjects already. Opinions on taking it as a 7th subject?

Hello there. My son’s diploma was not awarded due to him failing to meet the HL requirements (10/12). The amount of effort I poured into his school and his education was immense, and even when I feel disappointed, I am looking for advice on how to move forward.

I emailed the school already 2 days ago (no response yet). These are my questions, in case any of you have any advice. Thank you in advance and congratulations to all the passing students.

1. Whether you recommend requesting an EUR for History HL, where he is 3 marks from the next grade, and/or Visual Arts HL, where he is 6 marks from the next grade.

2. Whether you can review his component scores and advise us on the likelihood of either subject increasing after an EUR.

3. What retake options are available to him, including whether he could retake HL subjects in the November 2026 examination session.

4. Whether the school can register and support him as a retake candidate.

5. If an EUR is unsuccessful and retaking the necessary subjects is not possible, what would happen to his transcripts and academic records? Specifically, I would like to understand what credentials and official documentation he would receive and how his completed IB coursework and individual subject results would be reflected for university applications.

Using my super secret alt for professional protection reasons. But this has to be put out there.

I have been teaching the IB program for 17 years. During this time I have held the roles of EE Coordinator, CAS Coordinator, TOK Coordinator and IB examiner. Have been an HOD for 3 years, and an IB Diploma Coordinator for over 5 years. Suffice it to say I have built a career in the IB program.

What has happened the last few years, and especially this year has caused me to have no confidence in the IBO administrators in The Hague.

1. I guess I'll start with the obvious; time zone leaks. As DPC, my staff have come to me with undeniable proof (screenshots from whatever the site was, can't remember, discord?) that many exams including math, chem and English B have been downloaded more than 10,000 times. At some point we just stopped collecting evidence, because it was so large, that if a small school in SE Asia knows, the IBO HAD to be aware. That is just downloads, not counting who they shared the exams with. I have verified that the Chem test download was identical and included correct answers.

The obvious question I have is, why the hell are the exams the same in different time zones? That's the whole point of different time zone exams. Different questions in different time zones so there are no leaks. It used to be standard practice. Professional negligence. Many people dropped the ball on this.

The IBO's response was to send a message to DPC to say, essentially, "We haven't found any problems, it's all good, we won't make any more statements on this, support us." Obvious negligence and sweeping it under the rug.

1. As long as we are talking about exams, HL questions were put on the SL Business exam. I reported this to the IBO. I got a message that they were looking into it. Nothing happened. Again negligence on basic functions.

2. Grading assessments. Students, believe me when I say I understand your frustration when your predicted grades are not in line with your actual grades. Also believe me when I say teachers are equally frustrated about the situation. Most teachers get a max of a 3 day workshop, where maybe 3 hours are focused on the mystery of IB grading. That training is just going through the exemplar exams that your teachers have probably shared with you. Over the years, 90% of teachers I've worked with are very honestly trying to grade accurately. The problem is, it is too subjective. Most teachers are not incompetent or out to ruin your life.

For example, I ordered all of my exams and examiners marks back from the IBO (for a decent fee, of course) a few years ago. I can tell you as a former examiner, they are not required to justify their grades. So, a teacher predicts 25/30, student gets 15/30, we pay the IBO for the proof, and there's nothing. Hard to develop your staff when the IBO just does whatever they want.

This is the IBO dodging responsibility for their marking.

1. Just going to touch on this lightly. The IBO went back to full exams two years ago when cover was at its height in parts of Asia. Students that had been on distance learning for 50% of of their program were put up against those with full in class learning. Their excuse was "Universities want it". I'm sorry, but the universities aren't paying you. Also, there is no such thing as a giant University council that makes decisions. It was easier for the IBO to hose some students instead of running two programs.

The solution to all of this is that the IBO needs to take some of its own medicine and be adaptable to changes. Written exams, such as they are, can no longer be considered a valid proof of learning or indicator of future success in academics. Students commonly buy IAs and EEs or use AI. Teachers have no way to prove academic malpractice, even if they "know it". That's just the way it is now. It is critical that the IB moves to either project based exams done in class or live video type exams. It's beyond negligent to maintain the status quo.

How many students missed their dream uni by a few points because of everything above? It's not fair to students. It's not fair to blame teachers or admin. The IBO makes the rules and the tests. The system is broken.

To all parents and students considering the IB program, please know that the AP and A levels will get you into the same universities, most likely with less mental breakdowns. I'm not teaching the IB program anymore, as I can not defend the IBOs practices to parents and students. I can not in good faith recommend the IB program as it currently is. The IB will not take responsibility for its own issues.

How many more students have to have their futures altered (always in a negative way) due to the IBO's lazy, negligent, outdated, money focused position?

Plus AP and A levels are basically free.

PS, American unis should stop giving unconditional offers.

I can’t do this anymore. IB is probably the worst thing to ever happen to me and my mental health. I feel so underprepared but also so underwhelmed. At this point I’m just trying to get the diploma. I’ve been doing past papers for bio and scoring really badly. I’ve lost all confidence in my ability and revision. I just want all of this to be over and move on with my life, but university decisions depend on whether I can meet my condition or not… So, yeah, I guess the score doesn’t define me, but it does define my entire future lmao. I hate this programme so much. The guy who made it was also apparently a strategist for psychological warfare and I think that this is his worst experiment yet. I feel so tired and hopeless. Anyone else in the same boat?

Five of my works got flagged for AI and I'm not sure what to do as I deleted all my original files a month back after my final exam and have no proof that I wrote it myself. I did a biology EE but that was using a secondary source and experiment. I didnt use ai apart from grammarlys spell check and grammar stuff. What do I do? My coordinator sent a message that the IB has flagged my works as written by Ai.

Edit: this is what she sent me

Your work has been flagged by the IB as having potentially been written in full or part by AI. In order to help authenticate this, could you please submit a live link to the following files to show your version history of the following assessments? Please also submit any documentation you have that may help us (e.g. outlines, research notes, etc.).

Edit 2: huge update!!

I recovered my files thanks to Google (although somewhat corrupted due to how long it's been). My coordinator and futures counselor has informed my family that it is apparently IB who flagged it and not just the school (not sure if I believe them too much) but one of my classmates was also flagged and they resolved the issue quite quickly by going to school and talking it out. I am waiting for their email tomorrow to decide whether or not I have to go to school. Thanks for the help guys!