As many of you may know by now, classes taken as part of the IB curriculum are different to some other courses as they’re cumulative (all exams happen at the end) and/or require a deeper understanding than most other curricula. This leads me to my best tips for effective IB-exam revision.
1. Address Knowledge Gaps as Early as Possible
Knowledge gaps come in many sizes: some are large chunks of a topic, while others are mere details. It is imperative that you learn, understand, and retain the information as you progress through the material. Addressing these gaps will prevent bumps down the road. This goes for HL sciences and languages especially – an unaddressed gap can be the difference between a 4 and a 5 on your final scores!
2. Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition
Two study techniques that I regret not implementing into my own IB studies earlier are active recall and spaced repetition. Here are two articles that dive deeper into the application of these research-based techniques:
3. Think Long-Term
You may be able to cram the material and do well on a test for a specific chapter, but you can’t forget that most of that content will be relevant for the IB exams. Take the time to understand what you’re learning. And, of course, the more concepts you are familiar and comfortable with by the time the IA rolls around, the more freedom you’ll have in choosing your topic.
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