IB Economics is an extremely fascinating yet oftentimes confusing subject in which students might require additional help. However, searching for external resources is not as easy as it might sound. When looking for help, it is crucial to choose the right resources to provide relevant information and to avoid further confusion. Since not all resources can be trusted, I will share a couple of websites and YouTube Channels that will aid you tremendously!
IBECONOMIST.COM
Given its name, ibeconomist.com provides all the information needed to understand general parts of the Economics syllabus. I often use this source myself whenever the textbook uses overcomplicated vocabulary to explain a concept. What makes this website stand out the most is how the writers explain topics using easily understandable vocabulary while also incorporating the correct terminology to tie it back to the concepts. On top of this, I have found that the writers are also great at explaining graphs and market diagrams; They go into detail about what the diagram is trying to describe and how the curve movements can be explained by economic theory. You can access these notes by clicking “Revision Notes” and the part of the syllabus that you want further clarification on.
You will notice that there are other tabs that you can click on on the website. The “Suggested Articles” tab provides articles that discuss real-world examples related to economics. While these examples are essential to know for the second part of Paper 1, the provided articles are outdated, so I don’t suggest using them. The “Internal Assessment” tab provides an outline of what the Economics IA is, its task requirements, and so on. While the outline is helpful, I still suggest referring to other, preferably official IBO articles and consulting your teacher for up-to-date information.
SaveMyExams Economics notes
Savemyexams.com is a classic revision website for IB students – It provides revision notes, practice papers, and exam questions, and is an overall essential. However, if you are unfamiliar with it, I am going to explain how it can help you in your economics studies.
The website offers notes for various IB subjects, but they are especially good at explaining IB Economics. After logging in, type IB Economics in the search bar and select your level. Afterward, you can click “Revision Notes” and the part of the syllabus that you are looking for. The website provides excellent explanations of many topics along with annotated and explained diagrams. They even have a premium option for testing yourself, which is an amazing way to reinforce your knowledge. The articles are written by teachers, who have years-long experience in teaching economics. Personally, this website has always helped me understand a topic when all other resources have failed to do so.
Youtube: IB Shrekonomics
Moving on to YouTube channels, IB Shrekonomics provides videos that help visualize parts of the IB syllabus. Thus, this channel might be more suitable for visual learners who have a hard time with abstract diagrams. The only downside of this channel is that it doesn’t cover the whole syllabus. However, they do an excellent job of explaining the parts that they cover. Their videos feel just like sitting in a real IB Economics class and have helped me numerous times while studying. What I also find helpful is that they have videos related to different IB Economics exams, which are perfect for understanding how to succeed in them. They explained the exams just like my actual economics teacher, so I can second that the information that they are giving is reliable.
NG REFLECTIONS
NG Reflections was created by a student who received a 44 as their final IB grade. While they are not solely an IB Economics-related channel and do not cover the whole syllabus, their videos are great for additional revision. Oftentimes, we students understand the material better when others our age explain it, which is the case for this channel.
While all their videos offer detailed and easily understandable explanations, I want to underline two videos in particular. LEARN EVERY SINGLE IB HL ECONOMICS DIAGRAM IN 8 MINUTES! is the video that introduced me to this channel, and is one I revisit over and over again. Since I am learning a new topic every week, it is quite hard to keep up with the numerous diagrams, and I have caught myself confused a few times. This video provides a step-by-step tutorial on each diagram, explains its economic theory, gives rules, and is overall excellent for understanding, remembering, and differentiating them. Another video that I want to highlight is their IB HL ECONOMICS: Every equation/formula you need for Paper 3! This video is great for HL students who are preparing for their Paper 3 exam, as it provides all the formulas present in the syllabus. This channel offers numerous similar videos, and I highly recommend checking them out!
Economics Subject Guide
I want to finish this article off with the most obvious yet often overlooked resource, which is the Official IB Economics Subject Guide. This guide is essential to have and understand as an Economics student because it provides straightforward information on the topics that you might come across in different tests. The syllabus outline starts on page 28 and breaks down all the subunits that you need to know for each topic. A detail that you must pay attention to is the “depth of teaching” column, as it will help you understand the level at which you should know each topic, and on which tests they are likely to appear. It is also important to note the AOs: AO2 requires real-world examples and case studies, AO3 requires structured arguments and policy evaluation, and AO4 requires accurate diagrams, data interpretation, and so on. These objectives help you determine how much time you have to spend on each topic, which will help you study effectively.
Final Thoughts
Economics is a captivating subject to study, and it is completely normal to not understand all of the material. Keep in mind that no one is perfect and that everyone faces some challenges along their study journey. Don’t give up and do not hesitate to consult external sources when necessary!
You may also like…
- Leonard’s guide to writing better economics commentaries using non-IB resources.
- Rakshita’s tips for IB Psychology.