Higher Level Digital Society in the IBDP can be challenging on account of the many concepts to be learned, real-world examples to remember and the test’s structure to handle. Nonetheless, the real issue is not knowing how to handle these drawbacks. This article will be helpful to overcome each complication before your mocks, and therefore, be more confident for your official exam.
Real-world examples are your best ally
Since Digital Society HL aims to analyze the digital revolution we are facing as humanity, one of the best ways to study this is through revising what’s currently occurring in the real world. Trustworthy newspapers, institutional magazine articles, formal interviews and opinion columns allow us to explore digitalization through real experiences.
One of the best tips when preparing for your mocks is to dedicate time within your study sessions to look for real world examples regarding the syllabus content. It is not about the quantity of time you spend looking for magazine articles from prestigious colleges that can become a good source of information, but the quality of knowledge you can extract. Here are additional tips for studying real-world examples for each paper:
Paper 1
Real-world examples are highly important for sections A and B. In the case of section A, any subsection might ask for specific examples related to a general topic. Moreover, for section B real-world examples allow you to develop a well-rounded answer.
Paper 2
Although this paper mainly focuses on the information given through 4 sources, real-world examples are imperative for better answers on questions 3 and 4. Remember that for these questions you are expected to develop your answers thoroughly and fulfill an essay structure. This way, you can write a deep discussion and achieve a higher mark overall.
Paper 3
Similar to Paper 2, examiners expect to see a thoroughly developed answer for questions 3 and 4. Furthermore, remember that for these questions there is no “correct” answer. This means that real-world examples can be used in a versatile way in order to make a profound analysis.
In addition, make sure to take notes of every piece of information on flashcards. You can even highlight key words to study this material easier. Likewise, study methods like Active Recall – try to remember previously studied information without looking at your notes – and Pomodoro – break study sessions into small time sections with free intervals – become useful to remember real life examples.
Through this, without neglecting the revision of key concepts and test structure, you can successfully understand the emergent tendencies the world is facing.
Memorize key concepts with enough time before the mocks
Key and technical concepts are very common in Digital Society. This is not to bore students with endless lists of technicalities, but to teach them how to use them efficiently.
In your mocks you may encounter pictures rather than texts to answer, and you must remember key concepts included in the syllabus since there is no text that may include them. Moreover, merely using key words to answer is not going to give you better scores, but applying them keenly will. For example, instead of just mentioning the existence of CPU (key concept) within a computer, discuss how it has influenced the evolution of computers over time.
Furthermore, studying with sufficient time before the mocks is as important as knowing technical concepts and understanding real life examples. Personally, I would recommend studying at least two months before the mocks, so that you can ensure medium to large study sessions without unnecessary stress.
Handling paper structure and command terms
During your mocks, feelings such as nervousness or tiredness may mess with our brain. Because of this, you might forget important aspects regarding how to comply with the terms of instruction included in each subsection. However, you can overcome this through practice.
There are many official exams from previous exam sessions. These ones are key towards effective practice and better results. Always answer each subsection taking into account the difference between different IB command terms of instruction such as “analyze”, “discuss”, “contrast”, among others. Good practice sessions lead to handling each term effectively, resulting in answers that meet the demands of each subsection and secure higher marks.
Lastly, remember to believe in yourself and in your knowledge and efforts during your mock exams. Best of luck!