Is IB for me?
Given the title of this blog - you may be wondering: Is the IB for me? I hope that by the end of this article you have some clarity about whether it is for you, some insight as to how to adapt to the program, or some confidence that you will be able to do it. Whether you are about to start your IB journey, it’s still a few years away, or you’ve already begun doing IB - this article is for you.
Before starting the discussion - here’s a little bit about myself (the writer of this blog) so you know whether to trust my advice.
I completed the IB myself - quite successfully - got into university and completed my bachelor (and am now pursuing a masters degree).
My older brother also did IB - and was predicted by all of his teachers to fail his final IB exams, but ended up scoring 34 points against all expectations. My sister also did the IB program but it wasn’t for her - so she ended up taking only 5 IB courses, didn’t write the extended essay and skipped TOK. She ended up getting the American High School Diploma - and still got into a bachelor some years later.
So! All this is to say that I’ve heard a wide range of opinions about the IB and personally know people whom it suited, didn’t suit and those who overcame the unsuitedness. For this reason I will start the article with ‘those for whom it suits’, continue with ‘those for whom it doesn’t suit’ and end with ‘those who overcame their unsuitability’.
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Those for whom it Suits (IB was a good fit)
The IB program always gives lots of information about what kind of learners they want. They want life-long learners who are inquirers, reflective, risk-takers, caring, open-minded, etc… etc… etc… But who do they actually design their curriculum for? What do you need to make it through the IB program?
First and foremost - you need to be okay with working quite hard. Whatever courses you take - the IB requires you to do a bit of studying, a bit of writing and a bit of researching. If you’ve done or are doing the MYP, it is definitely a step up in terms of work. The content is also a bit more difficult so it may take some time to understand things that are taught in the IB.
For those that didn’t have to work in middle school or during MYP, needing to do more work might take some getting used to. Remember that the IB is supposed to prepare you for university - where you have to work even harder and study even more difficult things. It is okay to find it difficult at the beginning - it will get easier over time. Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers and peers for help! And if that’s not enough - you can always sign up for our tutoring services below.
Secondly, and probably most importantly, the IB revolves around learning a lot of academic information and academic skills such as academic writing, critical thinking and critical reading.
If you are more practically oriented - and enjoy building things or working with your hands - the IB might not be a good fit for you. There are of course some more practical courses - such as IB art, IB music, perhaps some of the foreign language courses or certain practical labs in one of the science courses - but most courses in the IB require studying from a book and writing on paper or your laptop. If you are both practically oriented and academically oriented (you like studying from books or learning new information and concepts), then I’m sure you can make the IB work in your favor. More on this later!
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Finally, you need to be a little bit analytical. Are you able to analyse things and understand them? Are you able to dissect concepts or ideas - or physical things into their smaller parts - then you are analytical! If you struggle with these things, the IB might not be for you.
It’s good to mention that I have not said that you need to be smart or intelligent or get good grades to be successful in the IB. I struggled immensely in middle school - but did very well in IB. Sometimes it takes time before school becomes interesting.
You are allowed to choose which courses you want to take - and taking something you like doing helps a lot with being successful in the IB. If you are able to work hard, then new information does not need to come to you naturally like students who are more intelligent. If you put in the work you can be successful in the IB. In my experience, however, it is much easier to put in the work if you enjoy what you’re doing.
Those for whom it does not suit (IB is not a good fit)
Like I mentioned in the paragraphs above - if you are practically minded the IB might not be a good fit.
Where I live in the Netherlands there are different levels of education for middle and high school students. There are those levels which are academically oriented, levels which combine academics and practical matters and levels which look only at practicalities.
When I say practical I mean things that I can do with my hands that require different kinds of concepts than academics. If, for instance, you are great at working with wood and would like to become a carpenter, a practical route of study will help you much more than something like the IB.
My sister, for example, is a great painter. She has always loved painting, making sculptures and doing all different kinds of art. So, while IB art was great for her - most of the other courses did not help her at all. If you don’t enjoy 5 out of 6 courses in the IB - perhaps you should be doing something else or you should only be taking IB art.
There is a new program in the IB which is more practically-oriented called the CP - the career-related program where you take 2 IB courses, a core and a career-related study. If you are lucky enough that your school has this - then it’s definitely worth considering if you are more practically-minded or already know what kind of practical career you want to pursue.
The other reason why the IB might not be a good fit is work-load. If you struggle with difficult concepts and ideas and you don’t want to put in a ton of work - then perhaps doing a different program might be better for you. From what I’ve heard from friends - A-levels (UK system) or AP (American system) is a bit less work. For A-levels you can also take much less courses than the IB so that’s worth considering if you want more of a focused education.
Not sure if the IB is the right fit for you? That’s okay - education isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re exploring IB, CP, A-Levels, or AP, what matters most is finding a program that matches your strengths and future goals. Need help weighing your options? We’re here to guide you toward the best path.
Those who overcame (IB started as a bit fit but turned into a good fit)
Then there are those who fall between the cracks a bit. You may be good at understanding things but hate working on school-work. My brother is the prime example of this. He chose to neglect school for 2 years and worked ridiculously hard for 3 months before his exams to pass. While I do not recommend this route since it is very difficult - it worked for my brother.
You may be a hard worker but struggle understanding certain things. If this is the case for you - I would suggest you take the leap and try the IB. There are so many resources online and so many teachers at your school that can help you.
It takes very little effort to sign up for some tutoring services - and there are many reasons why you might struggle to understand something. Maybe your teacher is not explaining things well enough. Maybe you learn in a different way. Maybe you struggle with dyslexia or ADHD and need certain tools to help you learn. All of these obstacles can be overcome if you are willing to put in the work and the effort - or if you are willing to ask for help.
The IB is not a rocket science - people like you and me can do it if the circumstances are right. Do not be afraid to try it. And - if it isn’t for you - don’t be afraid to change courses, try a different program or even to redo a year.
I hope this has helped some of you gain some confidence in your abilities. There really is no right or wrong program of education. Your program is the correct program if it works for you - no matter what other people, the world, your parents or your teachers think.
