IB Courseload

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hello! I'm currently a freshman, and just told my counselor what classes I want to take next year. This got me thinking about what I wanted to take later, and so I drew up a small spreadsheet. </p>

<p>Freshman (9th)</p>

<p>Pre-IB Government (AP Government test)
Pre-IB Biology
Pre-IB AAF (Algebra 2)
Pre-IB English 9
General PE (PE state requirement)
Introduction to Engineering (tech credit state requirement)
IB Spanish 4</p>

<p>Summer (9th-10th)
Health (1/2 semester state requirement)</p>

<p>Sophomore(10th)</p>

<p>AP US History
AP World History
Pre-IB Chemistry
Pre-IB Precalculus
Pre-IB English 10
IB Spanish 5
Pre-IB Production and Performance (art credit state requirement)</p>

<p>Junior (11th)</p>

<p>ToK1
IB Spanish 6th
IB Calculus BC
IB History 1
IB English 1
IB Biology 1
IB (Psychology/Economics/Philosophy)</p>

<p>Senior</p>

<p>ToK2 / Law
IB Spanish 7 (for bilingual diploma)
AP Statistics
IB History 2
IB English 2
IB Biology 2
IB (Psychology/Economics/Philosophy)</p>

<p>And, if anyone wants to know
Higher Levels -
English
History
Spanish
(Bio?)</p>

<p>Standard Levels -
Math
(Psychology/Economics/Philosophy)
(Bio?)</p>

<p>I'm not sure whether I want to take Bio as a Higher Level or Standard Level, and I think I would enjoy Psych, Econ or Philosophy as a 6th subject, although I'm not yet sure which one I'm testing with. I don't really enjoy music, so I have almost all academic subjects. Should I try to tone down the course load, or should I be able to manage it? </p>

<p>Also: I'm not trying to brag, I'm seriously worried by the stories I've heard. Plus the EE(Extended Essay) and CAS(Creativity, Action, Service hours)...</p>

2

<p>As a soon to be former IB student, I can say the least of your worries are CAS and the EE because your courseload will be more challenging. My advice to you regarding your schedule and ib requirements is to make sure you choose classes/a topic for your ee/cas commitments that you enjoy. Especially because around late Junior year, you begin to lose interest in school (early onset senioritis) so doing things you like that fulfill your recs is probably the only way they’ll get done.</p>

<p>Aside from that, i wish i had a variety of classes available to me that you do. Remember that you may change your mind about which tests you’ll take, i was planning to take 5 HL tests and now im doing 3.</p>

3

<p>Okay, im an IB Senior right now, and we are absolutely getting pounded. If you take full IB (as in the diploma) make sure you know what you really want. I am not trying to be scary or whatever, but IB is really quite rigorous; especially seeing as you have to do SATs, subject tests, applications, all along side your coursework and CAS. </p>

<p>CAS is quite a major part of IB and you need it to pass. CAS is actually quite fun, except for all the paper work (i.e. all the reflections, filling out forms, giving proof that you did it etc). Make sure IB is something you REALLY want to do before you get into it. The hardest part about IB is that unlike AP it is continuous. You will have long term assignments which last almost the whole two years, and you have to maintain a certain consistency in your work. </p>

<p>The biggest workload in IB comes from your coursework assignments. For example, for economics and business management (my higher levels) our internal assessment count for 25% of our final grade in conjunction with our final papers, therefore you really need to get those right to do well. This goes back to being consistent through out your two years. If you think you might lose interest half way through, or are not used to taking on a lot of work at the same time, it is better off not starting IB at all. </p>

<p>Also, the think i’ve heard about IB is that it helps A LOT in college. Many kids who take less rigorous programs are surprised by the amount of work they have to do in college, and hence their grades suffer. The one thing you wont have to worry about is getting caught off by expectations of professors and the level of detail in assignments. </p>

<p>And one last thing, if you take IB then know what your getting into! Its a strong program which requires strong students who aren’t afraid to do a little hard work. Set yourself a clear goal before you go in, and try your best to achieve it. At this point, I am at the end of my IB career and i’ve got about until May till my final exams start.</p>

4

<p>You should consider getting a schedule that fits with your Extracurricular activities as well. Colleges love students who are able to manage both. As for the IB classes, I advise you to not procrastinate on assignments. That is a terrible habit. As an IB Junior, I typically am up late at night finishing my assignments due to procrastination. If you are curious as to what my schedule is, here it is:
IB English HL, TOK, IB Psychology SL, IB Physics HL, Honors Spanish 4, IB Chemistry HL, IB Biology HL, IB Math SL</p>

5

<p>CAS and the EE are among the easiest things in IB. Don’t worry.</p>

<p>That said, your IB schedule is fine.</p>

6

<p>CAS is a joke, EE as well. It was in comp sci, Mac vs Windows analysis. :slight_smile: … I finished that in a day. Yeah, day before it was due - we’ll see how that goes - you only need a D to “pass” the IB diploma… But you’d need to make a conscious effort to get anything less than a C, or even a B. </p>

<p>Also, didn’t they eliminate the CAS hour system for a more reflective system? 150 hours, by the way, is almost nothing over the span of two years.</p>

<p>Also note that your school schedule and IB diploma requirements would overlap as well. Though you’ve only 3/4 HL’s listed, you still plan on taking 3 other advanced classes as well, right? (Hint: It looks better for colleges… & more active class setting)</p>

<p>It looks like you’re taking 6-7 IB’s a semester for years 11&12. At our school we’re forced to do the IA’s (internal assessments, which count for your overall IB score; double-edged sword. Mostly self-inflicting, IMO), regardless of whether you’re testing in the subject, so I had 6 IA’s due in the span of two days two weeks ago; that was a blast. They’re a lot of work.</p>

<p>IB Diploma as well.
SL: Spanish, Computer Science
HL: English, 20th Cent. History, Physics, Mathematics</p>

<p>My senior year schedule, in comparison:
Theory of Knowledge
Music SL
Physics HL II
Mathematics HL II
20th Cent. History HL II
English HL II
Biology HL II
Comp Sci HL II</p>

<p>If you’re genuinely interested in learning your subjects, you’re going to enjoy IB. You’re also going to hate IB, because of all the busy work, convergent project dates, and for it forcing you to take advanced courses in subjects you’re not good at. An easy senior year? You should eliminate that image from your mind right now; it’s the worst by far. That being said, I’ve enjoyed it the most. </p>

<hr>

<p>Eng Hist Span Bio? HL
Math Psych/Econ/Philo SL
If you’re interested in biology, take HL biology. It’s a pretty good curriculum. If you want the safe IB points, take Biology SL, then take Biology HL at your school, and then review a bit for the AP biology exam (which you’ll be ready for only after both years… I know. But it’ll be ridiculously easy after Bio HL. I know this as well)</p>

<p>English, History HL - typical HL courses. Shouldn’t be too troublesome. Spanish, I cannot say the same for, because I haven’t taken it. If you’re getting a bilingual degree, I can only imagine you’re great at it already. </p>

<p>Math SL - easy easy easy
Psych/Econ/Philo SL - Actually, all SL exams are ****-easy. Thus, make sure you score maximum points on these. Don’t blow them off!</p>