The document outlines key strategies to prepare for the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma Program, including careful subject selection, organizing coursework, improving language skills, engaging in extracurricular activities, and dismissing myths about the program. It emphasizes the importance of mental and emotional readiness and encourages students to choose subjects aligned with their interests and future goals. The document also highlights the resources available through Manya – The Princeton Review, which offers comprehensive services to support students in their study abroad aspirations.

1. 5 Ways to Prepare Yourself for the IB Program
The IB (International Baccalaureate) program is for students from ages 3 to 19 years which
challenges them to achieve and excel in both their academic and personal lives. It offers four
main educational levels
• Primary Years: for students from ages 3-12
• Middle Years: for students from ages 11-16
• Diploma Programs (DP): for students from age 16-19
• Career-related programs (CP): designed for students from age 16-19
In this article, we will mainly discuss the IB diploma program preparation.
For the IB diploma programme students are required to take courses in 6 subjects within the
curriculum:
Each subject has two levels- Higher level and Standard level. The difference between the
two levels is in the breadth and depth of topics covered. Each student is recommended to
take at least three but not more than four subjects at the higher level.

2. To earn an IB Diploma, students need to attend an IB approved school, take courses in all 6
subjects, pass the respective exams with the desirable grades and complete additional core
requirements.
Learning the IB programme is not hard, but preparation for the exams require efforts that go
beyond the academic routine. Students need to be prepared mentally and emotionally to
take on all the tasks, all the time keeping in their minds, their capabilities, strengths, and
limitations. It a mixed feel of uncertainty and anxiousness. There are different rumours and
perceptions surrounding the IB programme and thus the students get intimated.
To get rid of this fear and guarantee success in the IB studies, here are some pointers to
prepare the students for the pressure and expectations placed on them.
Choosing the Subjects Wisely and Carefully
The IB curriculum requires students to take up one subject from the six subject groups:
• Language and Literature
• Language Acquisition
• Humanities
• Sciences
• Mathematics
• Arts
IB courses and their exams are classified as Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). HL
courses are more in depth compared to the SL and require a greater time commitment
though the content covered is the same. Three of these subjects must be in Higher Level
(HL), while the other three are in Standard Level (SL). The curriculum is then wrapped up by
three compulsory core subjects, namely Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), Extended Essay,
and Theory of Knowledge which are graded.
Before you start your IB program, students are given time to select their preferred subjects.
The students need to do their research and take their time and choose their subjects wisely
and carefully. They also need to rely on various available resources and their teachers while
choosing. In short, students should consider their interests, degree of proficiency, and the
field of work they want to pursue when choosing the subjects. By choosing the appropriate
set of subjects, students are choosing the ones that will help them reach their goals.

3. Organising the Subjects
After the students have finalised their IB subjects, they can consider organising or ranking
them in terms
• Difficulty level of the subjects – at least how the students predict them to be
• Duration of the time to be spent studying them
• Favourite subjects/Familiar subjects
By predicting the difficulty level of each subject and anticipating the specific challenges, the
transition to the IB program becomes easier as the students now have a clearer expectation
of the overall studies.
Moreover, the students can now come up with various solutions and techniques to lessen
the workload in the future.
Refreshing English Language and Keeping Up with the Second Language
For the students whose mother tongue is not English, the holidays are the perfect their
English. The IB curriculum requires a lot of written work, so feeling confident in English
speaking and writing skills is important. The students can use fun ways to strengthen their
English and get their friends involved.
• Conversing in English with a close friend on the phone or rather text him and get his help for
any corrections
• Watching English movies with no subtitles. Initially starting with a known film, then slowly
getting to see new ones.
• Reading a book. As suggested earlier starting with a favourite English title, then moving to
other titles
• Maintaining a diary and documenting the memories, thus enabling the writing skills needed
for Essay writing
The fun ways of learning with close friends work the same way for the second language too.
The students need to work with friends who have chosen the same language by conversing
with them. This way helping and correcting each other builds confidence in the speaking
skills for both.
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4. Taking up Some Extra-Curricular Activities
One of the core elements in the IB programme is CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service). This
subject is what ensures students do not just excel in their academic studies, but in life as
well. Choosing an extracurricular activity that a student enjoys makes him happy and relaxed,
which is important for his well-being. The students won’t be graded in CAS, but they are
expected to show personal and interpersonal growth through various activities beyond the
classroom.
Therefore, the students can be one step ahead of your classmates by joining a club, taking
part in community service, or exploring creative activities before school starts. This passion
will immensely help them in the CAS projects.
Avoiding Attention to the IB Programme Rumours
There are many rumours and myths about the IB programme, but the most important thing
to remember that all the rumours are true. The students will be able to have a social life and
pursue their own interests and enjoy the years at school. The students need to put in little bit
effort, stay focussed, committed, and organised. They should not let the rumours of the IB
programme being difficult and strenuous, put them off.
Last but not the least the students need to get excited and stay that way about starting their
IB programme journey. It is not only a means to a brilliant end considering how many top-
ranking universities accept the IB curriculum as an admission criteria, but a way to truly
develop the students’ knowledge, skills, and experience.
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