iB iNtErviEw QuEstioNs

IB INTERVIEW

please IntroduCe yourself (name, age, grade)

I am Oak Swam Pyae, 18, and I’m an alumni of ISY (Co 2021). I attended YIS until the 7th grade, before moving to ISY, starting the 8th.

desCrIbe your experIenCe when you fIrst heard of or when the Idea of Ib beCame a “real” thIng. (how dId you feel?)

When my counsellor first introduced me to the IB (end of 10th grade), honestly, I was quite scared. I’ve heard friends from older grades say how hard the IB is and you only get one shot at the final exams. Additionally, the idea of two years worth of content in one exam

was quite overwhelming. After processing this, it was more a matter of, “Okay, what subjects do I like?” and “Which subjects I can get good grades on and how they can affect my further education?” Hearing that you’re going into the IB isn’t something that you can really process immediately, because there is definitely that fear factor of, “Oh what if I chose the wrong subject?” and “How will I get through this?” Once you’ve gotten through that, in my experience, it’s much easier to keep track of your subjects and your work. I’ve heard from my peers at YIS that the new grades will be going into the IB, and I truly sympathize with them. We most probably share the same sentiments towards the programme, and that feeling of fear will be constant, but it isn’t something to be feared in itself. The IB is actually much more manageable than some people make it out to be so no need to worry about that. 09 copy: phone yi yi and gyee gyee layout: Annie

strategIes goIng Into Ib?

The best strategy is to never throw away your old test papers and to keep notes in every class you attend. Keeping your old test papers is extremely important because every year the IB creates new questions for the exams, the format you see is almost exactly the same as previous years (unless notified of a change via the official IB website). The question types as well - the same. The content tested - the same. Having these old test papers (or past papers you can find online) will be a treasure trove of practice and information you can use to prepare yourself for the final exam. Additionally there are so so many websites online that you can find that help you with notes and such and even past papers that you can use to practice. This final exam is important to your tertiary education, so being prepared for it is the best you can do to ensure success in the IB.

QUESTIONS

Last but not least, fostering good relationships with your teachers is really important. You need to show them that you’re trustworthy and deserving of the grade that you want. When it comes time for predicted grades (grades that are given to you around the start of senior year that are a tentative reflection of what your actual grades might be when you take the test), these relationships are important because the predicted grades are what determine whether you make the criteria for applying in some universities. This is where the trust comes in, so that the teachers will want to give you the grade you feel you deserve. For my class, this was a make-orbreak situation, because in addition to hard work, teachers need to have trust in you to safely give you a higher grade. Because of COVID-19, the IB declared that for the Co2021, teachers could only give out a certain number of each grades (i.e., one 7 or three 6’s [the IB is graded from a 1 to 7 scale]). This meant that however hard a student works, only one student or maybe two will get the highest score predictable on behalf of the teachers. This is a very tough situation to face, and even tougher because you might not get the predicted you felt you deserved simply because of a grade distribution set out by some organization. I truly hope this isn’t the case for the future IB students. In the end, it boils down to the trust you can build between you and your teachers, so that in the worst case scenario, you can get the higher score you feel you deserve.

what to you Is the hardest thIng In Ib?

To me, the hardest thing in the IB would be trying to constantly stay on top of the content the school teaches. You have about 6 subjects you’re studying and juggling that, homework, and a social life is doable, but will be a bit hard. Because of the new information you learn on a daily basis, it’s rather difficult to maintain the things you’ve already learned in your head, hence the constant learning process. This would be the most challenging thing in the IB.

what do you thInk are the negatIves or posItIves of the Ib system Compared to other CurrICulums? ap? IgCse?

The IB does have its negatives and positives. The biggest pro, in my opinion, is that the diploma you receive after going through the experience is very stable in the eyes of admissions officers and universities. It’s stable in a sense that (in my experience) schools think highly of the IB. Knowing that a student has come out of the IB, a two year programme, is something commendable in itself. In addition to that, taking the IB opens up many more choices for your tertiary education. I don’t necessarily mean that because you take the AP, you can’t apply to schools in, say, the UK or Australia. It most definitely is possible, but once you get to the university research phase of senior year, universities in those locations have specific sections devoted to the IB, what scores they require, what courses they want, etc., and having the IB under your belt is much easier during that process. Compared to something like the IGCSE, although both are two year programmes, after you go through the IB, it’s basically the endgame. There’s no more tests similar or resemblant of it unlike the IGCSE’s because I believe there’s the A-Levels after that. After the IB, you’re basically set. This is an advantage of the IB, because as rigorous as the curriculum is, you need not do much after you’ve finished it. Out of the cons, a big one would be the constant work. It is one thing where you go through one year of a subject, take the exam, and be done with it. Compared to the AP’s, the AP’s are more manageable in this sense, and you can take more AP courses as you wish. In the IB, the work doesn’t quite stop. You need to keep at the top of your head content from multiple subjects, because if you forget it, you need to go all the way and memorize that all over again. It’s a constant learning process that you need to endure throughout the whole two years. Some seniors who take the AP can rest a bit during their senior year, because they’ve taken the courses required or those they wanted in their previous years, but the IB, you need to maintain that consistency in concentration throughout senior year as well. To me, senior year would be the hardest year of the IB, because things will most definitely pick up pace from your first year (junior year).

If you Can gIve one tIp or trICk for taCklIng Ib what would It be?

The final and best tip for taking on the IB is to make the best use out of all the resources you have, may it be your teachers, online, or your friends. It’s hard enough to go through the IB alone, and there are also some assessments like the Internal Assessment (IA) where for some subjects, you need to be in a group to complete. Fostering good relationships with your peers and teachers is the best way to go, because this way, you not only have an emotional support system but you also have people there to help you if you’re stuck with work. Online, you can find almost anything, and it is the best resource you could have going through the IB. The search process is also very simple: just type in “Biology IB past papers” or “Biology IB chapter notes” and there’s just so much information.

copy: phone yi yi and gyee gyee layout: Annie