Last year Flame went over the basic differences between the IB and AP system of education, two of the most commonly used in high schools around the world. This year, I decided that I would share my experience as an almost-survivor of the IB (still have a half a year left!) and give our readers some tips and insight into what to expect with the overwhelming two years and how to cope with it. Here are my suggestions:

1. Finish extended essay over the summer. This is perhaps the best and most ignored piece of advice ever. Do not procrastinate on the extended essay, it could result in academic recuperation (AR) for the first two months of school. Trust me, you don’t want this. You don’t want AR to become part of your life.
2. Do your standardized testing early. Don’t leave your standardized tests all the way to the end. Prepare for it because after one good test you’ll never have to do it again. Don’t cram everything in one night and make sure you get sufficient sleep the night before the testing. Also, don’t tunnel vision the SAT. You should consider the ACT because it is actually a very viable option and is seen as a lot easier by some. Furthermore, some schools actually take the ACT in lieu for both the SAT and the SAT Subject tests (e.g. Amherst)
3. Start researching for universities early. Many universities have obscure requirements such as standardized tests or early application dates. Make sure you complete your university lists early on so that you have more time to complete your internal assessments.
4. Your Grade 11 grades matter a lot! The majority of your predicted grades are derived from your performance in 11^thgrade. If you’ve been doing poorly over the years this is your chance for redemption!
5. Don’t slack off during the first quarter of senior year because this is when your teachers are giving out predicted grades! Don’t tilt!
6. Pick your classes wisely and ask around to see how juniors and seniors feel about these classes. It is important that you have the right idea about your classes and are not taking classes based on “a gut feeling”.
7. Most importantly, have a life! Too many people get overly stressed out about IB but remember these are your last two years in school and you should have fun and make memories.

Again these are just my suggestions. You will find your own strategies that work well for you, just as my fellow classmates and other survivors have. To all – I wish you good luck and hope to see you on the other side!