The Ultimate IB Survival Guide: Alumni Spill Their Best Hacks
Welcome to the IB grind, where your life is an endless cycle of study sessions, deadlines, and somehow trying to stay sane. But don’t worry—we’ve got you. Here’s some advice from three IB alumni who not only survived but absolutely CRUSHED IT with scores over 40. Their words? Game-changing. Their stories? Relatable. So, if you’re ready to turn your IB stress into success, let’s dive in.
1. Ditch the Highlighter and Go Visual
- Med Student, Brighton & Sussex Medical School (Score: 44)
Imagine this: You’re sitting at your desk, surrounded by color-coded notes, highlighting like your life depends on it. Turns out, you might be wasting your time. This med student alum learned that deep understanding beats memorization every time.
– Visual over verbal: Instead of drowning in textbooks, start turning your notes into visual maps. Diagrams, flowcharts, sketches—whatever helps you see how the ideas link together.
– Group study, solo results: They were a die-hard solo studier until they realized that collaborating with others adds fresh perspectives. Group discussions help you fill in gaps you didn’t even know existed.
– Find your own method: What works for one doesn’t always work for another. Experiment. Draw. Speak aloud. Do whatever sticks. Just stop copying the same thing a hundred times.
This alum was pretty sure their terrible drawings wouldn’t help, but now? They couldn’t imagine revising without them.
2. Become Obsessed with Your Subject
- Physics Grad, University of Oxford (Score: 43)
Here’s the deal—this physics grad wasn’t always a straight-A student. In fact, they struggled to connect their lessons to the real world. It wasn’t until they started seeing everyday life through the lens of physics that things started clicking.
– Turn your world into a lab: Start looking at your surroundings and asking yourself questions like a scientist. Why does your coffee swirl that way? What forces are acting on your skateboard?
– Cultivate curiosity: The secret to acing IB isn’t just about understanding the curriculum, it’s about seeing how your subject applies to literally everything around you. Turn daily life into an experiment, and physics becomes second nature.
This shift in perspective didn’t happen overnight, but now, the world feels like a giant classroom they can’t get enough of.
3. Balance the Hustle with Living in the Moment
- Student, University College London (Score: 43)
– Work hard, but live harder: Yes, IB matters. But so does enjoying the little things. Whether it’s spending an afternoon with friends or getting lost in a good book that’s NOT on the syllabus, make time for it.
For this UCL student, the biggest lesson wasn’t just how to ace the IB—it was learning that life doesn’t stop for school. They spent years glued to their desk, sacrificing hobbies, friends, and free time in the name of academics, only to realize they’d missed out on the fun stuff.
– Let yourself breathe: It’s easy to get sucked into the grind, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Free time isn’t wasted time—it’s what keeps you from burning out.
If they could go back, they’d tell their younger self to chill out a little more, because those moments of fun? They’re what keep you going when the workload feels impossible.
So, what’s the takeaway?
Everyone’s got a different approach, but the common thread is this: “IB doesn’t define you”. Whether it’s shifting your study style, diving deep into your subject, or carving out time for yourself, remember that there’s no one right way to succeed.
Find what works for you, stay curious, and don’t forget to live a little along the way.