Earning college credit doesn’t always come easy. With consistent efforts and determination, an IB student has to make their way through two years of rigorous preparation and revision to bag an accredited diploma. IB exams are a tough nut to crack, and it becomes imperative that you prepare well before you go for the final round of assessment and evaluation, i.e., External Examinations.
Concepts, Notes, Revision, Mocks, Revision, and Final Day!
In a loose sense, every student goes through the above process from the time they begin their IB classes to the last of their IB exams. Each step in the process has its relevant strategies and techniques. Past papers come into play at the time of revision. Are these past papers the only way to prepare? Well, definitely no. They complement other study resources and depend on the student’s suitability.
Benefits of studying past papers:
- IB past papers help you become familiar with the format and structure of IB exams. As different subjects in IBDP follow different patterns and formats, these can act as a guide to determining the various marking schemes of different subjects as well as the types of questions that are likely to be there in IB exams. Familiarity breeds comfort.
- Nobody likes to leave answers to the questions they know. So, these past papers help students prepare relevant strategies for managing time effectively and efficiently.
- They navigate revision in a more structured manner. You can assess your weak and strong points and base your further revision on strengthening your weak areas.
How do we make the best use of IBDP past papers?
There is not a single best way to use past papers for revision, and it is not the only way to streamline your revision. It is crucial to refer to notes and other source materials along with past papers.
Even though there is not a single best way, a few points could be helpful while navigating your revision using these past papers. Let’s take a peek at them.
- Old is not always gold:
The IBDP curriculum doesn’t always remain the same. It adds, redacts, condenses, etc. So, using papers with an old format and structure will not only be redundant but will also confuse you. It becomes vital that you use papers from the same year as the exam you will be taking.
- Don’t just jump:
Most of us are hasty enough to jump into solving past papers without giving ourselves enough time to understand and comprehend the format and structure of the IB papers. Why is it important to understand the format before solving the question paper? It is a matter of making relevant strategies beforehand so that demotivation stays far away.
- Simulate the real environment:
Well, we know that you cannot hire students and an invigilator to practice past papers. For that purpose, we have mock exams. But what’s in your control is to simulate a few environmental conditions, such as putting yourself on a timer to build pressure similar to the actual IB exams. As exam halls always have minor interruptions, you can practice your time paper in a corner of the house that is not entirely secluded.
Pro Tip: Don’t sit with your siblings to create that simulation. It is almost always a mistake.
- Reviewing is the key:
What comes after rehearsal? Follow-up.
We learn from our mistakes more often than not. Practicing IB past papers is no different. Do not forget to review and analyse your papers after a few hours of sitting for them. Reviewing and analysing will help you determine your weak and strong areas.
Reviewing doesn’t mean that you have to redo the entire paper. It means that you analyse the questions that you got wrong or the questions you got stuck on while doing the paper. Understanding your tendency to get nervous within specific areas and constraints will help you find areas you need to work on.
Pro Tip: Try to analyse the paper within 7-8 hours after you are done. This will help you realise your mistakes, bring in new points you could’ve added, etc.
- Study plan:
The other way to channel your time effectively is to prepare a plan where you will allocate time to past papers. For example, three times a week or two times a week. This can vary from student to student and from time to time. Allocating time for revision and visitation is equally important.
- Revise your weak areas:
Analysing your papers critically is just the first step. Revisiting the areas you found challenging and nerve-wracking in past papers is an important exercise. It will boost your confidence for the next round.
- Group studies:
Call your buddy and practice past papers with them. There is always something to learn from your fellow students. Everybody follows different strategies and techniques while attempting papers, and sometimes they are just under our noses, but we do not notice. That good friend of yours may help you find the right strategy for you.
Consideration: Do not lose track and start chit-chatting instead. Hehe. There will be time for that. Now is not that time since you called them with a purpose in mind.
- Do not shun the fun:
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. You do not want that. Working on your physical and mental health is equally important within the chaos and hustle of preparation. Go for a walk, read your favourite novel, or visit your friends. It is up to your discretion, as you know better what recuperates your mind and soul. But Jack had to have something to calm himself.
This is not an exhaustive list of tips carved in stone. You can always add your own points according to your suitability. This being said, past papers are not the only solution to earning good scores. You must dissolve other ingredients in plain water to make a yummy lemonade.
