If you are a parent orknow someone who is planning to send their child to International Baccalaureate
(IB) Diploma Programme school, then by now you must have realized that it’s not
going to be an easy ride. From managing homework and tests to teaching English
as a second language and dealing with homesickness, there is no aspect of IB
school life that does not require some thought and planning. Moreover, with the
high academic standards being set for admission and the increasing competition
in the school sector, getting your child admitted to an IB school has become
even more difficult than before. This article will give you some insights into
how you can make life at the IB easier for your child.
Try to understand the school’s expectations
Before you approach theschool to be admitted, you need to first understand what their admissions
criteria are. For instance, a school may have clear cut criteria for admission
such as the minimum IB scores, or they may have a holistic approach that
considers the child’s interests and abilities without being too rigid about
them. Schools may also have different expectations for each subject area as
well as for extracurricular activities. Understanding these will enable you to
make an informed decision at the time of admission.
Don’t procrastinate with homework
If your child has startedpreparing for the IB Diploma programme, chances are that they are already doing
their homework at home. However, you might be surprised to know that homework
at the IB level is much more rigorous than the standard school work and it is
often given as assignments. Therefore, it’s important that your child doesn’t
procrastinate with their homework. If you want to help them out, you can assign
them weekly homework sessions and mark their work as well. If your child is
still procrastinating with their homework, you can also talk to their teacher.
While it’s important not to get your child stressed, you can also help them out
by managing the expectations from the teacher.
Discuss test strategies before the exam
One of the most importantaspects of ibdp school in Chennai, is the various exams your child will be taking. In fact,the first assessment in the IB Diploma Programme is the Extended Essay that is
an important part of the assessment. This is followed by a number of written
and practical assessments that are used to determine whether your child’s
education is at an advanced level. Before your child takes any of these
assessments, it is important that they discuss with you how they plan to tackle
them. This can be done by talking to them about the exam strategies such as how
they can approach the essay questions and what approach they should take with
their projects and other assignments. You can also discuss these strategies
with your child’s teacher to understand his/her point of view.
Set up a study schedule and stick to it
In top 10 international schools in Chennai, Everyacademic program has a specific learning schedule that includes regular study
sessions, topics to be covered and assignments to be done. While it’s important
that your child follows this schedule, it’s better that you help him/her out by
setting up a study schedule. You can use an Excel sheet that you can log every
study session and assignment completed by your child. This way, you can take
note of everything that your child is doing and help him/her in managing their
workload. Moreover, this schedule will help you to understand the level of your
child’s study and make the necessary adjustments. During the course of the
program, your child’s studies will be reviewed by their teacher. Therefore,
it’s also important that you discuss with your child how they can improve their
studies. You can start off with by asking them what they think are their
strengths and areas that they need to work on. You can also look into the self-study
resources that are available online to get some insights into how your child
can improve his/her studies.
Engage your child in extracurricular activities
In addition to theiracademic studies, every IB student is expected to take part in a number of extracurricular
activities. These activities are meant to be experiential learning activities
that help your child learn by doing. For instance, your child can take part in
different community service programs, take music lessons, visit a museum or
gallery, etc. While it’s important for your child to engage in these
activities, it’s even better if you help him/her out. This can be done by
suggesting activities that your child might like to take part in and suggesting
extracurricular activities based on your child’s interests. Moreover, you can
also take part in the extracurricular activities with your child to help
her/him understand the educational approach that is being taken.
Final Words
IB is a rigorous academicprogram and getting into the school may be challenging. However, with the right planning and preparation, it is possible. It is important to understand the expectations of the school and the assessment strategies that are being used.
It is also critical to stay on top of your academic work, especially if your
child is planning to get into a competitive high school program. We hope that
after understanding how to make ibdp school easier, you will feel more
confident in applying to an IB school. Remember, the IB Diploma Program is a
rigorous and high-level program, and it is designed to challenge students
intellectually and emotionally. If you are interested in applying to an IB
school, make sure you follow all the steps mentioned above to be successful.
