That time of year has come once again, where the black barriers live outside of the Skier Dome, signaling the season of IB exams.
Almost everyone who attends Aspen High School for 11th and 12th grade will take an IB exam at some point, hence the ubiquitous saying ‘IB for all.’ Because of the IB English requirements at AHS, at some point, you will find yourself sitting in the Skier Dome, fluorescent lights shining down on you, and a clear water bottle by your side, writing many essays. But what do you need to know for these exams? Well, firstly, I would recommend not getting a stomach bug two days before your exam, but not everyone can be so lucky. IB exams are not scary or intimidating (like senior assassin), so here’s what you need to know about IB exam season.
Firstly, each class will be different, some teachers will finish a month early, giving you premium time to review, and you’ll be good. Other classes won’t be so easy. You might finish content on Monday when the exam is on Friday, or your teacher might still be giving you presentations, even when you won’t be in class due to other exams. At this point, there is nothing you can do about it, but at least you won’t have to go to class after the exam.
Next, one might think, I’ll cram the night before the exam, it’ll be fine, I’m telling you that will not work. The night before the exam, go to bed. I promise you, sleeping will help you more than reading over your notes till 3 AM. Most importantly, don’t stress, excess cortisol in our brain actually makes us forget more. The human brain is also lazy, so make sure to actively recall your information to actually remember it. While you’re studying, it’s essential to take a walk outside, get a coffee, matcha, or another fun drink of some kind, just destress; it’s just as important as studying.
This next thing is something many might not think about when heading into their IB exams. You need to get a good pen. IB exams require you to write in a blue or black pen on every test. On IB exams, you can’t use a gel pen, which is my preferred pen of choice; this leaves you with one option: a ballpoint pen. Many might come in with the classic Alpine Bank pen, or the one Eileen gives you at the beginning of the exam, but writing for two hours with a flimsy plastic pen will leave your hand crampy. Also, if you struggle with handwriting, a bad pen will exaggerate this. I am still on the search for the perfect IB exam pen, I guess the joy lies in the journey.
Last but not least, try your best. IB exams are probably some of the last tests you will ever take in high school, which is more sweet than bittersweet, still take them in. Also, you’re locked in there for a while, and there is not much else to do, why not try and save thousands of dollars off your college education by getting credit for doing good on your exams while you’re at it.
