S U B J E C T S: 

To be able to be in the IB you must select 3 subjects that you will be studying at higher level (HL), and 3 standard level. This might seem difficult to choose, but there is one thing to always keep in mind while choosing your subjects: which one are you the one most confortable with and you know you would you do well on it. 

Deciding the subjects: 

The 3 higher level subjects would be the ones that you should always keep in mind while choosing. Pick the classes not for the teacher, but for the class itself. This is because while still in the course of IB, your teacher might change. Pick the subjects you are strongest at, that way it would be easier to balance the other higher levels and the standard ones, as well as challenging yourself without over-working yourself out. So if you strong in English, then pick English HL. If you are very good in Art pick that subject. This was something that I found helpful while being at IB. This however, would not mean the subject is easy. It would for sure facilitate it, but it would not make it go into the easy file. It being IB, you would also have to focus on all your subjects, including particular higher levels. 

Another thing to consider while deciding the subject is talk to other people in your school who have taken the class you would like to take as a higher level or even standard level. Depending on the subjects, there would be a difference in the syllabus between higher level and standard level. I found this incredibly helpful while picking my subjects. I talked to people within the same subject and it allowed me to plan and see which one I would be taking in IB. They provided an inner look on the curriculum because they were students who were doing it. 

It is very important that you know which subjects you are taking and that you are confortable with them. It is alright if you have one subject that it is kind of difficult, because we all have them. If a certain subject is a struggle, then put it in the standard. This is because if you have it at higher level it would be a even more difficult, since the mark-scheme is more strict and you have to cover even more in-depth topics within that subject. So, please keep that in mind. This is because you don't want to overwork yourself. It is okay to challenge yourself, but please keep in mind that you still want to get good grades and not over stressed yourself. So, be careful on what you pick. 

I have classes that I struggle with myself. We are not perfect and that is okay. You just must consider and be confident that you will be okay taking those subjects you picked for the last two years of school, just before college. (Year 12-13 in the British system, or junior and senior year in high highschool.) For example, I was confortable on taking English Hl, and Film Hl. For me, Film was my strongest, and a class I really enjoyed, but this did not meant that English wasn't. I would just have to still keep in mind that class and study for it, just like I would for any other subject. Of course, if you pick a higher level you will have to study more things, and even focus more on it. Because the IB is meant to be an academic challenge, and it actually looks very good in colleges - as long as you keep good grades on it - because it is the hardest qualification in the entire world before a college qualification. Colleges like that you are challenging yourself academically. If you decide not to take it, don't worry about it. You can still get into good colleges in America without needed to have the IB, of course you have to keep a good GPA (weighted or unweighted) and a academic grades, and ACT or SAT scores. 

Please try to keep a balance on the higher levels and standard levels. Sometimes this tends to shift. If you imagine a balance with higher levels in one side and the standard in the other, you have to maintain it the best at balance. Also if you focus too much on the higher levels and not on the standard, the standard would drop as well. Thus your total IB score would drop as well (more on the IB scores later on the chapters) and you don't want that. 

What I recommend doing is making a list, and be honest with yourself in this process. You don't want to be in a situation where you are stuck in a subject you don't like, or are doing really bad at for the next two years because that would damage your GPA (if you are in American system) and your grades. I did a list and I picked the standard first, and then did a different one where I stated which ones were my strongest. Then I went around and asked about the syllabus and the difference between - keep this in mind because that would vary between all subjects - the IGCSE and the IB because there are differences. Just like there are differences between HL and SL. 

C O R E   O F   T H E   IB: 

Within the core of the IB you have TOK (Theory of Knowledge), Extended Essay and Creativity, Action, Service (CAS). These core subjects are vital to get the IB diploma. Without them you would be unable to get it. Please keep in mind that I would be doing a separate chapter of each of the core topics of the IB later on in this book to go more in depth. This is just a simplified overview. 

Theory of Knowledge: 

Theory of Knowledge, also known as TOK is one of the core subjects of the IB. At first, it is hard to get your head around it, because it is a lot to take in. So, my recommendation would be to talk to your teacher and ask for help if you are not sure about it. I did that with my teacher and it gladly helped me. 

Theory of Knowledge class consists on different required examinations for the IB, an essay and a presentation. The presentation you do it towards the end of the first year of the IB and the essay at the second year of it. The first year - or at least that was in my case - you review the Ways of Knowing (WoK) and the Areas of Knowledge (AoK). Then you start to write your essay, once you know the different areas of knowledge and the different ways of knowledge. Both are two separate things that you would need to incorporate, and take into account throughout your classes of TOK and the essay. More on that would be mentioned later. 

My recommendation would be, to avoid any confusion on the subject. What do I mean by this? Well, if you are not sure about the basics or confused about the things within that class reach out for a teacher. I have known people who haven't and it made the process of writing the essay, and making the presentation even harder. So, go and ask for help straight away. This also goes to other subjects as well. 

TOK is not a easy subject, it is one that is intended to make you think about different perspective and the reasons behind them. At first I found it really hard because I was confused, but after having a clear mind about it I really appreciated and enjoyed it. 

Extended Essay: 

The Extended Essay (EE) is another requirement of the IB. Through the two years of IB, you would have time to write it. I would recommend starting with time. I know it might seem like you will have a huge time between the deadline and when you introduced to it, but you got to use that time because it is really needed. I started mine mid way through my junior year (Year 12) and that lead me time over the summer to retouch, without interfering with my college application process. 

I will write another chapter in which this is more detailed, but the basics is it is a research paper. What I would recommend is that you pick it on a subject you are very strong act. The Extended Essay is a research paper that is focus on a subject that you are taking at an IB level. The tittle of the essay is a question of your choice and it must be very focus. This is because if it too open it would be difficult to write it down in just 4,000 words, which is the maximum words you have for it. Just take into account that easy subject has a different layout and things to include. So, go to your supervisor (teacher who will guide you through this process) and ask for help. 

Creativity, Activity, Service: 

Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is also a requirement of the IB.  I would recommend asking your teacher about the specifics of it. The acronym of CAS stands for the three sub-topics you have to cover in one or various activities: creativity, action and service. The creativity could be anything pretty much creative, painting, cooking, a film, writing, etc. The action consists of anything about sports, walking, yoga, jogging, dancing, etc. And of course Service takes into account any type of service such as helping around in school or even working with charities. 

The activities in your CAS could be internships, any side hobbies, any sports outside or inside the school, any clubs your run. If you have a doubt about one of the activities, go and ask a teacher or the IB supervisor. 

One thing to keep in mind is your activities. You would have to keep a diary of the activities you do, the hours and how long you have done them. To make things easier, every time you do the activity, write the details down. The IB also asks you to write reflections on the activities you do, so write a couple of points about that activity so that it would help you out to write the reflection. You should also take pictures videos of the activities to include them in your diary. Additionally, always have on a separate piece of paper a list of the activities you do so you would be able to include them. This will make it easier when you are noting down your creative, action and service activities. 

. . . 

I think that the IB is really helpful, and it really opens doors if you are applying to American colleges. It is also needed if you are applying through UCAS which is the UK University college application system. It is okay if you don't decide to do it, and it is also okay if you do decide to do it. It is your choice to make. I'm just writing this book to facilitate the process of the IB and provide help to the ones who are doing it because I know that help is always valuable. I hope this served as a good explanation of the core IB curriculum. I wish you all the best.