1. Establish a regular study scheduleWhen it comes to exam prep, cramming is never a smart idea. This is especially true for IB tests, which tend to cover an extensive amount of information.
2. Take past years’ tests
3. Come to your exams preparedTaking IB tests can be stressful, but being well prepared can help to alleviate some of your anxiety. Besides studying, be sure to get enough sleep and to eat well in the days leading up to your exams. No matter how much you review, a lack of energy can impair your test-taking ability. Individual IB exams are generally one to two hours in length. Bring with you only what is specified in your IB exam instructions. For instance, calculator use is limited to specific subjects like Biology and Mathematics.
4. Outline your responses before recording them in your answer bookletAs you can imagine, students who answer IB test questions fully and thoughtfully score highest on their IB exams. Try outlining the key points of your responses before you record them in your answer booklet. Organizing your ideas makes it less likely that you will forget to include a key point in your responses. It will also allow you to more easily check that you have fully answered all parts of a given question, thus maximizing the number of points you can earn per item.
5. Reread your responses and revise as neededAfter completely answering all of the questions on your IB test (and if time permits), go back and read over the responses you have recorded in your answer booklet. Ensure that you have answered all portions of a multi-part question, and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. Taking the time to go back and polish your work can help to improve your exam score. Good luck!
Erica Cirino is a contributing writer for Varsity Tutors, a technology platform for private academic tutoring and test prep designed to help students at all levels of education achieve academic excellence.