IB exam anxiety? Remember, control the controllable
by Dave Allen
There is a lot of uncertainty and unease in the IB community at the moment due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. And if you are an IB 2 student, you will probably be experiencing more anxiety than others. Most likely, the big question on your mind is ‘will they or won’t they’? Are your IB exams going to be cancelled or will they still run? At the time of writing (25 January 2021), they are still on (with some caveats that I will come to later). [For a more recent update on the status of the May 2021 examination session click here].
So, from your perspective, the only thing you can do is to carry on regardless – your IB exams are going to go ahead.
Now, this may seem a little harsh, but this is my point, control the things you can control. You are in charge of your own destiny. Do not listen to rumors or speculate – this will only increase anxiety and make you lose focus.
Students all over the world are wasting precious time worrying about will they or won’t they – don’t be one of these. Control your own journey through the IB Diploma, keep focused and work as if those exams are happening because that is the one thing you’re able to control. If you do, then when they happen you will be positioned to do well.
Keep this in mind about your IB exams
IB exams are very fair – they are what is termed ‘criterion based’ assessments (as opposed to ‘norm based’ assessments that other national bodies adhere to). In layman’s terms, the IB does not operate a ‘first past the post’ system when it comes to awarding grades (or, for example, the top 10% of candidates are awarded the highest grade). Criterion based assessments set a percentage needed for a grade, for example, 75%+ = grade ‘7’. Now it does not matter if only 5% of a cohort or 20% of a cohort achieve this percentage, they will all get the same grade.
This means you’re not competing against your classmates around the world – you are in it together. And you can turn this to your advantage – if you have missed work due to isolations or school closures, collaborate. Work together. If somebody offers to give you notes or help you with a topic, take the help! And make sure you pay it back as best as you can as it will help you in the long run as well.
The IB is also fair, they are aware that students have lost important class time and have therefore decided to adjust their examinations, for example, they have cancelled Paper 3 in the sciences. Are you aware of this?
You can find more information on what is out (and what is in) across the IB subjects here.
Make sure you familiarise yourself with these changes when it comes time to revise (something you will need to do shortly!). You need to ensure that you access and revise the relevant material. You may have been taught some of this last year before the announcement was made, so spend some time working out what is included in this year’s exam and organise your study around the included material.
A word to the wise
I think I am now going to sound like a good teacher (or librarian) giving you advice on your EE. How trusted are your sources? There are a lot of IB forums out there and they are great, they connect you with other IB students all over the globe and allow you to collaborate and exchange information but when it comes to what is happening with the IB exams - who is really in the best position to give you information and advice? I would say it is your school, your teachers, and your DP Coordinator. Your school will be in contact with the IB and will be notified of any further amendments or changes. They should communicate all relevant information to you, especially if it affects your IB exam preparation. As tempting as it might be to speculate with other students about what will happen with exams, try to avoid it as much as possible. It may only serve to raise your IB exam anxiety, which will only serve to distract you from the task at hand - revising.
Good luck and remember, stay focused and control the controllable.
How to get your IB revision underway
With Dave’s advice hopefully you are thinking about how to focus your IB exam revision to give you the best possible opportunity of success in May. We’re here to help you along the way with lots of free resources including helpful articles, exam tips, study tools, and of course our popular range of IB study guides. Visit our subject pages to discover what’s available for your relevant IB subjects.
