🧬 Struggling with Biology, Chemistry, or Physics? This advice from IB Grads will save you...🔬
Monday, 14 March, 2022
Happy Pi Day!
We hope you’re having a wonderful week. We’re having a great time getting to know the 60+ applicants for open positions on our IBlieve team, especially hearing ideas and feedback in interviews. It’s a lovely reminder of how enthusiastic all of you are to help each-other!🙌
If you’re an incoming IB Year 1 Student, applications will open around June for you!
In that spirit, today we’re going into detailed advice for success in Group 4 subjects, since every IB student studies the sciences and they can often prove quite a challenge. Have a read, and share with your IB friends!
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter:
How to Smash IB Science (Group 4)!
CAS Blog Posts
Revision Tips Blog Posts
IG Sneak Peak: 4 Study Tips
Cheers,
Imogen and Katie❤️
How to Smash IB Science!
IB science can be hard, but also a lot of fun. Here are some of our best tips to succeed, whether you’re a budding scientist, or a reluctant SL student!
💥 General
How to Succeed in IB sciences, from The IB Scientist
It’s better to make the topics that you struggle with the most the highest priority on your plan so that you can maximise your score. If you have time later on, THEN you can start studying the other topics you are more confident in.
When it came to my revision time, I looked into the notes from the two years and created a bunch of revision sheets that I could read through later, which I thought was very effective.
Overview of Science IAs Rohit gives you the low-down!
These investigations can be of three types: a hands-on practical, simulation/modelling, or from a database. The IB understands that many students don’t have access to a lab. Hence, no type of investigation method is more advantageous over another; choose the method that fits your research question and methodology best.
🧬 Biology
Tips for Biology Dina’s best tips are:
The most important factor is organisation
Have a folder (a large one) or a notebook or two for your notes
Familiarize yourself with markschemes and what they expect from you
Biology IA Linda reflects on the Biology IA:
I explored gochugaru, an ingredient within kimchi and how it affects systolic blood pressure
Brainstorm certain topics learned in class or within the field in biology that interests you
Common ideas are not bad, but I suggest thinking outside the box to develop certain experiments
Make sure your IA flows! Be direct and don’t add fluff or seemingly advanced terminology
🧪 Chemistry
Tips for Chemistry Joseph’s biggest takeaways are:
Use key terms
Avoid careless mistakes
Know your data booklet
Chemistry IA Wangari’s tips include:
Picking a topic by deciding an experimental technique, chemistry topic, or personal interest that could lead to an investigation
Choose an experiment where there is research available with an answer that you can compare with
Ask peers who do Chemistry, and those who do not, to read through your IA
🚀 Physics
Tips for Physics Joseph’s advice includes:
Be familiar with the data booklet
Attempt all questions in Paper 1, being mindful of the time crunch
Looking at the units might help you in Paper 1, even if you do not fully understand the question
Write down the corresponding equation to the question
Physics IA Alisa has some helpful words of advice:
Keep in mind that the purpose of the Physics IA is not to show that you are a genius who has a complicated understanding of everything there is to know about physics. Your goal is to show that you have an excellent understanding of the concepts within your topic, and that you can apply your scientific thinking skills and document your entire process.
The goal is also not to flawlessly execute the experiment with no errors or mistakes. No experiment is ever done perfectly. The goal is to address these errors and explain why they changed your results the way they did.
📚 Blog Posts!
Whenever you have a question about IB, check out our Blog! With over 180 posts, you’re sure to find super helpful advice from our amazing IB graduates and High School Ambassadors. Here are all our most recent articles!
🫂 Revision
How to prepare for AP and IB at the same time - Christina
How to self-study - Job
Revision Technique: Cheat Sheets - Dorothy
💬 Group 6 Tips
Visual Arts Portfolio - Sodbileg
Tips for Film HL/ SL - Tim
Tips for Visual Arts - Vy
Theatre HL/ SL Overview - Regina
📲IG Sneak Peak
Find beautiful illustrations of our best advice on our Instagram and Facebook. Here are Kopal’s favorite study tips!
👋 See you next week!
Thanks so much for reading this week! We believe in you!
Sending virtual hugs,
Imogen and Katie
IBlieve Co-Founders, from the Philippines 🇵🇭 and the UK 🇬🇧
IBlieve is an open, positive community for IB students by IB students. We provide free resources, tips, and tutoring because we believe you can succeed too!
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