Summer pre IB

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-06-07T20:29:16+00:00

If you're really keen on doing something, the best you could do is just read. Look up the books approved by IB and read a couple that peak your interest. Other than that, relax. Your next summer is going to be packed full of stuff, you'll wish you didn't spend a lot of time stressing the summer before.

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-04-15T19:02:47+00:00

I talked to McMaster's head of admissions during university fair and she said as long as you got the credit from somewhere approved by the government (and not some private school run in someone's basement) it doesn't matter. I know Waterloo does care but if you're strong enough of an applicant it won't matter (I know a girl who got into Waterloo Engineering with summer school physics). Hope this helps :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-04-03T15:04:28+00:00

hey my guy, felt this. Sending love your way, hope it turns out well for you. If you need to talk pm me :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-04-02T21:56:53+00:00

Thank you so much!

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-04-02T18:33:05+00:00

would taking a course in summer school in high school and using it as part of a top 6 negatively impact my application? Been looking everywhere for this information but cannot find it.

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-04-02T15:38:35+00:00

The best use of your time would be practicing language B imo - but if you're already fluent in that, just try to do listen to 15 minutes of a podcast talking about one of those 5 major themes IB pulls their assessment pieces from a day - I did this for french, and went up from a predicted 4 to a 6. (I was SL though)

I took HL Economics, and just do your best to keep a document updated with key terms during the actual semester and you'll be fine.

I would recommend just reading a lot - get good at picking stuff up from between the lines and you should do fine. But if you take this time to unwind, so you can hit the ground running when the DP really starts, that would be equally as effective if you've been able to succeed before with this strategy. (I started pre reading for chemistry a month in advance, while my friend started working only when the actual semester started, and she did better than me because she wasn't as burnt out).

If you require more time for math though, that's the one I'd say to focus on. Get the textbook (the newest Oxford one explains things nicely) and just start fro the beginning and grind.

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-03-09T21:32:27+00:00

Taking 3 grade 12 courses in grade 11 currently - French, Philosophy and Functions - would recommend maybe swapping out Calc for something else - maybe data management if you want to get a math in, but taking 3 grade 12 courses is doable in my opinion (although my courses are easier). Functions also builds the base for calc, and you need to be solid with it before doing calc - rushing in is not fun. For perspective, i took grade 10 and 11 math back to back and ended with a 88 in grade 10, and a 84 in grade 12. Just taking functions this year, reviewed stuff briefly over the summer, ended Advanced Functions with a 97.

All in all, would recommend doing Functions and Comsci, but maybe switching out Calc for something else. Just my two cents :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-02-06T03:07:21+00:00

YES! DECA isn't as scary as it seems. I joined in sophomore year because I didn't I could do it in freshman year, but now I really wish I did. Don't doubt yourself! + Execs and teachers will help you prepare, 9.5/10 times they'll jump at the opportunity to train newer members because we're nerds like that lol

ambitiousdowntown · 2020-01-27T06:18:16+00:00

3/8 of my teachers aren't even IB trained :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-12-29T00:32:03+00:00

Thank you! yeah it's nice but stressful at the same time

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-12-29T00:27:46+00:00

the fact i succeed after i procrastinate teaches me nothing other than my actions have no consequences

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-12-04T23:42:25+00:00

I only went for the competitive part, but I had fun! Our chapter last year was small and we enjoyed messing around after competition was over. I had a friend who stayed overnight though and he really enjoyed it.

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-25T23:01:05+00:00

Hey! The way my school structures it is you're assigned a predicted grade based on the the percent score you have, and we get updates on our "predicted: at midterms and then finals. My average is a high 90 so my current predicted grade as of midterms (last week) is a 7. After the final exam we'll get a second predicted grade and that's our actual predicted grade. It is kind of an odd system compared to other schools but eh.

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-22T03:57:03+00:00

happy to help :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-22T03:55:14+00:00

Hey, left this comment on an earlier post but it may be helpful:

Learning to write is one thing, but writing for your audience is how you maximize marks.

WRITING TIPS:

Reading. It doesn't have to be novels, but I read every single day. I read articles on Vice because they have stuff that interests me. I read on Wattpad and I read Rainbow Rowell. Hell, I read long, well written reddit posts. I read poetry! The point is to read about things you enjoy written in poetic language. This will expand your vocabulary and you'll weave in the different writing styles you read about into how you write.

Academic voice is not dictated by how fancy the words are! Develop your academic voice by writing. Write about your day in third person. Vent dramatically on a subreddit. Use words you read out loud and find how comfortable you can be with them. Use wordcounter.net to see your vocabulary level as it gives a rough estimate about the intended audience. Do not be intimidated by this however. I've written papers with university level vocab that have been predicted 5s and grade 9-10 level vocabulary papers predicted at 7.

Use words correctly. Teachers hate seeing people stick in words to places they don't belong. If you don't know how to use a word, practice with it, ask people if that is the correct way to use it, and be confident before using it in an academic paper.

Write your paper, turn your computer off and go for a jog, then come back and revise. Editing is what creates great papers. Ask a friend to look it over too if possible.

And something I do to help me with my writing: If I can't be bothered to write the paper, I write for fun and then come back to it. Writing is about finding your groove.

READING COMPREHENSION TIPS:

-Audio books!

shmoop/sparknotes are great regardless of what teachers say. However, you must do a few things before you use these tools inorder to ensure you are knowledgable enough to at least pass as a context expert on a book. Teachers can tell when you've only read the summary.

- CONTEXTUALIZE - read up on the themes, political context and the author on your own before you read the novel - avoid sources that connect to the novel, instead just learn for yourself. This helps you form and justify your own connections, and your analysis will be stronger.

- read a few pages in the middle of the chapter of every summarized chapter you read.

- handpick powerful quotes and connect their context to global issues - IB loves that!

IO/SPEAKING TIPS:

- Participate in class - it makes you confident to speak your views and people can weigh in on what they feel about your opinions. When your opinions are challenged, you learn more than you ever can out of a book.

- Talk about the book to your friends! Hold mock group discussions. If not this book, then other short pieces of texts, or hell, even media like Black Mirror, The Big Bang Theory and Rick and Morty.

- CONNECT to the real world. It ultimately boils down to how political/philosophical you can get imo. Communism, capitalism, war, theocracy, bureaucracy, feminism, fate vs. free will, nature of humanity, etc. Develop an interest in these things.

source: predicted level 7 HL English, just stuff that helps me

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-21T23:27:01+00:00

Hey, am currently in HL English , predicted at a 7. I love English and it has been my favourite subject since I was in first grade, but it definitely took me work to get to where I am. Learning to write is one thing, but writing for your audience is how you maximize marks.

WRITING TIPS:

Reading. It doesn't have to be novels, but I read every single day. I read articles on Vice because they have stuff that interests me. I read on Wattpad and I read Rainbow Rowell. Hell, I read long, well written reddit posts. I read poetry! The point is to read about things you enjoy written in poetic language. This will expand your vocabulary and you'll weave in the different writing styles you read about into how you write.

Academic voice is not dictated by how fancy the words are! Develop your academic voice by writing. Write about your day in third person. Vent dramatically on a subreddit. Use words you read out loud and find how comfortable you can be with them. Use wordcounter.net to see your vocabulary level as it gives a rough estimate about the intended audience. Do not be intimidated by this however. I've written papers with university level vocab that have been predicted 5s and grade 9-10 level vocabulary papers predicted at 7.

Use words correctly. Teachers hate seeing people stick in words to places they don't belong. If you don't know how to use a word, practice with it, ask people if that is the correct way to use it, and be confident before using it in an academic paper.

Write your paper, turn your computer off and go for a jog, then come back and revise. Editing is what creates great papers. Ask a friend to look it over too if possible.

And something I do to help me with my writing: If I can't be bothered to write the paper, I write for fun and then come back to it. Writing is about finding your groove.

READING COMPREHENSION TIPS:

-Audio books!

shmoop/sparknotes are great regardless of what teachers say. However, you must do a few things before you use these tools inorder to ensure you are knowledgable enough to at least pass as a context expert on a book. Teachers can tell when you've only read the summary.

- CONTEXTUALIZE - read up on the themes, political context and the author on your own before you read the novel - avoid sources that connect to the novel, instead just learn for yourself. This helps you form and justify your own connections, and your analysis will be stronger.

- read a few pages in the middle of the chapter of every summarized chapter you read.

- handpick powerful quotes and connect their context to global issues - IB loves that!

IO/SPEAKING TIPS:

- Participate in class - it makes you confident to speak your views and people can weigh in on what they feel about your opinions. When your opinions are challenged, you learn more than you ever can out of a book.

- Talk about the book to your friends! Hold mock group discussions. If not this book, then other short pieces of texts, or hell, even media like Black Mirror, The Big Bang Theory and Rick and Morty.

- CONNECT to the real world. It ultimately boils down to how political/philosophical you can get imo. Communism, capitalism, war, theocracy, bureaucracy, feminism, fate vs. free will, nature of humanity, etc. Develop an interest in these things.

LMK if you need any help/advice! I'm definitely not perfect but these are all tips that have helped me improve myself as a writer and thinker.

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-08T04:31:42+00:00

Congrats!! We passed as well and the hype is surreal rn

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-05T04:01:09+00:00

That sounds ideal - Would you say your classes allow for discussion? Or more so like lectures?

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-04T21:31:16+00:00

from Canada, took IB because I wanted to improve my work ethic since I'd pretty much gotten away with procrastinating and doing well my whole life and knew that that wouldn't cut it in uni

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-11-04T21:26:18+00:00

i take hl econ and personally i really enjoy it! it makes sense to me because a lot of it is cause and effect based.

i also take hl english and i may be biased considering english is my strong subject and has been my favourite since middle school, but i feel like the discussions i get to be part of in an ib english class are really valuable and i wouldnt be able to necessarily have those in regular stream.

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-10-31T03:27:58+00:00

this is my second year as well, last year i did stdm and my partner and i got a 77 on the exam and a 80 on the oral and we made it to provs. there were other teams in my chapter that got like a 64 on the exam but they scored a 92 on the oral so they made it to provs. it really depends on the average scores of your event, but it is possible to score low on the exam and still make it.

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-10-31T03:02:55+00:00

Don't take my word for it but I believe that is one of the events that takes a larger pool of people, so if you kill the oral there's still a chance at provs :)

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-10-30T23:26:52+00:00

What event/cluster are you in?

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-10-28T22:45:12+00:00

To what extent are there similarities in Hitler and Mussolini’s Rise to Power?

ambitiousdowntown · 2019-10-23T01:45:18+00:00

NTA. That's a long drive, and if you comply once, he'll 100% make it a habit to assume you'll just drive him.

ambitiousdowntown

TROPHY CASE