Strategies to support ACS
students through the IB
Diploma
An overview of challenges and
best practices
Quarter 1: Perceptions &
Realities
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The program seems not as
challenging as anticipated !!!
The first reality check. I studied
for the test but why did I get a C
and not a B+ or an A in the first
test?
Understanding the assessment
criteria for IB courses is one of
the first quarter challenges.
Quarter 2: Realities
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Why do homework assignments
seem so much harder now?
Demands for deeper understanding
of course content is now apparent to
students.
WHY due dates for homework
assignments or test fall during the
same day or week?
Proper Planning and organizing
tasks is one of the challenges. Need
to ask for help.
Quarter 3: Feeling Stronger!
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January (Semester) exams are over.
Time to reflect and evaluate student
performance.
Hard decisions about continuing into
the program or changing status must
be made.
On the positive side students know
their strengths and weakness and
their potential to improve.
Quarter 3: New challenges
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Internal assessment is the new challenge.
Students are asked to apply their
knowledge for each subject!
Time and organize tasks. Use Educational
Planning class on Wednesdays and
Thursdays to ask for assistance in planning
work.
Share concerns and anxiety with
counselors, parents and friends. Confront
challenges early on not the day before.
Teachers can help!!
Quarter 3: everything seems
more difficult!!
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Extended Essay. The challenge to show
research skills.
More and more homework and not enough
time to go out for a coffee with friends….
Students are monitored with respect to
completing tasks according to deadlines.
Students realize that it is hard to slack off
their duties.
The IB office informs parents in writing at
the end of the month.
Need assistance to relief stress.
Quarter 4
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I worked so hard to rewrite my
essay and my teacher says that it
still is mediocre!!
Need encouragement to continue
the hard work. Need to understand
that revising, editing, rewriting is
required in order to achieve the best
performance.
Encourage to use class time
effectively.
Quarter 4- prepare for the
mock exams in June
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How will I be ready for the mock
exams. If I fail I will lose my status
as an IB diploma student. I will not
be able to enter the HL classes for
the courses I need for my college
applications.
Use time effectively, organize work,
use Spring break to get ahead and
prepare for the mock exams.
Share concerns/anxieties with
parents, teachers, counselors. They
can help.
After the mocks- Holidays!??
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Dealing with the results,
rethinking of options for
applications. Identify
opportunities and challenges.
Need help to reflect and
evaluate mock exam results
focusing on academic plans. Do
academic plans fit student
profile and personality?
Summer Homework!!!!
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A pile of unfinished work if any.
Additional work that must be
completed before September.
Extended Essay, TOK essay, a
commentary in Economics or the
world literature paper......
Help students plan their work in
parts. Efficient organization will give
them more time for holidays.
Year 2: A hard beginning
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Must submit all summer work.
Must write mock exams in class
before the end of the first
quarter. Must complete their
college applications. And why is
that teachers are so hard and do
not give to students the benefit
of the doubt with the
predictions?
Year 2- Now I need support
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Students need assistance to accept and
cope with possible changes in academic
plans. Meanwhile they must remain
motivated to continue their hard work
academically.
Students experience the consequences of
not doing the summer homework.!!
Monitoring during the EP class, counseling
and letters going to parents can motivate
students to keep focused on task.?
Parental support is very important at this
point. Parents can help students maintain a
long run perspective.
My last Christmas as a highschool student! Let me enjoy it
please.!!
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WORK, work, work….Can I please have
the Christmas day to enjoy the season?
Spend this break in listening to complaints,
reading your child’s essay, check with
what must be completed for the Internal
Assessment.
Students need to work around the clock.
EE, TOK essay and English written tasks
and world literature papers must be
completed before the end of February.
This is an External Deadline.
The rest of the IA work must be completed
before the end of March. Do not leave
things for the last minute.
The last quarter….
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All IB requirements but the
exam are completed. Bravo.
Now, focus on the exam.
Develop an effective strategy to
prepare for the exams. Need
help? Ask teachers, counselors,
parents. All will be happy to
help…..