What are the TOP 10 Resources for IB Students?

Your time in the IB Diploma Programme is a crucial two years of your education. It can come with stress, late nights, and lots of studying. But it is also a time to build good friendships and create memories. So, how can we maximise our study time to leave room for the good stuff?

Something that can significantly reduce the confusion and clutter of high school life is getting your hands on effective resources. This article compiles a comprehensive list of 10 resources that helped me work towards a 45 during my time as an IB student.

1. Official Learning Outcomes 

• Your teachers will likely provide you with a list of learning outcomes for each topic you go through in class. These are particularly valuable for the sciences, like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
• Compile the learning outcomes into a spreadsheet or a notes page, and colour-code them according to your level of confidence.

2. YouTube Channels 

Some crowd favourites include:

• English - The IB English Guys 
• Biology - Cheryl Hickman, Khan Academy, OSC
• Chemistry - MSJ Chem, Khan Academy, The Organic Chemistry Tutor, Richard Thornley 
• Mathematics - OSC, The Organic Chemistry Tutor, Khan Academy, Revision Village
• Physics - OSC, The Organic Chemistry Tutor, Khan Academy

3. Productivity Apps & Chrome Extensions

Useful apps for productivity include:

• Forest,
• Self Control
• Clockify: My personal favourite. You can track the hours studied and see the data over accumulate - it motivates you not to procrastinate when your timer is on!
• Habitica
• Freedom

4. Websites with FREE Revision Material 

There are excellent websites out there with free resources to fill in any knowledge gaps you may have had:

• English - Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, Litcharts
• Biology & Chemistry - Bioninja, Tutor Chase, IB Chemistry Web
• Study Guides from KIS Academics

5. Websites with (Subscription) Revision Material 

• If you need an extra boost for a particular subject, paid subscriptions to websites with practice questions and concept videos can be an option.

6. Your Teachers, Tutors, Friends, Study Groups etc.

• Do not neglect the importance of clarifying unfamiliar concepts with your teachers or tutors!
• You can also ask friends or school seniors for their best resources.
• When it comes close to exams, split the workload with a friend and host study sessions to teach each other. 

7. Textbooks and Workbooks

• If there are particular topics you are struggling to grasp, the details and helpful diagrams in textbooks can give you the deeper understanding you are looking for.
• You can ask your teachers which textbooks or supplementary workbooks they recommend for your subject.

8. Quizlet, Anki, and Pre-existing Flashcard Decks

• Active recall and practice questions are scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to study and recall information.
• You can search for “IB Biology” or your relevant subject on Quizlet (or other flashcard websites), and you can find decks that people have already created.
• You can even use more advanced flashcard apps like Anki and download a Quizlet import add-on. This lets you use the fancy tools of Anki without needing to even create your own cards!

9. Planning Apps: Google Calendar, Notion, and More 

• It is important to have a way to balance out your busy schedule.
• You can use a paper planner, or opt for online options such as Notion or Google Calendar. Check out the multitude of Notion tutorials on YouTube to inspire your weekly planning and to-do lists. 
• Use these planning tools to streamline your workflow and keep you motivated to study!

10. Practice Questions and AI Support

• Be familiar with how IB exams are structured by doing past year papers.
• Your teachers may provide you with a bank of practice questions, or you can often find some online. Always be careful with where you are downloading resources from, in the off chance of malware or dodgy links! 
• A new method for studying also includes using AI like ChatGPT to generate endless practice questions according to your syllabus. Plus if you don’t understand a question, AI can provide concise and helpful explanations. It must be noted that while AI can be useful, not all its information is accurate, so do not rely on it too much.

Conclusion

Over the course of your IB journey, you will find what works for you in regards to studying. Never be afraid to realise that what works well for you, may not work well for others and vice versa. The key is to be reflective on your progress and to make small changes over time. If you find yourself needing some extra guidance, a private tutor from KIS Academics can make all the difference!

FAQs

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for IB English, Biology, and Chemistry, Charli Horchner. Charli is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine at Griffith University and has years of experience as a tutor. You can view Charli’s profile here and request her as a tutor. 

Want more personalized study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor from KIS Academics can make the biggest difference!