28 guides for IB students
The Complete IB Diploma Guide
Everything we have written for IB Diploma students, in the order you are likely to need it: choosing subjects, each subject, the core, and the exams.
Starting the Diploma
How the Diploma works, choosing subjects and levels, and what each year asks of you.
- IB Diploma Requirements: What You Actually Need to PassIB diploma requirements explained: 24+ points, no grade 1, no E in TOK or EE, CAS completed. Here is what each condition means and where students fall short.
- IB HL vs SL: How to Choose Your Higher Level SubjectsIB Higher Level subjects demand 240 hours and go much deeper than SL. How to pick the right three HL subjects for your university targets and strengths.
- IB Maths AA vs AI: Which Course Should You Choose?IB Maths AA vs AI explained: what each course covers, which universities prefer AA HL, and a clear guide to picking the right maths course for your goals.
- IB vs A-Levels: Which Is Right for You?A clear comparison of the IB Diploma and A-Levels for UK students: structure, workload, university recognition, and how to decide which suits you.
- IB Year 1: A Practical Guide to Starting the DiplomaStarting the IB Diploma? Here's exactly what Year 1 looks like, which components to start early, and how to build study habits that pay off at exam time.
- IB Year 2: What to Focus on From SeptemberStarting IB Year 2? Exactly what to prioritise from September: the EE, IAs, TOK, and how to build your revision habit well before the May exams arrive.
- IB Exam Prep and Study Plan: How to Study for the IB DiplomaThe IB is demanding, but it's manageable with the right strategy. A complete guide to studying for IB exams: balancing internal assessments, the core, and revision.
- How to Manage the IB Workload: A System That Actually WorksThe IB piles six subjects, an Extended Essay, IAs, TOK and CAS onto two years. This guide gives you a practical system to manage all of it without burning out.
Subject guides
What examiners reward in each subject, and how to revise for it.
- How to Get a 7 in IB: What the Top Grade Actually RequiresHow to reach Grade 7 in your IB subjects: a practical guide to command terms, markbands, past-paper technique and revision habits that separate 7s from 6s.
- How to Get a 7 in IB Maths: A Practical Guide for AA and AIA grade 7 in IB Maths AA or AI requires more than hard work. Here is what the top grade demands and how to close the gap between where you are and a 7.
- How to Get a 7 in IB PhysicsIB Physics grade 7 guide: the command terms, data skills, past-paper method and IA habits that separate 7s from 5s and 6s. Updated for the 2023 syllabus.
- How to Get a 7 in IB Biology: A Practical Exam GuideGetting a 7 in IB Biology comes down to command terms, data analysis and a strong IA, not just content memorisation. Here is what separates a 6 from a 7.
- How to Revise IB Biology: A Guide for HL and SL StudentsRevising IB Biology at HL or SL? This guide covers paper structure, data analysis, the Individual Investigation, and the study techniques that actually stick.
- How to Get a 7 in IB EconomicsIB Economics grade 7 guide: earn evaluation marks, build a perfect diagram bank, and practise the real-world application skills that close the gap from 5 to 7.
- How to Get a 7 in IB English A: A Practical GuideIB English A strategies for a 7: Paper 1 unseen text analysis, comparative essay skills, Individual Oral prep, and the mistakes that cost most marks.
TOK, the Extended Essay, CAS and IAs
The parts of the Diploma outside the exam hall.
- TOK Essay Tips: How to Write a Theory of Knowledge EssayPractical TOK essay tips: how to pick a prescribed title, develop a genuine line of argument, use Areas of Knowledge examples well, and earn top marks.
- IB TOK Exhibition Guide: How to Nail Every StageA step-by-step guide to the IB TOK Exhibition: choose your IA Prompt, pick three strong objects, and write 950 words of commentary that earns full marks.
- IB Extended Essay Guide: How to Plan, Write and Score WellA practical guide to the IB Extended Essay: choosing a research question, building a timeline, hitting the assessment criteria, and avoiding common mistakes.
- IB Internal Assessment Tips: How to Nail Your IAIB internal assessments count for 20-30% of your final grade. How to pick the right topic, hit every criterion, and avoid the mistakes that cost marks.
- IB CAS Guide: How to Complete CAS Without the StressIB CAS explained clearly: how to pick activities across all three strands, write passing reflections, complete the CAS project, and hit all 7 learning outcomes.
Exams and revision
Planning revision, mocks, exam technique, predicted grades and the November session.
- How to Revise for IB Exams: A Practical GuideA practical guide to IB exam revision: when to start, which techniques work for DP papers, how to use mark schemes, and managing six subjects at once.
- How to Build an IB Revision Timetable That Actually WorksBuild an IB revision timetable that balances six subjects, IAs and the Extended Essay. Step-by-step method, weekly template and the five mistakes to avoid.
- IB Exam Technique: Command Terms and Mark SchemesMost IB students lose marks by misreading command terms. Here is how to answer IB questions correctly and use the mark scheme to score every mark you earn.
- IB Mock Exam Strategy: Get the Most From Every Past PaperDon't just attempt IB past papers and move on. Here's how to use each mock paper to find your exact gaps, target your revision, and push your IB grades higher.
- IB Predicted Grades Explained: What They Are and How They WorkIB predicted grades determine your university offers. Here is how teachers calculate them, what the numbers mean, and what you can do to influence yours.
- IB Exam Stress: Why It Hits Harder and How to Handle ItIB exam stress is unique: six subjects, IAs, an EE and conditional university offers all at once. Practical, evidence-backed strategies that actually help.
Study tools and resources
Websites and apps IB students use, compared.
- Best IB Study Resources in 2026: Ranked and ReviewedSeven IB study resources ranked honestly, from official past papers to AI tutors. Discover which tools actually match what IB exams demand from students.
- Best Apps for IB Students in 2026: Tested and RankedSeven apps ranked for IB students: from adaptive AI tutoring to spaced-repetition flashcards, note-taking and focus. Find the right stack for the IB workload.