If you are reading this, it may mean that all your hard work as an IB student has unfortunately not paid off. Perhaps the high exam scores you were looking for were some way off the marks you received. If that is the case, all is not lost. The International Baccalaureate Organisation (known as the IBO) gives you the chance to do it all again. We are happy to share our IB exam retake tips if you’d like to improve your results in one or more subjects.
Preparing for Your IB Exam Retake: Tips and Strategies
You cannot rely on chance when retaking your IB exams. The second time will not be any easier without hard work and preparation.
So, if you don’t want to fall into the same trap, make sure to consider the following IB exam retake tips from our knowledgeable IB tutors.
Set Clear Goals
First of all, you need to decide why you want to retake your IB exam. By and large, there can be three reasons:
- You didn’t sit your original exam. This may happen, for example, due to an illness, personal circumstances, or organisational issues;
- You got a result lower than the so-called passing grade, i.e. lower than 4;
- Your score doesn’t meet university application requirements.
Remember, to receive your diploma, all six IB subjects should bring you at least 24 points. Did you hit this mark even though you got a 4 or lower in one or more subjects? If the answer is ‘no’, then it is a must to redo the failing subjects to achieve the full diploma.
Is this low-scoring subject important for your university application and future career? If you answered ‘yes’, it makes sense to consider re-taking and trying to do better in the next session.
Did you answer these questions differently? Afterall, there is no one right answer for everyone. The final decision is up to you. If you have the motivation and time to try and improve your grades, then go for it!
IB Exam Retakes and University Acceptance
When it comes to retaking IB exams for the sake of securing a spot in a university of your choice, make a decision based on your ultimate goal. If you’re considering a really good university but lacking just a couple of marks to enter it, we would suggest opting for a resit. After all, a prestigious university can make a difference in your future life.
On the other hand, it might make sense to leave things the way they are. This may be especially true if you have other options to continue your education or you’re not sure whether you can balance university course load with IB exam retake preparations. Also, keep in mind that IB exam retakes, if they are not 100% necessary, may require you to postpone your university start.
If you’re wondering if exam resits affect university applications, the answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Universities often accept suitable candidates even if they earned their IB diplomas in more than one exam session. At the same time, you might need to secure higher grades than previously required to set yourself apart from first-time candidates. You may also notice that grade requirements may fluctuate from year to year.
Organise Your Subjects and Plan Your Work
Chances are, you won’t need to re-sit all six IB subjects. Most of the time, students make up one or two disciplines. It’s often best to try and retake them at the closest available exam session to get this out of your way the first chance you get.
At the same time, you might want to re-attempt exams in more than two subjects. In this case, our IB coordinators at TutorsPlus suggest that you divide them into more urgent and less urgent groups and register for different exam sessions.
Why? Because it is much easier to plan and do your revision with just a couple of tasks at hand. Otherwise, you’re at risk of repeating the same mistake that led to your failure initially – lack of time to prepare for your exams.
This time you should create a solid revision plan and stick to it. We suggest that you start by taking a closer look at the syllabus and breaking all the topics into two categories: the ones you know well and the ones you know less well. Begin with the second group and give it up to 80% of your study time. The rest 20% is for repeating what you already know and bridging some minor gaps in your knowledge.
As you revise, it is helpful to use the 1-2-4-7 Rule. This means you should read a topic on day one, revise it on days 2 and 4, and then make the third revision on day 7. If needed, revise especially difficult topics one more time one week before your re-examination.
Devote the Necessary Time to Each Subject
Time is an important resource in terms of exam preparation. You might believe that you have plenty of time till the next session. The truth is, it flies faster than you think. Therefore, you need to use it wisely.
This is what you can do:
- As we have already said, you should allocate more time to subjects that require significant improvement and/or are more critical for your further academic journey;
- Divide each subject into smaller, manageable topics;
- Establish daily or weekly goals for each subject. This can, for instance, be a revision of a certain chapter or practice with past papers;
- Schedule specific time slots for each subject.
On average, you should spend at least 3 hours a day revising for your IB exam retakes. However, whether you need more or less time will depend on how much you have to catch up on.
Work Through All Your Mistakes So You Don’t Make Them Again
Speaking about past papers, it is important not just to solve them, but also to assess your results. This way, you can clearly see your mistakes, especially systematic ones. Needless to say, your task here is to try and minimise them.
The first step is to identify why they occurred. Interestingly, the lack of knowledge isn’t the only reason (although it is the most serious one). Quite often, students just don’t read questions carefully enough to understand what is really required. That’s why we recommend always underlining command terms and keywords in questions.
Another mistake is writing the wrong units of measurement and significant figures. Even if your calculations are right and your understanding of concepts is on point, such a careless mistake will take valuable points from you.
It is a good idea to get to know typical mistakes your peers make – chances are, you follow their lead.
And, of course, you must analyse your own mistakes. If there is an elusive concept, try to look at it from a different perspective. For example, you can ask your classmate to explain it, read about it in a book by a different author, or watch a YouTube video. But under no circumstances should you ignore your weaknesses and show up at a re-sit with a knowledge deficit.
Seek Help from a Tutor or Additional Courses
If you are highly organised and have plenty of time to revise for your IB exam retakes, then studying alone (or together with a friend) is a good plan. But what if this is not the case? Then it is paramount to seek help.
Our observations show that studying with a tutor is almost twice as effective as studying alone. In other words, a tutor can help shrink your revision twice. That’s because they are more experienced with planning and are able to pinpoint your weaknesses more precisely. Most importantly, they provide a different perspective on complex concepts, the perspective you might be lacking to truly understand your subject.
TutorsPlus is happy to connect you with some of the most experienced IB tutors out there. At the same time, they are IB teachers and examiners. Therefore, they can help you identify the areas where you’re lagging behind and suggest effective solutions to catch up. We are also happy to offer our revision courses in Mathematics and other subjects.
All in all, a tutor’s help can make all the difference between an exam that you nail and one that you fail again.
Utilise Effective Study Techniques
Reading and rereading your notes is the foundation of every exam revision. But let’s be honest, this form of revision is far from being perfect. Plus, it can give you the sense that you know more than you actually do.
Luckily, there are plenty of other study techniques, which will let you commit more information to your memory in less time. Here, our experts bring you some more effective approaches to IB revision.
We’ve already mentioned the 1-2-4-7 technique. Here are some others to try out:
- Retrieval Practice is based on the notion that it is more effective to test your knowledge by recalling information rather than referring to your notes or textbooks;
- PQ4R Method is an active reading technique involving Previewing, Questioning, Reading, Reflecting, Reciting, and Reviewing;
- The Feynman Technique involves explaining a concept as simply as possible. For instance, you can pretend to explain something to someone who knows nothing about it, using plain language. Of course, you can also use this technique on a friend or family member;
- The Leitner System works by writing and organising flashcards into different categories based on your mastery level;
- Mind Mapping allows you to create visual diagrams to connect ideas and concepts.
There are many other study techniques out there – you should try to find some that best align with your learning style.
How to Register for Your IB Exam Retake
So, you decided to re-sit your IB exams… what should you do exactly?
The first step is to notify your IB coordinator that you’d like to retake one or more exams. You need to provide them with a list of subjects you want to retake.
Ideally, you should re-sit exams at the same school where you originally took them. However, they are not obligated to accommodate your retake. And even if it provides such an opportunity, you will have to wait till the next available exam session. It may take place a year after your initial exam if there is no bi-annual assessment in place. Therefore, if you don’t wish to wait that long, you might consider registering with another IB World School that offers the IB Diploma Program.
Are you retaking an exam after a significant amount of time? There may be some changes to the curriculum that you should take into account. An IB coordinator should be able to provide information on curriculum updates.
You have to be aware of registration deadlines as well. We suggest registering right after receiving unsatisfactory exam results to secure your place in the desired exam session. Also, keep in mind the cost of an exam retake. Fees vary by school and exam session but are usually within a few hundred Euros. You can find out more about these charges and deadlines from an IB coordinator of the chosen IB World School.
Accessing Your Retake Results: What to Expect
Re-sitting your IB exams can be quite nerve-wracking but waiting for the results might actually be even worse. Here is what you need to keep in mind while you’re waiting.
The International Baccalaureate releases retake exam results on specific dates for spring and autumn sessions. Typically, May results come out during the first week of July, and November results – in the first week of January.
You can find out how you fared at candidates.ibo.org. However, to access the website, you will need to have a unique code and login PIN. Your IB coordinator provides them.
Once logged in, you can view your subject grades, overall score, and, in case you re-submitted the Extended Essay (EE) or Theory of Knowledge (TOK), bonus points for the core components.
If you’re not satisfied with your retake results, there is a way to dispute them. You can receive guidance from your IB coordinator on how to request either a remark or an Enquiry Upon Results (EUR). A remark involves a re-evaluation of your exam papers for any scoring errors, while a EUR reviews the entire exam paper. Both options come with additional fees.
IB Exam Retake Tips Conclusion
Your IB re-examination may feel like an overwhelming experience. On the one hand, you had more time to do everything right. On the other hand, the fear of letting yourself down again can instil fear even in the most confident students.
When so much is at stake, how to make sure that you’re on the right track? First of all, make use of our IB exam retake tips. And if that’s still not enough, let our tutors lend you a helping hand.
At TutorsPlus, we have a strong team of qualified teachers and examiners who have guided countless IB students to their best results. Whether you need an effective revision plan, knowledge assessment, or something as simple as reassurance, we’ve got you covered. We are also happy to offer our extensive revision courses to solidify your essential skills. Find out more about our offers at 022 731 8148 or info@tutorsplus.com.
By Sara Lloyd
Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education. She is also a parent of two lively children.
