h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Maw,

Mr.Cynic said he had noticed you around and that you were doing the International Baccalaureate, so I thought I should pay a visit

This year I face the choice; A-levels or IB. Do you mind telling me your oppinion of the IB course?
The IB diploma appeals to me as it would allow me to study in Germany afterwards, why did you choose it?

One assumes you can already speak at least some German. Be warned, if you do German B at Higher Level, which I recommend if you're proceeding to Germany, you'll find that it is very difficult. But it's worth the effort _if_ you get a good grade at the end.

I think. I haven't got that far yet.

As to why I did the IB? Hmm... well, firstly my sister had done it so that was an incentive because I'd seen how good it was. Also I thought A Levels were stupid, and I still do, even the revised A Level system which is of course even stupider. As befits most things the current Uk government has done.

Mr Cynic might disagree with me on that last point. We've already discussed it...

I did the IB because you get to do lots of subjects to a high level, there's lots of stress and universities love it. Because of the wide range of subjects you have to do you find that IB mathematicians and scientists are also capable of writing an intelligible essay and speaking at least three words of a foreign language, as well as ten or twelve of their own, something some A Level students I know find quite difficult to do. And one of the words they do know is of course "f**k". But they can't spell it. Since they never do their own homework this does not become a problem for them.

I may be exaggerating slightly...

IB English students and historians etc can also understand enough maths and science to be able to cope with the science they need to do at Uni (esp. the history ones like my sister (oops - she's watching me type and she says she's now an Archaeology student, having defected. This of course exposes her to much more science and pubs))

So the IB is a good thing to do. But may I offer some tips:

a) go to a school which does the subjects you want to do
b) write your extended essay so you can hand it in BEFORE it has to be posted to the examiner. You do get about 18 month's notice so this shouldn't be too hard. For some reason some people still don't manage it though.
c) same goes for World Literature assignments.
d) don't skive too many World Lit lessons as it is actually part of your native language course. Many people do not realise this and their grades suffer as a result.
e) do your language orals as soon as the chance arrives.
f) WRITE UP ALL YOUR SCIENCE PRACTICALS AND DON'T LOSE THEM or you'll be in the same mess I am in.
g) don't get your tongue pierced two days before the final english and german orals, because it WILL be at its most swollen just as you need to be able to speak clearly. A friend of mine did this. We always suspected that he was an idiot. Now we have proof.
h) and finally, enjoy yourself, if you can

If that hasn't put you off, enjoy the IB!