I'm a former IB student, so I guess I can tell you what it's like to do the IB diploma.

The IB is a very rigorous pre-U course, so you have to be prepared to put in a lot of hard work.

Subjects:
You take 6 subjects, 3 at Higher Level and 3 at Standard Level. Higher level subjects are obviously more difficult and you should really choose these subjects based on what you feel comfortable with or related to what you intend to do in university.
Of the 6 subjects, you have to do a language A1 (Language for native speakers), a second language, mathematics/computer science, experimental science, individuals and societies and arts.

I did not do arts. Instead, I replaced it with another experimental science. These are the subjects that I did:

Higher Level:
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry

Standard Level:
English A1
Mandarin ab initio (mandarin for beginners)
Information Technology

Apart from the 6 subjects you have to do additional 3 components which form the core of the IB. The 3 components are: the Extended Essay, CAS and Theory of Knowledge.

Extended Essay: A 4000 word research based essay on your own topic choice on any subject (normally higher level subject) that you are currently studying. I did an extended essay on the Catastrophe Theory and Human Behaviour (Mathematics).

CAS: Creativity, Action and Service. Minimum of 150 hours (50 hours per category). For example in Service, I helped out in the British Heart Foundation as a voluntary worker for a week for 6 hours a day. For Action, you need to play a sport and set a goal/target to achieve at the end of the year. In my case, I went to the gym and set a target to run at a specific time. For Creativity, be involved in extra projects when you're free. For that, I attended a business conference, did a mathematics website with questions for junior school students in my school, etc.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): You basically challenge everything in this subject. Think of philosophy and debating. That is what you have to do most of the time, and you have to write essays like "Is History a Science?", and questioning a lot of matters. I had a very good teacher (In the first year) for this subject and she really made this subject rather interesting. At the end of the course, you have to do a presentation and an essay which will be assessed.

In total you have 7 subjects to deal with (The TOK is pretty much a subject in itself), with CAS and extended essay running throughout the whole year. It's almost impossible not to be busy during the IB year. Just avoid subjects like Information Technology because in my opinion it is rubbish. Do something like Business Studies instead, I think it is more beneficial.

If you're struggling in your English at the moment and you intend to do English A1 (English for native speakers), then I suggest that you brush up your English skills quick. You have to write 1500 words minimum (to get a good mark really, even though it is not explicitly stated) essays in 1 hour 30 minutes, so there isn't much time to fool around . I chose the English A1 because I did not have any formal English qualification (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), and UK universities acknowledge the English A1 as a formal English qualification.

For me, I did the IB straight after PMR. I did not really finish SPM (Only did SPM for 5 months and then flew to the UK), so the IB was absolute hell for me . I'm just glad that I survived it without failing and got a place in a decent London university. Currently doing Computer Science in my final year.

As for the qualification itself, it is widely recognised by major universities and organisations. So you would want to aim big, really. Despite my lack of SPM/GCSEs, I still manage to get called up for interviews by top institutions such as Oxford, or big companies such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and IBM. (Even though I didn't make it to any of them... the multiple assessments + numerous interviews were just too tough ) Having said that, I've already secured a job in a MNC based in London.... so this speaks volume about the qualification itself. (Of course my university degree/results also plays a huge role, and the added advantage of CAS can show your prospective employers that apart from studies you are also active in co-curricular activities)

Work hard, and you'll reap the success. If you can survive the IB, university should be a cakewalk for you. And I mean it, because the IB is that tough.

EDIT - Here's a link for you to read more about the course:
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/index.cfm

This post has been edited by atzn: Mar 25 2007, 07:48 PM