How IB Students Are Preparing for IB Tests

By Isaiah Trumbull (Senior)

Seniors and some juniors are preparing for IB exams this spring. There has been a marked rise in registration for the tests.

Thirty students are sitting for High Level (HL) English and 19 are sitting for HL History. The electives have varying enrollment. Twenty two students are sitting for Film while three are sitting for visual arts and three are sitting for psychology. A total of ten students–four seniors and six juniors–are sitting for the various math exams. For the languages, 10 students are sitting for Spanish, one student is sitting for French, and one student is sitting for Japanese. In the sciences nine students are sitting for Chemistry and one student is sitting for Sports Science.

This has been a remarkable increase in participation compared to last year’s seniors. Last year, 13 students sat for a total of 74 tests, with only one student attempting the full diploma. This year, the number of tests has nearly doubled, with 141 exams scheduled. The number of diploma candidates has risen to eight. These numbers reflect an increased interest in the international baccalaureate program, and mean that many of this year’s seniors will be receiving valuable credit in college.

Seniors interested in a higher education are encouraged to take the Higher Level exams offered, as they give credits for most colleges. As the testing period approaches, students seem excited by the exams. An Obama senior says, “It’s a lot of work and difficult to juggle, but it is very rewarding. And with the college credit, it is basically free money.”

Although Obama Academy has yet to return to its pre pandemic high of IB engagement, when the majority of seniors sat for exams, it is clear that testing levels are on the rise.