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Review Types of IB Assessments Before First Course

By U.S. News & World Report

International Baccalaureate exams have a number of features that distinguish them from other tests that high school students may take. But earning a much-coveted six or seven score on the exams depends on understanding what you will face, as well as how to address each type of exam problem.

The best time to familiarize yourself with IB exams is before you take your first IB class and before you must meet the demands of this advanced coursework.

In a previous piece, we looked at the IB assessments more broadly, but now let’s discuss six of the assessment styles you may encounter on an external assessment. Note that this is not a comprehensive list and that you may encounter other forms, including text-response questions and translations, depending on your IB course curriculum.

[Read four common questions, answers about IB assessments.]

— Essays: These are the core of IB assessments. An essay is a logically constructed piece of writing that often presents a persuasive argument. Length can vary from a page to several pages to the 4,000-word extended essay.

The end-of-year exam for IB Language A: Literature, for instance, includes multiple essays that require students to carefully analyze literary works, all within the span of several hours. The extended essay, in contrast, is a single piece of writing that students complete over a period of time that is longer than a single exam. Note that the extended essay is part of the IB Diploma Programme; students enrolled in single IB courses will not need to complete it.

Perhaps the best advice for doing well on essays is to plan before you begin writing. Even on timed essays, you should have an outline before you start.

Clearly stated reasoning is typically much more valuable than beautiful prose, so focus on clarity and conciseness. There are many publicly available IB essay rubrics, such as this example from InThinking. Study these before attempting your first external assessment.

[Get more information on AP and IB diploma programs.]

— Structured problems: These are similar to essays in that they require the creation of longer pieces of text that address a topic in some detail. They differ, though, in that the focus is the your ability to explain this topic, rather than your attempt to persuade.

One example of a structured problem from IB Geography HL is: “A consultant is preparing a flood-prevention plan for a town situated close to a large river. Apart from rainfall and run-off, discuss the other geographical information that would be useful.” This is the third step of a three-part problem.

For this structured problem, you are not arguing an opinion but instead displaying your technical knowledge. You must demonstrate that you understand flood prevention.

Also for structured problems, be aware of what you are being asked to discuss. In this example, you can see that each part prompts you to speak about very specific information. Follow the directions closely, and note words like “describe” and “examine” when composing your response.

— Case-study questions: You will encounter these questions o n the IB Computer Science HL external assessment as well as in other IB exams.

For IB Computer Science HL, in advance of the exam, you might be provided with information on the application of computer science to a given field. On test day, you would be expected to then demonstrate a deep understanding of that information and to apply your relevant computer science knowledge to the case study.

Much like essay questions, conciseness, logic and organization are paramount in answering case-study questions. In addition, you will need to be very specific, since you will have had ample time to consider the case study at hand.

[Discover five ways to prepare for IB success.]

— Data-response questions: These questions ask you to interpret data based on the material you’ve learned in the IB course. Here is an example of a data-response question for the IB Economics SL course.

In this example, you are given a series of data points and then asked to answer specific questions related to those data points. Be sure to draw on the breadth of the course syllabus when formulating your answers.

In the case of the IB Economics SL course, you have one-and-a-half hours to create your answer, and that answer counts for a full 40 percent of your grade in the course. Note that in some cases, the questions specify the use of diagrams when composing your answers.

— Short-response questions: These questions, as the name implies, are shorter than essays. Science assessments may include a number of short-response questions, though these questions may appear on assessments for other IB courses.

In this Chemistry HL sample test, for instance, one question requests that you, “Explain why depressants are sometimes described as anti-depressants.”

Although these require shorter answers, you still need to write precise and thoughtful answers. Practice writing short responses to questions that are raised in class. This is a better form of preparation than simply rereading your notes.

— Multiple-choice questions: Unlike other exams, multiple-choice questions are rarely used in IB assessment. Biology SL includes 30 multiple-choice questions on Paper 1, for example, but none on Papers 2 and 3.

Like short-response questions, focus on exactly what is being asked in a multiple-choice question and ensure your answer addresses all the elements in the question.

Beyond familiarizing yourself with the various IB assessment styles, you can also read in-depth material online that addresses the philosophy of IB assessments as well as material that lays out assessment goals and criteria for each of the three core elements and six subject groups. These documents may prove useful as you prepare for your first IB course.

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Review Types of IB Assessments Before First Course originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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