The IB. EEs, IAs, IOCs, TOK, CAS and another million acronyms. This is the most stressful 2 years of your life and if you don't have a breakdown at least once, you're doing it wrong. But to avoid that, here are some tips from an IB survivor to make the journey a little less painful.

1. DO NOT procrastinate.

This is of course much much easier said than done but if you let assignments slip by, you will have to pull all nighters. Write those Written Assignments, finish those IAs and please please write that EE.

2. Choosing subjects that you’re interested in.

Although all subjects have a tremendous workload, taking subjects you are actually interested in and like makes a huge difference in terms of motivation. Although I hated memorization, I was genuinely interested in biology. This made cramming random facts and definitions much easier. You become so much more motivated to learn and the workload honestly doesn’t seem that bad.

3. Work during the summer.

The first semester of senior year is basically hell. College applications, infinite essays, IAs are due, TOK essay and presentation, extended essay and much more. Writing a draft of your EE or revising old content goes a long way. Eventually you will have to learn 2 years worth of content so brushing up of what you’ve already learnt is always a good idea.

4. Get feedback.

Writing is a huge part of the IB. You have to write essays, internal assessments, extended essays and much more. Writing effectively is also a tough skill to master. Writing drafts and getting feedback from peers or teachers is always a good idea to ensure that you’re writing concisely and effectively.

5. Get organized.

There are a million things to do and not enough time to do them. Buy a calendar and write down when you have tests or assignments due. This will help you visualize how much time you have left to complete them. You can also plan on how much time you will need to study or to write an essay. This will help calm your nerves and hopefully get everything done in time.