Mandiloquence Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 A few of my friends are moving down from HL to SL Math in September. Our teachers have assured them that if they don't need the class (because they have more than 3 HLs, or because of their potential career path) it's a good move. The labs are much easier, there's less to learn, and they'll have a head start on next year's SL material by a couple of topics.However it probably varies a lot from school to school. I'd talk to your teachers as much as you can about it.There are labs in math?! Wow, I didn't know that.And I agree, talk to your teachers because the order in which they teach topics is very important. If you've only covered HL material in your math class, then moving down to SL might not be such a good idea. But if you've covered the SL topics, then moving down might be a good choice. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeRed15 Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 I would say don't stick with four. Unless you really need the HL's it's just unnecessary workload. You should try to pick courses that you can score high on. Then again, the final decision is up to you. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozza_55 Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 i would def drop a science, it would reduce the workload alot!! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deissi Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 There are labs in math?! Wow, I didn't know that.She means the IA portfolio, some schools just use different names for the IA Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yodude888 Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 There are usually 3HL and 3SL for a reason! People (like me) struggle enough just with that... there's no point taking on a 4th HL. Unis generally only expect 3 anyway Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zefar Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 If you say u'd rather move Biology down, then do so, it will decrease the workload by alot. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeHits Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Personally, I don't see much gain from taking four HLs. It won't make you stand out from all the other university applicants. But having a high mark will. So I advice you to maximize your mark by dropping a HL to SL. Or do what I do. I'm doing the SL exam for Bio but I'm in the HL class so I can learn more but not have the added stress of having to worry about things like the Krebs cycle and other nuisances Bio HL students have to endure. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ib_slave Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Unless the university of your choice absolutely requires that you take those 4 subjects at HL, it's pretty much pointless to do so. Although colleges might take the difficulty of your chosen subjects into consideration, in the end, only your predicted/final grades will matter. You might be at a disadvantage when you are compared to a student with 3 HLs but with a 5 point difference in your final IB grade. Good luck anyway! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereoisomer Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 I was originally going to take all 3 sciences (chem bio physics) plus chinese at HL.My chem teacher told me I wouldn't be able to liveSo um i've decided to drop Physics back to SLRemember the number of HL's you take doesn't really matter. What really matters is your overall mark.Don't give yourself any unnecessary workload! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee =3 Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 i know this is redundant.. but are 4 HLs REALLY too much?i'm the kind of person who tends to take on a lot just for the sake of it..+ i'm really indecisive.. so i dunno which HL to drop+ i'm doing the HL course in most of the subjects so why not do the HL IB?is there anybody who is in favour of doing 4 HLs and has actually good arguments to support that so that i can feel less bad for doing 4 HLs (and wondering WHY we're not allowed to do 5?!) THANKS!B Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneyfaery Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 is there anybody who is in favour of doing 4 HLs and has actually good arguments to support that so that i can feel less bad for doing 4 HLs (and wondering WHY we're not allowed to do 5?!)I wish I was as crazy as you. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 I think it would be okay to take non-academic subject such as Visual Arts as the 4th HL. It would show your potential and some universities in the States actually prefer a strong background of Arts. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeBlake Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 i know this is redundant.. but are 4 HLs REALLY too much?i'm the kind of person who tends to take on a lot just for the sake of it..+ i'm really indecisive.. so i dunno which HL to drop+ i'm doing the HL course in most of the subjects so why not do the HL IB?is there anybody who is in favour of doing 4 HLs and has actually good arguments to support that so that i can feel less bad for doing 4 HLs (and wondering WHY we're not allowed to do 5?!) THANKS!Bokay, i actually have four HLs and i am keeping all of them...call me crazy...but i chose to stay that wayat first i had some doubts about dropping Chem HL...but no i settled a decisionmy reason?universities in Canada has a system for IB...not sure about the other countries though...if you get a 6 or higher in a science or math, you can skip 101, meaning first year because IB gives you the 8 credits required for first year...if you get a 5 or higher in the rest of the subjects, you can skip 101 as well...so basically, i have four HLs, and i'm going into University of BC Arts department, so the first year courese are like, ENglish 101, geography/history/canadian history etc, and a lab science (there was two other subjects i forgot what they were)...if i can get a 6 in chem, i don't even have to bother with the lab science, and if i get 5 in my other three HLs, i only have to take one course in first year...even if i get like a 5 in chem HL, it will be so much easier for me in the class with labs and material...anyway, that's my long reason for taking four HLs Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee =3 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 yeah i guess.. like i think other unis distinguished whether u did sl or hl, when u talked on an individual course basis.. i.e. when u look at the credits u'd get for doing ib, it'd apply if you had over 5 or 6 in HL or something..i THINK anyways..i should check again.. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roseadage Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 Well, like everyone's said, the total IB points is what really matters for college admissions, but having more HLs means you get more uni credits later (at most institutions anyway - if you don fairly well in your HLs). It's not an *unmanageable* thing. Doing 4 HLs definitely taught me to manage my time better. =) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
whispoffrost Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 i originally had four higher levels... but then the work load got to much and i realised that i didn't need to do four and i rather do well in the other three Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starz Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 from my sourcesall they look at is POINTSso take the subjects that will get you an easy 7AND depending on what you want to do in uni, those subjects should be at HL, uni's do look at thatfor e.g. Imperial colledge, for medicinethey need HL science and a math or another sciencechem has to be HLetc.so yeh Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
icecoldstar Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Simple answer, don't.Just don't do anything that stupid. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hikaridesuka Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Then if you find it too hard, you can always drop one.Take the four. But you may not be able to drop one. Some schools have a policy that do not allow you to drop any of the tests because they make students sign a contract (it's because of budgeting and cost of tests...)I'm sure you already made up your mind by now, though Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unperfect Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Taking for levels is worth it if you aren't sure exactly what to do, and you could also consider taking 7 subjects too, what I did.However, i quickly dropped Ar HL to take Bio HL, meaning that I still had 4 HL(Math, Physics, Bio, History) ad for the moment, because of the free hours i got from dropping Art, i can definitely say that 4 HL are possible and worth it, because some unis(UCL as an example if i remember) that came to visit our school said that they favorized IB students with 4 HL, it certainly doesn't mean that you won't get in with only 3, but it gives you a "little" plus. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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