Easy way out?

[TidusBlade]

Hey not exactly new here, been lurking around for quite some time since I haven't started IB yet, doing my IGCSE's at the moment, but just submitted by choices for IB1 and have got a concern that my choices might seem a little easy or something and therefore universities could look at my diploma and think that I have chosen easy subjects for HL and decide to reject me in favour of another candidate who has chosen harder HL's...

Anyways my choices are:

Arabic B HL (I am fluent in Arabic but the highest level of Arabic my school offers is B HL)

Business and Management HL

Computer Science HL

Physics HL/SL (I'm starting it as HL but gonna drop it to SL, just taking it as HL in case I *might* drop B&M instead)

English A1 SL

Math SL

I read that universities only look at my HL subjects so if they take a look at for example, Arabic, Business and Computer Science, could they get the impression that I really only took 2 HL's and think lower of me?

Just wondering since in my opinion, taking Business HL, Computer Science HL and Physics HL looks a lot better on a diploma than my current HL choices...

Any tips would be appreciated, Thanks

Edited April 21, 2009 by TidusBlade

[Vvi]

What universities are you talking about: British or US? It also depends on what you want to study in university. Maybe English HL would be a better option than SL, as it proves proficiency.

Taking a language at HL doesn't make you seem less smart. Many universities apprecaite it (I'm taking French B at HL).

[TidusBlade]

Thanks for the reply VVi

Well I'm planning to take something closely related to Computer Science/Engineering in uni, and it's most likely going to be in Canada or the US.

As for taking English HL, I'm not really interested in English but don't want to take it at A2 so SL wouldn't be so bad, plus, I doubt something like Computer Science requires English HL

I know that taking a language at HL does not make you look dumb, but wouldn't something like Physics HL look better than Arabic B HL, especially since Arabic is my native language...

[Mike]

Those classes are good for studying in the US. But, all Ivy Leagues and most high end Unis in the US will only accept 7s on HLs only. And even then they get you out of basic classes. Taking another language at A1 HL that is not your native makes you look amazing. It shows a deep understanding of the language and that you have a lot of expirience with it..which will be good for English in the US or Canada.

[Bend444]

i think it really depends on what you want to study, if you want to do anything mathematical such as engineering, then i recommend physics at HL and maths

depending on where you want to go, i do not think that they will look down on you for doing those HLs but if you really want to make an impression, since you are fluent in arabic (easy HL seven) , you could apply for four HL subjects- then they will be impressed hah. it really depends on what you want to do

[moneyfaery]

Well I'm planning to take something closely related to Computer Science/Engineering in uni, and it's most likely going to be in Canada or the US.

Although it's not absolutely necessary, I would suggest Maths and Physics HL in lieu of B&M and Arabic HL. These courses will give you a head start in univ (especially since you can get transfer credits if you score high enough) and are more 'rigorous' - so might look better.

[TidusBlade]

Those classes are good for studying in the US. But, all Ivy Leagues and most high end Unis in the US will only accept 7s on HLs only. And even then they get you out of basic classes. Taking another language at A1 HL that is not your native makes you look amazing. It shows a deep understanding of the language and that you have a lot of expirience with it..which will be good for English in the US or Canada.

Well English is the only language offered at A1 so taking a non-native language at A1 is sort of impossible in my school My English is good enough imo, it even replaced Arabic as my native language I guess.

i think it really depends on what you want to study, if you want to do anything mathematical such as engineering, then i recommend physics at HL and maths

depending on where you want to go, i do not think that they will look down on you for doing those HLs but if you really want to make an impression, since you are fluent in arabic (easy HL seven) , you could apply for four HL subjects- then they will be impressed hah. it really depends on what you want to do

Well I'm not really into Engineering, more Computer Science than Computer Engineering actually, so don't see the point of Math HL, although I'm sort of taking Physics HL for pure interest and I might be using it later...

As for taking 4 HL's, I did consider that but I always thought unis didn't care and just looked at 3 since IB recommends 3 HL's?

Although it's not absolutely necessary, I would suggest Maths and Physics HL in lieu of B&M and Arabic HL. These courses will give you a head start in univ (especially since you can get transfer credits if you score high enough) and are more 'rigorous' - so might look better.

Grabbing Math HL is not really in my interest, I'm good at math but not interested in pursuing it as far as Math HL

And doing those choices means dropping Computer Science to SL, which is the last thing I want to do really

[moneyfaery]

Grabbing Math HL is not really in my interest, I'm good at math but not interested in pursuing it as far as Math HL

And doing those choices means dropping Computer Science to SL, which is the last thing I want to do really

If you don't want to drop CS HL, fair enough. I'm guessing you're leaning more towards Comp Sci at univ then than Engineering? Since Engineering programs are pretty math-intense. Maybe you could just keep Phys at HL like previously suggested and see how you do.

Edit: Whoops, can't read. You are more into Comp Sci than Eng.

Edited April 22, 2009 by Irene

[Vvi]

British universities don't care if you've taken 3 or 4 HL's, to them it's the same. But in the US, HL subjects are worth more credits and you can skip more classes with them if you get a good grade in IB. Which means you graduate early and spend less money on paying for college. So it's IB students going to the US that should consider taking 4 HL's. The IB doesn't recommend it because it's more work for you, but it may pay off.

[TidusBlade]

Ah ok thanks for the replies guys

I'll see how 4 HL's goes after a few weeks of trying it and if I can't keep up I'll drop one of them.

//EDIT: Seems that no university I searched around for gives first year credit for Computer Science/Engineering courses, even if you get 7 in Computer Science, so I guess I'll see if there are any benefits other than first year credit...

Edited April 24, 2009 by TidusBlade

[momo521]

so someone at my school was sick for paper 1 and 2 of History HL and then took paper 3. How is his test graded? does anyone know? does he automatically epic fail?

And i was sick today for History HL Paper 3...but i showed up and left 50 mins into the test and was dismissed by our school nurse. And our IB Coordinator made note of it on my test. Will IBO take this into consideration.

(sorry if this counts as IB exam discussion)

[Tilia]

I think you have to retake the exam if your illness affects your grade, but I don't really know.

[Mahuta ♥]

I would say if you cant take your exam then you'll probably be given your predicted.

This not really exam discussion so don't worry.

[deissi]

You'll never be given your predicted grade - even in the case that IB loses your papers.

If your friend has really been so sick that he has a doctor's note saying he couldn't do the tests, the final award committee for that subject will consider his case individually. Should they decide to still award grade even though he missed papers, he will be graded only on his performance in the IA and P3. Otherwise, he will receive no grade (grade 'N') for the subject and will have to retake.

As for your case, I'm sorry, but it's very unlikely that you will be compensated for your illness, especially taking into account that it was not a doctor escorting you out, but a nurse.

Also, I believe that the IB coordinator should contact IB Cardiff instead of leaving a note on the test (which will be sent to the examiner, not Cardiff), as the examiner cannot use discretion when grading the paper, it'll have to be IB Cardiff doing that.

[Vvi]

I would't count on getting a reprieve, 2 years ago one guy in my school had food poisoning and had to go to hospital because he was throwing up. He missed his Paper 3 Chemistry exam and the IB didn't accept the doctor's note. He got an N for Paper 3, and was marked on the basis of his Paper 1 and 2 (he ended up getting a 4 or a 5, even though he got a 0 on Paper 3).

[bohemian03]

I don't think it's worth it though because a lot of people thinks that taking English A1 HL and Math HL will get you into better schools but that is not true. It really just depends on what grades you get in the classes you take. Besides, this is IB and a full diploma shows that you've challenged yourself.

In terms of 4 HLs, unless you really want to get out of basic classes then go for it but if not, why not just stick to 3 HLs? I don't think it's fair though.... HLs are much harder than some of the AP classes...

[TidusBlade]

Well I've had some time to reconsider and I was talking to another IB student last week with similar choices to mine and yeah, it sounds way harder than I initially thought

I'm thinking of dropping Physics to SL since it seems to be the hardest out of my chosen HL's and I really only picked it out of interest

But then, I got the summer to think about this so hope I've made my mind by then. Thanks for the advice though bohemian

[ozolins]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering when the people doing the exams in November 2009 get to know what grades they got?

[agirl]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering when the people doing the exams in November 2009 get to know what grades they got?

November results are available in January...I asked around and found out that November 2008 exam results were available on January 6th.

PS. Does anyone know of schools that are NOT in the southern hemisphere, ie Europe and the America's, that offer November 2009 exams?

...yea already seriously considering retakes

[Abu]

November results are available in January...I asked around and found out that November 2008 exam results were available on January 6th.

PS. Does anyone know of schools that are NOT in the southern hemisphere, ie Europe and the America's, that offer November 2009 exams?

...yea already seriously considering retakes

There are schools that offer retakes in the Northern Hemisphere, did you ask your school already? There is a school in St Andrews that offers retakes, I know because a friend of mine went there.