IB exams have recently wrapped up at Sequoia. Many times the true scale of IB exams can go underappreciated. 

“Some of our seniors, especially those in the diploma program, have as many as 13 days of exams. Which is a lot when you’re tired and you still have to go to sports, you still have to go to your job, you still have homework to do for your other classes. So it’s a lot by the end, they’re pretty darn tired,” IB coordinator Elise Niño-Sears said.

Students at Sequoia can send their IB test scores to universities to potentially earn credits before they even enroll. However, for this to happen, students must score above certain standards on their exams. The repercussions of these exam scores can lead to stressful testing conditions. 

“For most students, it is their very first time taking a big college level exam. And there’s a lot of talk about how stressful it’s going to be. And so students can get a little intimidated,” Niño-Sears said.

Despite these stresses, Sequoia students are typically well prepared to take their exams.

“This IB exam is a weight that your teacher has prepared you all year to lift and you’ve been practicing. It’s probably going to be hard work, and you’re going to sweat some, but you’re going to be able to lift it. And you’re going to feel good on the other side after that workout,” Niño-Sears said.

This preparation is a multifaceted approach, preparing students in a holistic way so that they are prepared for exam day.

“So I think our teachers do a really good job of preparing students for the exam, both in terms of what will be on the exam, like the educational material, but also in terms of what to expect, what the exam paper will look like, what the font will look like,” Niño-Sears said.

Although IB exams are stressful by nature, they are a helpful indicator of how much you understand the IB course’s material, and are good practice for exams in college.