only 2 weeks and IB is "too hard"

[scattycow]

My eldest has just started at a boarding school and is feeling very settled but is already complaining that IB is too hard and wants to switch to A level.

More specifically, its Spanish HL, and Maths SL that are causing the difficulties. The school does offer A levels but she has been told she cannot switch (despite being told at interview time that it would be possible to switch if the wrong path had been selected) I haven't had the chance to speak to the school as yet (just heard last night that she cannot switch, but the reasons are unknown).

Do you think more time needs to be given ? Does a child know quite quickly whether something is right for them or not ? Is she making too hasty a decision ?

My worry is that she will have to suck it up and carry on, and she will become miserable and unproductive. Then that benefits neither the school not the child.

HAs anyone been in the same postiton with their child ? I would really like her to "stick with it" but certainly not the detriment of a happy boarding school life. And at what point does it become unbearable ?? and then presumably too late to find an alternative school ??

What the hell do it I do ??? Hate being so far away at times like this.

[NotjustaMummy]

No direct experience of IB, but I started an ALevel in French. I knew within a week it was the wrong choice for me despite a* at GCSE. The school forced me to persevere and then after half a term, played the too long to switch card, leaving me an A-level down. If she wants to switch, I'd suggest it happen as soon as possible.

[dexter73]

I started doing an IB when I was at college and knew pretty much straight away that it wasn't for me, so I started on A levels, but I had to change colleges as the one I was at only did IB. I would ring the school.

[Xpatmama88]

Doing IB, you need to take 3 HL subjects, and 3 SL subjects, and need to include Maths and a foreign language, so if she struggles in Maths, it will be difficult to get a good grade even in SL Maths, and even more difficult to excel in High Level Spanish, if that is not the right subject for her.
By taking A level, normally take 3 to 4 subjects, she can drop Maths and Spanish concentrating her other 4 stronger subjects.
At the end of the date, it depends on what she wants to study in University whether any particular subjects are required for the application.
Talk to the school as soon as possible, quicker you get that sorted the better, you don't want her to loss confident in herself, especially in a boarding school environment.

[tywysogesgymraeg]

My DD was struggling with A level choices - the school said she'd know within 3-4 weeks whether she'd made the right choice.

I suspect that they want to promote the IB as a better alternative to A Levels, and need numbers. People dropping out doesn't look good.

IB is a great course, for the right kids. It is not necessarliy harder than A Levels, but there are more subjects, therefore more work and less free time. Also, it doesn't follow naturally from GCSEs - its designed to follow on from the middle years IB programme, so GCSE students find it very "different". Some love it, some hate it.

Call the school, or better, go there - and insist that DD changes courses. We're only a few weeks into term, it's not too late.

[Moominmammacat]

We have a friend who switched from IB after a few weeks because it was too hard. Got four A* and an A at A2 and is now at Oxford. As tywysogesgymraeg says, IB is great for the right kids.

[secretscwirrels]

I think you have to be very careful about choosing IB. The step up from GCSE to A level is huge and that is in a narrow range of subjects. The broad range of IB means that you have to step up in all subjects. It's best for genuine all rounders.
I don't know about private schools but at local state 6th forms they have 6 weeks to decide. At the end of that there are tests and anyone who has made a wrong choice is encouraged to change it while there is still time.
I would act now before she misses too much of the A level curriculum.

[scattycow]

Thank you for all those responses. I am now on the case.

[Cerisier]

If your DD is not going into a STEM course at uni then there is no harm in dropping to Maths Studies instead of SL. Better to get a 6 at MS than a poor score at SL. It is the points that matter.

However if she isn't happy doing IB at all then a swap to A levels should be done ASAP.