IB Maths Prep Course

[nessus]

Does anyone have any direct experience of DC taking a IB Maths preparation course? Was it beneficial and would you recommend it?

DD will be moving for sixth form to an IB school, having been on the A-Level track for the past 5 years at current school. Presently, she is in the second set (out of 5) for Maths, a firm A candidate who is predicted an A*, though I am fully aware that the new IGCSE grade boundaries has turned all certainty (and letters) on its head...

With a packed summer of sporting competitions not leaving her much downtime, I am reluctant to book her in for a 3 day prep course that may not be all that necessary.

So, wise ones of MN, how difficult is it for a pupil that has not done advanced maths in Yr10/11 to get to grips with the IB maths in the initial stages of Yr 12? DD will be taking maths at SL & physics at HL BTW

I guess I am really wondering if the course would offer a smoother transition. DD is not cowed by maths and I would hate for the first term of IB maths to knock her confidence in anyway

[nessus]

bump

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Surely you don't need prep courses because they teach them what they need to know on the actual course itself?

[nessus]

I think the onus on pupils being expected to have undertaken Additional Maths prior to commencing Lower Sixth is what has me

I will be booking DD in for the course but It would still be great to hear from anyone whose DC joined a IB school at Sixth form

[fatbottomgirl67]

My Dd is doing higher maths for in. She's beencat school since year 7 but plenty of others joined year 13 and she said they've never heard of it. Worth checking with the school to see if it's really necessary. After all GCSE revision it would be nice to get the summer off

[fatbottomgirl67]

Just re-read and she's doing standard not higher which really shouldn't cause issues . I really wouldn't worry unless school say you need to

[Motheroffourdragons]

I know people who have taken the Oxford University revision courses, you can google OSC.
They seem to be very good. And as the IB is a 2 year course, the revision courses can either be done as a revision between the first and the second year, or as a refresher in the Easter before the exams.
The feedback us very positive.

[Crumbs1]

My daughter did standard and found it not much harder than GCSE.

[nessus]

fatbottomgirl67 the letter from the school states that if one chooses not to enrol DC on the prep course he or she will be at no disadvantage and that the department will continue to help in normal Lower Sixth class time the transition to Sixth Form. But the same letter also starts by stating that almost all the students commencing SL & HL Maths will have studied beyond IGCSE level (either Ad Maths or AS modules)...

Motheroffourdragons thanks for the link. Will save that in my trusty resource folder aka gmail draft box!

[nessus]

Crumbs1 that's really interesting to hear. Did you DD enter Sixth Form from a non-IB background? And do you mind me asking what grade she achieved at GCSE?

[Crumbs1]

Rushed went from state comp with non IB to independent boarding sixth form. She got A* at GCSE. Much of the IB was more challenging than A levels comparing her to some of her older siblings but the standard maths was encouraged because it was an almost guaranteed 7.
Chemistry higher was a bit tougher, to say the least but she really enjoyed English and Spanish higher and it set her up well for her degree.

[jeanne16]

Standard Maths at IB is really not a very high level so an A* at GCSE would be fine.

[blueskyinmarch]

My DD1 entered IB having not only not done pre IB, she hadn’t done GCSE’s. As we are in Scotland she had done Standard grades. She is not good at maths and found it all quite a challenge. She did maths studies and still found it hard. DD2 did IB from GCSE/IGCSE and did standard. I don’t think it was a walk in the park but she managed ok.

[nessus]

Thanks for all the thoughts on this. V.useful considerations