IB May Exams: What to Do in the Final 2 Weeks

The IB May exam session is here. This is not the time for last-minute cramming — it's the time for consolidation and precision.

Three things that actually move the needle in the final two weeks.

1. Switch from studying to retrieving

The students who do best aren't the ones who read the most — they're the ones who test themselves the most. Close the textbook. Open a past paper. Write out definitions without looking. Retrieval practice is dramatically more effective than re-reading highlighted notes. If your child is still colour-coding at this stage, redirect them immediately.

2. Target the mark scheme, not just the content

IB examiners award marks against a specific rubric. A student can know a topic deeply and still lose marks by using the wrong terminology or structure. Every practice answer in these final two weeks should be marked against the official mark scheme — not just checked against notes. This matters most for extended response questions in Economics, History, and English.

3. Protect sleep above everything else

Sleep is not a reward for studying — it is a study tool. Memory consolidation happens during sleep. A student who gets seven to eight hours will perform measurably better than one who stayed up late on the same material. Three things to stop: starting new material (it crowds out what's consolidated), comparing revision plans with friends (it's never useful), and treating every subject equally (prioritise what has the most marks at stake and the weakest performance).

A note for parents

The most useful thing you can do right now is not add pressure — it's remove friction. Keep the home calm. Make sure your child has decent food, natural light, and a clear workspace. Trust the preparation that's already been done.

At Klick Education, we support IB students throughout the year — not just at exam time. If your child is heading into Year 2 and you'd like to think about structured support, book a free consultation.

Don’t let exams overwhelm you with these ready tips.

IB五月大考：最后两周该做什么（与不该做什么）

IB五月大考来了。这不是临阵抱佛脚的时候，而是巩固与精准发力的阶段。

以下三件事，真正能在最后两周拉开分数。

1. 从"看书"切换到"回忆"

表现最好的学生不是读得最多的，而是自测最多的。合上课本，打开历届试题，凭记忆默写定义。

主动回忆的效果远远超过反复阅读荧光笔划过的笔记。如果孩子现在还在涂颜色做笔记，立刻让他停下来。

2. 瞄准评分标准，而非只盯着内容

IB考官按评分细则给分。一个学生可能内容掌握得很扎实，却因术语或结构错误而失分。最后两周的每一份练习答案，都应对照官方mark scheme批改，而不是只对笔记。

这一点对经济、历史、英文的长答题尤其关键。

3. 把睡眠放在第一位

睡眠不是奖励，而是学习工具。记忆在睡眠中巩固。睡满七到八小时的学生，表现明显优于熬夜复习同样内容的学生。

三件该停止的事：开始新内容（会挤掉已巩固的知识）、和同学比较复习计划（毫无帮助）、平均分配各科时间（应优先分数权重大且最弱的科目）。

给家长的话

此刻你最该做的，不是施压，而是减少摩擦。让家里保持安静，确保孩子有像样的饭菜、自然光与整洁的书桌。相信前面已经做好的准备。

在Klick Education，我们全年支持IB学生，而非只在考试季。如果孩子即将升入IB第二年，欢迎预约免费咨询。