The Most Common IB Mistakes Students Make in Year 11
Year 11 mistakes compound by exam time. Here are the top 10 and how to fix them.
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Coasting through Year 11 — IB content is cumulative; Year 12 builds on Year 11
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Choosing subjects for wrong reasons — research actual IB syllabus, not IGCSE assumptions
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Ignoring IAs — they're 20-25% of your grade, start thinking about topics early
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No note system — build structured, searchable notes from day one
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Avoiding hard topics — confront confusion within 48 hours
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Procrastinating CAS — complete 70-80% in Year 11
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Poor time management — use weekly planners, set time limits
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Not reading the syllabus — it tells you exactly what can appear on the exam
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Comparing to others — track your own progress, not classmates'
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Forgetting habits matter — Year 11 grades don't count, but Year 11 habits determine Year 12 results
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