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