Keystone Tutors Blog
Sign up to our newsletter to be kept up to date about our latest news and offerings.
Should my child take A Levels or the IB?
When it comes to deciding on the best educational path for students post GCSE, the choice between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a topic of debate for many families. Both qualifications offer unique approaches to learning and present opportunities for children to excel academically at school and beyond.
Webinar: A Level vs IB (Inc. GCSE vs. IGCSE)
Keystone’s Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Jenny McGowan, Keystone's Director of Asia, to discuss the similarities and differences between IGCSEs and GCSEs as well as A Levels and the IB. They also covered how students might choose subjects to study at the different levels.
Guide to IB Revision Techniques
When to begin IB revision? IB exams begin as early as late April for some subjects, and your revision perhaps begins in earnest with your mock exams, which generally take place early in your final year of IB study. Revising for mocks will give you an opportunity to test what it is like to revise course material you’ve already covered, and rehearse some of the revision techniques that will become so crucial later on in the year.
Guide to IB Geography
Geography is, in its broadest sense, the study of the Earth. The study of the natural environment is referred to as physical geography, and humanity’s interactions with the environment are referred to as human geography. Overall, the study of geography helps us understand the world we live in and the different ways that people and places are connected.
Guide to IB English
As part of the IB Diploma Programme, students take at least one subject from studies in language and literature.This means that for all students, some form of “IB English” is mandatory. Depending on the student, this can either be an exciting prospect or a daunting one.For those students who find English to be a chore or a necessary evil, may I begin by offering a piece of general advice: see if you can reframe your way of thinking about the subject so that English isn’t just a box to tick.
How to get a 7 in IB Economics
The IB Economics Diploma Programme at Higher Level is a rigorous part of the IB. Like any subject, it is difficult if you don’t get to grips with the basics. Below, I’ll briefly outline the course structure, followed by a focus on the final exams and the internal assessment. I’ll share some revision techniques and advice on achieving the top grade.
Guide to IB ToK (Theory of Knowledge)
What is IB ToK?Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is one of the core components of the IB Diploma Programme. It is mandatory for all students and the ToK requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the IB Diploma.The ToK course provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on “how we know” what we claim to know.
Guide to IB Extended Essay
What is the extended essay for IB?The extended essay is a compulsory element of the International Baccalaureate for any subject group. The components are an essay of 3500 to 4000 words and a viva voce, and these are completed over the course of a year. The key focus of the extended essay is to allow students to develop research skills into a topic of their choosing, and extend their engagement beyond the school syllabus.
