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Participating in the IB preparatory course can be quite demanding. Students are required to study at least six subjects, engage in extracurricular activities, and write papers, all of which contribute to their overall score.

Within a span of two years, students have to complete assignments while also considering university applications. It's no surprise that some find the workload overwhelming. Hence, effective time management is crucial for success.

Though the course spans two years, it effectively lasts just over one.

In my next few columns, I will break down the four semesters.

First semester: September to December

Obviously, students need time to adjust to the IB Diploma Program initial but the first semester is crucial.

Given the intense nature of the IB curriculum, the workload progressively increases throughout the year. If you struggle to keep up with the pace of studies early on, catching up later can be quite challenging. So it's paramount for you to strive to keep up with the course progress to avoid falling behind.

At this stage, you are encouraged to seek help when needed, such as consulting teachers, viewing online tutorials, or seeking tutoring. This enables you to catch up swiftly and establish a solid foundation.

Moreover, balancing six subjects can be challenging, and you may even encounter bottlenecks.

If you're struggling to manage your study after trying various strategies, reconsider your choice of subjects.

The best time to address this issue is during the first semester. The earlier you resolve this issue, the easier it will be to catch up on studying a new subject.

Persisting with unsuitable subjects could adversely affect your final grades and university chances.

Additionally, subject selection plays a critical role in shaping your future academic path and can influence university acceptance. For instance, if you're aiming for a career in medicine, chemistry and biology are essential. If you find you have not chosen these subjects or if your progress in them is unsatisfactory, make decisive and appropriate adjustments promptly.

Establish your priorities in the first semester to start strategizing for long-term university goals. Changing subjects later in the IB course is not recommended due to the challenges and time constraints.

Some schools allow students to take seven subjects initially, providing flexibility to drop a subject if a subject proves unsuitable later on. In such cases, you can try out more subjects before coming to a final decision.

Alternatively, you might opt for four High-Level subjects and two Standard-Level subjects to begin with.

If you encounter difficulties, move one of the High-Level subjects to Standard-Level to potentially improve your average grade.

However, these solutions depend on individual school policies and typically are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to study abroad, you might also want to prepare for the SAT or IELTS.