How to Write an IB Application Essay

The international baccalaureate (IB) program gives plenty of opportunities to its students to take part into various school and extracurricular activities. The main goal is to set a universal standard to high-school students who live in different countries all around the world. Thus, the transfer between different schools becomes easier. Besides, the skills, knowledge and competences gained during the study are recognized and unified. The IB program is very hard and takes a lot of efforts and time. At any rate, do not expect to pass through it without doing your best. But its advantages are evident. As it is written on the website of the IB organization: “Our four programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.”

Writing an IB application essay is an inevitable part of the application process. If you have decided to apply, then you need to search for more information on the admission process, in order to evaluate your chances for entering the program. The main idea of the essay proves not to be very different from other application essays: you have to tell more about yourself, your personal traits, interests, needs, achievements and future plans. Of course, in contrast with the personal statement required for college admission, here you will not have so many things to say, as you still do not have such a big life experience.

How to write an IB application essay – essential tips

Proficient English

The first thing to work on is your English, especially if this is a foreign language to you. Your level should be pretty high, since the IB program has very high requirements. You must understand academic language, work with abstract concepts, develop hypotheses and prove them. In such a sense, after you have finished the essay, you should hand it over to a specialist to check for grammar and spelling mistakes.

Introduction

Your intro should consist of one paragraph, but it must catch the reader’s attention at once. Try to start your essay in an original manner, without using phrases like “I am George”, “I live in the town of X”, “I am quite interested in your program”, and so forth. You can, for example, refer to an event from the past, the event which has exerted influence on you. You can also use metaphors or allegories here.

Main part

The main part should consist of several paragraphs. Talk about the following:

• why are you attracted by the IB program?
   
• what skills and competencies will you develop while in the program?
   
• how would you contribute to your particular school?
   
• what is the biggest achievement in your life by now?

We suggest using one life event as a main focus of the paper. This should be an event which sheds more light upon your mentality and worldview, the way in which you see the world. Then you should connect it with your needs, interests and skills.

Do not boast

You should keep the balance between self-confidence and lack of self-esteem. Write about facts: your achievements, your interests, and so forth. Phrases like “I deserve to be admitted”, or “I am an appropriate person for your program” do not work here. Your text in general should convince the admission committee that you are really the appropriate person.

The instructions given above will clarify for you how to write an IB application essay. Notwithstanding, you need to work hard: improve your English (if it is foreign to you), read more academic literature and practice your writing. You have time to write and re-write it, so do not worry - start writing.