the lanterna blog
Below you will find in-depth reports, thought pieces on modern education, as well as hundreds of tips on how to excel at the IB.
Master your Revision: Past Papers & Mark Schemes
This week’s blog is a reminder of, in my opinion, the best revision resources out there – past papers and mark schemes. I know they might not seem like the most creative revision methods, but I promise that they’re an excellent way to master how to apply your knowledge. They can also be a good…
100 IB Extended Essay Topic Ideas!
One of the biggest keys to the Extended Essay is choosing which subject you want to write your work in and developing that crucial research question. Read on to find inspiration for topics across a wide range of subjects. Extended Essay: The Love/Hate aspect of the IB One of the biggest keys to the Extended…
5 Simple Steps for Planning Exam Essays
With those May exams creeping ever closer and closer, today I thought I’d share another tip based around exam technique. I want us to take a look at how to plan exam essays. When time is so pressured in the IB exams, it can often be hard to know how to use your planning time…
5-Point Checklist for Writing Perfect IB IAs!
Recently, I’ve heard that many first year Diploma students are just beginning to start IB IAs. It’s probably all starting to feel a bit more ‘real’ now, but don’t panic! I’m here to help you make the best start possible with my simple 5-point checklist – five things to keep in mind when you start…
Understanding Command Terms in IB Exam Questions
Understanding command terms and knowing exactly what exam questions want from you is crucial. It’s key to getting as many marks in the bag from your examiner! So, in this week’s blog, I’m going to break down some common command words in exam questions. I hope this will help those of you who are about…
How to Manage Disappointing Mock Results
Many of you will have just got back your mock exam results. Hopefully, many of you will be happy with your results. For some of you, though, I’m sure they weren’t quite what you were hoping for. This can be stressful- especially if you have to achieve a certain point score for uni. I think…
Guest Blogger 1: Make a Difference with CAS
In this week’s blog, Rameen (who studies the IB in Qatar) shares her inspiring CAS experience of volunteering with orphans in Pakistan. Why did you undertake this project? “I’ve always seen children out on the roads when I’ve travelled abroad. Children that are abandoned, that are forced to fend for themselves and those that don’t…
Breaking Down the 2019 TOK Titles: Part 2
In this week’s blog we are looking at the rest of those tricky TOK titles. Read on for some inspiration for your essay! “Disinterestedness is essential in the pursuit of knowledge.” Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge. The key element of this title is the term ‘disinterestedness’. Your essay needs to…
Breaking Down the 2019 TOK Titles: Part 1
The titles are out and essays need to be written. Yes, it is TOK essay writing time but those essays titles can be notoriously tricky to decipher. Over the next two weeks, therefore, I’m going to be breaking down the titles to give you some ideas for your essay! “The quality of knowledge is best…
5 of the Best Study Vloggers
I’m a firm believer that Youtube is an amazing academic resource. I know it can obviously be a big distraction too, but if you know what to look for, then I guarantee you’ll find some excellent videos to enhance your studying and revision. In this week’s blog I’m going to share with you my five…
