Years 4 and 5 are the final years of the Middle Years Programme in the IB. The subjects include Languages (A or B level of Croatian, English, French and German), Individuals and Societies (History and Geography), Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Mathematics, Arts (Visual Arts, Music or Drama), PE and Design (either Product or Digital).
In the IB, since it prioritizes that students learn certain topics in depth and understand the reason behind why they are learning something, you will be required to submit various essays, analyses, and lab reports. These may be challenging to write, but the teachers and other students are always willing to share advice and help.
MYP assessment uses IB criteria based grading (from 0 to 8 points). Students get points in each of the 4 criteria (A, B, C and D) which at the end of the year form the final grade for each criterion and those grades are added into points for the final grade for that particular subject.
There is also something called a Personal Project. It is an independent research project which lasts from the end of the first grade to the middle of second grade in which students, with the guidance of their mentors (the teachers), explore a topic of personal interest. It requires setting a goal, conducting research, creating a final product, and writing a reflection report.
MYP 4 & 5 are designed to bridge the gap between lower secondary education and the DP. As someone who has finished both years and successfully enrolled the Diploma Program, here are some of my tips:
– Stay organized (I know it’s hard but it will help you track all your assignments and finish them on time)
– Work on your time management (there is a lot of work to be done, so don’t leave anything last minute because it might require a lot more time than you think!)
– Try to understand the criteria (this way you know what the teacher wants from you)
– Focus in class (so that you don’t have to work alone at home – which is much harder)
– For the personal project: Pick a topic that really interests you because you will have to stick with it for quite a bit
By following these tips, one should be able to navigate MYP 4 & 5 with more ease and be well-prepared for the challenges of the DP.
