It’s finally finished, and your next two years are set. All of your IB seminars, conversations with world studies teachers, your business management tutor, “debates” with parents, chats with counsellors, conversations with friends, and Google searches are now complete. Is that the case?

Some readers may still be on the previous one and haven’t completed all of their IB choices. Do you have any questions? In HL psychology, what can one expect? Or is it an SL business? What are the differences between HL and SL courses in terms of teaching styles, workload, and other factors?

One of the courses that many IB students are unsure about is business management. So, after speaking with a few experts, we’ve put together this guide for you – Pooja is an IB Business Management Examiner and an online business management tutor with six years of experience as a Business Management Teacher in IB schools. Also present was Miriam, an HL Business Management student from England who now resides in Dubai. We asked them for their thoughts on the course and if they had any advice for our readers.

Why IB Business? 

The following units make up the IB Business syllabus: 

1) Business Organization and Environment; 

2) Human Resource Management; 

3) Finance and Accounts; 

4) Marketing; 

5) Operations Management.

IB Business, in contrast to IB Economics, provides a foundation of knowledge and understanding for each of the five units covered. It deals with issues that arise within businesses, and you will gain practical knowledge through case studies. Students tend to learn more quickly in IB Business than in IB Economics because much of the information is relevant to everyday life, allowing students to make comparisons. The emphasis in IB Business is on analysis, writing style, and case studies.

Going for IB Economics may be a better option for students applying for Mathematical and Economics-related subjects to demonstrate their interests and strengths in graphical and Mathematical skills. Many people even believe that admissions officers prefer Economics students to Business students.

IB Economics, on the other hand, may be an easier way to get good grades because there are more definite and objective exam answers. In the case of IB Business and Business Management in general, there is some subjectivity in the marking of exam answers. Despite the fact that the subject itself is much easier, a correct answer for the student may not be correct in the eyes of the examiners.

This is why it’s critical to provide detailed explanations when answering Business exam questions. Overall, IB Business is recommended for students who are not interested in mathematics or economics. The concepts are simple to grasp, and the knowledge is extremely useful regardless of your future profession.

The best part of the business management course, according to Pooja and Miriam, was its relevance and how well it related to their real-life situations. “The things we learn in class are so relevant to what happens in real life that we often overlook them,” Miriam says. This course has taught me to examine the mechanics of a business and to recognise that everything done in a business serves a specific purpose.”

The course is not easy, however, and includes many difficult components, such as the IA. “It’s a long project that could last nine months, so it’s a continuous project where you talk to a higher-level business and try to solve one of their problems, which can be difficult.” Pooja declares.

This, according to Pooja, is where the main differences between SL and HL business are found. “For SL, students only have to do secondary research,” he explains, “but for HL, students must conduct primary research, which requires them to make contact and conduct interviews, surveys, and questionnaires, which is a significant difference.”

“I had a difficult time trying to integrate the theories that we learned to a real world business because I had never done it before,” Miriam says of the IA portion of the course. However, I believe that the entire IA process of directly communicating and conducting research for a real business has greatly aided in the development of my skills.”

Aside from the IA, the difference between HL and SL comes down to content rather than difficulty. “Because there is more content to learn, you will learn more in business.” I don’t think it gets any harder, and I don’t think it gets any more difficult; I just think there’s more to learn.”

All business students, both HL and SL, can expect to be challenged with a large amount of new vocabulary and language. “Some people compare it to learning a new language because you have a lot of key vocabulary,” Pooja says.

What can students expect if they take IB business management?

“We study business organisation and environment, human resource management, finance, marketing, and operations management,” Miriam says, and the ways in which students learn these various topics will always be different. “I think it’s good to keep things fresh,” Pooja says, “so there will be case studies, videos, research, some old-fashioned lectures, some teamwork, so there will always be a combination of activities.”

Students interested in business management should expect to leave the class with a better and broader understanding of the world and how things work. “I enjoy seeing students grasp the world,” Pooja says. “They make connections with, for example, their family business or the newspapers, and they are able to see how what we do in class relates to real life.” It’s fascinating to watch students make that connection.”

How to Get a 7 in IB Business Management with the Help of an Online IB Business Management Tutor

Obtaining a Level 7 in any IB subject is without a doubt one of the most difficult challenges an IB student can face, especially for those attempting to gain admission to competitive universities or colleges. This is also true for IB Business SL/HL.

Now, when I took the IB, I received a high Level 6 (which was a long time ago, to be honest!). In fact, I was one mark short of a Level 7. Despite the fact that I took SL Business, there are a few pieces of advice I’d like to share with you today to help you push past the grade boundaries.

So, let’s talk about the four steps to achieving a level 7 in IB Business Sl/HL that you can begin taking right now to improve your chances of achieving that elusive Level 7.

More interaction with the teacher

Yes, you heard me correctly. You must understand that the teacher is there to assist you in achieving a Level 7. Not just give you a lecture on textbook facts.

What is the significance of this? To put it another way, let’s put it this way. How many times have you wanted to ask your teacher a question but couldn’t because you were embarrassed?

If you answered “quite a few times,” “sometimes,” or “too often,” you should revise your answer. It’s crucial, especially in IB, to raise your hand in the air and demand the teacher’s infinite wisdom.

It makes no difference if you have a million questions! Inquire of them!! You aren’t a nerd if you do so. You’re giving your mind new information and a fresh perspective, both of which are extremely beneficial to you and your grades.

I was able to develop my ability to critically think and better retain knowledge by discussing the theory or real-life situations with the teacher in class.

How? In general, if you get an answer to a question that you’re genuinely interested in, you’re more likely to remember it.

“What if I don’t usually have any questions?”

Then look for questions. Develop an interest in what you’re learning. Consider how some of the theories in the book might be applied in real life. This is an excellent way to get the teacher to answer questions.

Personally, I asked a lot of questions in class and always talked to my teacher about anything that interested me. This is a crucial step that I cannot emphasise enough. It is critical to communicate with your teacher if you want to improve your grades.

Treat the IA with respect

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the IA is just another piece of small coursework to complete (20% – 25% of your IB Business SL/HL grade) for Business.

I’ll write tips on how to write a good IA later, but for now, consider the IA to be worth 25% of your grade (which I’m almost certain it is).

Plan out your IB Business SL/HL IA and do extensive research. These are probably the most crucial aspects of the IA, and you must pay close attention to them throughout the process. A strong IA score can mean the difference between a 6 and a 7 on your final business grade.

Teacher feedback should be taken seriously.

When we learn from our mistakes, we learn faster. Similarly, rather than feeling bad about some harsh feedback on a test or an IA draught, learn from it and incorporate it into your next draught or test.

Take about 5 minutes to feel bad and helpless, realistically. You’ve worked hard for it.

However, after that, take a close look at how you’ve done. Feedback can come in any form, but I strongly advise you to use it for long answer questions on exam papers. Personally, I needed to go over a lot of my teacher’s feedback at this point.

Let’s face it, let’s be honest. IB exams have long answer questions that are tedious to answer. Your teachers are the ones who can assist you, so pay attention and pay attention.

Try not to get too worked up about your draughts if it’s an IA, especially if it’s a first draught. It’s understandable if your first draught isn’t perfect. Your second attempt will be superior. Why? Because you got positive feedback on the first one!

Don’t Just Memorize When Studying For IB Business SL/HL

 Now wait a second. Don’t expect this step to drastically alter your study habits. The traditional memorising method of studying is still technically necessary for exam success.

However, I would advise you to begin learning a new study technique. This method entails attempting to apply the theories and facts you’ve learned in class to real-world business situations.

When I was in school, I did a lot of this. I’d go over some business theory, such as various motivation theories or marketing strategies, and try to think of real-world businesses and how they implement what I’ve just learned.

For example, when it came to the marketing section of the syllabus, I was constantly relating the majority of the material to Samsung.

If you know anything about Samsung, you know they have an insane marketing platform and budget, so anything I studied in Business was related to Samsung or, on the other hand, HTC, a phone manufacturer on which I did my IA and who doesn’t have such a strong marketing game.

While all of this may sound generic, and I suppose that’s because I’m a professional tutor, I can assure you that if you put these tips to the test, whether it’s small tests, past papers, or IA draughts, you’ll notice a significant difference in the long run.