How to Study for IB Mocks: Top Tips

Congratulations, you’ve made it to mock season! Mocks are supposed to be a learning experience. They’re here to give you a feel of what an exam schedule is like so that the real ones are less intimidating. If you’re feeling a bit lost with revising for mocks that’s okay! Here we’ll take you through our top tips for how to study for mocks.

Tip 1: Plan your revision!

You don’t need to have every day between now and your mocks planned out. However, it is very helpful to have a plan for the topics that you’re going to cover and the order you’re going to do them in.

To get started with making a plan, check which topics are going to be covered on the mocks. Your teachers will have this information. Next, go through the syllabus for each subject. Make notes of which topics you are least confident about. You’ll want to prioritise these topics by looking at them first, or spending more time on them.

Setting a schedule for which topics you want to cover on each day will help ensure you get through all of them in time. This doesn’t need to be complicated. You can simply add them as events in a digital calendar like Google Calendar. You can also jot them down in a regular monthly calendar. If that still feels too complicated, you can get a blank piece of paper and use that!

Keep your schedule in a visible place. If you have a physical one, putting it above your desk would work well. If it’s digital, try setting alerts for each day’s topics. The key thing is that you don’t want to forget what you set out to do!

Tip 2: Be methodical

Keeping track of what you’ve revised and which past papers you’ve done is key to being efficient in your revision. You don’t want to be doing the same work twice! There are a bunch of ways to keep track of this. You could write out a list and cross them off.

You could also list the topics in an Excel or Google spreadsheet. This works well if you want to keep track of how confident you are with the topic. See below for an example of this.

This method is also great for keeping track of past papers. Remember that there are two exam periods per year (May and November). There are also multiple versions of each paper made in each exam period as the IBO has to account for the different time zones. You can make a similar tracker by creating a table with the exam session as columns (ex. May 2019) and the papers/subjects as rows.

Tip 3: Prioritise active recall

When studying, you want to be as efficient as possible. It means that you perform better on exams and that you spend less time revising – a win-win in my eyes. Using revision methods that capitalise on active recall is a great way to increase your efficiency. For more information on why active recall is so important, check out this article.

Active recall is a key component of answering past paper questions and explaining concepts to others. If you’re using flashcards, you can incorporate active recall by using Anki or Quizlet so that you can type out your answers. If you prefer physical flashcards, try saying your answers out loud. The key is to make sure that regardless of the study method you’re using, you are making your brain bring up the information you are trying to learn.

Tip 4: Be prepared to learn from mistakes!

The primary purpose of mock exams is to give you a taste of what the real exams are going to be like. They serve as a ‘trial run’. It’s crucial to remember that this means they are a learning experience. It’s a chance to feel what it’s like to sit in the exam hall, to do a morning and afternoon exam, and to see what topics you will need to work on.

You are going to make mistakes in your mocks. Whether you can’t remember what a topic was, fill out the cover sheet incorrectly, or don’t get a big enough lunch, it’s okay! The important thing is to be able to reflect on and learn from your mistakes. There is plenty of time to revise before the real exams and you can make a big difference to your grades!

If you’re struggling to understand a certain topic or subject, check out our YouTube channel for loads of explanations and tips from our top tutors. If you feel like more individualised help is needed, check out our private tuition services here.

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IB mock exams are designed to be a crucial learning experience, serving as a "trial run" for your final IB Diploma exams. They help you understand the exam format, time pressure, and identify areas where you need to improve, reducing anxiety for the real thing.

Start by identifying the topics covered in your mocks and then review your syllabus to pinpoint your least confident areas. Prioritise these topics in your study schedule. Create a realistic daily or weekly plan, using a calendar or spreadsheet, and keep it visible to stay on track.

Active recall is highly efficient because it forces your brain to retrieve information, strengthening memory and understanding. Instead of passively re-reading notes, practice answering questions, explaining concepts aloud, or using tools like Anki or Quizlet to actively test your knowledge.

Mock exams are for learning, so mistakes are expected and valuable. Reflect on what went wrong – whether it was content gaps, time management, or exam technique. Use this feedback to refine your revision plan and focus on improving those specific areas before your final exams.

Lanterna's expert tutors, many of whom scored 40+ in the IB or have examiner experience, can provide personalised support. They help you identify weak areas, develop effective revision strategies, practice past papers, and build confidence, ensuring you get the most out of your mock exam experience.

Absolutely. Lanterna has over 600 highly qualified IB tutors covering all subjects at both Standard and Higher Level. Whether it's a challenging concept in Maths, essay structure in English, or experimental design in Chemistry, our tutors can provide targeted support to boost your understanding and performance.

The Lanterna IB consultation is a free, no-pressure 20-30 minute session with one of our expert Student Success Experts. It's designed to give you clarity on your current situation, discuss your challenges, and help you create a personalised plan for your IB journey, including mock exam preparation.

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You'll walk away with a clear understanding of your current strengths and weaknesses for mocks, a personalised strategy for effective revision, and actionable next steps. Our experts can help you prioritise topics, refine study techniques, and explore how Lanterna's support could further enhance your preparation.