The Ultimate Guide to the Best IB Revision Apps

By the time you’re deep into the IB, your phone is probably full of revision apps you downloaded with good intentions — and barely use. The problem isn’t a lack of tools; it’s knowing which ones are actually worth your time.

Used well, the right apps can help you revise more efficiently, stay organised, and avoid burnout. Used badly, they just become another distraction. This guide focuses on the tools that consistently help IB students study smarter, not harder, based on what genuinely supports progress across subjects and exam seasons.

Flashcards & Spaced Repetition: For Making Knowledge Stick

Your brain isn't a hard drive; you can't just "save" information. To truly memorize the vast amount of content in subjects like Biology, History, or Economics, you need active recall. These apps force you to retrieve information, which is how you build strong, lasting memories.

• Anki: This is the gold standard for serious students. Anki uses a smart algorithm called "spaced repetition," showing you flashcards right before you're about to forget them. It's incredibly efficient for locking in vocabulary for Language B, key definitions in Chemistry, or important dates in History. It has a bit of a learning curve, but is one of the most efficient tools for long-term retention.
• Quizlet: If you want something a bit more user-friendly and collaborative, Quizlet is fantastic. You can create your own flashcard decks or use thousands of pre-made ones from other IB students. The different study modes (like "Learn," "Test," and game-based modes) keep revision from getting stale.

Note-Taking & Organization: Your Digital Command Centre

Sloppy notes and a chaotic schedule are the enemies of IB success. These tools help you centralize everything, from your class notes and IA drafts to your EE timeline, so you always know what you need to do and where to find your materials.

• Notion: Think of Notion as digital LEGOs for your academic life. It’s more than just a note-taking app. You can build a custom dashboard for each subject, create a timeline for your EE with all your research linked, track your CAS activities, and use toggle lists to create active recall questions right within your notes. It's the ultimate all-in-one organizer.
• OneNote: If you like a more free-form, scrapbook-style of note-taking, Microsoft's OneNote is perfect. Its infinite canvas is brilliant for mind maps, annotating diagrams in Physics or Biology, and embedding lecture slides directly into your notes. It's especially powerful if you have a tablet and stylus.
• Google Drive (and Docs/Sheets/Slides): This is a non-negotiable. Keeping all your IAs, essays, and study notes in one cloud-based location is essential. It prevents the panic of a crashed hard drive and makes collaborating with classmates on projects completely seamless.

Productivity & Focus: For Winning the War Against Distraction

Sometimes the biggest challenge isn't always understanding the material; it's dedicating the time to focus on it. These apps are designed to help you build better study habits and manage your time effectively.

• Forest: A simple but brilliant concept. When you want to start a focus session, you plant a virtual tree in the app. The tree grows while you work, but if you leave the app, your tree dies. It gamifies focus and creates a visual representation of your productive hours.
• Pomodoro Timers (e.g., Flora, Focus Keeper): The Pomodoro Technique is a game-changer for long study sessions. You work in focused 25-minute sprints, followed by a 5-minute break. This prevents burnout and keeps your concentration levels high. 
• Todoist / Google Calendar: A simple to-do list and a well-managed calendar are your best friends. Use Todoist to break down big tasks (e.g., "Write History IA") into smaller, manageable steps. Use Google Calendar to block out your study time, color-code it by subject, and schedule your breaks and downtime.

Subject-Specific Tools: For Targeted Practice

Once you've learned the content, you need to practice applying it in an exam context. These resources are IB specific and packed with practice questions, video explanations, and exam-style resources.

• Revision Village: If you take IB Mathematics, this is a must-have. It is widely considered the top resource for IB Maths revision, with a huge question bank, video solutions for past paper questions, mock exams, and an interface that mirrors the real IB exam platform. It's an investment, but one that pays off.
• Khan Academy: An incredible free resource for a wide range of subjects, but particularly strong for Maths, the Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), and Economics. Its library of video lessons is perfect for when a concept just isn't clicking in class, and the practice exercises provide instant feedback.
• Wolfram Alpha: This isn't just a calculator; it's a "computational knowledge engine." For Maths and Physics students, it's a lifesaver. You can use it to solve complex equations and see the step-by-step solutions, which is invaluable for understanding the *process*, not just getting the answer.
• YouTube: Don't underestimate the power of educational YouTube. Channels like Richard Thornley for IB Chemistry or Oscar Science for Biology offer clear, syllabus-specific explanations that can make complex topics much easier to understand.