Statements from Previous IB-students

During my time at Berg I learned that several universities favoured the IB programme. Now that I've been at university for a while, I can see why. In my lectures I found myself comfortable with intense 50minute sessions where it becomes a challenge to take notes and pay attention at the same time. A large help is that so far, quite a few of the topics I've had are repetition of what I learned at Berg. This has given me more time for in-depth study.

What I feel has helped me the most is that the teachers at Berg were(and I assume they still are) very encouraging. The feedback I received was often helpful and my essays at university have benefited greatly. A few of my fellow students were intimidated by the prospect of short and intense exams. Having completed the IB, you learn to formulate and structure your essay quickly and efficiently. It was a great help that my teachers often put us through, at the time painful, practice papers.

Attending IB at Berg gave me many advantages for my further study at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) in Trondheim. First of all it is the high academic level at IB that has helped me prepare for my further studies. It gave me a head start and facilitated the transition to university studies. Whereas a great portion of my peers were struggling to keep pace with lectures the first months, it was much easier for me due to my background from IB. The first few months were hectic enough in any case and it was a relief to be able to get some time to settle in my new home without worrying about school work.

Studying in English at IB has also been of great help as most of the textbooks at university are in fact in English. As an IB graduate you are equipped with a tremendous advantage in the area of being capable of reading and understanding advanced English.

However, the most important thing IB taught me was how to handle private study. This is invaluable at the university level and three years into the degree course many of my classmates still struggle with this.

Last but not least, an IB diploma makes you stand out in the crowd. I have just been awarded the Fulbright Flagship Stipend and been accepted to the school of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Berkeley, CA in the U.S. for next year. I don’t think this would have been possible without IB.

Leon Dimas, class of '07

I left Berg Videregående Skole and IB in the summer 2006 after two great years.

For me the best thing about IB was the opportunity to study a broad range of subjects and gain in-depth knowledge about both the social and the natural sciences. I was able to study mathematics and physics at higher level and at the same time enjoy social anthropology and literature, all taught by extremely knowledgeable and friendly teachers.

Applying to universities abroad was very straightforward since IB diplomas are widely recognised as a strong qualification.

At the moment I am in my final year of a BSc in mathematics and physics at the University of Bath, and I hope to be starting a PhD in mathematical modelling next year.  I think the IB route provided me with transferable skills that were a great benefit throughout my degree. I would truly recommend IB to anyone who wants a rewarding challenge; it is hard work, but worth it!

Mona Nosrati, class of '06