Ib Mathematics Higher Level Course Book Oxford Pdf

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To get an A in IB Chemistry SL/HL and a 7 on the exam, you need to be using the best study materials for your learning style. In this article, I will review some IB Chemistry SL/HL books to help you narrow your search.

Note: I'm only including IB Chemistry Books from 2012 or newer. I don't recommend studying with older books as they most likely do not correspond to the most recent IB Chemistry syllabus.

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2021 IB Exam Changes Due to COVID-19

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, May 2021 IB assessments will have two routes, exam and non-exam, depending on which your school chooses. Stay up to date with the latest information on what this means for IB diplomas, course credit for IB classes, and more with our 2021 IB COVID-19 FAQ article.

Who Should Use This Article?

This post is for IB Chemistry students who are want to do well in the classroom and on the IB Chemistry SL/HL exam.

If you're looking for a book that will help you cram for a few days before the IB exam, any of the books we mention below will work for you. But if you're looking to ace the test, it's best to choose a book that will help supplement what you learn in class. If that's your goal, you should pick the book carefully. Make sure you're picking a study book that fits your unique needs!

Top IB Chemistry SL/HL Books

I've split the best IB Chemistry books into a few categories to help you make your decision:

Best Textbook: This text is our overall winner. It's the best book to help you learn throughout the school year, no matter your strengths or weaknesses.

Best Study Resource for Quick Learning During the School Year: This is our top recommendation for all students to master topics quickly.

Best Study Guide for Mid-Scoring Students: This text provides more in-depth explanations for those who need a little more help understanding the material.

Best Value Study Guide: This book will give you the most bang for your (limited) buck.

Book to Avoid: This book lacks all of the material you need to succeed.

Best IB Chemistry Textbook

IB Chemistry Course Book: 2014 Edition: Oxford IB Diploma Program

ibchemistry

Price on Amazon: about $58

Description: This is the go-to textbook for IB Chemistry SL/HL. The Oxford University Press is the only publisher coordinating directly with the IBO to create their books, which means they better understand what the IBO wants you to learn for the IB exam. They're also able to create the most realistic practice IB Chemistry problems.

Pros:

Developed directly with input from the IBO
High-quality explanations
Realistic practice questions
Organized logically, with practice integrated throughout

Cons:

This textbook is thorough in its coverage of the syllabus, but it won't help you find the best study method for your learning style. It The best way for you to study for IB Chemistry may not be cover to cover! Unfortunately, this book doesn't give clear guidance on how best to customize its content for your needs
Does not contain study strategies or test strategies
More expensive than other guides

Best Study Guide for Mid-Scoring Students

IB Chemistry Study Guide: 2014 Edition: Oxford IB Diploma Program

chemstudyguide

Price on Amazon: about $42

Description: This is the go-to IB Chemistry Study Guide when you've got limited time to study. Also published by The Oxford University Press, this study guide complements the IB Chemistry Course Book mentioned above. This book breaks topics down into comprehensible sections, with pictures to help cement concepts. Also, IB Chemistry exam preparation material is integrated to make sure you excel on the IB Chemistry exam.

Pros:

Developed directly with the IB
High-quality content
Realistic practice problems and exam material
Organized logically, with practice integrated coherently
Very thorough for those who need a little extra help in addition to their textbook / class lectures

Cons:

This book is better for thoroughness and not very good for customized prep
More expensive than other guides

Best Study Resource for Fast Learning Throughout the School Year

IB Chemistry (SL and HL) Examination Flashcard Study System: IB Test Practice Questions & Review for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Cards)

flashcards

Price on Amazon: about $50

Description: Flashcards are a good study option for IB Chemistry since there are many specific terms and formulas to memorize. These flashcards help break the subjects down into manageable sections so that you can easily memorize important information. Unlike the Oxford University Press, this company doesn't work with IBO, but they use the IB Chemistry syllabus to make sure they cover all subjects.

These flashcards are a great resource to use for studying during the school year for your in-class IB Chemistry tests. You can focus just on the applicable flashcards for each quiz. Even though there are no IB exam practice questions, these flashcards are still good for exam review because they cover core concepts.

Since most of the IB Chemistry exam questions ask you to repeat memorized facts (such as asking you to decide "Which statement about reactivity is correct?"), these flashcards are a great tool to help you get a 7 on your exam.

Pros:

Developed using the IB Chemistry syllabus
Provides a high-quality content review
Breaks down big topics into small manageable parts
Organized by topic, making it easy to help you memorize throughout the year, not just for the IB exam

Cons:

Doesn't give advice on how to use the flashcards to study. I encourage you to use our "waterfall method"
These flashcards just have space for brief explanations. If you don't understand a topic, you will need to refer back to another resource to help cement understanding.
More expensive than other guides

Best Value Study Guide

IB Chemistry Notes by Vincent Keat Standard Level and Higher Level

ibnotes

Price on Amazon: About $16

Description: What I love about these books is that they are topic specific. These notes were written following the IB Chemistry SL and HL syllabus and are broken down into syllabus-specific content areas. They also contain fully worked examples on each topic and are an ideal resource for test preparation throughout the school year as well as for the IB Chemistry exam.

Pros:

Developed using the IB Chemistry syllabus
High-quality content review
Fully worked examples of each topic
Relatively inexpensive

Cons:

Does not contain full practice tests
Does not contain study strategies or test strategies

Book to Avoid

IB Chemistry (SL and HL) Examination Secrets Study Guide: IB Test Review for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Mometrix Secrets Study Guides)

chemsecrets

Price on Amazon: about $50

Description: This study guide for IB Chemistry covers the core topics of the syllabus including some practice questions for paper 1 (the multiple-choice section of the exam). However, it doesn't review any of the options (tested on paper 3 of the IB Chemistry exam) or include any practice for paper 2 questions.

Pros:

Focused review of IB Chemistry core topics
Includes practice questions from paper 1 with detailed answer explanations
Includes test tips and strategies

Cons:

Expensive compared to other materials
Missing review of the options, which count for ⅓ of the IB Chemistry exam
Missing review of paper 2 questions, which count for ⅓ of the IB Chemistry exam
This book is too expensive to spend money on when it is missing ⅔ of the material needed to succeed on the IB Chemistry exam

Other (Free) Study Resources

While these are great study aids, we know they can be pretty pricey. Find other free IB Chemistry study resources in our IB Chemistry Study Guide. Also, check out our article on where to find IB Chemistry past papers to help you practice for the exam.

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What's Next?

Learn more about IB Chemistry by checking out the complete IB chemistry syllabus.

Trying to figure out what extracurricular you should do? Learn more about participating in Science Olympiad, starting a club, doing volunteer work, and joining Student Government.

Studying for the SAT? Check out our complete guide to the SAT. Taking the SAT in the next month? Check out our guide to cramming.

Not sure where you want to go to college? Check out our guide to finding your target school. Also, figure out your target SAT score or target ACT score.

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About the Author

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.