Why Studying in a Group Worked for Me in the IB

Only some people can work well in a group setting—and that’s completely understandable. As a recent IB Diploma graduate, I found that studying with a group brought far more benefits than working alone. My study group usually consisted of three to four people, sometimes more for harder subjects.

While many factors can make or break a study group—such as the people involved, the environment, and personal commitment—when it works, it offers powerful advantages: motivation, shared knowledge, and diverse perspectives.

Motivation and Support

Let’s be honest: motivation disappears during exam season. My friends and I constantly joked about having no motivation and wanting to just “wing it.” Of course, none of us actually wanted to do that—the exams mattered too much.

So we formed a study group.

We met in the library and created what felt like a mini classroom. I clearly remember one day when I genuinely did not want to study anymore. If I had seen one more practice question, I probably would have lost it. Being with my friends helped me relax, reset, and keep going.

One thing we did well was taking real breaks—breaks where we didn’t talk about IB at all. When studying alone, I struggled with this. I’d tell myself I’d take a ten-minute break, then end up scrolling on TikTok for half an hour. In a group, my friends kept me accountable and helped me return to studying.

Having people around you who support and motivate you makes a huge difference. As cliché as it sounds, teamwork really does make the dream work.

Sharing Knowledge

We truly treated our study group like a classroom—just a more effective one.

Whenever someone understood a topic better than the rest of us, they would teach it. It might sound strange to recreate a classroom outside of school, but it worked because we focused only on what we needed help with.

Math has always been my weakest subject, and unfortunately, math exams were first that year. I was genuinely panicking. During our library sessions, my friends helped me work through practice questions and explained concepts I struggled with. Studying math in a group forced me to actually do math—which, sadly, is the only way to improve at it.

Unlike a real classroom with one teacher and twenty students, group study gave me direct, personalised help.

It went both ways too. In literature, I helped my friends understand novels and draw connections between texts. When studying alone, your understanding is limited to what you know. In a group, everyone contributes, and the collective knowledge raises everyone’s performance.

The Power of Different Perspectives

This was the most valuable benefit for me.

In IB, perspective is everything. Working alone can limit creativity and trap you in one way of thinking. When I studied by myself, I often struggled to generate ideas—especially for literature. Finding themes or connections felt impossible.

In my study group, ideas came more naturally. I could build on someone else’s thought, which led to more creative and “out-of-the-box” interpretations. We gave each other feedback, refined arguments, and pushed each other’s thinking further.

Sometimes our ideas were a little too out there—we were exhausted, after all—but when it mattered, we locked in and produced strong work.

Why Small Groups Work Best

I don’t recommend large study groups. Smaller groups make it easier to:

• Ask questions
• Get direct help
• Stay focused
• Hold each other accountable

Studying with the right people made IB feel more manageable—and occasionally even enjoyable (sometimes… studying is still studying).

Final Thoughts

If junior-year me asked whether forming a study group was worth it, I would say yes, without hesitation.

Studying with a group helped me grow in ways I didn’t think were possible. When you’re alone, it’s easy to spiral into stress or self-doubt. With the right people, you gain motivation, clarity, and confidence.

In just the first few weeks of studying together, I felt more motivated without burning out. I genuinely believe most students can benefit from a study group—as long as it’s the right size and the right dynamic.

During the overwhelming, stressful IB exam season, the people you study with can make all the difference.